Stop Getting in the Way of Your Own Creativity

Mon 01 Nov 2021

 Stop Getting in the Way of Your Own Creativity

 
When you’re trying to innovate, emotions like fear, doubt, regret, and frustration can get in your way. Yet, they’re normal to feel. So how do you manage these feelings so they don’t stand in your way of being creative? Here are some common emotional hurdles — and what to do about them:

  (1)   The fear of getting started.

 Pursuing a truly innovative idea almost always involves risk and you might be worried that you don’t have the confidence or competence to succeed. Identify the source of your concern then seek out the information or partners you need to compensate for any shortcomings.
   (2)  The frustration of setbacks.

 Everyone knows it's important to learn from failure, but that doesn't mean it's easy to do. It's a process that requires conscious effort and discipline. If you do stumble, dissect what went wrong, process your grief, and reframe your misstep as an opportunity for a turnaround.
   (3)  A tendency to go into overdrive.

 Passion is a good thing. But if unbridled, it can hamper critical thinking. Schedule breaks and continually double check with those around you that you're on the right track.

This tip is adapted from “Stop Sabotaging Your Ability to Innovate,” by Cyril Bouquet et al.