Like so many creative artists and entrepreneurs, I’ve come to appreciate the courage and strength it takes. To keep our enterprising endeavors moving forward we must clear internal obstacles, and that inner critic can be mean. It can also be obnoxiously effective at stopping us in our creative tracks.
Fortunately, there are ways to be crafty right back. When the saboteur strikes, here are three simple strategies to keep your creativity rolling.
The inner saboteur puts a halt to creative action. That’s its job. And nothing demonstrates this better than one story behind the word “saboteur.”
“Sabot” is a word for wooden shoe. During the industrial revolution, some workers in the factories in France would have trouble keeping up with the production quotas expected of them. They realized that the only way to get a break would be if the machinery were to stop. So, they would throw a wooden shoe into the machines, and they would grind to a halt. Thus, the practice of “sabotage” was born.
Problem is that the success of our business counts on us to keep our creativity flowing. Sure, this internal disruption is part of our human experience, but I believe that our creative evolution depends on our ability to break these debilitating habits.
This saboteur’s insidious voice might say things like:
“People don’t really want what you have to offer.”
“There is only one right way and you should know it always.”
“You’re asking too much.”
“You don’t, won’t and can’t have what you want and need. Ever.”
“Who do you think you are, anyway?! You don’t have what it takes.”
“You’ll never figure this out.”
Sound familiar? Although these “you’re-not-good-enough” messages vary for each of us, they can be especially acute on the brink of a creative step. Is such inner chatter undermining your creative power and process? There’s hope.
What can you do?
#1 Notice
One way to deal with this little bugger is to first notice and become aware of sabotaging messages in and around you. The saboteur hates to be noticed!
#2 Spy the lies.
Every time you spot one of those fibs, the critic loses power and the real you gains strength. So, brush up on your lie detecting skills and insist on your truth.
#3 Dial up.
Like switching stations on a radio dial, tune to the higher frequency of your inner creative sage. Your best creative energies are right there to be tapped. Be present to what you really care about and explore other choices on how to proceed. The truth is that you are creative and resourceful, and you can turn up the volume on that.
To sum up, here are three ways to de-power that inner saboteur:
1.Notice when your creativity feels hampered in some way.
2.Spot the untruths running around in your head.
3.Dial up and tune in to your own inner wisdom and creative support.
Your creative business just may depend on it!
(This article was written for a guest post on TheRightBrianBusinessPlan.com)
Making way for creative action, Amy Egenberger, MEd., CPCC is a seasoned educator, life coach, artist and founder of Spirit Out! Coaching. Amy helps people find the courage and clarity to get moving on their creative path. A book, a business, a project, a change… your creative spirit gets out! Amy is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.
