As a young adult, I was always the quiet one, too shy to speak up if I wasn't with my friends or family. It wasn't until I started studying sign language that I realized just how much my shyness was holding me back. Sign language requires a lot of facial expressions and nonverbal communication, something that was almost impossible for me to do.
I knew I had to do something to break out of my shell and challenge myself. That's when I decided to enroll in musical theatre school. It was a big leap for me, but I knew it was the only way to push myself out of my comfort zone.
When I first started studying musical theatre, I was terrified. I was afraid of making mistakes, of not being good enough, of embarrassing myself in front of my classmates. I was so nervous that I could barely even breathe. But slowly, I started to find my footing. I learned how to project my voice, how to move my body, and most importantly, how to express myself.
It wasn't easy, but the more I challenged myself, the more I learned. And the more I learned, the more confident I became. By the end of the year, I felt like a completely different person. I was someone who was comfortable in their own skin. At least most of the times.
I had learned that making mistakes was a natural part of the learning process, and that it was okay to not be perfect all the time. Each mistake taught me something new, whether it was a new technique, a new approach, or even a new perspective. And each time I got back up and tried again, I became more and more confident in myself and my abilities.
But it wasn't just about making mistakes. It was also about being willing to share my ideas, even if I wasn't sure if they were good. In creative work, it's important to be able to bounce ideas off of others and to receive feedback. This can be scary, as it opens us up to criticism, but it's also essential for growth.
When I started sharing my ideas with my classmates and teachers, I was surprised at how helpful their feedback was. Even if they didn't love my idea, they were able to offer suggestions and insights that helped me refine it and make it better. And when I received criticism, I learned not to take it personally, but to use it as a tool for improvement.
In the end, it was my willingness to take risks, make mistakes, and receive feedback that helped me grow the most. It can be scary to put yourself out there, but it's also essential if you want to improve and succeed. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself, to take risks, and to push past your fears. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with what you're capable of.
If you're feeling stuck or afraid to take that next step, remember that it's okay to make mistakes. In fact, it's often the mistakes that teach us the most.
Looking back, I realize that the only way to grow is to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It's easy to stay in the same place and not challenge yourself, but that's not how you learn and grow. Whether it's enrolling in a new course, trying a new hobby, or simply talking to someone new, always remember to challenge yourself and forever learn.
As a creative professional, you know that the path to success is not always easy. There are many barriers to creativity, and one of the most common is self-criticism. When you're too hard on yourself, it can be difficult to generate new ideas and take risks in your work. Self-criticism can take many forms, such as imposter syndrome or perfectionism, which can prevent you from exploring new ideas and approaches (Neff, K. 2011).
Both imposter syndrome and perfectionism are big barriers to creativity. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of doubting your abilities and constantly feeling like a fraud, while perfectionism is the constant striving for an unattainable ideal and never feeling satisfied with your work. Unfortunately, I'm not free from these struggles and find myself battling both of them.
Whatever form it takes, self-criticism can be a major barrier to creativity. It can make you hesitant to take risks or try new things, and can prevent you from exploring new ideas and approaches, which can be paralyzing. It's so important to understand that creativity is not a magical process—it’s simply a set of skills that can be learned and practiced. And just like any other skill, it requires practice! The first step is to understand that self-criticism is not just the enemy of creativity. In fact, it can be a powerful tool for helping you get there. Without self-criticism, we would never evaluate our ideas or see their flaws and limitations.
How can you overcome self-criticism and unleash your creativity?
One approach is to practice self-compassion. This means treating yourself with the same kindness, care, and understanding that you would offer to a good friend. When you make a mistake or fall short of your expectations, instead of beating yourself up, try offering yourself words of encouragement and support. A study by Breines et al. (2015) found that self-compassion motivates people to improve personal weaknesses, moral transgressions, and test performance. In this study, researchers divided participants into two groups: a self-compassion group and a control group. The self-compassion group was asked to write about an area in their lives where they felt vulnerable or had made a mistake. They were also asked to describe how they would offer comfort to someone else who had experienced this same vulnerability or mistake. Another approach is to focus on the process rather than the outcome. A study by Roth et al. (2015) found that people who focused on their performance (i.e., how well they performed a task) were less creative than those who focused on their personal growth (i.e., learning something new about themselves through the experience).
Another approach is to reframe your thinking. Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, try viewing them as opportunities for growth and learning. When you take risks and try new things, you may not always succeed, but you'll always learn something valuable. A study by Zabelina and Robinson (2010) found that self-compassion can facilitate creative originality. Self-compassion is the ability to recognize when you’re experiencing difficult emotions, and treat yourself with kindness. It’s an adaptive response that allows you to move through difficult experiences rather than being overwhelmed by them. Self-compassion can help creative thinkers move through difficult experiences and allow them to be more open-minded, flexible and original. In other words, it helps you experience your emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. This can make it easier for you to experiment with different ideas, which fosters creativity.
In the end, self-control and self-criticism are two sides of the same coin. By practicing self-compassion and reframing your thinking, you can overcome the barriers to creativity and produce your best work. So don't let self-criticism hold you back. Embrace your creativity and take risks, knowing that the journey may be difficult, but the rewards are worth it.
Another study by Van Dam et al. (2011) explored the idea that self-compassion can help to reduce procrastination and increase creativity. This study found that those who experienced self-compassion showed greater emotional affect and creativity than those in the control condition. By practicing self-compassion, you can not only overcome self-criticism but also reduce procrastination, which is another major barrier to creativity.
As a UX designer, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to overcome self-criticism and unleash your creativity. But I'm also learning that self-compassion and reframing your thinking can be powerful tools for breaking down these barriers and producing your best work. By treating yourself with kindness, care, and understanding, you can overcome imposter syndrome and perfectionism and open yourself up to new ideas and approaches.
So if you're struggling with self-criticism, know that you're not alone. But also know that there are ways to overcome these barriers and tap into your creativity. Embrace your mistakes, take risks, and treat yourself with kindness and compassion along the way. With time and practice, you'll find that your creativity can flourish, and your work can reach new heights.
References:
Zabelina, D. L., & Robinson, M. D. (2010). Don't be so hard on yourself: Self-compassion facilitates creative originality among self-judgmental individuals. Creativity Research Journal, 22(3), 288-293.
Neff, K. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. HarperCollins
Breines, J. G., McInnis, C. M., Kuras, Y. I., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Almeida, D. M., &leder, N. (2015). Self-compassion, stress, and coping in the context of chronic illness. Self and Identity, 14(3), 334-347.
Van Dam, N. T., Sheppard, S. C., Forsyth, J. P., & Earleywine, M. (2011). Self-compassion is a better predictor than mindfulness of symptom severity and quality of life in mixed anxiety and depression. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(1), 123-130.
Roth et al. (2015). Academic Performance, Career Potential, Creativity, and Job Performance: Can One Construct Predict Them All?