Is it Laziness or Self-Doubt?
Artists and the Overwhelming Need to Create
You are not the only one who is plagued by blank pages, canvases, or any other medium that you use to express.
If you opened this post, chances are you’re a creative person who struggles with finding the motivation or inspiration to create, even when you have a burning will to do so.
You do everything but create your art, finding a hundred little distractions to attend to.
This quote by Robert T. Kiyosaki, in his bestselling personal finance book Rich Dad Poor Dad, puts it bluntly:
“The most common form of laziness? Laziness by staying busy.”
Robert goes on to explain that most people use staying busy as a means of avoiding a deeper, underlying issue.
Whether you’re concerned with making money or making art — or the overlap of the two— Robert’s statements are timelessly accurate.
He addresses the fact that what looks like laziness is often the human spirit going into hiding.
“We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet the one thing that holds all of us back is some degree of self-doubt.” — Robert T. Kiyosaki
By the way, if you haven’t read Rich Dad Poor Dad, I highly recommend it! It’s one of those books with the power to change the course of your entire life. Kiyosaki brilliantly shares lessons on “what the rich teach their kids — that the poor and middle class do not.” In this book holds the secrets to building generational wealth and rewiring the miseducated brain for success. And, be honest with yourself — one of your greatest desires is to succeed! It’s definitely one of mine. I’m still on my way, and Rich Dad Poor Dad has been a huge stepping stone in my journey. Don’t miss out!
Reading Kiyosaki’s words about the intersection of laziness and self-doubt has opened my eyes to the reality of an artist’s dilemma.
We are blessed with amazing talents — writing, painting, dancing, singing, producing, DIY, and so much more… yet constantly find ourselves stuck and unsure how to move forward.
It’s intensely aggravating to the spirit when the overwhelming drive to create is left unfulfilled.
You might ask yourself: “Why can’t I just do it? What’s stopping me?”
It’s perhaps the most meaningful and pivotal question an artist can ask of him or her self.
It may or may not surprise you to know that the only thing standing in your way… is you.
The haunting doubts that roam your subconscious have the power to scare away your resolve.
They taunt and pester continuously, inviting thoughts and images that instill fear and insecurity, evicting spontaneity and confidence.
Thoughts like “Is my work enough?”, “Will people like what I do?”, “Can I earn money from my art?”, and “What if it doesn’t work out?” are ruthless stakes in the heart of creativity.
The solution?
Understand that you can reclaim your power from the mind.
Stop allowing fears and insecurities to control you.
It’s easier said than done, but it is possible.
You must acknowledge that you are distracting yourself with aimless activities just to avoid the crushing feeling of self doubt, and start embracing that feeling instead.
You can handle it.
The truth is that you will fail before you succeed. You’ll make plenty of mistakes before you perfect your craft. You will stumble into many unwelcoming crowds before you find your audience. And you will create without any reward before you start earning money from your art.
That is the beauty of artistry.
We creatives are not meant to have a clear-cut path. We are meant to struggle, for our struggle is the essence of our art.
We must learn along the way.
The most important thing is to just start.
Take the first step — without overthinking it.
The pieces can’t fall into place if you don’t find the pieces and pick them up as you go!
Robert Kiyosaki says something incredibly relevant and insightful in his book that I love.
“Don’t let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning.”
Can you believe it?
Somewhere on the course of our adventure on this Earth, we stopped getting excited to create and be successful.
Art became a daunting chore to complete instead of the pure joy it used to be.
Think about how this shows up in your life.
You may be able to notice how a lack of excitement has blocked the natural flow of your energy and pursuits.
So, now what?
It’s simple — Stop caring about the emotional threat of losing. Keep creating, creating, and creating, using your losses to learn and advance.
See the light at the end of the tunnel.
Your art is a blessing to the world and that’s why you feel such a strong desire to share it!
Don’t let doubt shroud your light and trap your potential.
Create freely and purposefully.
Learn the lessons that life teaches you.
Be brave in the storms.
Rediscover the pure joy of creating!
That is where success lies in wait, not in the shadows of procrastination.
Thank you for reading!
Want to read Rich Dad Poor Dad? Find it here.
By the way, — if you make a purchase through my link, I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you!
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I wish you all the best!
