How to Conquer Your Fear of Creating, Part 1
“It’s okay lose to opponent! Must not lose to fear!”
- Mr. Miyagi
Are you afraid to create? Do your fears stop you from creating anything at all? You are not alone!
You might be bursting at the seams, full of energy and desire to create something, but your fears - your multitude of fears - prevent you from unleashing your talent. The result? You don’t create anything. It’s like sticking a cork in a bottle; you block yourself and nothing comes out. And then? Distraction. Rationalization. Addiction. A low-grade sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Fun, huh? Not really!
I’d like to spend the next couple of posts examining this issue, because it’s such a universal experience for so many talented people.
Let’s start with this: everybody feels fear. It’s part of the human condition. Even the greatest creators feel fear. In Steven Pressfield’s War of Art, he says that Henry Fonda used to puke before going on stage, even after all his success as an actor. Carly Simon also suffers from stage fright.
The key is - and this has become a cliche but it’s true - to feel the fear and do it anyway.
It goes like this: you’re about to begin a creative project when suddenly fear stops you cold. There are two things you can do in this moment:
The first is you can let it stop you - you can go eat a box of Oreos, watch TV, or call your friends.
The second option is to say, “Hello fear. I hear you, I feel you, I see you, and I’m going to set you over there in the corner for a little while, so that I can start Chapter 1 of my novel.”
I’m not sure I believe in this thing called “the fear of success.” I think we all want to be successful creators. I think it boils down to fear of failure.
Here are what I believe to be the most common fears about creating:
1. Fear that what you create won’t be perfect.
2. Fear of not knowing what to create.
3. Fear that you’re not good enough.
4. Fear caused by overwhelm (of a big project).
5. Fear of looking foolish.
All of these fears will lead to one thing if we’re not careful: no creating.
In my next post, I’m going to address each fear and suggest solutions for conquering them.
Meantime, I leave you with the video below. It’s the final scene from Karate Kid 3. (Don’t laugh, this is good stuff!) Daniel is getting his butt kicked, and he’s scared to death. “I’m afraid!” he screams to Mr. Miyagi. Watch what happens next - and notice how his opponent taunts him with the same kind of ruthless dialogue that can run through our heads when we feel afraid to create. I think you’ll be inspired by what happens.
Thank you for a very inspirational article. I loved the clip. I don’t think I watched the sequels and perhaps now I will.
To paraphrase Mr. Miyagi, we can to lose to the marketplace. It’s not okay to lose to fear so that you don’t create at all.
I also love how he brought him back reminding him to focus.
When we focus our mind shifts to active creation rather than the paralysis of fear.
Great way to put a face/voice to our Resistance, Mark.
Thanks for the reminder - it’s not bad when we lose to the opponent of the moment (a skill we’re building or the marketplace as Tom said). We grow and change as they do.
Losing to Fear means we don’t even try.
I was writing short stories and poetry but I have slowed way down because I can’t make it sound like my heart feels it. I was writing one piece a week, but now…maybe one every other month. I miss it. It’s very theraputic for me. I feel like I have a longer story inside of me but, I have to admit, it’s stuck.
Tom - welcome! Glad you enjoyed the clip. Admittedly, the rest of the movie is pretty silly but I love those movies anyway. Great lessons, especially for kids.
John - glad you enjoyed the post, my friend!
Laurie - Hang in there…I know how you feel. Just keep the notebook and pen out in a place where you can write easily. Maybe set aside a half hour a day and let it all pour out.
Hi Mark,
Ironically I don’t have a fear when I am posting to my blog (although I did in the beginning), I often stop dead in my tracks when I’m working on a decorating projects…especially paint colors. I have a kazillion paint chips, and look at them in different light (like you’re suppose to), then I can’t decide, so I don’t do anything.
And, I know if I make a mistake I can just paint over it. I ask myself, what’s that all about?
I think the fear of being in the MIDDLE of creating something and not all the way done yet, is more terrifying for me than the initial jumping off point! Yikes…
Get out of my brain with the Oreos! LOL
Thanks for this! Very inspiring and FABULOUS as usual. Kudos!
p.s. I don’t know if you are on stumbleupon or not, but I have been stumbling your articles and my friends seem to really be enjoying them as well! Keep it up
Fantastic subject, Mark. I’m looking forward to the series!
Barbara - too many choices! If someone forced you to choose the top 3 picks, you’d be able to do it I’m sure. I have the same problem when I visit Joan & Ed’s deli. I open the menu and I get this zombie-like stare for the next 20 minutes.
Dr. Nicole - aw shucks, thanks for Stumbling my articles! I really appreciate the very kind words, too. (For that you get a free box of Oreos and your next virtual beverage is on the house.) Yeah, the middle of a project can be a challenging time. “Resistance” can stop you if you’re not careful. Passion for the project is what gets you through. I totally relate to what you’re saying.
Mags - glad you like, see you back here soon!
thanks again, Mark.
you find great video clips. YAY! would love to know how you find/pick ‘em.
FEAR. ugh. in my my centered/sane/confident moments i can say that fear is the opposite of faith. when i’m IN FEAR, it looks different. it looks bigger.
i appreciate your nudge to shift AND i look forward to the rest of this series.
go ahead. i’m not afraid.
I love this Mark! It is so true, that fear can paralyze us sometimes. For me, it can be the fear of being vulnerable (to failure, success, embarrassment, etc). And sometimes I let that fear stop me - I shouldn’t. I’m getting better at it, and this is a great reminder to not let fear win out.
Lisa - ha! Glad you’re not afraid of what comes next. I find my the vids on YouTube and sort of know in advance what I want to find.
Lance - Being vulnerable and open to rejection is a big fear for a lot of people. Funny you mention it, because I added another fear to my list: fear of looking foolish! Stay tuned…