Have you ever had an idea jump into your head that got you really excited about? But before you knew it you’d fallen into a pattern of over-thinking it and talking yourself out of it before you’d even begun.
Soon the excitement turns to dread as you work out all the ways it might fail. You have a solid 1:1 with yourself about how you’re not ready and this probably isn’t the right direction for you take. Sound familiar?
Time to reset your default
For most creative souls (like you and me) our default has been set to over-think any great idea that falls upon us. It’s a pattern we’ve developed and honed over many years. We’ve actually become quite good at it.
Honestly, if over-thinking were an Olympic sport, I’d be a world champion.
As soon as an idea appears we judge it and ask that well known question “will it work?”
But I want you to stop. I want you to instead start to reset your default from “will it work?” to “what will I learn?”
It’s a simple flip in perspective that will help you embrace your ideas without judgment and critique.
You won’t know until you try
As a Discovery Coach, I work with people who often come to me stuck. They’ve spent so long thinking about their ideas that they have no idea which direction to take.
They’ve talked themselves out of most of them before they’ve even started with the belief that when everything makes sense, they’ll begin.
I hate to break it to you but it doesn’t work that way.
You have to get your hands dirty and actually try things out in the real world to see how they feel for you. Just because something makes sense on paper doesn’t mean it’s the right idea for you.
Perfection is not your friend
Another excuse I’ve used in the past and see every week with my clients is their need for perfection. But perfection cannot be achieved in solitude.
Your idea must be shared and allowed to evolve before it can be perfected.
Perfection is just another shield we put up to protect ourselves from trying something new.
Learn from each experience
Not everything you try in your business will work. But the trick it to try things often to get closer to your ideal of what will.
Learn from every client you work with.
Learn what feels right and what doesn’t.
Learn what your natural style is.
Learn how you truly want to work.
Learn what resonates and what doesn’t.
The cycle of creativity and fear
Elizabeth Gilbert put it perfectly when she said “Creativity and fear are conjoined twins baby!”
It’s only natural that each time you create something that’s important to you, you’ll feel anxious and scared about how it will be received.
But it’s not as bad as you think it is. You’re probably your worst critic and all those tiny details that you fretted about will barely be noticed.
So what next?
Next time you get an idea, celebrate it! Instead of starting to stress about whether your idea will work or not, ask yourself ,“What will I learn?”
