There are many obstacles in the way of creative realization. For most of us, the most serious of these is our “inner critic.” Loud, hard, tireless and convincing. He comes up with many reasons why we should not write, draw, photograph, play musical instruments, dance, and generally try to realize our creative potential. How to defeat this censor?
“Maybe it’s better to work out in sports? Or eat. Or sleep… it doesn’t make sense anyway, you don’t know how to do anything. Who are you trying to fool, no one cares what you want to say with your creativity!” This is what the voice of the inner critic sounds like. according to the description of the singer, composer and artist Peter Himmelman. According to him, it is this inner voice that hinders him most of all during the creative process. Peter even gave him a name — Marv (Marv — short for Majorly Afraid of Revealing Vulnerability — «Very afraid to show weakness»).
Perhaps your inner critic is also whispering something similar. Maybe he always has a reason why now is not the time to be creative. Why is it better to wash dishes and hang clothes. Why is it better to quit before you even start? After all, your idea is still not original. And you are not a professional either. But you don’t know anything!
Even if your critic speaks differently, it is extremely easy to fall under his influence.
It’s easy to let him control our actions. Suppress creativity, joy, the desire to create, express yourself and share thoughts and ideas with the world. And all because we believe that the critic is telling the truth. Absolute truth.
Even if your inner critic says at least a grain of the truth, you do not have to listen to him.
But even if the words of the censor contained at least a grain of truth, you don’t have to listen to it! You don’t have to stop writing, creating, doing. You don’t have to take your inner critic seriously. You can treat him playfully or ironically (this attitude is also useful for the creative process).
Over time, Peter Himmelman realized what can you say to your inner critic something like “Marv, thanks for the advice. But now I’ll sit down and compose for an hour or two, and then come and annoy me as much as you like ”(Great, right? Strongly said and helps to liberate. It seems like a simple answer, but at the same time it’s not). Himmelman realized that Marv was not really the enemy. And our “marves” are trying to interfere with us out of the best of intentions.
Our fears create a censor who comes up with endless reasons not to be creative.
“I realized that Marv is not trying to interfere with my effortsthat this is a defensive reaction that is created by the limbic area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbour brain. If a rabid dog were chasing us, it would be Marv who would be “responsible” for the release of adrenaline, which is so necessary for us in an emergency.
When we do something that threatens us with psychological “harm” (for example, criticism that hurts us), Marv also tries to protect us. But if you learn to distinguish between fear of real threats (such as a rabid dog) and harmless anxiety about a little possible humiliation, then the interfering voice will be silenced. And we can get back to work,” says Peter Himmelman.
Our fears create a censor coming up with endless reasons not to be creative. What is the fear of being criticized? Fail? Fear of not being published? What is called a mediocre imitator?
Maybe you create simply because you enjoy the process itself. He brings joy. Pure joy. A very good reason
When the inner critic begins to rage, acknowledge its existence. Recognize his intentions. Maybe even thank your Marv like Himmelman did. Try to be humorous about it. Do what feels right. And then get back to creativity. Because the inner critic often doesn’t understand the depth, importance, and power of your desire to create.
Maybe you are writing something that someone will be very important to read. Or create something that will help people not suffer from loneliness. Perhaps you are doing something that will help you better understand yourself or your world. Or maybe you create just because you like the process itself. He brings joy. Pure joy. A very good reason.
In other words, no matter why you create, don’t stop.Continue in the same spirit!