Pretty Minds V14- Fear, Creativity, and the Art of Delusional Confidence

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Dear Pretty-Minded,

Welcome back to Pretty Minds Collective, your go-to creative space where we explore the beautiful intersections of cognition and creativity. Today, we're tackling a familiar enemy to every creator: FEAR. Specifically, we're unpacking how fear holds us back and how a dash of "delusional confidence" seasoning might be the secret sauce to pushing through. If you've ever felt self-doubt before starting a project or the urge to hide your work because "what if it's terrible?", this one's for you.

Let's dive into why fear is such a universal barrier—and more importantly, how to trick our brains into fearless creative confidence.

Top of Mind - Fear, Creativity & the Art of Delusional Confidence

We often think of fear as something to overcome, but have you ever considered what FEAR actually stands for in your creative journey? Around here it stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Through my recent conversations with creators, creatives, professionals, and students, one theme consistently emerges: paralyzing fear. FEAR is undefeated in these streets!

Fear: The Universal Barrier to Creativity

Fear is a four-letter word that often stands between us and our most ambitious ideas. It comes in many flavors:

• Fear of the unknown
• Fear of failure
• Fear of stepping out of your comfort zone
• Fear of what people think
• Fear of starting over
• Fear of being a beginner

The irony is that these fears are mostly learned. In fact, psychologists note humans are only born with two innate fears: the fear of falling and loud noises; every other fear—be it public speaking or staring at a blank canvas—is learned along the way. The good news? If we learned our fears, we can unlearn them or at least outsmart them.

Think of fear as the bodyguard that does too much at the club. This what fear looks like circling around your comfort zone. Its job is to yell "Danger!" and asses preceived threats even when you're just trying to share a thoughtful post on Instagram. It means well (it evolved to save us from actual tigers, after all), but in modern creative life, fear often shows up as an overprotective friend who really needs to chill.

Rick Rubin's Take: Turning Fear into Fuel

Legendary music producer and creative sage Rick Rubin has a refreshing perspective on creative fear. One of his key insights: "Your desire to create must be greater than your fear of it." In other words, nurturing your love for the craft can help dwarf the fear of doing it.

To help and be a source of peace and power in these conversations, I remembered some advice from one of my favorite books of all time.

In Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Way” (if you haven’t read it and your a creative or looking to be more creative, its a Must Read) he recommends establishing a consistent framework around your creative process so you know exactly how to check your fear.

Rubin suggests establishing a consistent framework around your creative process so you know exactly how to check your fear:

1. Embrace vulnerability: Accept and use intense, overwhelming emotions as a foundation for artistic expression, rather than trying to eliminate them.
2. Adopt a diary entry approach: Create as if you're writing a personal diary entry, focusing on truthfulness and authenticity without concern for external judgment.
3. Detach from outcomes: Create art for its own sake, without worrying about future reception, sales, or impact.
4. Focus on the process: Approach creativity as a practice pursued for its own sake, rather than fixating on the end result.
5. Embrace improvisation: Allow ideas to unfold naturally, taking risks without forcing them into an artificial timeline.
6. Create a supportive environment: Cultivate stable personal relationships and curate your inner circle to safeguard your creative wellbeing.
7. Protect your internal space: Implement routines that minimize distractions and maintain focus on the creative process.

He also advises creating a safe space for making art. He says you should "create an environment where you're free to express what you're afraid to express" and remember that "failure is the information you need to get where you're going." This reframing turns fear of failure on its head; mistakes aren't humiliations, they're just clues.

Learning + Unlearning: Your Brain on Fear (and How to Tame It)

Now, let's get brainy for a second (I'm a nerd in real life friends). What does brain science research say about fear and creativity?

Neuroscience shows that fear isn't just a feeling—it's a full-body program run by your amygdala (the brain's panic button). When you face a perceived threat (say, the Publish button on your first blog post), your brain might treat it like a hungry lion: cue the racing heart, sweaty palms, and urge to get up outta there. Fear literally can shut down our most creative thinking when it hijacks our brains.

The gag is that fear and excitement are actually pretty much the same thing. Physiologically, your body reacts in almost the same way for both—wild, right? The difference lies in interpretation. This means we can reframe that "uh-oh" feeling. Research at Harvard found that people who reframe anxiety as excitement perform better than those who try to calm down.

By cognitively reframing the situation ("This isn't fear, it's enthusiasm for what's about to happen!"), you soothe and trick your brain to calm down.

Creative Ritual Toolkit - The Art of Delusional Confidence

So how do we apply all this to our day-to-day creative grind? Delusional confidence enters the chat.

No, we're not talking about denying reality or thinking you can fly (put down the cape, please). We mean cultivating a level of self-belief so audacious that it overrides the self-doubt—essentially, giving yourself permission to be a little delusional in favor of your dreams.

How can you cultivate a deep belief that you will be successful at whatever you do even if it's your first time trying something? How do you operate from a place of healthy fear and courage and confidence? A confidence so high that it's almost delusional?

Think of it as the opposite of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome whispers, "Who do you think you are, trying to write a novel/start a business/paint a masterpiece?" Delusional confidence shouts back, "Who am I not to? I'm doing it anyway!"

"Delusional" confidence is really just extreme optimism and self-belief. It's what allows some people to take moonshot ideas and actually start working on them without freezing up. And guess what? Often it's only by acting with this bold self-belief that truly original work gets made.

How to Work from Your Brand HEART and Hack Your Fear

Now, let's get practical. How can you actually trick your brain into this kind of fearless confidence? How do you work from your brand HEART? Here are a few toolkit strategies to cultivate that creative courage:

1. Process Over Outcome: Obsess less about how it will turn out and fall in love with the process. Just BE( I just posted about this here). When you focus on the act of creating rather than the end result, you take pressure off yourself. Prioritize experiments and curiosity over perfection.
2. Visualize & Reframe: Your imagination is a powerful tool against fear. Before diving into a daunting creative task, visualize yourself doing it and enjoying it. Along with visualization, practice cognitive reframing in real time. When that familiar fear thought pops up, catch it, and flip it, and reverse it.
3. Micro-Dose Your Comfort Zone: Think of building creative courage like working out. Practice exposure therapy for your fears by taking tiny creative risks consistently. These small acts of bravery teach your brain that the fear response was exaggerated.
4. Channel "Delusional" Confidence: Approach your next creative endeavor as if you're 100% that creative genius – even if you have to pretend at first. Personally, I tell myself I'm a genius almost daily ( hence the brain emoji behind my name) Some creators find it helpful to adopt an alter ego or persona when they're about to do something scary.

The Feedback Loop: Using Fear as a Creative Tool

The beauty of working through creative fear is that each time you push past it, you create a positive personal feedback loop. Every time you take a creative risk and survive (which you always will!), you're essentially training your brain that:

• The feared outcome wasn't as bad as anticipated
• You're capable of handling discomfort
• Creative risks often lead to unexpected rewards
• There is reward outside of your comfort zone

This feedback loop makes the next creative challenge slightly easier to face, gradually transforming your relationship with fear from adversary to ally.

Thought Experiment of the Week: Tapping Into Delusional Confidence

For this week's thought experiment, let's practice cultivating that delusional confidence that can help you push through creative barriers:

1. Fear Inventory: Make a list of your top three creative fears. How are they holding you back? What would you create if these fears suddenly disappeared?
2. Confidence Visualization: Spend five minutes daily visualizing yourself with unshakable creative confidence. What does it feel like? How do you carry yourself? What does your unscared, future self create with this freedom?
3. Creative Micro-Risk: Take one tiny creative risk each day this week. Share something small, try a new technique, or pitch a simple idea.
4. Reframing Practice: When fear arises, consciously relabel it as "creative excitement." Notice how this shift in perception changes your physical and emotional response.

Are you ready to embrace a bit of delusional confidence and see what creative doors it might open for you?

Join the Conversation: How do you deal with fear in your creative journey? Have you tried being "delusionally" confident, or do you have your own tricks to share?

I'd love to hear about a time you pushed past fear – or a fear you're hoping to conquer next.

Let's keep the conversation going!

Stay curious and keep that big brain energy!

Jeneba ??