Some creative beliefs only make sense in hindsight. I believed in perfection, I needed faith in the imperfect.

Beliefs shape behaviour

Believing something is impossible means we will not even try to do it. If we think we will never be a writer, a painter or a composer, we will not even attempt to be one. However, if I think I can write a sentence, a paragraph, then I will. If I believe I can add a brush stroke I will. If I know I can hum a tune, I will compose.

Early assumptions often wrong

My personality type means I like to see the big picture. I like to see a perfect, complete creation. I thought something I created, a song, a drawing, a story, needed to be perfect. If the idea in my head had little to no relation to what I was creating then I’d lose interest. I didn’t create.

It wasn’t until later I learnt that this was something I could address. It was part of me, but I didn’t have to let it control my creative output.

Experience changes perspective

I spent years as a commissioning editor for a publishing house. I was always encouraging my authors to think about small chunks of their work. They didn’t have to “worry” about the editing, the layout, the cover… their primary focus had to be the words they were writing.

It is often a fact that it is easier to see the mistakes others are making while ignoring ourselves doing similar. It took me years to learn that. Perhaps it won’t take you as long.

Just to add, once those words were written by the authors, then they could engage in editing, marketing and cover discussions.

Growth requires revision

It isn’t just about one belief. We pick up many beliefs as we develop our creative practice. We listen or watch others create. We learn from tutorials or are taught at schools and universities. We learn. However, some things that are learnt, may not work for us, or they may take us down a wrong path. For years, I had believed music had to be structured in a certain way. I had failed to understand that rules underpin, they create frameworks for us to hang our creative acts upon. Rules and beliefs are also there to be broken, when required. There is nothing as liberating as breaking a creative rule and discovering something beautiful.

Creatives do this all the time. We should always be revising what and how we create; as we revise we grow.

Learning never stops

I mentioned being taught. There is nothing wrong with going to college or university and learning a creative process or skill. We all “learn” to some extent. Our challenge is to keep learning. Just like breaking rules and growing through revision, we should never stop learning new techniques, skills or creating in unique ways. Those of us who use technology as a creative tool need to constantly keep our eye on software as it develops. There is also the use of A.I. What is our stance on using it? More and more software, and hardware, is integrating it. Perhaps we currently steer clear because the energy cost in data centres. But A.I. will soon be portable, using only the battery charge on our phones, tablets or laptops. I’m not advocating for or against its use, but it is an example of how things change, and change means learning, or adapting, how to create within such environments.

So…

I believed my creations needed to be perfect. I was wrong. Learning that has enabled me to create, and enjoy creating.

Do you have any beliefs that are stopping you from creating?

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