Being creative means feeling like none of your ideas are creative. Seriously, it’s like a rule.

Here’s the thing, being creative is harder than one might think. Actually, no… being creative isn’t the hard part; convincing yourself that your idea is creative and good enough is what’s difficult. It’s like no matter what we do as Creatives, we think that there is always something that could have been done better or executed differently.

When I first started off in the creative industry, I didn’t realize that this feeling of uncertainty about one’s work was the norm. I thought I just had some serious confidence issues. What I’ve learned from working & collaborating with other Creatives is that we all tend to have this same feeling that our work is never finished and that there is always room for improvement.

The real problem is, creativity is such a loose term that to many people means something completely different. Things that you might find highly creative and interesting might seem completely stupid to me. It’s just a matter of perspective. No one is right and no one is wrong. As Creatives, we have to appeal to as many opinions and perspectives as possible. Which is obviously basically impossible because we all know that no one ever agrees. There is literally never a “right” or “perfect” answer to any of our jobs or projects, which often leaves us with that lingering feeling of uncertainty mentioned before.

While we tend to look at this negatively, it’s actually an important aspect of the creative process. As annoying as it can be, it actually helps keep us all cranking out great work. This self-doubt is what pushes us to take things further and try new ideas. It keeps us striving for more so that we can create the best work possible and keep pushing boundaries. It shows that we care about our art and that we want to create the best possible work we can.

So if you didn’t get it before, now you know that part of being creative is thinking you’re not creative at all. So next time you think that about yourself, take it as a compliment.

Tips I’ve learned that help spark creativity:

  • Search the internet for inspiration. Other people’s ideas can spark ideas for your own work. Just be cautious that you aren’t copying their work but instead using it to lead you in your own creative direction.

  • Write out all of your ideas, even the bad ones. One idea might lead to a better one later.

  • Walk away from it for a while. Do something fun to clear your mind. Then come back to it when you are fresh and ready to go.

  • Eat. Ok, so this might not be scientifically proven to help but everyone likes food.

  • Most importantly…  stop trying so hard. Just let it come to you. My best ideas come when I’m not even trying… like when I’m singing in the shower or on the verge of falling asleep.