"I will not create in fear"

File under: & other lies I tell myself

First of all, can we all agree that the internet is a place that crackles with ideas and ever-expanding opportunities? It’s a dimension where wildest daydreams are given containers in which to exist. Plus, there’s ‘Animals With Arms’ and other creative work that sparks more joy than I can fit into my square-peg-shaped-heart.

And yet, actually sharing our work in this space can feel scary on a good day, and going-back-to-bed-day-ruining on another. Who knows which way it’s gonna go? 

Maybe it’s just me—(it’s not, because I’ve been a Copy Coach for years & I hear similar stuff all the time)—but if there was a way of sharing our work with the world without having to share our work with the world then that’d be great. 

But there’s not. We have to show up. 

It comes down to this: when we’re sharing work with others, we’re not just crafting the thing itself, we’re making our way through our own stories & mental malarky first. 

Such as:

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…

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Anyone for brain tennis? [EYE ROLL]

Fear is there when we pick up the pen, it’s there when we go to hit ‘publish’ and it’s there when the post-vulnerability-hangover sticks to us harder than an explosive package of glitter.

And we know there’s a difference between creating from fear and creating in spite of fear, but damn. What a tightrope.

Creating from fear means we gather up the stories that freak us out and try and craft a response to them. Whether that response is to freeze, too afraid our work will be unappreciated, rejected, stolen or misused. Or we might lean into a scarcity mindset and scramble to deliver work before it’s ready. Or we create to please, appease or silence. The origin for this kind of creativity is fear and the energy poured into it is scattered, afraid and reactive. (And usually doesn’t produce great work, either!)

Creating in spite of fear means the insecurities assemble and attempt to steal our words. The game of brain tennis goes to championship point and we have to choose who wins. We hear the stories and ignore them, pouring energy into work as a response to something we want to move to, not away from. We put aside the spooky stories and create from the deep well of the much we have, not what we’re afraid we don’t.

So, yes. Some days we’ll create out of fear (& hopefully just let those stay in ‘drafts’🤞🏻) but most days the fear is there and we just get on with it and do it anyway. We’ve got stuff to say, people to connect with, work to share with the world. And we’ll do it covered in glitter if we have to. (Sometimes literally, in my case and I'm not mad about that.)

So, anyway. If we’re all in the same game—if in different matches—at least we can be in it together, right? (That’s your cue to say yes btw.)

 PS: How'd you like my nifty little animated signature there? Want one?

Sara Tasker - Me & Orla

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