Photo credit: pschubert at morguefile.com
I’ve been alternatively sitting at my keyboard and with my pen in hand lately like a doe in the headlights, taking what seems like forever to move and commit words to the blank screen or page.
When I do start writing, I tend to second-guess myself and I’m very tempted to delete every other sentence, thinking what comes forth is obvious and convincing myself no one would find it useful or entertaining.
I used to delete those phrases and sentences that made me cringe.
Thanks to some sage advice from my wonderful creativity/business coach, I now simply put brackets around them and decide their fate during the editing phase.
I came across this wonderful video this morning written, produced and narrated by Derek Sivers , and knew I wanted to share it with my readers.
Watching this video convinced me unequivocally how important it is that we just create and stop holding ourselves back from making progress with developing and producing (and sharing) our creative work.
Maybe what we offer the world will trigger an idea in someone else, motivate them to come up with something beautiful and inspirational to send out into the world so that the next person who comes across that creation will be duly stimulated…
Maybe what’s obvious to you, is amazing to someone else.
And so the wonderful ripple effect will continue to flow and widen its sphere of influence and life-changing creative power.
With this potential in the forefront of your mind, you can begin to feel excited to be a part of the whole creative chain reaction and this positive inertia can propel you through and past the self-doubt, fear and tendency to discount the value of what you’re attempting to create.
We should just put it out there and let the world decide.
Allow yourself to feel freer and enjoy the process more, not solely looking at how it will be received. Just be you and offer what naturally comes from your unique mix of talents, passions, personality, life experience and metaphysical guidance from the muse.
Do you have a creative project or ambition that you keep putting off, telling yourself it can’t be worthwhile because it’s too obvious or not worth putting out there? Will you do what Derek Sivers suggests in his video and just put it out there and let the world decide?
Love the idea of putting brackets around the work and carrying on, Carole Jane. Great post and I’ve also enjoyed reading the comments. Totally agree with Patrick about being so quick to dismiss our own talents while we happily encourage those of others. I have a photographer friend who says that she wishes everyone could see the beauty that she sees in others. But so many of us deny it….
Charlotte Rains Dixon recently posted..Tool For Writers: Attentional Training
Thanks, Charlotte. I wish we creatives weren’t so quick to dismiss or discount praise from others too. Sure keeps us humble, though
I really like what Patrick shared in his recent post, how it’s important for us who have self-imposed creative deadlines to celebrate the milestones in our work or victories as they arrive, rewarding ourselves with a small token or gesture. I’m bad at following through with that myself and want to try it out next time I successfully complete a creative goal of mine. From what I’ve observed in others, it does seem to work wonders and spurs them on with renewed creative vigor tackle the next challenge.
I’ve just recently realised that I’ve been taking my life in China for granted. I haven’t been writing about it because I see it every day. But when I do mention it on my blog or in comments, other people get really excited.
So I’m working on a new blog about life in China, figuring that the little everyday things I encounter will be fascinating to others.
Here goes! *Plunge!*
Jessica Baverstock recently posted..NaNo WriMo Week 2 Highlights
Wow, I’m excited about your new blog project, Jessica! I think you’ll offer really insightful perspectives, not only about life in China, but universal lessons that will be valuable for all of us the world over
Way cool and I’ll be looking for it! Say hi to Edward for me; hope he’s not putting you through the paces too badly!
What a wonderful way to approach life and sharing what you have with the world! I have been putting off a blog post about yoga (big passion of mine!) because I feel like so much of what I have to say will be OBVIOUS to everyone because many of my friends are yogis and yoginis. That said, things that inspire me never stop inspiring just because ti’s something I already “know”, so why should yoga be any different!
Here I go…
Sabrina Bolin recently posted..Mind: Let’s Cast Amnesia – Wisdom through forgetting
Hi Sabrina! You know, after I read your comment I wanted to shout, “Go, Sabrina, Go!” It’s my blog so I can do what I want…so I will
So very glad you’re going for it; I admire you already. Watch me running to read your blog post; what a great, intriguing title!
Hope to ‘see’ you around online often.
Many thanks for the support, Carole! And thanks for running over to read my post!
I was telling my boyfriend about my virtual network of new friends, and I think I may have scared him (cult talk!). But I’ve found tapping into the “Twittersphere” and “blogosphere” really have been amazing ways to connect with people on the same wavelength with whom to share my passions. Looking forward to seeing more great stuff from you!
Sabrina Bolin recently posted..Soul: No Man is an Island – The Importance of Making Connections
Beautifully put! It’s so true that what seems obvious to us may be just what others need to know but haven’t figured out yet. Or maybe we’ll have a way of phrasing it that hits home. Like, for example, “Put it out and let the world decide.” Genius!
Sue Mitchell recently posted..The Inner Demon That Trumps Them All
Hiya Sue,
I agree with you, ‘Put it out there and let the world decide’ is a great anthem for talented, angst-ridden creatives. It’s wonderfully sneaky in that it is of immense value in itself to the person doing the work to actually finish and launch a project into the world. More than likely the work will be well-received and useful to some, and this could only serve as icing on the victory cake.
Carole,
What wonderful encouragement! I have found that I do that same thing with my writing – just try to get it down and edit later. I still struggle with liberal use of the “Delete” key but I’m getting better.
Brenda recently posted..The Lady-in-Waiting
Hi Brenda,
So glad to ‘see’ you! I really think we need to start a 12-step creative support group and call ourselves “The Non-Deletions” or something. Maybe we can set up a common time to write and check in on Twitter with our own hashtag and encourage one another to stop with the backspace button already!
Get it done and edit later – great advice. Maybe on second appraisal we’ll be a little less harsh with deleting some things that really should be kept in our piece of work?
I, for one, am so grateful you do overcome and publish such wonderful art (both with your photos and your writing).
Great post! It’s a good reinforcement to me. I just blogged a couple of weeks ago about a similar light-bulb moment I had on this point when I heard a speaker at a conference, and my post was called “Dare to be Boring.” I like “obvious” better!
What really struck me in that video was how he immediately disagreed when the person told him his idea was brilliant. I have an auto-react mode that immediately dismisses any praise, so much so that people have told me it’s annoying to get push-back when they’re trying to be complimentary. That seems to tie in with your post here, this notion of dismissing what we have to offer.
Patrick Ross recently posted..5 Steps to Meeting Self-Imposed Deadlines
Patrick! You’re gonna smile at this: I realized an hour after I published my post today that I had forgotten to include a reference to your post (which I meant to, ‘cuz it’s relevant and you had such great points) but hadn’t jotted it down as a reminder in my notes. D’oh and duh me
I think you and I and many, many other creatives out there tend to encourage others and be quick with sincere praise to give to them, but we’re a bit too dismissive when considering ourselves/our own work.
In my case, it’s been challenging to accept praise because I grew up in an environment where affirmation was not really a common experience, so it feels awkward or foreign to me. It’s just in the last year or so that I’m learning to try and not reject/return the gift of a sincere compliment as soon as it’s given to me.
So glad you came by; you always have something really useful and encouraging to add to the conversation.
Hi Jo,
I’d encourage you to just breathe and press that ‘do it’ button and let the world decide. Your work deserves to be enjoyed and out there to inspire others. I look forward to seeing your Etsy shop soon! Hugs.
Your photography is amazing (not obvious!)
Wow, this really hit home! It was exactly what I needed. It seems that every time I begin to write, I accomplish nothing because of the deletions! Thank you so much for this wonderful post…
Hi Kristin,
So glad this all resonates with you as well. I just know you and I and so many others have a wealth of creative wonder inside of us. Maybe if we band together in spirit, keeping one another in mind, it’ll make it easier to forge ahead.
The world needs your work, Kristin. Please don’t delete anymore
Thanks so much for coming by and sharing. Looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.
Oh just the kick in the pants I need
I have everything set up on etsy and ready to go but……
Maybe it’s time to just do it
Thanks CJ I love that video.