Dear Creative Soul: slay your what-ifs

Dear Creative Soul,

Do you recognise any of these questions:

◦ What if my work isn't good enough?
◦ What if people think that I am a crap artist?
◦ What if nobody buys my work?
◦ What if I can't think of anything good after I finish my book?
◦ What if someone steals my idea?

What-ifs are so toxic (even re-reading the list above gives me the creeps). Constantly asking yourself: “what if…” is the fastest way to drag yourself onto the path of inaction and panic.

What-ifs suck the joy of creating away.

What-ifs have kept me locked in procrastination, not writing for months.

If they are so powerful, how the heck do you slay them?

Realise that you are the thinker. No one else is. Just you. This gives you power to face them. First use this little trick: Answer the question.

What if I am not good enough? Maybe I’m not now but I will be. Just need to keep at it. Rome wasn't built in a day.

But the best way to tackle what ifs is this one: just keep creating.

It's that simple.

Also, remember this: what-ifs are liars. They plague you when you haven’t even finished creating your book or your artwork.

No first draft is perfect. No quick sketch on a canvas is the finished artwork. They are the start of your creative project. They are supposed to be imperfect.

No matter what your what-ifs are thrown at you, keep creating. You will get better, you will finish your artwork. You will write the end for your book.

Just have faith in your creativity, and keep going.

Create on,
Sylvia