Fear of getting started

And all the names it goes by

Angelique
Angelique
Jul 30, 2017 · 3 min read

“…well, dare we call it boredom? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a kind of fear of getting started.”

Rice Freeman-Zachary, in Creative Time and Space.

This idea of “fear of getting started” got me thinking about all the creative projects I’ve been involved in, and the process I went through before I was able to get them going.

I didn’t enter into any of my creative endeavours without some form of inner struggle. Not necessarily a dramatic struggle, not always, sometimes just a bit of to and fro before getting myself going.

But still — why should there be any inner resistance to a creative project that is exciting, personally fulfilling and sometimes even financially rewarding? It would seem like a no-brainer, right?

And yet….

I have to confess that I’ve used all these excuses myself, many times. I’ve used them to avoid writing, painting, drawing, starting a blog, guest writing, teaching yoga classes, teaching writing and art classes… I think I’ve used them for everything that I’ve ever done in my life that was worth doing.

At the time of making these excuses, if you were to tell me that they were just synonyms for “you’re too scared to start”, I would have argued vehemently that you’re wrong. That my excuse is valid and that I really am not too scared to start, it’s just that…. (fill in the blank with my excuse.)

Such as:

  • I’m too busy right now.

What excuses do you use as a way of hiding the fear of starting a creative project? And how do you move through it to get going?

P.S. There’s nothing wrong with this process… creative projects have a way of pushing our psychological safety zone barriers so that we can grow, incrementally, every time we dare to express our creativity. But being aware of what’s going on makes it easier to move through the fear and get going, instead of becoming stuck in that fearful space and believing our own excuses.

If you’d like to develop your writing skills, then check out my new course on Skillshare. It’s called “Intuitive Development for Writers” and in it, I share my four favourite ways to harness my intuition on a daily basis as a writer. Simply click here. http://skl.sh/2utbbbr

I’m busy recording and adding new classes so Follow me on Skillshare and receive an email every time I release a new class.

Before you go:

If you liked this article, please share it by clicking the social buttons so that others can find it as well. If you want to continue this conversation, please add your comments below.

If you’re an artist of any kind, professionally or for a hobby, and you would like to receive useful and inspirational articles specifically written for the artist in you, then hit Subscribe and never miss out on a blog or an update on courses or workshops.

Thank you for reading!

Originally published at angienoll.com on July 30, 2017.

Post Haste

A publication for writers and artists who choose to make it work either professionally or as a hobby. Stories particularly about the mindset of artists. How to be a writer or artist in terms of courage, conscious choices, inspiration, facing fears and criticism.

Angelique

Written by

Angelique

A writer that refuses to make excuses. I’m passionate about taking 100% responsibility for my life, and creating it from the inside out. Visit www.angienoll.com

Post Haste

A publication for writers and artists who choose to make it work either professionally or as a hobby. Stories particularly about the mindset of artists. How to be a writer or artist in terms of courage, conscious choices, inspiration, facing fears and criticism.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade