Day One of the 12 Days of Creativity

This is Day One of the 12 Steps to Creativity: Embracing Your Creativity Challenge!



On the First Day of Creativity Meghan gave to me: CONFIDENCE.

TIP 1: Don't think you can't do it. The worst thing you can do to yourself, in any situation really, is to be your own worst critic, your Doubting Tom, your worst enemy. This is what I hear most often - "I'd love to do something like that, but I'm not really good at that stuff". Don't start your creative process with these negative thoughts, like "I can't do this", "I'm really no good", or "mine won't turn out like that". It's easy to get to that place and start talking down to yourself. You think like this out of fear, and if your piece doesn't turn out like you wanted you can say, "See. I knew it wouldn't be good."

First of all, you are not Picasso, Martha Stewart or that really cool artist you saw at the local art fair last week. Whether you want to be an artist or a crafter, you have your own voice and you need to embrace that and not base your accomplishments on others. Like the guy in Water Boy always said, "You can do it!"    ;)



TASK 1 - First and foremost, think about any project you have done in the past - repainting a piece of furniture you bought at the thrift store, framing that cool print you found, making a Christmas ornament years ago. Make a list of some recent projects and give yourself credit for these accomplishments. Then start looking at other people's work and think things like "I could do/try that".  Go to art shows, look on the internet at some art or Holiday crafts, check out people's blogs, visit Etsy.  Make a list of 3 more simple projects that you KNOW you can do. Then go do them! This will begin to build your confidence levels.



Show me the projects you completed in the past that you're proud of or the simple projects you did today!

Leave me some comments on your thoughts on Day One.

AND Stay tuned tomorrow for Day Two!