Creative work is full of scary things.
Really, any kind of work can be scary if you strive to change the status quo.
Without roadmaps of “how it’s always been done” there is no certainty.
My Perspective
The less we know about a situation, the scarier it can be.
There are typically 3 reasons a situation is scary to us.
Fear of the Unknown – This is the fear triggered from a knowledge continuum around the situation. If you are certain of the approach, fear is low. If the approach is ambiguous or unknown, fear increases.
Fear of Judgement – This is the fear of what others think. We worry about negative feedback, criticism, rejection, and public failure. The worry can even be no reaction. What if the work is put out to the world and no one even notices.
Fear of Capabilities – While fear of judgement focuses on others, this fear sits inside us where we are most vulnerable. We are afraid that we won’t meet our own expectations. We question our abilities, strive for perfection, and have the feeling we “aren’t good enough”.
These three fears will show up differently for each of us.
Understanding our unique mix will help us develop strategies to lessen their impact.
We could consider this list our personal Scary Blueprint.
The next step is to face those fears and try some tactics to tame them when they emerge. The techniques that work for one person may not work for another. We need to keep trying different techniques until we find the right fit. Below are some ideas for facing each type of fear.
Techniques to Combat Judgement
Create a Supportive Environment: Surrounding ourselves with people who support our creative endeavors can provide confidence before we put work into the world.
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate our creative achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing progress can boost your confidence and reduce fear.
Accepting Feedback: If negative feedback comes in, we can shift our perspective. Instead of thinking the work was “bad”, we can think that the work just wasn’t “for them”.
Techniques to Combat Capabilities
Set Realistic Expectations: We can’t put pressure on ourselves to create a masterpiece every time. Setting realistic, achievable goals for our creative projects allows small wins to boost our confidence.
Practice and Patience: Creativity improves with practice. We need to be patient with ourselves and recognize that we are on a creative journey. We can’t rush the process.
Manage Self-Criticism: Challenge our inner critic by acknowledging self-doubt. We all face uncertainty of our capabilities at some point and can replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.
Techniques to Combat the Unknown
Embrace Failure: Understand that failure is a natural part of the creative process. It’s through failure that we learn and improve. We need to shift our perspective to see failures as opportunities for growth.
Break Down the Process: Large creative projects can be overwhelming. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps. Focus on completing one step at a time.
Seek Inspiration: Explore the work of other creatives for inspiration. Learning about their struggles and successes can make your own creative journey less intimidating.
Your Turn
How would you rank order the three areas from the most to least impact on your “scaries”?
Have you tried any of these techniques before?
Which one of these techniques do you think could be the most helpful the next time the scaries emerge?