Starting a big project is always exciting, but we sometimes forget how overwhelming it can actually get. Often I’ve gotten caught up in the thinking process and the excitement of the final piece that when I start to produce the actual web design or poster, for example, I choke when all my wonderful ideas don’t look so great on screen. It’s like the harsh reality of waking up from a dream where you just won in life. That’s when the high wears off and fear devours you. Especially if your reality is a paycheck-to-paycheck type deal in conjunction with a nice pile of student loan debt. Ouch.

After my first entry last week, that fear had swallowed me whole. The fear of what my first ‘real’ entry should be about, how I’d write it, and if it would actually make sense in the end.  A whole week of ruminating about this and as I type this, I’ll admit I still don’t have the perfect post.

So how am I here now? Well, I’m simply hoping that it will all work out.  I’m an optimist so it’s engrained in me that in the end, that’s all we need to do– trust that it will all work out.  [Note: Being optimistic doesn't provide immunity to fear, but tries to give it a better light. ]

Here are some ways I’ve discovered to help overcome the fear of not producing:

Forcing fear to become a motivator
When I first thought about starting a blog a month ago, I came up with topics to write about and share. I wanted to get my thoughts up and get people’s take on them. The excitement of starting this felt so great, and when I first posted last week, I drew a blank. Nothing sounded right, I didn’t know how to start, I didn’t know where I wanted to go. That excitement became fear.  During my week of obsessing, I was filled with so much doubt and insecurity that it was draining. So, finally tired of it, I decided that today I would just jump the hurdle and get this first entry down. From what I’ve learned in all of my projects, it’s the first step (or jump) that’s always the toughest. Once you have something, you have direction. Try turning that fear back into excitement for the unknown.

Zooming out to see the whole process
You’ll always be moving in a direction if you’re working on it. Does it matter if it’s the right one? Not really, because you’ll figure it out as you go. Yesterday I opened my sketchbook to a blank page because I felt the need to put something on there. What came out was messy and not quite the masterpiece I was hoping for. I came back to it a bit later, added some colors and lines, and now it’s sketchbook worthy. Mind you, I’m not a great drawer but I can still be picky! If you put in the work, know that you can continue developing until it’s developed just the way you want it.

Putting yourself into the piece
Honestly, the worst part of this kind of fear, the fear of not producing, is that more pressure to produce is built as the clock ticks. You can’t let this get to you though, because it just stifles creativity. Remember that if it’s not enjoyable to produce your next piece, you won’t find satisfaction in the end result. In my graphics design courses, I can’t stand the thought of submitting a final project that I’m not happy with. If it’s going to represent me, it’s going to look good. That’s the mentality you need if you want to overcome the fear– that something great will come out of it. And if you scrap the piece and start over, at least you’ll know where you don’t want to go.

 

I hope this helps you as it’s helped me. There have been countless times where I think an “easy and fun” project becomes something I dread and try to avoid for a few days, while the fear is having its way with me the whole time. But knowing that you’ll come out with something great in the end should be satisfying enough to want to start sooner.