Bustr Bensn

The feeling of “feeling like it” (or not)

Where does the feeling of “feeling like it” come from?

Whichever part of your brain manufactures it, do you trust it to always judge correctly?

Do you feel like eating a hamburger?

Do you feel like balancing your checkbook?

Do you feel like working late?

Do you feel like sleeping in?

There are some domains in my life where I have the ability to override the “feeling like it” urge, and there are other categories that I have more trouble lifting a finger against the feeling.

One particularly difficult area to fight is when creativity is involved. Can I write an inspiring letter to a friend when I don’t feel like it? Can I do really meaningful creative work when I don’t feel like it?

It’s easy to fight against the “feeling” when I have to do something simple like going to work, or paying my bills, or getting out of bed.

It’s more difficult to fight against the “feeling” when the task requires a larger part of my brain to get the task done. The aversion to the task in a way blocks my brain from getting into sync and getting work done.

But even creative tasks can be started in mundane ways. By beginning to write, or beginning to work, I can allow the feelings to untangle themselves and re-arrange into more creative configurations.

I just have to start the motions of being creative before I feel like doing it. In the same way I get out of bed when I don’t feel like it.