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There comes a time when we have to make a big decision with our creativity....whether or not to share it.  I have noticed this is a big issue for many people in creative recovery....I hear a lot of people rationalizing why they don't share their work. 

• "It's something I do for myself, not for others." 
• "I really never thought of sharing my work." 
• "It's not all of that...just something I do privately."

But in the back of many people's minds is really, "I don't feel confident about sharing my work."  Or "people are going to trash it."  And of course, "my work doesn't look as good as. so and so's."

Gaining the confidence to share your work is a process that takes time and patience.  I always tell people to be gentle with yourself with this and to trust your intuition as to when and how you will share your creativity.  But once you gain the courage to share your work, you will find that it will be one of the most rewarding and freeing feelings that you will ever experience.

It took another artist friend poking me ever so often to share my work.  I was more known as an art curator than an artist at the time, and didn't feel confident putting my work next to the beautifully talented artists that I worked with in exhibitions.  My friend and I were co-curatoring an exhibition at a coffee shop in Baltimore, Maryland and she encouraged me to make something for the show.  I did and it was a proud moment for me to place it on the wall and place a label beside it.  After that, I had the courage to submit my work in a few exhibitions and next thing I knew, I was exhibiting regularly as an artist.  When I first sold my first art piece, I really gain more confidence to create more work for exhibitions.  Even today, after over ten years of exhibiting my work, I get just as excited as I did with my first sale.

But how do you get there?  Here's a few tips that may help you move from hiding your work to getting it all out there.

1. Feel all the feels.  Putting your work out there makes you vulnerable.  You are opening inner muse to the world.  It's scary.  ou are putting yourself out there...sharing your truth on your terms.  Don't deny yourself or ignore the fact that the fear is real.  But know this, when your creativity is something that the world needs.  Someone is wating to be inspired by what you create.  And you are worthy to create and share something that can be celebrated by others.. Don't waste energy on what people think, what someone else is doing or the "crtics"....it doesn't have to be perfect.  And creativity  moves us to take risks....you know that you are on the right track when you are moved past your comfort zone.  Write out what you feel is the worst possible outcome of sharing  your creativity.  Then write out what you feel the benefits are.  Look at the first list...and ask yourself, how likely is the worst outcome actually happen?  How would you feel if another 5 or 10 years go by and you missed out on the benefits of sharing your work?  Let your muse lead the way.
2. What is your "why?"  Think about why you want to share your work.  Is it a life-long goal?  Is it help or bring beauty to others?  Or is it because someone is pressuring you to do it?  Be clear how sharing your work can fulfill you personally.  If you are giving into pressure from outside of you when you don't feel ready, examine why you feel the need to give in and how it would benefit you.
3. Set a goal to share your work.  When you decide that you are ready to share, set a goal that you feel that you can reach easily.  What is a good time to share it?  When do you think you might be ready? The goal does not have to be big or fancy, just what works for you. You may want to think more sooner than later, i.e., why wait a year when you know your work may be ready in 3 months? 
4. Visualize what success might look like.  What are you looking to gain as a result (which is related to your why)?  For example, are you looking for feedback, compensation, or the satisfaction that you are contributing your creativity to the world?  How do you want to feel?  Visualize and concentrate on what you want the outcome to look and feel like so you can own the moment. 
5. Get some honest feedback.   Share your work with one or two people you trust and be open to their feedback before you share to a wider audience.  Choose someone who is not only supportive of your creativity but can provide objective feedback in a tactful and helpful way.  If you are a part of a cretive communitiy that you trust, share your work with them.  Listen actively and let your intutition guide you on making any necessary changes.  You don't have to incorporate any feedback, but don't be closed. Stay open to what is said about your work, you may stumble on something that will really take your work to another level.
6. Choose the Venue or Event to debut your work.  It may be sharing your poetry during the next family dinner gathering or the writing support group you are a member of.  You may want to display your art in your office where your co-workers can see it.  Start small then to get overwhelmed or intimidated by something big.

In conclusion, I thought I would share the following advice that appeared on on a blog featured on Life Hacker on the topic of sharing your creativity by Leanne Regalla, a Freelance writer and content marketer: 

• "Take baby steps. People vastly underestimate all that is involved in getting your work out there.
• You'll never be without fear. Successful people learn to act in spite of fear.
• Mistakes aren't the end of the world, and when handled gracefully they can win you fans and friends.
• Everyone won't like your work, and that's ok. It doesn't make you less of a person or artist.
• Celebrate your victories, even (especially) the small ones!"

Have you recently started sharing your creative work to others?  What steps did you take to get the courage to share your work?  What would you do differently?

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 its 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?  

Whatever 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!