7 Things That Block Your Creativity That You Should Stop Doing ...
By Corina • 12 Comments
By Corina • 12 Comments
If you are one of those people who need to be creative in order to make a living and you panic every time you feel something is holding you back, I must tell you that there actually are a few things that block your creativity that you should definitely stop doing, so you could focus more on the wonderful things you create. Most likely, you are the one who is holding you back. More precisely, it's your fears and anxieties and by letting them overcome you, you’ll become your own worst enemy by always sabotaging yourself. Those things can have a big impact on your creativity and they will keep you stuck until you find a way to get rid of them and conquer all your fears. So, just read on and find out what are those things that block your creativity that you should definitely stop doing:
One of the most common things that block your creativity is precisely the fact that you don’t believe in yourself as much as you should and that you don’t really see yourself as a creative person. In this case, you should definitely try to do something to boost your self-esteem and to enhance your self-confidence, because you shouldn’t let such a thing get in the way of your happiness. If you don’t believe in yourself, you will sabotage your own work and in order for others to appreciate it, you should start with doing this yourself first.
Another thing you can do to sabotage your creativity is to never feel prepared to start working because you think you are not ready yet or that it’s not the right time to achieve all your dreams. Well, actually it’s never a right time for anything; you will never be fully prepared to face all the obstacles in your path, because there will always be something new to learn. The truth is that the more you put yourself out there and the more you share the results of your creative work with other people, the more you will boost your self-confidence. Try not to wait for the right time to do something, because there couldn’t be a more perfect time than the present.
Fears and anxiety are the most common things that can cause you a creative block. Try not to let them prevent you from expressing yourself because you have so much to offer. Don’t be afraid that things won’t work out! Have faith in what you are doing and believe that you are actually good at it! Michaela Cristallo, blogger for lifehack.org said that “Life is all about pursuing great experiences, and your creativity is something worth pursuing regardless of the eventual outcome.” She couldn’t be more right!
This belief is a direct result of having a very low self-esteem that will surely get in the way of your creativity, causing you frequent creative blocks. Comparing yourself to other people is a very dangerous habit and we are all tempted to do it from time to time. Try to fight back as much as you can against this habit and start believing in yourself more! You are just as talented as other people and even more, and try to always remember that what usually looks average to you, will look amazing to other people.
Constantly thinking about your past failures is a sure way to get yourself down and lose all confidence in your work. Avoid obsessing over your past failures because if you are stuck in your past, it will be quite difficult for you to move forward. Think about the lessons you’ve learned from all those bad experiences in your past and focus on your future instead. Avoid dwelling on your past too much. What’s done is done and there’s no point in trying to change the things that cannot be changed; you’ll only waste your energy and you could also block your creativity.
One of the most common causes of creative blocks is stress and excessive busyness. By always being exhausted, you won’t be able to focus on your tasks and you surely won’t be able to get your creative juices flowing. Gary Klein, author of "Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights”, said that “Giving your mind the freedom to wander is essential to fostering creativity and innovative thinking.” There is even a lot of recent neuroscience research which “confirms that daydreaming involves the same brain processes that spark imagination and creativity”.
If you are usually sitting at your desk and you wait for that creative block to just pass, then I’m afraid you could be waiting for a very long time. Emily Heyward said that "Leaving your personal space for just a few minutes can make a huge difference in generating new ideas…So don’t underestimate the power of a change in scenery." You could try this the next time you find yourself stuck and I’m sure you will be impressed by the results.
In my opinion, these were just a few things that can block your creativity, but I’m sure that there are many more I haven’t mentioned in this little article. So, can you give me a hand and tell me what other things can get in the way of your creativity? Do tell!