006: Psychology’s Top Tips For Starting Your Creative Work Part 2
SelfPubEmpire Podcast
Season 1 Episode 006
Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
In the last episode we started with seven thought provoking tips on how to get started on your creative work! We’ll round out this two-part series with another seven and some bonus material on Motivation versus Discipline.
Practice mindfulness.
Use a grounding technique such as deep breathing to bring yourself into the present moment. “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle emphasizes living in the present moment to focus on the task at hand.
Concentrate on one aspect of the project at a time and give it your full attention. For creators, the demands of continuous creativity can be balanced by mindfulness.
It’s also been said that concentration is the new superpower. In this age, we have so many distractions at our fingertips, being mindful can help create that focus... and create a habit.Embrace uncertainty.
Uncertainty involves acknowledging that creativity often flourishes in environments where there is ambiguity and unpredictability.
Remembering and embracing uncertainty combats perfectionism as well. I have told myself that the books are not perfect. They will never be perfect. This is ok.Develop self-compassion
Self-compassion involves countering self-criticism by recognizing and appreciating the effort put into creative work.
Go easy on yourself sometimes. Or more importantly be empathetic. If you are moving forward and working on something, that is more than most people can say.Find joy in the process.
Focus on enjoying the act of creating rather than solely aiming for end results. Some of this can be balanced with small milestones as we talked about last time.
If you do not like the work, maybe you are doing the wrong work. Or if all you can do is focus on the end, then you need to really, really break that down into smaller bites.
This is especially important for creators. So many times, you push through and get your magnum opus done, prepare for releasing it to the world, have all this excitement, then release it… and no one seems to care. Sometimes followers take time to accumulate, for example. I hope you are doing something you love.
Seek feedback selectively.
Do not make the mistake of getting feedback from everyone.
You are looking for a balanced approach here. Side note, if your significant other is unsupportive, you need to do one of three things. Either stop because you are just working against the stream and flow of your life, explain kindly with the intent of getting them on board with your work, or find a new significant other. Sadly, sometimes it takes option three.Manage perfectionism.
It. Will. Never. Be. Perfect.The Japanese have a concept called wabi-sabi. It’s embracing imperfections as integral components of the creative journey is essential for fostering creativity without being hindered by unrealistic expectations.
Accepting that things will not be perfect is by far one of the most powerful ways to unblock your flow and get back on track. Remember, you can always go back and revise. I recommend not revising right away. Get it out, get the book out on paper, and then go back.
Embody resilience.
Cultivate emotional flexibility and adaptability when encountering setbacks or obstacles within the creative process, using challenges as opportunities for growth.
This helps you remain open-minded, pivot from setbacks, and extract valuable lessons from adversity. This psychological approach fosters perseverance, fortitude, and an enduring commitment to the creative endeavor, ultimately enhancing the capacity to overcome hurdles while maintaining momentum towards achieving project goals. And momentum and flow matter a ton in doing the work.BONUS: Discipline is a greater power than motivation. Data from a Harvard Business Review article revealed that disciplined individuals outperform their less disciplined counterparts by 59% in tasks requiring consistent effort over time. So, what separates you from other creators? Small bites, disciplined, consistent actions. That’s what.
I hope these two episodes helped you rethink how you approach your creative process. 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration should help you get, from Posts to Profit! Until next time, keep going and believe in yourself.