#shareyourworst

I started a new class/course on Skillshare to learn more about my inner critic. Today, I watched the exercise “Creative Confidence: Learn to Overcome the Critical Voice || part of The Inner Critic Series”, which is taught by Lucy Lambriex. The challenge was to post about my worst blank (some sort of creative outlet) and my best. When doing this exercise, Lucy asked that we write down any feelings, thoughts, sounds, etc that our inner critic expresses but try not to engage or react to them. I decided to look back at some of my package design work from college.

I think this is my worst package design piece:

This was one of my first attempts at package design. I was stubborn and wanted to make my original idea work, even if it wasn't the best design choice. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings that come up when I look at this piece along with my inner critic.

Next, I think this is my best package design piece:

This was for the same class but I started to find myself and my style. I started to figure out how to balance fine and digital art. I consider this one of my best pieces, yet I still find myself critiquing it.

During this exercise, I noticed that my inner critic changes their volume or tone of voice depending on how I interact with it (or don't).. 

"Why is this taking you so long?"

"If you mess anything up, it will be soo embarrassing"

"Is this actually your worst or your best?!?"

"Go check how someone else did this, so you don't do it wrong"

"Re-type that, someone is going to read it wrong."

"You don't even know how to use this platform. You should wait to do this."

Mostly, I struggled with retyping basically every sentence, if not every word and re-reading over and over again. I can barely hear any criticism about my actual artwork because of the louder noise about writing this. Lucy asked us to name our inner critic if we haven't already, but my inner critic even has 2 cents over that, aha >.<. 

I have learned a lot about my inner critic through the last few years and I'm trying to coexist nowadays instead of ignoring or silencing it out.

I recommend this exercise to anyone that needs to strengthen and understand  the relationship between you and your inner critic, especially when it applies to your creative journey.