Working through creative fears and getting things done

On quieting your doubts

Fear is the seemingly never-ending wall we have to climb to make anything. Fear that we’ll never be as good as we should be, fear that our ideas aren’t worth a damn, fear we’ll be seen, fear we won’t be seen at all.

Our limiting beliefs came from somewhere. The seed was planted by an art teacher, a jerky middle school kid, or a parent, and your brain has watered it, keeping it alive and growing all these years.

At various times in my life, I’ve been told that art-making is selfish, that I wasn’t intellectual enough, and that making money from creative pursuits would be impossible, so what’s the point?

Unfortunately, this stuff creeps up and echoes in my mind as truth when I’m going through a hard time or one of the inevitable, vulnerable creative lulls.

Much of this year has been about figuring out how to continue creating through my fears. I’m still on that journey, but here are some things that have helped me:

Identify your self-doubt stories.

Write them down. Bring them into the light.

This hurts. Realizing all my doubts were right there below the surface, running the show was actually heartbreaking. But, finding out more about myself- the good, the bad, and the ugly-has been a big part of owning what makes me authentically me, creatively or otherwise.

Confronting your subconscious beliefs and acknowledging where they came from helps to hush them up long enough so you can get shit done. And maybe, eventually, releases them entirely? *Fingies crossed on that one*

Here are some great journaling prompts that can help with this:

Seven Journal Prompts to Understand and Change Negative Core Beliefs

Waiting around for “The Spark” ain’t it.

You know those magical spans of time when everything you make turns out beautifully? Your mind is so teaming with ideas that your hands can barely keep up. The colors, the dance, the words- it’s pouring out of you in perfect harmony, just as you had imagined. You’re completely in the flow. These are the moments creatives live for.

But what about aaaaall the other times? When your mind is muddy with worry. When it feels impossible to find any uninterrupted time to create or that project hits the point when it’s just not fun anymore. What then?

“If I waited till I felt like writing, I’d never write at all.”

– Anne Tyler

My own resistance often manifests as excuses like "I'm too busy" and “It really doesn’t matter anyways,” keeping me small and barely making anything at all.

One way to avoid this trap is by relying on routine vs. sheer desire. Structure helps me move through my feels and makes creating more sustainable. Discipline is so NOT sexy, I know! A routine is the least Basquiat thing ever, but it’s in this regularity where I started to see any real progress in myself.

You sit down . . . You try to sit down at approximately the same time every day. This is how you train your unconscious to kick in for you creatively.

Anne Lamott, Bird By Bird

For decades, people have believed that creativity is easy breezy. Artists are just overly emotional horses running wild and free. I mean, that is great imagery! And for so long, I considered that to be how art-making should feel. But let’s be real, the moments of total inspiration are fairly rare. Most of the time, it’s not some sparkly burst; it’s just putting in the work. And like any real work, it gets done by devoting dedicated time to it.

The payoff of living in the past or the future is you never have to do your work in the present.

-Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro

Ouch right? ^

Carve out 20 minutes a day, two hours a week, whatever you can realistically give to your creative pursuit. Need some accountability or direction? Opt in for a 30 day challenge, attend a class, set a goal AND a deadline. Schedule it and guard it fiercely.

*Hint- throw your phone out the window and you will find the time.*

Make it easy.

If your journal is hidden away in the corner, fear is going to catch you moving towards it every time, stopping you dead in your tracks. Make it as accessible as possible to create! Leave your sketchbook out next to your favorite afternoon snack. Bring your journal with you everywhere.

Proximity and ease make a big difference when everything in our modern world is calling for your attention, your fear included.

"Whenever you want to change your behavior, you can simply ask yourself: How can I make it obvious? How can I make it attractive? How can I make it easy? How can I make it satisfying?"

- James Clear, Atomic Habits

Keep going.

If you have a consistent pull to create something but can’t seem to make any progress- it’s likely self-doubt whispering underneath your great idea that you're not enough for one reason or another. Fear keeps us trapped in a cycle of doubt and hesitation when we could be spending all that valuable energy creating- or on anything else for that matter. Ironically, the fear is far more exhausting than the work itself.

I hope some of these things help you hear your fears better, so you can throw them out of the driver's seat and keep on going. <3

Fear is always triggered by creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It is, however, something to be dealt with.

-

Elizabeth Gilbert

, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Part 2 Coming Next Week

In the meantime, here are some wonderful books on this topic:

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Rising Strong by Brené Brown

Here’s to a beautiful, braver November dears,

Cait

Little Glimmers Booklet:

I’m smack dab in the middle of my 30 Days of Gratitude Drawings Challenge -Recently featured on

Substack

Reads, Relaxation Unstacked!

Once I’ve completed the project in mid November, I’ll include all my drawings and some special extras in an art booklet. You can pre-order it here:

I’m Reading the queen’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens By Ina Garten. As a long time fan and avid cookbook collector, it’s been so fun getting to know more about her life.

I’m Watching The Count of Monte Cristo. I hadn’t seen this movie since I was a kid, it’s so good! And reminded me I need to read the book.

I’m Buying all the blue colored pencils I can find for my 30 Days of Gratitude Drawing project.

I’m Making

deb perelman

’s Pumpkin bread on repeat.