My first (of four) majors in college was literature. I wanted to be a writer, but not because I thought I had anything interesting to say. It was purely because I was in love the beatnik ideal, with locking myself in a room and drinking myself to death for the craft. After a short while, I realized that no matter how much booze I consumed, and how much I starved myself, unless I had something to say, I probably wasn't going to get very far. Thus, I switched.
Come on now, everyone has something to say. I know that might sound a little naive but it's a truth I hold to firmly. Everyone's had something in their life that's worth talking about. Even having nothing happen is worth talking about. The more stories and opinions that are put out there, the more equipped we are at understanding life.
That's funny, my second of three majors was photojournalism, much for the same reason. I loved the idea of being a photojournalist, but I severely lacked the "chops". As for the post, there is something to say for a process that is yours and yours alone. I pitched in high-school baseball and I had the same process at the mound for each person at bat. This process put me at ease and allowed me to get in to a "zen" like mode. -Though I'd have looked at you sideways back then if you suggested I did anything "zen". I have had similar routines for other athletic endeavors, but I've never incorporated ritual or routine in to a creative process. It's different every time. I don't need my special "pick" to play the guitar etc, I just play the thing.