Doubt and the Creative Process

We’ve all got them. Doubts. Deep, shallow, far-flung, whispered. It doesn’t seem to matter what form they take; they creep up on us in the studio, in our minds, or just plop themselves down at the kitchen table with plans to stay until Thanksgiving dinner. How do we deal with these pesky visitors? The trick is to know that doubt is part of the creative process.

If we can welcome doubt into our experience of creativity, we release a significant amount of energy that was previously spent trying to futilely keep doubt away from our doorstep. The next time you notice those doubts creeping in, shift how you are thinking about it. Stop assuming that the doubt means you are on the wrong path. Instead, use it to explore where you are going. Understand that it is telling you that you have made a big step. Remember that it is trying to warn you about the future in order to stop your forward movement. Move forward anyway.