You Believe in this Lie Everyday

Let's talk about a lie you might be believing every single day. It’s a lie that subtly holds your creativity hostage. It's the quiet thought that when your hard work receives critique, low views, or even complete silence, it's a direct attack on you.

We pour our hearts and souls into our work. Every brushstroke, every word, every carefully curated post is a piece of us. So when that piece is met with silence, critique, or even just fewer likes than we hoped for, it can feel like a direct hit, a personal attack on our worth, even our very being.

Most of us are sensitive souls which is why we are good at creating in the first place! But that sensitivity can also be our biggest hurdle, turning every minor setback into a major emotional blow. And that is where we need to draw a line.

It's time to break through the sensitivity trap.

The Truth About Feedback, Critique, and Low Engagement

Here's a hard truth: it's rarely personal.

• Feedback and Critique: When someone offers feedback, constructive or otherwise, they're usually commenting on the work, not your character. Maybe your design isn't quite clear, or your message got lost. This isn't a judgment on you as a person. Think of it as a helpful guidepost, not a roadblock. That said, not all critique deserves your attention. If it's a troll or simply vague, unhelpful noise, you have every right to ignore it and protect your energy.

• Low Views/Likes: Here's the thing about algorithms and audience engagement: it's fickle. Low numbers can be due to a million things completely unrelated to you: timing, platform changes, a busy news cycle, or simply that your content didn't hit the right person at the right time. And yes, sometimes, the content genuinely isn't hitting the mark. In these cases, it's not a reflection of you, but an indicator that there's an opportunity to learn and improve your approach. It doesn't diminish the quality of your creation or your talent in the long run.

Your creative energy, your spark is your lifeblood. When minor setbacks directly drain this energy, it poses a threat to your ability to sustain a long and thriving creative career. This needs to change.

Shift Your Perspective To Protect Your Energy

1. Detach from the Outcome: You created something amazing. Your job is to put it out there. Once it's out, how it is received is out of your control. Focus on the act of creating, not just the reaction.

2. Separate the Art from the Artist: Your work is a reflection of you, but it isn't you. Just as a chef isn't their dish, you are not your latest Instagram post or client review. You are simply the mind behind it.

3. Find the Lesson, Not the Insult: Instead of immediately feeling hurt, ask yourself: "What can I learn from this?" Is there a pattern in the feedback? Can I experiment with different styles? This empowers you to grow instead of shrinking.

4. Build Your Resilience Muscle: Every time you receive feedback without crumbling, or notice low engagement without spiraling, you're building resilience. This isn't about becoming "tough" or emotionless, but about developing the strength to navigate the ups and downs of the creative journey with grace.

5. Your Core Motivation: Before any external eyes saw your work, there was a spark, an idea, a deep urge to create. It's the part of you that remains untouched by likes, views, or even well-meaning critique. Connect back to that original, untainted source of inspiration.

Your Creativity is Not Up for Debate

The next time you feel that familiar sting of "it's personal," pause. Take a deep breath. Remind yourself that this is part of the creative process. Learn from it, adjust if necessary, and then keep creating.

Remember, your voice is still unfolding. Don't let anything stop you from putting a limit to your potential.