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Banish Your Inner Critic
Denise R. Jacobs
HOW Interactive Conf w Boston, MA w 5 November 2015
@denisejacobs
#HIDC @HOWbrand
#banishyourcritic
Want the slides? Go here: 
Creativedo.se/hidcbos-ic
Photo by Derek Kearney
Wait…What?!
Founder + CEO, The Creative Dose
http://TheCreativeDose.com/
Upon a time…
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Once-Upon-a-Time/2918365
29 June
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jblndl/3154255478/
I was going to be a writer!
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Instead of creativity
Photo from Flickr.com
Destructivity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevygee/3265941065/
The voices in my head were merciless
http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/4887528060/
I totally freaked out
I shouldn't be writing this
I misrepresented myself
I don't know enough
This should be someone else’s book
I’m going to look stupid
Everyone will see that I’m a fake
What if it's not good enough?
What if I'm not good enough?

No…really!
2 days
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiery-phoenix/8428079916/
Worked non-stop
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53611153@N00/5827849044/
Pushed myself to burn-out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44085287@N05/4052943367/
My internal critical voices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeapalooza/553545517/
Made this happen
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70938871@N05/8230432077
Physical evidence of fear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grumpyfeline/4626401443/
A different kind of fear
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Internalized criticisms + fears
https://www.flickr.com/photos/remoto/5313967682
= The Inner Critic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484093889/
F.E.A.R. =
http://cdnpix.com/show/imgs/7a361666e107cd36656d5a66ea2e4e80.jpg
Or…
https://twitter.com/Phishtitz/status/474661495935365120
YES! (…and…)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/willsan/3780293130
The enemy of creativity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwinchell/130344669/
Stress & frustration
https://www.flickr.com/photos/corneveaux/3248566797/
Suppress generative impulses in the brain
https://www.flickr.com/photos/birthintobeing/11841180046
Thoughts =
h ps://www.flickr.com/photos/57375589@N05/9046508025/
Electrical impulses =
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neuron-matrix.png
= Brainwaves!
http://uniteunderfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Brain-waves.jpg
Know your brainwaves
Blocks creative expression
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anieto2k/8156999698/
“The parts of your brain that are
responsible for self-monitoring are literally
turned off during creative
endeavors….Creative people have
mastered the art of turning off [the
inhibitive] part of their brains to let their
ideas flow more smoothly, unleashing their
imagination.”
- Tina Seelig, InGenius
How to ID your Inner Critic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/203904103/
Listen for internal critical talk
http://brenebrown.com/2014/04/08/daring-interview-series-meet-gavin-aung/
“OMG, I’m SO busy!”
“I should have done more by now…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kharied/3315558702/
“They’ll find out I’m a fraud”
vs. “NAILED IT!”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-drummond/3946893897
“I don’t know enough”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Einstein_1921_by_F_Schmutzer.jpg
(You can be intimidated into this, btw)
“It needs to be FLAWLESS”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/
“I’ll do it tomorrow…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
“Really, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
“I will do it tomorrow!”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
Feed each other
Afflicts ALL of us!
http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/jimmy-fallon-the-unsinkable-legend-part-2 (@ 8:15)
“…I don’t have what these people want to see –
they want to see a funny guy! That’s not me.”
- Jerry Seinfeld, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
https://www.flickr.com/photos/97477873@N00/13016287284/
*Everyone* has these thoughts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/5788826472/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhinson/1290445055/
Instructions:
1) Write down one
fear around your
creativity
2) Crumple paper
into ball
Then…
3) Throw across the room!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b1-baSAE8ZI/VDM3BbuiaFI/AAAAAAAABKk/l91FBGvSgkA/s1600/IMAGE_437.jpg
Sound familiar?
Photo: Denise Jacobs
You’re not the only one
https://www.flickr.com/photos/17843347@N05/4610644207/
In order for
http://www.flickr.com/photos/designandtechnologydepartment/4771136128/
We need brain management
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/13994747444
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nrbelex/2247397943/
“You must be
unintimidated by your
own thoughts because if
you [try to create] with
someone looking over
your shoulder, you'll
never [create].”
– Nikki Giovanni
“The goal is to manage
anxiety so that our energies
are used for the productive
and satisfying art of
creating…
…rather than the destructive
and debilitating art of self-
torture. “
- Clare Warmke, Idea Revolution
How do we…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/5445602998/
Banish the Inner Critic?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/31505964@N08/4691019168/
You can’t outrun the voices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wester/504925076/
Eliminate “Have to/Should/Must/Ought”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythoto/3822942678/
Replace with “I choose/ I decide/ I will”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mstry-2525-gst/3312199285/
Say NO to Comparisons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suvodeb/2559017400/
“You cannot compare your insides
to someone else’s outsides.”
You & what you produce is unique
Establish boundaries
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisawakeupcall/5595296868/
(Btw, this your new mantra…)
http://www.spunkysapphire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-1-e1406074730116.jpg
Beat Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome Paradox
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/2279939232/
You will only experience impostor
syndrome when you are
competent and skilled.
(re-read this as many times as necessary.)
Ask it questions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4749432145/
Be compassionate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2646295354/
Reassign duty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shavawnmarie/1326123397/
Remember your successes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pocait/2847866615/
(My personal version)
Photo: Denise Jacobs
Cop a Power Pose
“Our bodies change our minds,
our minds change our behavior,
and our behavior changes our
outcomes.”	
- Amy Cuddy, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” TED talk
Breaking the loop
Perfectionism
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/7648792510/
“Perfectionism is self-abuse
of the highest order.”	
― Anne Wilson Schaef
The real problem
http://cuttingthecheese.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/26810560251953842_ede18tng_f.jpg
Perfectionists focus on the finished
product…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phatcontroller/3667889959/
Rather than the process
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spyndle/474122586/
“The Best” vs “The most”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/villify/10871945326
Clear the pipes: Morning Pages
https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliejordanscott/4970674253//
Be bad/make it ugly
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kpwerker/6051104684
Embrace the “SFD”
Twitter, circa 2006
Satisfice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepyvalley/3650673328
Amen!
https://twitter.com/dickelippe/status/581204005013078016/photo/1
Fear of being judged?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdlasica/12825451433/
Remember egocentricity
Reframe fear of failure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/2717325940/
http://culturecatch.com/files/images/after-earth.jpg
“Fear is not real. It is a
product of the
thoughts you create.
Do not misunderstand
me.
Danger is very real.
But fear is a choice.”
- character of Cypher Raige, After Earth
Embrace failure and mistakez
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4498817330/
“Being right keeps us in
place. Being wrong forces us
to explore.” 
– Steven Johnson, Where Good Ideas Come From
Copy the #fail masters
Photo: Denise Jacobs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959864706/
Take steps, #FAIL; Go again!
“Failure is only the
opportunity to begin again
more intelligently.”
- Henry Ford
Decouple performance from identity
https://www.flickr.com/photos/krissen/6824608878
Perfection ≠ Excellence
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaldoche/4771465356
“Don’t let perfect become
the enemy of good.”
– Voltaire
Procrastination
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irrezolut/2311904560/
The trick is not self-identifying…
http://20px.com/blog/2013/09/06/a-field-guide-to-procrastinators/
Nor administering a dose of
https://www.flickr.com/photos/116357579@N08/13178367583
Procrastinators are NOT lazy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/code_martial/4145914957
The unknown can be paralyzing
http://hub.salford.ac.uk/energymonitoring/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/01/known-knowns1.jpg
Pro tip!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmelsa/3000222387/
Increase the meaning/value
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyeliam/2460475510/
Mind Tricks
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32135758@N02/5325454434/
Don’t do it, just get ready to
Photo: Denise Jacobs
“Structured procrastination”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/superamit/1043379069
Time & Space Tricks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/indraw/4857101224/
Eliminate distractions
From “Shit Black Girls Say”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXDpfhehb6I
Ignore to focus
Tools
RescueTime.com
HeyFocus.com
Browser Extensions
Firefox:
LeechBlock
Idderall
Google Chrome:
Strict Workflow
StayFocusd
Website Blocker
Aids for digital blocking
Added bonus
HeyFocus.com
Airplane/Do Not Disturb mode
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieterouwerkerk/699475144/
Make it a Sprint
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucamascaro/4975166968/
Fill a Quota
https://www.flickr.com/photos/teosaurio/3392883329/
Remember this
Photo: Denise Jacobs
My story’s end?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonialuna/2942020058/
February
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/3709856898/
#FAIL
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dafnecholet/5374200948
#WINNING!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clappstar/6297835482/
I wrote my first book!
Photo: Denise Jacobs
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thatconference/9532425040/
Which created AMAZING
things for me
Bad dreams
https://www.flickr.com/photos/agroffman/4613265988
My own inner creative child
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Always reaching for perfection
Photo: Denise Jacobs
“The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but
never jam to-day.”
“It MUST come sometimes to ‘jam to-day’,” Alice
objected.
“No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every
OTHER day: to-day isn’t any OTHER day, you
know.”
— from Through the Looking Glass & What Alice Found There, by Lewis Carroll
“Jam” = Reward / Satisfaction
https://www.flickr.com/photos/macati/2180421766
YOU NEVER GET JAM
http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/through-the-looking-glass/2book42.jpg
By sharing my experience
Photo: Deloria Jacobs
Show you there is an alternative
https://www.flickr.com/photos/buttersponge/4955768144
https://www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/9220121158/
“The creative
adult is the child
who survived
after the world
tried killing them,
making them
‘grown up’….
…The creative adult is the child who survived the
blandness of schooling, the unhelpful words of bad
teachers, and the nay-saying ways of the world.”
– Ursula K. L Guin
https://www.flickr.com/photos/theburiedlife/2167001643/
By understanding this truth
You’ll look at yourself differently
https://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/3460562429
Your imperfect, amazing ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcymet/3564484236/
Because, after all…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aoberg/9652158212
The End
Photo: Denise Jacobs
THE CREATIVE DOSE
A Creativity + Innovation Collective
Work Better. Create More. Create Betterness.
Creative Thinking & Problem-solving
Applying an Innovation Mindset
Creative Collaboration
Team Communication & Cohesion
TheCreativeDose.com
@thecreativedose
My upcoming book!
Banish Your Inner
Critic
DeniseJacobs.com/InnerCritic
26 Effective Techniques for
Unleashing Productive
Creativity
Get the slides! 
Creativedo.se/hidcbos-ic
DeniseJacobs.com
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Connect! + Collaborate!
Photo used with permission: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aarronwalter/4629078087/
Thank you!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theredproject/3302110152/

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Banish Your Inner Critic - HOW Interactive Conference, Boston