“The worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt,” wrote Sylvia Plath in her journal. And she couldn’t have been more accurate.
Self-doubt can persuade us to stop creating or keep us from sending our work out into the world. It can be so influential that it colors how we see ourselves, ensuring we don’t pick up a pen, paintbrush, camera or other tool for decades.
“Self-doubt paralyzed me for 25 years,” said Meghan Davidson, Ph.D, a psychologist, professor and researcher at the University of Nebraska. When Davidson was eight years old, her art teacher wrote in her report card that she had “no artistic ability whatsoever.”
This destroyed Davidson. Her teacher’s words became a running joke in her family, who had no idea of their crushing effect.
It was only after a personal health crisis reminded her of the brevity of life that Davidson decided to pursue her creativity. She picked up a camera. Today, she’s an accomplished photographer whose work has been featured in gallery shows and publications such as UPPERCASE and Artful Blogging.
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Amazing article! I seriously needed some tips for keeping on the creativity flow.
I also feel self-doubt flooding whenever I sit with someone more talented than me, but I think I should curb this into learning rather than feeling inferior.
As a screenwriter who’s struggled with this myself from time to time, (and what creative person hasn’t?), I really appreciated this piece. I especially liked #5 about reframing the self-doubt and using it to inspire you. Sometimes when I find myself in this place and fed up with that, I just make up my mind I’m going to be DEFIANTLY creative!
Thanks!
Thanks for these very helpful ideas. Self-doubt seems to “hang around” even for highly talented and accomplished creators. Here is another quote that relates, : “Writing a novel is like making love, but it’s also like having a tooth pulled. Pleasure and pain. Sometimes it’s like making love while having a tooth pulled. The pain is a product of the ceaseless self-doubt that sits like a demonic imp on my shoulder from the moment I begin the first sentence until long after I finish the last, informing me in a whisper – occasionally in a stentorian rant – that I am composing this story with less success than any three-legged toad might experience if it attempted to herd sheep.”
Dean Koontz [on randomhouse.com] – His books are published in at least 38 languages. Ten or more of his novels have risen to number one on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. – From my post Managing Creative Anxiety: Change Your Thinking
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/creative-mind/2011/03/managing-creative-anxiety-change-your-thinking/
Another useful article. When I am not counselling I enjoy writing songs and poetry. I know my work will never be published but I just love it as a way of resting my mind from its usual routines and thoughts.
Sometimes when I cannot think of anything to write, I practice mindfulness.
I let thoughts enter my consciousness and simply notice them and let them go. I repeat this process for a while until a useful word, thought or feeling pops up. Then I start writing.
Give it a go. It is like removing the clutter to find some clarity and creativity.
Cheers for the article,
David