Not liking your creative work is as common as being hungry and as fixable as getting a snack.
But us creatives forget this when we’re in the middle of an “I suck” marathon.
We can grind to a halt for weeks, months, or years.
But it need not be that way.
Here’s what I’ve learned over 30 years of writing, publishing 9 books, creating my business, and coaching other creatives:
The more you do your creative work, the less you’ll fall for the story that what YOU think about your work actually matters.
Because it doesn’t.
So set aside your opinions and put down the crunchy snacks, and let’s change the channel from KFUCKED for KOKAY.
Choose what appeals:
Are you making it safe to create? (We practice this weekly as part of Write Now. We start again in mid-February. We sold out last time so get on the early interest list if this appeals.)
Is your creative cave well buttressed from the world? You need flow to love the process.
Consider varying where you work, when or for how long. Move your desk. Tidy clutter. Write in the park.
Listen to a new playlist.
Dance before or while you work.
Stop going backward to fix or polish and stop starting over! Create new material when you reach the end of the first iteration.
If you have been working on a big project for a long period of time and presently hate it, relax. Everybody feels this way at the end.
Journal:
✍️ What is behind my self-criticism?
✍️ Who is colonizing my creative space?
✍️ What thoughts am I believing? Why?
✍️ What do I believe about my own deepest experiences of creating?
Fill your creative well but not with project research. Take in forms of art you normally avoid or never consider.
Drop your focus on achieving a particular outcome over and over again.
Your thoughts are innocent and natural. They aren’t going away and they don’t have to mean anything. Let them continue on down the road. Center back in your beautiful open spacious heart. Choose where you put your attention.
And most of all, keep doing what brings you alive: creating!
