Sometimes We Lose Our Creative Spark

So how do we come back to our rhythm?

I believe we already hold the creative insight we’re searching for, it’s often just a matter of trusting our instinct. But inspiration doesn’t always show up on its own. At least not for all of us. Sometimes it asks for space, attention, and a willingness to build a relationship with the creative process itself. Like any relationship, it’s a dance—it has a rhythm, and it takes practice.

I first stumbled upon the D.A.N.C.E. framework over ten years ago while working on my upcoming book Living Artfully (yes, it’s taken nearly 12 years for this work to see the light of day). I returned to this framework last year while writing Flecks of Gold: A Year of Living Artfully—and honestly, I had no idea a lyrical memoir was even waiting inside me. I just followed the threads of inspiration.

Why D.A.N.C.E.? I love music, I love to dance, and growing up, next to writing, I dreamed of being a dancer. In fact, I still remember exiting the movie house after I saw Jennifer Beals in Flashdance for the first time, and pirouetting all the way to the car. Not to mention listening to Laura Branigan’s, “Gloria”, on repeat, for an entire year.

Over time, these practices have shaped not just how I create, but how I move through life.

D.A.N.C.E. is a rhythm I return to when I feel disconnected:

• D — Daily Journaling: A place to land, to clear the outside static.

• A — Affirmation & Intention: A small reset, a way back to what matters.

• N — Nourishment: Following what feels like a yes.

• C — Commit to Movement: Shifting energy, coming back into the body.

• E — Evening Ritual: Closing the day with a bit more care.

You don’t need to do all of it. You don’t need to do it perfectly. It’s just a way back—a way to stay in conversation with your life. Over time, small shifts begin to appear.

I’m putting the finishing touches on a D.A.N.C.E. checklist in Notion, and I want to share it for free with my fellow creatives. No, this is not a sales pitch—just a gift. I believe artists and writers help us connect to our shared humanity, feel more deeply, and process the world. This is my way of giving back.

If you want access, comment “Let’s Dance” below and I’ll share it when it’s ready OR feel free to DM me!

Hugs.

xx Alana