One of the biggest barriers to getting our creative goals completed is the big four-letter word: FEAR.  Fear can take any creative dream or goal off the rails, no matter our progress and instead of a creative project that we are proud of, we have excuses, rationalizations or other messages that prevent us from moving forward in it's place.

What do we fear about moving forward with our creative dreams?  What other people think is huge....I may think I am an artist, but what if people don't consider me a good artist or an artist at all?  People don't know that I have a passion for creating music...they just know me as an accountant, engineer, office manager, etc.  How will people react to this side of me?  Will that threaten other opportunities?  Don't people think negatively of creative people?  Then there is failure....what if it doesn't work out?  What if people hate what I create? What if it alienates me from people I care about?  What if I look foolish?  We also can fear success....what if it DOES blow up in a good way?  Can I handle the attention I will receive?  Can I keep up with the orders?  What if I end up so successful that no one will be able to deal with it in my circle?  

What ever the reason, fear is real and can block us from moving forward with our creative practice.  What does fear look like? Any of these statements sound familiar:

• I'm too old to do that anyway.
• That is going to cost too much money/time that I don't have right now.
• My partner is not going to approve of me taking time to practice so I will need to let that idea go.
• I will do it next year.
• I am not sure if that makes sense for me to try that right now. 
• I don't know why I think I am writer anyway...my friend told me she couldn't understand my last text message, who am I to write a book?

And ten, twelve or twenty years later, we come back to our creative dreams and regret that we didn't move forward.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  

Here's some tips to begin moving past the fear of unleashing your creative dream and make it a reality:

1. Acknowledge your fear.  Don't deny it.  Don't fight it.  Acknowledge it.  Speak to it and let it know that you see it and it is not fooling you.  Tell it that you understand why it is there and that it is human to feel the way you do.
2. Explore the Worse Case Scenarios:  Write down everything you think will happen if you decide to move forward with your creative dream.  Will the world come to an end?  Put that down.   Will your partner/spouse leave you? Put it down.  Will you go broke trying to do it.  Include that.  Let your mind run wild.
3. Explore all of the good stuff that may happen if you start your creative dream.  Will you win a Grammy?  Write that down.   Will your book become a best seller?  Write it down.  Think of all the possibilities that you think would open if you pursue it no matter how wild or unrealistic it feels.
4. Look at both lists.  Which is longer?  What seems unrealistic?  When you look at the Worse Case Scenarios...do they seem true?  Or are they messages that you heard from someone else, something that someone may have told you about pursuing your creative dream.  Start crossing out what doesn't resonate or messages that were from someone else who feed their own fears to you.  Write next to it "I don't own this."
5. Take a look of what is left from you Worst Case Scenario list.  Are they true?  Play detective.  Let's say one item states I can't afford to do this is still on the list.  Think of what you can say in the form of an affirmation that can reverse this thinking such as "I have the resources to make my dream a reality" or "The Universe/God/Source will provide what I need to move toward my goal."  Post your affirmations in places that you can see them daily.
6. Using your new affirmations, start using micro-movements to address each area that you feel is keeping you from your dream.  For example, if it is money, make a goal to cut down on your daily latte habit in order to save money for your art or craft supplies for your creative project. 

When you find that you are making some progress, the voices and beliefs you may have held about whether you can or cannot do something will begin to vanish.  You will begin to feel more confident in your dream and your ability to execute it.

Working with an accountability partner or a creativity coach is also a good way to move past some fears.  Ready to get started on your creative dream?  Schedule a complimentary meeting with me at this link and let's talk!

Okay, when you read that heading, you scratched your head and said, “yeah right, a DAILY practice?  You are out of your mind.”  We might be, but we bet we're not.

As a busy professional, it may not be easy to keep up with a creative practice.  At times, you might longingly look at your studio space and feel guilty for neglecting it…after all that is what it is there for right?

How could you possibly fit one more thing in a day that is packed with meetings, appointments, social activities, gym work outs, family, pet duties…the list goes on and on….art will be there when it all “settles” down.  The sad thing is…we both know that it doesn’t tend to settle down (if you are anything like us, it tends to revive up even more!).

One way you might want to explore is online creative challenges.  This keeps your mojo flowing, allows you to experiment with different mediums and that you may not normally focus on in your own art practice.  

For example, Art Everyday Month, a 30 day challenge started by artist Leah Kolidas  occurs every November and encourages you to create something, anything, related to a daily prompt.  HeArt Space facilitated by art therapist, Kate Leppard is another one of our favorites.  It is an ongoing creative challenge with different topics each month to spur your artistic practice.

The additional benefit is that most of these challenges create community….a community of like-minded artists and creatives that are working through the challenge with you.  You may find yourself making many friends and colleagues from across the country  through the process since most of them include a private Facebook group to show your work or even at times vent about your creative process.

There are virtually 30-day or daily practice challenge in just about every creative field, whether it is writing, poetry, culinary arts, etc. you name it.  A google search on any of these topics with “daily challenge” or 30 day challenge will open you to a world of other creatives and can help jump start your practice.  There is nothing like seeing how others are juggling careers, kids, etc. and posting every day of their progress with a challenge.  If they can do it, you can too!

What creative challenges have your tried?  How have they enriched your creative life?