Recently I've been using "creative affirmations" since I was introduced to the idea of them in the Artist's Way, and have found them super useful, and I think you will too.
Even though affirmations might sound a little woo-woo they are simply phrases that are said as "truths" to oneself. The concept is extremely simple, yet in practise they can be pretty impactful.
Affirmations have helped me build creative and overall confidence, positive habits and mindset, to make art decisions, get creating, stay true to myself, remind myself of what I really want and my ability to reach my goals.
I suppose I've become a big believer that if you want to achieve any goals, or "level up", it's important to to nurture your mind per se, and to get over any mental road blocks. And techniques, like affirmations, as well as other methods like visualisation, can really help. I suggest you give them a go.
To inspire you, I've written a list of creative affirmations, as well as affirmations which are around overall good habits and mindset, which can all directly or indirectly help with creativity.
I would encourage you to take mine as examples but try writing your own affirmations tailored to specific your own goals or areas of growth. Perhaps you could aim for just 5 or 10 sentences. However, if that feels too tricky, and if some of the ones below resonate with you, feel free to also just use them.
Then the idea is to read them, out loud or to yourself, regularly. For instance, every day for a week, or once a week for a few months, or when in need. I'm sure they will have a positive effect.
Affirmations for creativity and art
- I am a creative
- Creativity is good
- I create for the love of creativity
- I am committed to exploring my creativity
- My artistic vision and style is meaningful and truthful
- I don't let others define the worth or value of my art
- It's okay to me if others like or don't like my art
- Good things will come if I create and stay true to myself
- My creativity adds value to the world
- I have the creativity and determination to overcome every challenge
- I am strong, courageous and confident
- My unique ideas and the way I see the world is what makes my work original and interesting
- My art and creative business goals are a reality that can be achieved by me
- I don't compete with other artists', I stay focused on my own art, goals and progress
- I stay true to my own ideas and intuition because I believe in myself
- My creative projects are a reflection of what I am truly passionate about
- I am open to the universe's creativity
Affirmations for mindset and habits (also very much help with creativity)
- I release the need for immediate results
- I release the need for external validation, approval and admiration
- I embrace the journey
- I embrace slow progress to build strong foundations
- I give myself the time and space to grow and learn
- I take calculated risks to get to my goals
- I am strong, courageous and confident
- I am a patient and intentional person
- My mind is clear, my focus sharp and my actions purposeful
- My potential is limitless
- I am open to new ideas and change
- Everyday I take a step towards my goals, however small that step might be
- Patience is a gift I give myself
How have affirmations helped me?
I can immediately think of a few examples of how affirmations have helped me move forward and to make creative progress.
For instance, I always wanted to host my own art events where people could come get creative and connect with each other. But I didn’t know how to go about it or whether the idea was even worthwhile. Negative thoughts would creep into my mind, would people care to join? Would I be able to pull them off? Repeating simple affirmations like “creativity is good” reminded me that these events could be meaningful and worth pursuing. It gave me the confidence to pitch my ideas to venues, and to market them strongly to attendees. Now, fast forward 6 months, I’m very proud of my Art Club and the events I've hosted. The group even has over 100 members on Meetup already.
Another way I’ve used affirmations is to change my habits. One of my biggest goals this year has been to become a more patient person. To be slower and more intentional with my art, my events, my work, and my personal life. Telling myself affirmations such as “I am a patient person” has helped reshape how I see myself. I no longer view it as a fixed truth that I’m impatient, rushing through things and chasing quick results.
Have affirmations helped you? I'm curious.
And if you’ve ever felt creatively stuck, I’d love to hear from you too. Let’s talk about the strange process of making things.
Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram :)
Looking for more creative inspiration?
For more tips and thoughts on creativity, check out these blogs:
The Artist’s Way: An Honest Review (From Someone Who Didn’t Quite Know What They’d Signed Up For)
How Scrapbooking (Glubeooking) Can Spark Ideas and Beat Creative Block