Just recently I was at sitting on my couch browsing through the TED directory. I wasn’t searching for anything in particular, just pressing play on whatever caught my eye. Well, a TED Talk from David Kelley caught my eye; How to Build Your Creative Confidence.
I thought this was a great topic since it seems so many people I have encountered in my adult life have allowed their self-talk to become “I don’t know that I can do that… I’m not creative enough… Creativity isn’t in my blood…” I include myself in this category as well. I admit there are moments when my desire to do something different and creative is squashed by my fear of not being as good as the “true” creative type.
After David Kelley’s talk, however, I’m taking a stand and saying that we can all create with confidence! For me, having that creative confidence didn’t come overnight. It took and is still taking some time. My first test in creating with confidence came in the form of a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment – my own. My husband and I have lived in this apartment for over two years. It’s a great space, but just doesn’t quite reflect us. Why? I was (and sometimes still am) too nervous about blending our very different styles into one. I didn’t feel I was creative enough to accomplish the feat. However, David Kelley’s talk pushed me to think otherwise. Here are a few things I’ve been doing to help design and create with confidence.
Your style is YOUR style; don’t apologize for it. I realized that in my quest to blend my husband’s and my own pieces, I was also making apologetic statements about this or that. By doing this, I was undermining my authority to have creative freedom in my own living space. Don’t apologize for your style or try to mimic the hottest new trend. Unless, of course, the latest trend is totally you; then go for it.
Be confident in YOURSELF. When doing something you’ve never really done, like my foray into interior design, it’s easy to doubt our abilities. However, an Apartment Therapy article suggests, “interior design is a study in autobiography.” This stuck with me because the spaces I inhabit on a daily basis SHOULD reflect who I am. Be confident in whom you are and the ideas you have for designing your space.
Start small and go from there. I have tendency to think big picture first, which in the case of our apartment was a bad idea. I became overwhelmed and started to discredit my ideas as not feasible, cliché, or too simple. I remedied this thought process by starting with small sections of our apartment at a time. Once one wall was completed, I become re-energized about the rest of the project.
Share your creative moments. I am a big believer in sharing accomplishments and supporting one another. Don’t be afraid to share your progress or new experiences in your creative quest. I promise you’ll be surprised by how much support you receive.
There you have it. My simple tips for creating with confidence. I’m still mastering the art, but am feeling and more confident about being creative. Do you have tips for creating with confidence? Share them in the comments section!
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