banish your inner critic - design & content 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Banish Your Inner Critic
Denise R. Jacobs Design/Content Vancouver, BC 7 August 2015
@denisejacobs
@dcontentconf / #dcc15
#banishyourcritic
Want the slides? Go here:
creativedo.se/dcc15-ic
Photo by Derek Kearney
Wait…What?!
Upon a time… http://www.behance.net/gallery/Once-Upon-a-Time/2918365
29 June http://www.flickr.com/photos/jblndl/3154255478/
I was going to be a writer! Photo: Denise Jacobs
Instead of creativity Photo from Flickr.com
Destructivity http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevygee/3265941065/
The voices in my head were merciless http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/4887528060/
I totally freaked out
I shouldn't be writing this I misrepresented myself
I don't know enough This should be someone else’s book
I’m going to look stupid Everyone will see that I’m a fake What if it's not good enough? What if I'm not good enough?
No…really!
2 days http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiery-phoenix/8428079916/
Worked non-stop https://www.flickr.com/photos/53611153@N00/5827849044/
Pushed myself to burn-out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4052943367/
My internal critical voices http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeapalooza/553545517/
Made this happen
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70938871@N05/8230432077
Physical evidence of fear http://www.flickr.com/photos/grumpyfeline/4626401443/
A different kind of fear Photo: Denise Jacobs
Internalized criticisms + fears
https://www.flickr.com/photos/remoto/5313967682
= The Inner Critic https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484093889/
F.E.A.R. =
http://cdnpix.com/show/imgs/7a361666e107cd36656d5a66ea2e4e80.jpg
Or…
https://twitter.com/Phishtitz/status/474661495935365120
The enemy of creativity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwinchell/130344669/
Creative brainwaves http://uniteunderfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Brain-waves.jpg
Know your brainwaves
Stress & frustration
https://www.flickr.com/photos/corneveaux/3248566797/
Suppress generative impulses in the brain
https://www.flickr.com/photos/birthintobeing/11841180046
Dampens creative expression http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8156999698/
How to ID your Inner Critic http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/203904103/
Not that hard, right?
http://brenebrown.com/2014/04/08/daring-interview-series-meet-gavin-aung/
“OMG, I’m SO busy!”
“I should have done more by now…” http://www.flickr.com/photos/kharied/3315558702/
“They’ll find out I’m a fraud”
“I don’t know enough”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Einstein_1921_by_F_Schmutzer.jpg
(or intimidated into this)
vs. “NAILED IT!” https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-drummond/3946893897
Impostor Syndrome Paradox
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/
You will only experience impostor syndrome when you are competent and skilled.
(re-read this as many times as necessary.)
“It needs to be FLAWLESS” http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/
“I’ll do it tomorrow…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
“Really, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
“I will do it tomorrow!”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
Feed each other
In order for http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/
You need brain management
“The goal is to manage anxiety so that our energies are used for the productive and satisfying art of creating…
…rather than the destructive and debilitating art of self-torture. “ - Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution
How do we…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/5445602998/
Banish the Inner Critic?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31505964@N08/4691019168/
Eliminate “Have to/Should/Must/Ought”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythoto/3822942678/
Replace with “I choose/ I decide/ I will” https://www.flickr.com/photos/mstry-2525-gst/3312199285/
Say NO to Comparisons http://www.flickr.com/photos/suvodeb/2559017400/
Ask it questions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4749432145/
Be compassionate http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2646295354/
Reassign duty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavawnmarie/1326123397/
Remember your successes http://www.flickr.com/photos/pocait/2847866615/
(My personal version) Photo: Denise Jacobs
Maintain perspective http://www.flickr.com/photos/daikrieg/1294053038/
*WHATEVER*
http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/1-23-2013/quhKj3.gif
Cop a Power Pose
“Our bodies change our minds, our minds change our behavior, and our behavior changes our outcomes.” - Amy Cuddy, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TED talk
Breaking the loop
Perfectionism http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/
“Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order.” ― Anne Wilson Schaef
The real problem
http://cuttingthecheese.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/26810560251953842_ede18tng_f.jpg
Perfectionists focus on the finished product…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phatcontroller/3667889959/
Rather than the process http://www.flickr.com/photos/spyndle/474122586/
“The Best” vs “The most” https://www.flickr.com/photos/villify/10871945326
Wise words
Amen! https://twitter.com/dickelippe/status/581204005013078016/photo/1
Remember egocentricity
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
― Dr. Maya Angelou
Decouple your performance from who you are
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krissen/6824608878
Fear of failure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2717325940/
“Fear is not real. It is a product of the thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.” - character of Cypher Raige (played by Will Smith), After Earth
Reframe failure http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2717326642/
And mistakez
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4498817330/
(maybe even embrace them) http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielagama_fotografando/4029208908/
“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” - Henry Ford
Humble beginnings Twitter, circa 2006
Copy the #fail masters Photo: Denise Jacobs
Take steps http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959864706/
#Fail http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959867550/
Go again http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959864706/
Satisfice https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepyvalley/3650673328
Be bad/make it ugly https://www.flickr.com/photos/kpwerker/6051104684
“Being right keeps us in place. Being wrong forces us to explore.” – Steven Johnson, Where Good Ideas Come From
Perfection ≠ Excellence
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaldoche/4771465356
Procrastination
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
The trick is not determining which you are…
http://20px.com/blog/2013/09/06/a-field-guide-to-procrastinators/
Nor administering a dose of
https://www.flickr.com/photos/116357579@N08/13178367583
Increase the meaning/value
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeliam/2460475510/
Mind Tricks https://www.flickr.com/photos/32135758@N02/5325454434/
Don’t do it, just get ready to Photo: Denise Jacobs
“Structured procrastination” https://www.flickr.com/photos/superamit/1043379069
Time & Space Tricks http://www.flickr.com/photos/indraw/4857101224/
Eliminate distractions
From “Shit Black Girls Say”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXDpfhehb6I
Ignore to focus
Tools RescueTime.com GetConcentrating.com HeyFocus.com
Browser Extensions Firefox: LeechBlock Idderall Google Chrome: Strict Workflow StayFocusd Website Blocker
Aids for digital blocking
Added bonus HeyFocus.com
Airplane/Do Not Disturb mode
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieterouwerkerk/699475144/
Make it a Sprint
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucamascaro/4975166968/
Fill a Quota
https://www.flickr.com/photos/teosaurio/3392883329/
Remember this: Photo: Denise Jacobs
My story’s end? http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonialuna/2942020058/
February http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/3709856898/
#FAIL https://www.flickr.com/photos/dafnecholet/5374200948
#WINNING! http://www.flickr.com/photos/clappstar/6297835482/
I wrote a book! Photo: Denise Jacobs
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thatconference/9532425040/
Which created AMAZING things for me
Bad dreams https://www.flickr.com/photos/agroffman/4613265988
“The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but never jam to-day.”
“It MUST come sometimes to ‘jam to-day’,” Alice objected.
“No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every OTHER day: to-day isn’t any OTHER day, you know.”
— from Through the Looking Glass & What Alice Found There, by Lewis Carroll
“Jam” = Reward / Satisfaction https://www.flickr.com/photos/macati/2180421766
YOU NEVER GET JAM http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/through-the-looking-glass/2book42.jpg
By sharing my experience Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Show you there is an alternative https://www.flickr.com/photos/buttersponge/4955768144
“The creative adult is the child who survived after the world tried killing them, making them ‘grown up’….
…The creative adult is the child who survived the blandness of schooling, the unhelpful words of bad teachers, and the nay-saying ways of the world.” – Ursula K. L Guin
By understanding this
You’ll look at yourself differently https://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/3460562429
Let yourself create those imperfect, yet amazing ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcymet/3564484236/
Because, after all…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aoberg/9652158212
The End Photo: Denise Jacobs
Get the slides!
creativedo.se/dcc15-ic
My upcoming book! Banish Your Inner Critic
DeniseJacobs.com/InnerCritic
26 Effective Techniques for Unleashing Productive Creativity
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Thank you! http://www.flickr.com/photos/theredproject/3302110152/