The Creative Instinct

One of the things that gives we creative people endless anguish is the nagging worry about our own talent. Do we have enough of it? Have others been blessed with more? Is it fair?
Well – here’s a hard truth. It’s a near certainty that there are other creatives out there, artists, musicians, photographers, writers (you name it), with more talent than you and me. You know what? It doesn’t matter. If you are driven to be creative it just doesn’t matter at all.

Fact is – it’s not about how much or how little talent we have – it’s about what we do with it.

What’s at least as important as the amount of talent is your attitude to that talent, and the attitude you have about yourself.

Worrying about your own innate abilities can only ever be counter productive. You’ve got what you’ve got and there’s no point in wasting your precious psychic energy on comparisons or regrets. That’s especially true when you factor in that most of us underestimate our own abilities and overestimate the abilities of others.

Act as if you had talent – and act as if you hadn’t!

Yes you did read that right. To get the most out of your creative talent you need to act is if you had it and act as if you hadn’t. Not so difficult once you realise that there’s no difference whatsoever.

Here are some descriptions of the ways that ‘talented’ people might behave, followed by descriptions of the ‘less talented’ alternatives.

Talented People Behave Like This:

• Talented, but with Bad Inner Critic –
  • Doesn’t believe in themselves or their talent
  • Focuses on the negatives
  • Sees every fault and flaw as further evidence of failure and lack of ability
  • Suffers huge internal resistance and tension to starting their art
  • Doesn’t enjoy their creative process or output
  • Will often give up and do something else

• Talented but deluded –
  • Believes that their supreme talent is flawless and complete
  • Enjoys the process and output but can’t understand why other people don’t
  • Is blind to the possibility of faults or flaws and so can never address them
  • Will often give up and do something else

• Talented and with a Good Inner Critic –
  • Understands the need for courage and practice to make the most of what they have
  • Picks out areas for development and works on them
  • Maintains a conviction that intelligence and focus will enhance the talent they have
  • Views mistakes as opportunities for learning
  • Finds long term enjoyment in the creative process and output
  • Achieves fantastically well

Less Talented People Behave Like This:

I can’t see any point in reprinting what’s above. Please re-read the bullet points again but replace ‘talented’ with ‘less talented’.

Remember – It’s not about what talent you’ve got – it’s about what you do with it.

That being the case, you owe it to yourself to do the best you can. And the best way to do that is by making friends with your Good Inner Critic and by embracing healthy self criticism as a path towards satisfaction, improvement and success.
You have all the talent you need.

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Other relevant posts

Do You Have the Creative X Factor?
Achievement Envy – Be Inspired or Be Crushed by the Creative Success of Others.