Do you ever have so many ideas swirling in your mind, only to find that when you finally sit down to create, all inspiration seems to vanish, as if those ideas have been silently assassinated?
If you’re like me, the culprit is often the same: good ol’ overthinking. Armed with the weapons of doubt and hesitation, it can quickly stifle and kill the ideas we were once so excited about if we don’t catch it early.
Now, let’s unmask this villain and learn how to protect our creative spark.
The Face of the Assassin
To stop something, we first need to identify it. Overthinking isn’t just careful consideration in a black trench coat. It’s the difference between simply buying materials to start making art and constantly finding new supplies you think you need before you even finish a single sketch or painting. It tells you that you need classes, better equipment, or more time.
It’s the voice in your head that whispers:
“But, what if...
your family and friends see your work and don’t acknowledge it?
your work isn’t good enough?
you get criticised or made fun of?
[insert another debilitating thought here]?”
As the whispers grow louder, your once-brilliant and exciting idea becomes too terrified to show its face on the page.
Creativity: A Free Roaming Spirit
Now that we’ve identified overthinking, let’s look at how it affects creativity. Creativity is like that friend who enjoys going to the beach to watch the sea or play in the sand, no matter if the skies are grey and the wind is chilly. It thrives on:
The unexpected meeting of different ideas from varied interests.
The “oooohhhh” and “a-ha” moments that often reveal themselves in the shower.
The sparks of colour and shapes that catch your eye.
The words from a love song or an overheard conversation.
But when overthinking strikes before you give creativity free rein, it’s like forcing an artist to file taxes during an art show.
How Overthinking Snuffs Out the Creative Flame
Analysis Paralysis: When we overanalyse every idea to see if it’s plausible or within our means, our brains become like hamster wheels—lots of movement in circles, but no progress. We research and build worlds without ever writing that story. We create spreadsheets and lists of pros and cons without ever starting that dream creative project.
The Fear Factor: Sometimes, we convince ourselves that failure is a pit of spikes rather than a springboard for growth. Yes, it doesn’t feel great to put effort into something that doesn’t work out. But what makes us think it’s better not to try?
Perfectionism Prison: When I asked a genAI tool to define perfectionism, it said: “It sets the bar so high that even Simone Biles would have trouble vaulting over it.” I can’t top that definition, so I’ll leave it at that.
Intuition Interruption: When we let the whispers of doubt get too loud, they start drowning out our inner voice with a cacophony of "what ifs" and "yeah, buts."
Opportunity Oversight: While we overthink our ideas, the world keeps moving, and if it moves too far ahead, we may feel left behind. One of the most interesting things I’ve read in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic* is the concept of ideas not necessarily belonging to anyone. If an idea visits you and you don’t act on it, it might find another creative who will bring it to life. It sounds a bit far-fetched, but I think about it every time I don’t act on my ideas.
Disarming the Assassin: Strategies to Embrace Creativity
Celebrate Imperfections: If your ideas aren’t fully formed, test them out in sketchbooks and journals. If you’re ready to share them publicly, post them on social media. Let them evolve as you work on them.
Start Your Focus Time: One of my favourite approaches is the “Five-Minute Focus Time.” If I’m feeling overwhelmed, tired, or scared to do something—be it dance, art, photography, or writing—I tell myself: “Just do five minutes. That’s it.” I set a timer and get started. If I’m really exhausted, I stop once the timer goes off. But most of the time, the dopamine kicks in, and I end up extending my time and doing more.
Engage in Mindful Moments: Acknowledge your fears and insecurities. Journal them or talk about them with a trusted confidante. It’s okay to have them, but don’t let them overtake and paralyse you.
Introduce Constraints: Multi-passionate creatives often get overwhelmed by possibilities. That’s why it’s useful to limit tools, time, or topics. This is why I like setting challenges for myself, like the 100 Things Project.
Let Your Intuition Guide You: As a teacher, I often tell my students that it’s good to have many ideas to find the best one. I do this to encourage creativity and play. As a creative, it’s important to continue such a practice. However, if you find yourself stuck or overwhelmed and start to overthink, it’s also okay to play the game of "first thought, best thought." Just go with the first thing that comes to mind and see where it takes you.
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It
Choose one of these strategies to embrace your creativity and start on one of your ideas. Let your inspiration flow with no edits, no second-guessing. Then, share one sentence about the experience in the comments.
Remember, in the battle against overthinking, action is your ally.
Additional Notes:
*Denotes an affiliate link.
Did you know that there are currently two sections on my Substack? The main one is this “Story Weavers Society” section. It’s what I plan to update at least once a week. I also created a section called Shai’s Journal. It’s where I plan to put any random idea or post I wish to share as I explore my multiple interests and passions. My updates there would be less scheduled. It could be weekly, biweekly, daily, or nothing for a little while. To get updates on both, you will need to subscribe to both. But, you’re welcome to subscribe to just one.
There’s also a Notes section that I update more often and where I’m even more random. I’ve challenged myself to post 100 Notes to see what happens to my Substack experience. I’ll keep you posted.