Afraid to Fail

Are you afraid to fail? I mean, in your art, are you afraid you aren't as good as your mom says you are? Here's the thing, no one is as good as their mom thinks they are... Let that sink in, but that doesn't mean you aren't INCREDIBLY talented!

Our moms make us think we are perfect in our art from a young age and it instills a sense of pride. We are so confident we are a good artist we create and share and create and share until one day, we are no longer in grade school and someone says what we made isn't that great.

From then on, many of us become afraid that NO ONE will think we are good (not to mention, we stop trusting our mom's assessment of our work, sorry mom).

This lack of confidence can hold an artist back. Being afraid to fail or have someone not like your work will hold you back the rest of your life if you let it.

Did you know, Charles Schultz's drawings were rejected by his high school yearbook?

In case you didn't know, Charles Chultz went on from that failure to create the Peanuts cartoon (Charlie Brown and Snoopy). The cartoon and licensing/product revenue from Peanuts generated over $1 billion a year... The high school eventually put a statue of Snoopy in the main office.

If the rejection at his high school would have caused Mr. Schultz to give up, how would we have Christmas Charlie Brown?!

Your art might not be perfect to you, but if you are too afraid about the comments of others to put it out there, you hurt yourself as well as the legacy you could be leaving.

The world can't love what it doesn't know exists

What's the solution?

STOP BEING AFRAID!

Don't measure your success by only what others say or don't say. If you live for praise, you will die by criticism. You will find success only in the trying.

Yes, putting your work out there is scary, but here's a truth that every artist MUST come to terms with in their own way.

"YOU are not what you create"

You are so much more than what you can do, say, create, or contribute. You have an identity that is separate from your work. Until you understand this truth, you will be wounded by any comment less than perfect praise.

On the flip side, understanding this concept will free you to become so much better! You will be able to create better work as you incorporate your critics' thoughts. You will become stronger as you are able to let negativity and rude comments go by the wayside. You will have a deeper love for what you do and be able to produce more work when you are no longer saddled with fear and anxiety coming from the need for approval.

Know who you are, understand that in no way is who you are what you create. From there, this graphic below won't be scary, but exciting.

Here is an incredible book that will allow you to free your identity from your work if you let it. Dr. Brown has truly gifted the world with her research, even though it wasn't always the easiest thing to talk about. Check it out and start your journey to creating more life changing pieces today!

(Click to get copy)