Empower Your Inner Artist, Not Your Inner Critic

Anyone who isn’t familiar with the inner critic has never woken up at 2 AM to consider every possible the angle from which their life might fall apart. Whereas creative flow is all about strengthening and developing your true voice, the inner critic is the opposite of that. It’s about as melodic as a police siren and if you listen too long it reliably converts you into a panicked, twitching, cackling mess.

Some writers are frightened to let go of their inner critic, because they mistakenly believe it keeps them from writing crap. However, you don’t avoid sticking your hand in a fire or stepping in front of a bus by berating yourself. It comes from the wisdom of experience and common sense.

Admittedly writing isn’t as straightforward as the latter examples, but it serves to illustrate the guiding principle I use: Clarity not judgment.

Judgment is the most painful part of the creative writing process. You’re sitting in front of words on a page when a sandstorm of criticism whooshes in leaving everything you’ve worked so hard on covered in muck.

The big fallacy is that this makes your writing better. It doesn’t. It blocks you from creative flow. It prohibits you from taking risks which makes writing unique and valuable. It sucks all the joy out of the process which leaves you with something bland and lifeless.

And yet, clarity is usually hiding right behind that anxious emotional buzz of judgment. It allows you acknowledge the truth of where you’re at with your writing, and envision the road ahead. Consider the following:

Judgment: “This isn’t good enough.”

Clarity: “This is going to need another edit for publishing.”

Judgment: “Nobody’s going to like this. In fact, no one is even going to read it.”

Clarity: “I should listen to feedback from beta readers if I want to connect with an audience.”

Judgment: “Who am I to write this? I’m not a real writer. I’m a fool for even trying.”

Clarity: “I’m getting started and although I may not have many readers yet, all of the writers I’ve admired kept at it and were in it for the long haul.”

Judgmental thoughts are emotionally charged, irrational and they stop you in your tracks. Clear thoughts are balanced, they’re based on the wisdom and experience of what has worked in the past and they shine a light on the path forward.

Although the judgmental thoughts listed above are very common, we might have our own specific versions that are particularly painful to each of us as individuals. They begin to dissolve when we’re conscious of them. Sure, the same mental patter may repeat itself for a while, but you can step outside it, and witness it. Just like gremlins or blood-sucking vampires they can’t survive the light.

When we shine the light of unconsciousness on a judgment such as “I’m not good enough,” you assume it’s true and it dominates your actions (i.e. you give up). But it’s not truth, it’s just a thought. You can replace it with a better one. Therefore, simply by becoming aware of that life swerves in the direction of a whole new trajectory.

The great advantage your inner artist has over your inner critic is that the latter is not at all creative. It repeats the same old fears in every situation. Once you recognize its pattern and cordon it off.

I’ve affectionately named my inner critic “Never Never” because she pops up in every aspect of my life with some version of the same old line, “That dream you’re working on is never going to happen.” Often, I can recognize her and call her out (because I must admit, she’s “never” been right).  

When my inner critic takes over, there are no opportunities, nothing makes sense, and I don’t know what to do. When I move into my inner artist possibilities light up and I want to experiment and learn. Simply tipping the scales in the direction of my inner artist has created so much momentum. You don’t have to be 100% enlightened and 0% ego to pull this off. If you can inch your way to 51% creativity against 49% criticism you’re moving in the right direction.