One Salty Kiss

Are You Afraid Of Not Doing It Right?

Do you let the fear of not doing it right keep you from trying new things?

 

A few days ago, I was using my paints and getting lost in the beautiful, familiar, meditative state that always envelops me when I paint. I wasn’t painting something, I was just painting.

Suddenly, a feeling of distress came over me.

The thought occurred to me that I have just barely unlocked the door to my creativity.

It was only a few short years ago that I started to express myself through words, brush strokes, and pencil lines; that I started to explore new ways to share my soul.

It was only then that I really discovered the freedom of creative expression.

I felt a sense of panic that I’m not going to have enough time to experience all I have yet to uncover!

The thought that I could have been doing this for 40 years prior, and didn’t, turned my stomach.

Time wasted.

Time I could have spent doing these things that make my heart sing.

[Tweet “Are you spending time doing things that make your heart sing?”]

There are people who are doing the things that make their heart sing.

I follow some of these artistic and über creative people on instagram.

Here’s a sampling:

Caroline-Artist/Designer

Emily- Creative Coach

Christian- Amazing. Inspiring. Artist. Reclaimed Wares.

Two Sisters making handmade men’s and women’s fashions in Peru.

Danielle- Handmade custom jewelry

Some of them are quite a bit younger than I am.

I feel envious sometimes. Envious of their youth. Envious of their self-awareness and courage to follow their passion at such a young age.

I also occasionally feel a bit of sadness. Sadness that I could have been tapping into this creative vein for all these years, but for whatever reason . . . self-doubt, ignorance, fear, lack of awareness . . . I didn’t.

I let all these creativity squashers keep me from trying.

[Tweet “Don’t let creativity squashers keep you from trying.”]

When I started writing a few years ago, it was like stumbling upon buried treasure. I was giddy with excitement in all that I was finding.

Despite what I told myself for 40+ years before that, come to find out, I was creative.

We are ALL creative.

[Tweet “We are ALL creative. There is no one right way to be creative. “]

There is no one right way to be creative. Creativity takes different forms.

We are all creative despite what our inner critic might say.

We can express ourselves through art, food, dance, music, writing, photography, jewelry designing, decorating, clothing, gardening, sand castle building, computer game making, and yes, even blogging.

There are no hard and fast rules to what creativity looks like.

And being creative isn’t always about the finished product. It’s about the process.

For me, creativity is about tapping into your soul and seeking ways to get to know yourself better.

[Tweet “Creativity is about tapping into your soul and seeking ways to get to know yourself better.”]

Creativity isn’t so much about what you end up with. It’s about how you get there.

In creative expression, your art isn’t supposed to look, sound, feel, taste, or be like anyone else’s. It’s not about replicating what someone else created.

That is their creative expression . . . it isn’t yours.

This was news to me. All my life I thought creativity was a gene you either had or you didn’t. And I didn’t . . . or so I told myself.

I couldn’t do what others did. I couldn’t make a painting or collage or clay pot that looked like someone else’s so I didn’t think I was creative.

This article validated my creative experience.

Don't let what others say or your inner critic keep you from your own creative expression.

Come to find out, creativity is wonder. It is self declaration. It is curiosity. Creativity is bravery. It is inventiveness. It is seeking.

[Tweet “Creativity is wonder. It is self declaration. It is curiosity. It is seeking. #creative “]

Creativity is having the courage to open yourself up and look inside, without fear of what anyone, including your own critical mind will say.

Creativity takes courage!

[Tweet “Creativity takes courage! #creative”]

I feel a bit of sadness when I realize I was missing out all those years because of my critical mind.

Because I was afraid.

I told myself I couldn’t “do it right.”

I cared way too much what others thought.

I feared getting out of my comfort zone to try something new because I wouldn’t know how to do it.

I never had the courage or self-awareness to break out of my box and say, “I think I’ll try ballet, or painting, or throwing clay, or playing guitar.”

I never had the courage.

But, I do now!

If you need a shot of courage, read this.

It’s never too late. I am proof!

Do you have courage to step out of your box and try something new?

Don’t let the fear of not doing it right keep you from something you may end up loving.

[Tweet “Don’t let fear keep you from something you may end up loving.”]

If you’d like encouragement to get out of your comfort zone and live a creative, inspired, courageous life, sign up for my monthly newsletter.

Creative Salty Kisses,

 

Karen Shatafian

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30 responses to “Are You Afraid Of Not Doing It Right?”

  1. I love your phrase – – to bastardize a bit 🙂 – – about the window closing panic. I’ve been feeling that for the past year and I didn’t have a name. That is, indeed, the name.

    • Yep-window closing panic for sure! That’s the sucky thing about getting older. The beautiful thing I’m finding though, is I am in total control of what I will regret at the end of my life. And my goal is to not regret a thing! So I am making the most of every minute! 🙂 Thank you for your comment Carla!

  2. Yes, banish all the messaging which fosters paralyzing self-doubt. Like you, I’ve become very conscious that there is limited time left. While I do vacillate, I tend to lean toward gratitude for realizing I can minimize regret while there is still time.

    • Exactly! This is such a beautiful comment Betsy! We are in control of what we will end up regretting at the end of life. I don’t want one of those things to be that I never faced my self doubt and tried new things! Thank you so much for stopping by! xx

  3. This is simply beautiful, Karen. Like you, there have been things over the years I was afraid to do because I thought I would do it wrong. However, I know now, there is no right or wrong when it’s something you are passionate about. This past year, I decided I was going to build my own Virtual Assisting business. I put myself out there, doing it my way, and it’s working thus far. We’ll never know if we can do it, and do it right unless we try.

    Thanks for the inspiration! Passing it along!

    Bren

    • Thank you so much Brenda! This comment gave me such a huge smile! That’s one good thing about getting older, the only thing that matters is how something makes me feel, not what others think. I never would have become a surfer if I was worried about how it looked . . . because it looked pretty crazy! haha Thank you for taking time to comment and for sharing! xx

  4. Good for you! Creativity is all about trying and having something click. I also think running a business very creative too! Thinking out of the box, just not the specific arts.

  5. Wow! Thank you for sharing this. I was so creative when young and then had to put it to one side, society expected me to hold down a job, get a mortgage etc. My mother always had a fear of failure that stopped her and in some ways she passed that on to her daughters. It’s only now in my 40’s that I’m finally getting creative again and wish it could have been so much earlier. Life is definitely far too short. so relieved to know I’m not the only one, now the only problem other than how much time is left is what to have a go at doing next. I want to try everything and have so many ideas in my head that want to come out!

    • Haha yes, I am in the same boat. I feel like I have ADD with all the ideas swirling around in my head – I have had to literally prioritize them by how much excitement they bring me. But, what a good problem to have. And I must say, that is ONE of the good things about being in my 40s. I am so much more open to new (and old) things because I just don’t care anymore about what people think or how it looks! I never would have become a surfer if I did! Thank you so much for your beautiful comment!

  6. Wonderful post Karen. I feel like I always hear conflicting views on whether creativity is learned or something you’re born with. I believe creativity is like a muscle that can be strengthened with good use. That said, when it comes to writing, I love the old adage of “You need to know the rules before you can break them.” But that doesn’t mean your fears of not doing something right should stop you from trying!

    The other thing we have to remember is not to succumb to imposter syndrome once we get over that first hurdle of producing content. Imposter syndrome is an evil evil beast.

    Have a great rest of your day. Keep up the great writing!

    • Thank you so much Garrett! I greatly appreciate your comment! I believe that as well, that creativity is like a muscle. So is courage – and for me they go hand in hand. Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂

  7. Being able to express our creativity is so important for everyone, even if you think you aren’t skilled or a creative person. I’m going to try to take an art class this spring in something I’ve never tried before for that very reason.

    • Love it Sara! You know, I’ve found that when we step out of our comfort zone and try something new, that is when we grow the most. Enjoy! Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂

  8. This is so true! I’ve always been pretty good at doing make-up, but I never felt confident about it because I I was never properly trained in it. However, when I was in cosmetology school, someone once said to me, “There’s no right or wrong way with make-up. Just be creative with it!” It then occurred to me, I was just fearful of being judged. Creativity has no boundaries.

    http://www.truzest.com

  9. Hi Karen

    I am a stronger believer and supporter of ‘never too late to create/start the life that you want’. i was a chemist, stay at home mom, and now blogger.

    I don’t regret the paths that before current period. Without the past life experience, I will have no knowledge to help people to achieve good living effortlessly (I don’t mean “lazy) through the Kingdom within each of us. Good heath, peace, joy, wealth, etc should belong to us, The question is how to access them.

    Just like you, I like to make artistic things, my creativity can be satisfied in making pic-quotes. I just started doing that 4 months ago.

    I can see your past experience in other ventures enabling you to create so unique pictures which were in this post.

    Wonderful post, Karen!

    Stella Chiu

    • Stella- I just adore your comments. They are always so thoughtful and mindful and bring me back to center. I greatly appreciate your support and I love learning more about you. You have worn quite a few different hats. I am so happy we have been connected through blogging! 🙂

  10. What a beautiful post. I, too, am aware of a ticking clock and some days wish I had been more respectful of time passing by. I signed up for your newsletter! Can’t wait to learn more about One Salty Kiss.

  11. Yes, I agree we are all creative. A part of the creative process is confronting that inner critic, as you show through your example. It is never too late to do what you love, thanks for that important reminder, Karen!

    • Thank you Lisa! I try to make the most of every day I have left and do something that makes my soul sing. Sometimes it is creative -sometimes not. But at least now I allow myself to explore creative outlets. Thanks for stopping by! xx

    • Awww Gigi! You’re the greatest! I have discovered my creativity through writing, that’s for sure! I love that it has unlocked other creative doors that I thought were nailed shut. Thank you for your comment! xx

  13. I am only 43 but i feel at times that i have not done alot of things that i could of or should, i have done many things like racing dirt bikes for the last 30 years or so and it kinda was who i am. Now that i dont much, i kinda lost my edbe, purpose or umphhh in life, thank u for sharing

    • One of the most amazing things I am finding Stacy about being in my 40s (late 40s-haha) is that there is no reason to confine myself to anything. I can continually reinvent myself and do whatever I damn well please. And I LOVE that you raced dirt bikes . . . that is so bad ass!!! The world is your oyster as to what you want your umphhh in life to be next! Have fun discovering it! 🙂