Hey Creative Heart!
Are you scared of just letting go and painting? Perhaps you have a real desire to begin, but a sense of perfectionism holds you back?
This week I’ve got a sequence of steps I personally use for all kinds of creative projects, to help me get out of inertia and into action!

Video Transcript: 4 Simple Steps to Just Let Go & Paint!

So firstly, I just want to say this fear of letting go is something that comes up again and again from my clients and students. It’s a really common barrier to expressing our creativity.

It’s also something I face in different areas of my life as well. But, when it comes to the studio and painting, I’ve developed a set of muscles that have helped me tune out from that perfectionist voice in my head, so to speak, and developed some tools to be able to overcome this fear.

I can honestly tell you, if we listen to the voice in our head that keeps trying to play out a scenario of what it is we’re trying to create, trying to see exactly how it’s all going to come together and plan for any pit-falls before we begin, then we’ll stay stuck in the land of inertia.

We’ll never actually get to experience the joy of interacting with our materials and making something.

So I want to help you get off the couch and get out of your head, and actually start exploring and embracing the joys and the discoveries waiting for you by following these four very simple, but effective, steps.

#1. Take the Pressure off Yourself

I use this step all the time where I take the pressure off of myself. I do this by having a little conversation with myself.

I say “Nikki, do you know what? Let’s just give it a go and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter!”

So in the case of making this video for you, I’ve been procrastinating and trying to figure out exactly what I’m going to say. Instead I ended up telling myself,

“Nic, just have a go!” It’s taken me a few takes, but it doesn’t actually matter, because I’m in action and I’m starting to get something down into the camera.

#2. Take Small Steps

Tip number two is to take small steps, or I like to call them micro movements.

So instead of focusing on the huge task in front of you, whether it’s creating a finished painting, making a blog post, or creating an online course, it might be doing anything that requires your creative energy to birth into the world, just focus on the next step.

Instead of focusing on the huge overall project, once you know what it is you are trying to create, see what the next simple step is that you can take to move you in the direction of your creative vision.

So today, some of the micro movements I’ve taken have been, I got my hair done! Then I said “Okay Nic, next we’re just going to get the right clothes and take an assortment of those down into the studio.”

Once in the stuido I thought “Okay Nic, all you need to do is set up the lights and get the lighting right now.” So I did a few lighting tests and one thing after another has led to me sitting down and having this lovely conversation with you.

But when I first woke up this morning I was in no place to be saying “Oh you know what, I’m going sit down and make an awesome kick-ass video for you.” Because I had to get the momentum going and take the movements that were required to get to this place.

It’s really no different when you’re making a piece of art.

If I’m painting, I’ll often have to break it down into micro movements again.

I might say “Okay Nic, what we’re going to do now is we’re going to clear off your old paints.”

I get rid of my palettes and any old dried up paint. Then I’ll arrange things so my space is nice and neat. I’ll get myself some new rags and pour out the medium to mix my paints. Next minute, I’m already mixing the paint and I’m starting to put it on the canvas.

So that’s tip number two, take micro-movements or small steps.

#3. Give Yourself a Sense of Safety.

This tip is really dear to my heart, because it’s something I use all the time. Make sure you give yourself a sense of safety.

Often that takes the form of allowing yourself to do things in private.

So particularly when I’m beginning something new, I find it very helpful to know nobody has to see this. I don’t have to show this to anyone if it doesn’t work out.

That often means closing the door, pulling the curtains and literally being alone with whatever it is that I’m producing, whether it’s a painting or it’s a video.

It allows me freedom.

For my students I say the same thing. Giving themselves a sense of safety allows them to let go, and circumvent the perfectionist streak many of us struggle with.

#4. Create an On-ramp Ritual

Tip number four is to create for yourself something I call an on-ramp ritual.

So this means something you could just slide into and trick your brain to think, “Okay, I’m starting to get into my creative mode.”

It can be very simple.

Often my creative on-ramp ritual is this; I’ll make myself a cup of tea; I’ll turn on some form of music that I feel drawn into for that day; and then I’ll tidy up my studio space.

That’s my on-ramp ritual that triggers me into getting out of my head and listening to that little voice of perfectionism, and actually taking action and making movements in the world.

Something I’ve found really helpful to think about is, if I start to feel a sense of fear, or I notice the little voice saying “You’ll never do it, it’s not good enough, no one will like it, what’s the point?”

Those voices, those fears, are like the screen-saver on my computer. So you know, when you’re not taking action on your computer and all of the sudden the screen saver pops up? Well, those fears are like a reminder for me that I’m not in action. If I’ve got enough room in my head for those voices, it means I’m not moving and I’m not being present to what the next step is.

It’s a reminder to take notice of what’s around me, and take small steps towards my creative vision.

So there you are 4 tips you’re welcome to try out:

1. Take the pressure off yourself.

Have a little conversation and say “You know what if this doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter.”

2. Take micro-movements.

See what the next logical step is and move in that direction.

3. Give yourself a sense of safety.

Often that comes in the form of a sense of privacy.

4. Create an on-ramp ritual.

That you can use to put yourself on autopilot before you start on your creative project.

I hope you’ve enjoyed those tips. If you’ve enjoyed the video please feel free to share it on Facebook. You can share it with your friends and help them get out of perfectionism, and into exploring and flourishing in their creative life.

Get Started with Painting & Creativity

If you’d like to practical tools to be able to start painting, I’ve got a free online course for you that you’re more than welcome to enjoy.

Get started here: www.nicolanewman.com/flourishwithpainting

That’s all for today, I hope you’re feeling spurred on to nurture your creativity and be gentle with yourself.

Have a great week!

Nicola xx

Did you miss last week’s post? Check it out here: How to Find Inspiration for Your Creative Life

4 Simple Steps to Just Let Go & Paint!