Dreams Start With Patience #23

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How To Conquer Fear As A Creative

This week’s newsletter discusses fear and how I perceive it within our creative lives.
If you’re a creative who’s spent the majority of your life in a state of fear.
At the end of my newsletter - you will have the necessary perspective to create the art and content you want.
Your real self will shine through the fear.
I have worked with dozens of young creatives to expand their thinking about creativity and productivity.
Destroying inner-narratives about potential and growth is important for success as a creative.

What is fear?

Fear
noun
A very unpleasant or disturbing feeling caused by the presence or imminence of danger.

Fear is a byproduct of the human desire to survive.
Fear allows for humans to determine threats.
Fears are something we all have - especially when confronted with the unknown.

Your inability to deal with fear hinders your fascination.

How Can We Use Fear For Creative Action?

As creatives - why do we create?

We are bound to die eventually. Human life is fragile. Even if we do create something meaningful - who’s to say it will live on in this destructive world that’s ever changing.

Two questions to consider - as a creative
1. Do you create because you’re scared of death?
or
2. Do you create because you are fearless of death, you understand it so you realize you must have a sense of urgency?

Fear causes a paralyzed state.

Creating for legacy and creating to be remembered is the most honorable reason to create.
If you fear the right things, you can use it as a tool.
When you fear death - you might decide your time is better spent elsewhere rather than enjoying your passion.

But, when you fear being forgotten - you achieve a new mindset for change and creative expanse.

To define a creative is simple

A person who creates or builds more than they destroy or consume.
Almost every individual experiences fear - it is a survival mechanism.
I fear the idea of not doing anything meaningful with my life.

I know many of you share the same fear - harness the “negative” in life, zoom out, and allow change to direct you towards a path of creative freedom.

Why Fear Is Inevitable As A Creator

When you follow the herd - you become more comfortable with aspects of your life.

Mob-mentality justifies mediocrity because you constantly compare your life to those around you.
You are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time around.
Fear is inevitable when you pursue the creative lifestyle.

Why?

Because the true creative path is not illuminated for you.

Creatives trail-blaze for others to follow.
Entering the unknown causes some level of discomfort/fear.
Reverse engineer your fear - turn it into a challenge.

You can learn a lot from history about fearless individuals.

Fearless individuals inspire courage within

Everyone wants to be the hero of their own story.
You can do this by designing your own life.
Your rules, your freedom, your ability to do as you please.

This is the dream of every creative individual.

Love Yourself And You Will Improve

Productivity is a byproduct when you commit to achieving your goals.

Entering new stages of your life requires the utmost conviction in what you do.
Conquering yourself and placing bets on your potential is only something those who love themselves do. Loving who you are is not selfish or arrogant.

Improvement comes from love - it means you’re not perfect but you’re wiling to get as close as possible to it.

Encourage yourself to fail

If you can discover new paths to realize, your life will be great.
The notion is to find one path and stick with it until you’re 65.
Human beings are unique, our ability to change is so fascinating.

Fear halts change and improvement in it’s tracks - but failure encourages us to figure it out.

How to love yourself (the Zachariah way)

To love yourself is to prioritize yourself. Singular - one priority.
Attempt to get better in any area of your life where you feel lack.

Easiest way to start - your mindset - your beliefs about your unrealized potential.
Also it never hurts to get some sunlight and exercise.

Fear as Compass (the anti-goal method)

Lack of direction is the #1 killer of dreams.

Learning how to make tangible progress in your creative life is difficult.
This can contribute to mental health issues.
It can also be overwhelming and cause issues with your productivity as well.

The focus when “lost” like this needs to be redirected towards negativity.

I understand it sounds ridiculous - but we remember negative emotion and thoughts.

1st - Figure out the life you don’t want.
2nd - Refuse it.
3rd - Actualize on what you genuinely desire.

Balancing learning and creating with reasonable effort is all it takes.

Creatives rely on incremental gains over time.

1% better everyday is not just a productivity/personal-development mantra.
It needs to be a mantra for expanding your creative thinking and capabilities.
The world needs people like you.

Becoming a creative is how you can solve your own problems.
Which in turn allows you to solve other people’s problems.

Fear is the best compass a creative can ask for.

ABOVE: Storytweets are incredible tools for building real connections online - here’s one of mine about my photography beginnings.

Thanks for reading!
Another way I can help you when you are ready.
Learn how to optimize creativity and productivity directly from me

Your creative buddy who won’t shut tf up about legacy and creative direction
-Zachariah