Have you ever suffered creative mortification?
When discouragement becomes mortification
According toBeghettos research, there are two main components of creative mortification.
Very few will respond, Im just naturally good at it.
Mortification can come from an external event that reinforces your internal insecurity about your own inherent talent.
The second main driver of creative mortification is shame.
Creativity can feel like taking deep, meaningful parts of ourselves and putting them on display for others.
How to overcome creative mortification
Theres no specific prescription that will help everyone overcome creative mortification.
Were on our own journeys, and psychological phenomena rarely have pat answers.
But here are a few things to think about that might help.
No one can say exactly where creativity (or any pop in of talent) comes from.
Hard work and talent are often the same thing, anyway.
Countless hours of dedicated, structured practice can seem like natural talent if a level of expertise is achieved.
He turns almost everyone down unless theyre already a professional writer.
Amateurs often dont want feedback or constructive criticism.
But thats almost never the intention of the audience.
If I cant dance like Michael Jackson, whats the point?
And in a way, those people are right.
Despite television shows likeAmerican Idol,there arent any winners.
You cant even know if youre good at something creative anyway, because its not your decision.
Its up to everyone else.
This may sound depressing, but it can actually be freeing.
It means you dont have to worry about it.
How they react is their problem.
They pop into our heads when were minding our own business to remind us that were awful people.
But venture to remember that you are only the main character to yourself.
Other people probably dont remember whatever happened, and probably wouldnt care if they did.
Its alright to give yourself a break for missing your cue in the eighth grade school play.
It doesnt mean youll never be an actor, it just means youre starting later.
But attempt to do it without expectation.
Pick up a pencil and start drawing, but dont expect to be good at it.
Pursuing creativity for its own sake makes it easier to see if you even want to continue.
But you might realize that the practice required to be good at something creative isnt worth it to you.
Either result is better than not trying because youre scared, insecure, or ashamed.
