So we are learning to conquer our creativity killing demons. Thus far we have slain the evil monsters of stress and the lack of inspiration. So what, pray tell, is the third evil creature? I’ll give you a hint: It’s big, it’s mean and it sucks.
The Third Monster of the Creative Apocalypse:
Self-Doubt
Stricken with Self-doubt by Luc de Leeuw
Self-doubt. Wow. What a big nasty monster it is, made up of cold pricklies and all wrapped up in negativity. It can not only put the kibosh on our creative spark, but it can squelch our desire to even be creative. I firmly believe that each and every artist is plagued by self-doubt at some point in their creative journey. I’m inclined to believe that any artist that says they’ve never gone toe to toe with this big nasty is either fibbing, is in complete denial or is well on their way to encountering it. It is a universal problem among creatives and it can be brutal. It often leaves your head overflowing with “what-if’s.”
Where does it come from?
Self-doubt can arise when you stop creating for yourself and start creating for the mysterious and omnipresent “they.” When you find yourself asking questions like: “What if they don’t like it?” or “What will they think?” then you have started down the dark, tangled path of self-doubt.
What can you do about it?
Return to your roots. Try to remember why you love to create. If you create for the sheer joy of the act, if you truly create from your heart then self-doubt will begin to melt away. The exception to this is if you are extremely self-critical and find yourself striving for the ever elusive (and ultimately impossible) perfection, a topic we will address in the fourth and final installment of this series.
You must learn to let trust and faith be your constant companions in your creative journey. Reconnect with your heart, love what you do and love why you do it. Trust your higher-self. Trust your creative vision. Trust your ability. At the risk of sounding preachy and more than a little like Yoda, you must give in to your intuition and let it guide you down your creative path. If you’re having trouble hearing your higher-self try relaxation exercises or meditation. They’re great ways to realign your creativity with your heart. Now quit second guessing yourself. You rock! Let your brilliant and creative light shine!
Next Friday we’ll address our fourth and final monster: perfection.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – Want to catch the rest of the series? You can find them here:
The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 1: Stress
The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 2: Inspiration?
The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 4: Perfection
