Unlock Your Creative Confidence in Business

Creative self-doubt: it’s like the thing that won’t leave, no matter how much success you’ve had. We’ve all been there.

I’ve stared at a blank page, written two words, deleted them, second guessed my business decisions and scrapped everything, then wondered if I’m capable of getting where I want to be. 

Self-doubt isn’t just common, it’s actually a part of the creative process. 

Let’s face it, if you didn’t doubt yourself at some point, then it’s likely you’re not that bothered by the outcome. 

Self-doubt and worry creep in when we care. 

So, while we can’t completely banish self-doubt to the realms of the underworld where we’d like it to stay, we can learn to use it to our advantage and work with it rather than against it. Today, I’m going to explore some really easy peasy ways to not only navigate self-doubt, but use it to help you grow. 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CREATIVE DOUBT

Think of creative doubt as a well-meaning but overcautious friend. It wants to protect you from pitfalls, criticism, and disappointment. It’s all about trying to save you from disaster. However, what often happens is it ends up holding you back from the most promising and exciting opportunities that come your way. 

This self-doubt might show up as: 

• Comparing work to others and wondering if it’s good enough
• Hesitating to share business ideas and creative work out of fear and worry
• Undercharging because of uncertainty around value
• Putting off launches and projects until they’re ‘perfect’
• Questioning whether those qualifications are enough 

The good news is these feelings do not define your creative capability or business potential. Instead, you can use these to your advantage by acknowledging them and then categorising them as what they are, fears, worries and your mind’s way of protecting you. 

So thank it for trying to protect you and move forward anyway. 

RECOGNISING YOUR CREATIVE STRENGTH

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES TO TRY 

So, here are some techniques to help when self-doubt digs its claws in. 

1. The Just five minutes technique 

When you’re finding it hard to focus and doubt is making you feel unmotivated, try doing just five minutes of a task. I would even set yourself a timer. I like a physical kitchen egg timer, but a digital countdown would work just as well. Set the timer and work until the timer goes off, then give yourself permission to stop. 

You see, if you tell yourself you only have to do five minutes, it’s much easier to start a task if you know you only have to do five minutes, and you’ll be surprised what you can do in five short minutes. 

Often, by the time the timer goes off, you’ll be engrossed and will want to continue, but even if you don’t, you’ve still got five minutes closer to where you want to be. You can then go away and repeat this as many times as you need to. 

For an advance on this technique, try increasing your time by 1 minute every so often to train yourself to stay put for longer periods of time. 

I use this one in my writing when I’m particularly stuck or am tired and don’t feel like doing it that day and it works so well as I find myself trying to beat the timer. 

2. Build a Brag file 

Open a notebook to a fresh page and write three times when you felt confident. Perhaps it was getting some great client feedback, completing a difficult project or challenge, or maybe it was just when your creativity was aligned and just seemed to flow out effortlessly.

These moments aren’t just flukes, instead they’re your evidence of your capability. Keep this list handy for those times when doubt creeps in. 

I often advise clients to do this, then put it into a ‘brag’ file. It’s simply what it says on the tin. It’s a file on your computer or in your desk that holds all the notes, feedback and times people have said nice things about you, your work and the way you made them feel. Then, when you’re feeling down or worried, you can look through it and see all the times you had a positive impact. 

3. Permission Exercise 

Try giving yourself a physical permission slip to create imperfectly. It might sound weird, but by giving yourself permission to do things less than perfect, you can really move yourself forward powerfully. 

I use this one for my writing and give myself permission to write rubbish first drafts, which I hate doing as it makes me cross and unmotivated, but if I give myself permission to write rubbish first drafts, I know that it’s okay and I can get through that part. 

This one is great if you’re a perfectionist type of person.

YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Creative confidence thrives or withers based on your environment. If you’re in a comfortable place with supportive people around you, you’re more likely to be able to be creative than if you’re in a place of turmoil and stress. Here are some ways to build a supportive environment for yourself: 

• Curate your social media to follow accounts that inspire you rather than intimidate and bring you down. I do this and it’s amazing how much it helps. Don’t follow accounts that make you feel inadequate, less-than, unworthy or as if you’re not doing well, instead find those positive accounts that bring light and joy in a way you find inspiring – it doesn’t matter what they do, it matters that you connect with them in a way that’s inspiring. 

• Create a dedicated space to do your creative work or bring creativity to your projects. This can be a physical space or something much smaller, like you sit in a particular chair, use a certain blanket, notebook, etc. By having these markers around, you’ll train yourself that this is the time for creative work or creative energy and it will help you innovate, create, build and grow. 

TAKE ACTION DESPITE THE DOUBT

If you wait until doubt disappears, you’ll never take action. Start taking those steps because you feel doubt, and believe me, I have to work on this one every single day, so you’re not alone here at all. 

Take small steps:

•  Share the progress or your current work on your socials 
• Write that blog you’ve been putting off and share your struggles – people will connect with you 
• Launch that service you’ve been scared to do, don’t wait until you feel ready – do it now. 

Every single creative business owner you admire has faced doubts. The difference is they chose to do it anyway. 

Your creative doubt doesn’t need to be erased, it needs to be managed. Think of it as your employee who deals with risk assessments. They are your companion, there to help you stay safe. Acknowledge it, but don’t let it do the driving. 

Your creative voice matters, and your ideas deserve to be shared. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply begin, even when doubt is shouting and screaming at us to do the opposite. 

Don’t forget to let me know how you progress.