The Power of Belief in Creativity
Welcome to the fourth principle in my summer series on creative thinking:
“Think you can or think you can’t. Either way, you will be right.”
This timeless advice from Henry Ford speaks directly to the core of our beliefs and how they shape our actions, particularly where creativity is concerned.
Beliefs in Action
Regardless of the reality, if you believe you cannot do or accomplish something, you won’t. Plain and simple.
Your focus will be on finding reasons, evidence, and all manner of excuses to support that belief. You’ll subconsciously sabotage your efforts from the start, ensuring that your initial belief holds true. (This is called “confirmation bias, by the way, a true scientific fact that you WILL be biased to information and “proof” that your belief is right!)
Conversely, if you believe something is possible, you will seek out ways to make it happen. You’ll find the tools, resources, and support needed to achieve your goal, and begin taking small steps towards success. (There’s that confirmation bias again!)
The Power of Expectation
Wayne Dyer once said, “If you want to accomplish something, you must first expect it of yourself.” That one kinda blew my mind when I first heard it! So true, yet so elusive!
This principle is closely related to our previous discussion on “Excuses versus legitimate reasons.” So here’s a bumper sticker for you:
“Our beliefs shape our reality, and our expectations influence our actions.”
In my experience, maintaining a realistic yet ambitious expectation is crucial. For instance, I know I can’t be a professional football player, and I’m fine with that because I have no desire to pursue it. However, when it comes to my creative stuff, I set the bar much higher because I believe in my potential to succeed.
Desire + Belief = Success
The equation is simple:
- Desire + Belief favors Success
- Desire + Disbelief favors Failure
This principle plays out in all areas of life…weight loss, career goals, creative projects, you name it. When someone sets a goal but spends most of their time focusing on how difficult or impossible it seems, they end up not achieving it. Their focus on failure expands, overshadowing any efforts to succeed.
Applying This Principle to Your Creative Practice
Let’s daydream a bit and have some fun. To harness the power of belief in your creative practice, consider the following prompts:
- Where is your focus? Identify what you spend most of your time thinking about regarding your creative projects. Are you focusing on the possibilities or the obstacles?
- What is one major creative goal you would like to accomplish in the coming year? Choose a goal that excites you but also pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone.
- What do you need to focus on to ensure it gets accomplished? Consider the steps, tools, and resources you need to bring your goal to fruition.
- Is it something you are willing to expect of yourself? Evaluate your level of commitment and belief in your ability to achieve the goal.
- If you think you CAN, how will you do it? Jot down some ideas and start to outline your plan of action with a positive mindset.
- If you think you “CAN’T,” what are you willing to change about your thoughts and focus to make it happen? Reflect on the changes you need to make in your mindset to shift from disbelief to belief. Refer to last week’s article if needed.
My Experience with Belief and Creativity
In my day-to-day, I have to remind myself that my expectations make or break my efforts and significantly influence the outcome. For example, when I embarked on creating a new art collection, I initially doubted my ability to complete it on time. However, by shifting my focus to the possibility of success, I found the motivation to push through challenges and ultimately succeeded.
When I began to build online course material and had to learn so many new software programs, I had to have a chat with my inner critic! I had to get to a point where I believed I could do it! I was like that little train; “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can!”
Practical Steps to Foster Positive Beliefs
Here are some steps you can take:
- Visualize Success: Spend time each day visualizing your success. Not the end result, but visualize you doing the things that are required to get to success. Imagine what it feels like to accomplish your goal and let that vision drive your actions.
- Surround Yourself with Positivity: Engage with people, content, and environments that reinforce your belief in your abilities. Nothing helps foster that positive belief like a cheerleading section!
- Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. This reinforces positive beliefs and motivates you to keep going. This is a little-known secret to silence that inner critic. “Look what all I HAVE done” is a powerful comeback!
- Learn and Adapt: Treat setbacks as learning opportunities. If something didn’t work, you can look at it and discover things that you can change. If you never tried, you would never figure that out.
- Stay Persistent: Persistence is key. Keep taking steps towards your goal, even when it seems difficult. Don’t think of it as 1,000 steps. Think of it as 1 step, taken repeatedly.
The Key Takeaway
Believing in yourself and your creative potential is a powerful force. By focusing on what you can achieve and expecting success, you set the stage for positive outcomes.
Remember, you’re going to be right either way! Why not be right on the path TO success rather than the path away from it?
I’m here to support you in fostering these positive beliefs and achieving your creative goals. Embrace this principle and see just how far you can go when you truly believe you can succeed.
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