If you’re anything like me, what happens when it comes to creative brain freeze is that your brain goes into “scarcity mode.”
Scarcity mode is when you feel unable to do anything because you don’t have enough [__]. Usually for me, a full-on scarcity mode panic attack is about not having enough TIME. I get myself really worked up about time!
But it could be about anything under the sun…it could be MONEY, TALENT, ENERGY, DISCIPLINE, any of those things that we judge ourselves about not having.
The thing is…Scarcity mode is always a bit of a distortion when it’s coming from your brain.
On any given day…you probably have at least 5 minutes, and at least 5 pennies. Or you know how to get those things.
Even if you’re exhausted to hell, you know how to renew your energy, but you just might be using SOME OTHER scarcity as a reason why you’re not allowed to sleep. “I’ll get behind” is probably the one I use most, personally.
I used scarcity mode as a reason to put off illustrating my kids’ book for two years! I didn’t have enough talent. I didn’t have enough time. It was going to cost me money but not make me any. And so on.
But on the other end of it, I don’t seem to give a crap about any of those things anymore.
-I’m not the "best illustrator in the world". Who cares. WTF does that even mean.
-I proved I had way more than enough time, even on the days when I could only work for 10 minutes.
-It’s true that in the end the book has cost me money to create. But when I think about all the other things I’ve spent money on in my life in order to make myself happy, this might be the best use of cash I’ve ever spent. The feeling I got by seeing myself cross this milestone has given me so much confidence. So, I think it was money well spent.
What things are you saying no to because you don’t have enough [ ____ ]? Is it true? Would you rather be saying yes?
Thoughtfully,
Cathy