“Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it” - Salvador Dali
The mindset of creating can be one of the biggest hurdles we as artists need to overcome. From self doubt and the voice of our inner critic, have you ever pushed off creating by using the excuses of I don’t have time, I don’t have enough money, or why waste time if it won’t turn out? What if I can’t replicate my success? Was that one project just a fluke?
If so, you are not alone. In this episode we are going to unpack these very convincing lies and power through the mindset shift that needs to happen in order to create free of expectations! After all, practice makes us better. Focus on the process, not the outcome.
Practice Makes Better
How does this phrase apply to the creative process?
Just like with anything, practice makes better
Every painting is not going to be your best (we need to all accept this fact)
Spending energy on “perfection” can lead to frustration and abandoning whatever painting, creative project, or endeavor you were working on since it “will never be perfect, so why bother”
What may be stopping you from putting in the time to practice?
Excuses and self limiting beliefs
I don’t have time. I don’t have enough money. I’m not talented enough/wasn’t born that way. Why waste time if it won’t turn out? What if I can’t replicate my success? Was it just a fluke?
Fear of failure...and fear of success!
Having excuses is way easier than being accountable for your big dreams!
Being distracted by productive procrastination tasks (Admin, website, social media, etc)
Why is it important to change Your perspective on this?
Instead of focusing on a perfect outcome, you can focus on learning to improve your outcome
You can pay attention to the way you learn, find the process that resonates with you best, and minimize frustration. Ex: Do you learn best with in-person workshops, books, or trial and error experiments?
Focus less on comparing yourself to others. Instead look back at what you’ve done in the past and see how you have improved over time.
What can you do right now?
Start putting in the time! Block off time and prioritize it in your weekly work flow (listen to episode 5: Time tracking)
Get out of your comfort zone - “No Excuses but No expectations”
If you need a push, try doing a challenge (ex. a week, month, year, 100 days)
Become a beginner again and experiment with a new style or medium
Find accountability through a friend, art group, or social media! Tag us! We will cheer you on!
To learn the importance of scheduling time to practice into your week and how it will drastically help you stay committed to your long term goals, listen to episode 5: Time Tracking
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