The Lies We Tell Ourselves As Creative Souls

4/29/2016

"Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself.
Be bold. When you embark for strange places,
don't leave any of yourself safely on shore.
Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory."
~Alan Alda

I'll open a shop.... when I'm ready.

But I need all the best tools to be good at what I do!

I just don't have the time.

And... worse of all....

I'm not good enough.

These are just a few examples of the lies we tell ourselves, the lies which hamper our creative souls and which shut the doors to opportunity, excitement and revelation! But I get it...I totally get it, because these are all lies I've told myself and, worse, convinced myself were true! I'm looking at you "there's no way anyone cares what you have to say" voice in my head! I shake my fist at you!

While it's important to be honest with ourselves about our goals, aspirations and, yes, even our talents, it's equally important to believe we are better than the opinions we have of ourselves. The two are not mutually exclusive. Honesty and self-realization harmonizes beautifully with, and balances, a desire to be our personal best!

And recognizing that fear is not only an essential part of the human psyche, but also an amazing motivator, is the first step in recovering from the belief in the lies we tell ourselves. We may never be "ready", we may never have the best creative toys at our disposal, we may never have the time, but we are always good enough and we are always capable enough and we are always, always the embodiment of a creative soul worthy of a voice and an audience. Let your freak flags fly, let your imperfections capture the truths of your own imperfect but beautiful soul, and definitely give a middle finger to self-doubt!

We've got this. We've totally got this.

16 Comments

Erin Dorazahi

4/30/2016 12:45:14 am

You have a way with words that just seems to make sense.
Creativity for me has given me the ability to step out of my fear. Fear for me was the ultimate motivator.
Doing this has given me the ability to free myself from so many boundaries.

Nicole Hanna

5/6/2016 08:27:01 pm

Creativity is an outlet for so many things, and we've only to begin to tap into it, right? Think of all the possibilities still to come!

DINESH TAYLOR link

5/2/2016 12:56:07 am

I like your quotation. great line...!

5/6/2016 08:27:22 pm

I saw it and was immediately inspired!

Suzanne Harrison link

5/3/2016 12:52:55 am

Way to go Nicole, once again you have hit the nail on the head. I agree with this completely.

5/6/2016 08:27:43 pm

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

Denise Didsbury

5/3/2016 10:35:26 am

It is very frustrating when this happens. I am new to wire and jewellery making, my usual craft is Stained Glass, windows, lampshades and sun catchers. When I have had a block, looking at Tiffany lampshades and windows, can give inspiration. When walking the dog, looking at the flowers etc, all motivating me to create.
How ever, with wire, it has been very different. Actually picking up the wire to start my journey was very frightening and the fear of failure stopped me dead. I could not seem to get past the simple act of picking up wire !!
I was watching a tutorial on how to make a 3D dog with wire, it looked great. I thought it did not look that hard to do, I was more than capable of making this structure !! I finally picked up the wire and made a start on the wire dog. I have also added more than what the tutorial had, to me, that made it my creation, not someone else's. Just by adding gem stones and a collar round the dogs neck gave me inspiration to carry on with the wire and look to create in the jewellery side of wire work. xx

5/6/2016 08:29:45 pm

I have to admit, wire was a frightening journey for me in the beginning as well. And there was one moment... a blink of a moment really, when I decided "eh, to heck with it" and I just did whatever I wanted to do with the wire and thought to myself afterwards "huh... I dig it!" and it was such a boost to my confidence that I was able to push through the fear and create regularly.

Michelle A McGuire link

5/3/2016 02:42:27 pm

I cannot tell you how many times I have thought that I wasn't good enough; why I thought I could do this. However, I find myself undoing all that is wrong and plugging alon. Wrapping cabs is too easy; what I want to do is weave, and twist and turn. Offically, on my true second piece is your SPRING LEAF. I don't have the brass rings so Barretts are what they will become. Nicole, your designs, your creativity are an inspiration for me and I'm sure many more. Your selflessness is second to none. Thank you!

5/6/2016 08:31:04 pm

Thank you for the kind words! I think we've definitely ALL given ourselves the bullying "I'm not good enough" speech. But the journey beyond that is always so much better than the lies we tell ourselves, right? I'm glad you ventured into something new and are enjoying your journey!

Shelley Page

5/5/2016 10:38:12 am

Yes. The first and last one go together... "I can't open a shop until I'm good enough" which also goes with "Here is what I'm doing, friends and family... take what you want, no charge. I'll sell things after I get better."
In the largest parts of my brain, I firmly believe that handing out my practice work for free isn't right --but still can't justify selling it yet.
After 3 months of doing wire weaving, I'm still not quite confident enough to open a shop.
Your inspirations, along with a few other artists are egging us all on. Thank you Nicole. <3

5/6/2016 08:33:09 pm

I totally get that thought process of giving things away as gifts. Heck, sometimes I'd tell myself they weren't even worthy of gifts! But these days I tell myself that time has value, even if the skill doesn't (and it does... no matter what we tell ourselves.... it does). And you know... as soon as I convinced myself of that, everyone began valuing my time and skill simultaneously! As soon as we believe it, others do as well.

Dianna

5/6/2016 03:21:58 pm

This is a tape that has been running in my head for years. "Not being good enough". I think basically all of us want to be appreciated and accepted. When we are creating we take a giant leap. There are a ton of jewelry designers out there, some much much better than I am. A lot have been very generous with teaching me new skills and some even holding my hand. I thank you for giving me a start on the road to wire weaving. Your generosity is so appreciated!

5/6/2016 08:34:42 pm

I think it's a tape we all keep on a shelf somewhere, right? Even when we have moments of confidence, we can always see it sitting there and bits of doubt work their way back in. But someone, somewhere will always value our work.... ourselves!

Maitry link

5/9/2016 04:51:41 am

Very inspirational post.

ash link

11/9/2016 06:46:00 am

Great! Thanks for sharing!

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The Lies We Tell Ourselves As Creative Souls

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