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Many artists struggle with the persistent voice of self-doubt. It plagues them when they attempt to bring to life a new idea. It can cause them to constantly second-guess themselves, questioning if their art is good enough to warrant the right attention. Self-doubt surfaces when they hear a comment on their art, performance or novel that wasn’t favorable. It’s the ingredient that under lies creative block. It repeatedly whispers in the back of their mind, “you’re just not good enough.” It can strike suddenly when they feel envies of someone else’s creative success. Self-doubt can be so overwhelming, the artist develops a relentless hunger for validation or approval driving them to bury it with substances.
One of the most common causes of self-doubt is negative self-talk. It’s the repeated statements running in one’s head that criticizes, belittles and shames. Constant replay of negative dialog slowly chips away at self-worth, which can leave the artist feeling less certain of their abilities. In addition, ignoring or brushing off one’s own accomplishments and successes, have a way of derailing self-confidence. Because each negative thought produces an emotion this can inevitably cause the artist to feel discouraged or hopeless.
Begin to take notice of the statements you tell yourself about your creativity, about your art, or you as a person. Are the words coming from a caring and gentle voice, offering support and encouragement? Or are they words that are slowly damaging your self-worth, resulting in procrastination, unproductively or creative paralysis. A simple shift in self-talk is the beginning of sustaining a positive attitude throughout your career as an artist.
Top image from Imgembed.
This is a cross-post from The Art of Mind.
Lisa A Riley, MA, LMFT is a Creativity Coach and has spent more than nine years working with creative individuals such as artists, actors, designers, musicians, writers, and actors. She “helps to empower clients to take steps towards enhancing their creativity and move closer to becoming the artist they envisioned themselves to be”. See her multiple ‘Products for Your Creative Success’ on her site The Art of Mind.