The Power of a Growth Mindset in Creative Pursuits

Building a growth mindset was a gradual process, but it was the key to gaining the confidence I had always lacked in my talents and abilities. It happened when I began changing the self-beliefs that were holding me back.

I’ve always loved being creative. As a child, I was constantly painting, drawing, or making something with my hands. If you asked me what I wanted to do with my life, the answer was always the same: something in art or design. I never doubted it. But I was told over and over that it was stupid idea, that I’d never make anything of it. So I never developed confidence in my abilities.

The Confidence I Never Built

Still, it didn’t stop me from going after what I wanted, but it made it harder, because I was constantly doubting myself and my talents. Even though I lacked support in pursuing a career in Art and Design, I still pursued it and got into the art college I wanted.

But because of my lack of confidence in my abilities, I felt out of place there. I didn’t feel as talented as everyone else, and that really affected how I performed. I struggled with doing well and often self-sabotaged. It’s funny to think that art college, a place where self-expression, creativity, and uniqueness are embraced, was where I felt most disconnected. But that feeling of not fitting in wasn’t limited to college, it followed me everywhere. My limiting beliefs and the negative voice in my head kept telling me I wasn’t good enough or didn’t belong there.

The Challenge of Criticism

I also found critiques hard. How were the tutors to know that I already doubted my abilities so much, or that I was the type of person who, when receiving criticism, didn’t feel built up or encouraged? In fact, it had the opposite effect and made me feel like giving up. Criticism can be especially tough when you’re already struggling with self-doubt, as it feels like confirmation of your fears. When you’re in a vulnerable state, negative feedback can feel personal, making you question your abilities and sometimes even your worth. Learning to deal with criticism is something that took me a long time to master. 

Building the skill of not taking criticism personally comes with awareness, practice, and self-compassion. Over time, I learned to separate my work from my worth and see feedback as an opportunity for growth, not a reflection of who I am.

Even after college, when I landed my first design job, the same pattern continued. I did great in the interview, but the minute I started working, my self-doubt kicked in. Instead of growing in the role, I felt stressed, insecure and anxious, like I wasn’t good enough. That made it hard to enjoy the work, and I struggled with daily anxiety.

After I finished working there, I felt so tired of design that I needed to take a break, and I went off track completely for a few years. I wasn’t doing anything creative. I barely even mentioned to people that I had studied art or that I had previously worked as a graphic designer.

When Self-Doubt Runs Your Life

When you don’t believe in yourself, it affects everything, from the choices you make to how you deal with everyday challenges. I used to say no to opportunities, constantly need reassurance that my work was good, and let one bit of criticism, or even a difficult person, knock my confidence in an instant. I’d overthink situations, replay conversations in my head, and take the blame even when it wasn’t mine to take. My lack of confidence and self-belief stopped me from taking risks and pursuing opportunities, and even when I was doing well, I would play it down. Before you know it, you can drift so far from your passions that you barely recognise yourself. Building confidence isn’t about acting like you have it all together, it’s about proving to yourself, step by step, that you can learn, adapt, and handle whatever comes your way.

How A Growth Mindset and Creativity Transformed My Journey

Because I wasn’t using my creativity, I started to feel completely misaligned. I was really disconnected and knew I wasn’t living as my true self. The more disconnected I felt, the more I knew something had to change. I needed to get back to doing something creative and change my beliefs about my talents.

I remember seeing a quote by Maya Angelou:

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

A moment of realisation finally clicked for me: I wasn’t tapping into my creativity, so how could I expect to be good at it or feel confident in it?

From that point on, I decided to change my mindset. I began telling myself that I was creative, that I had talent, and that I could do or learn anything if I set my mind to it. I adopted a growth mindset, believing that I could figure out whatever challenges came my way.

I started saying yes when I was asked to take on tasks I didn’t fully know how to do, like building websites, and I figured it out. Each new project expanded my skill set and built a stronger foundation. By simply shifting how I saw myself, I grew as a designer, as a person and developed many new abilities along the way. I started developing more creative skills, like photography. I no longer believed that you were either good at something or you weren’t. I realised that with time and practice, you can excel at anything. Where effort goes, results flow.

Using My Journey and Creativity to Inspire Others Through Honor & Bloom

Every skill I’ve developed over the years and my journey of self-discovery have brought me here today. Over the past few years, I felt a strong calling to use my creativity in a way that was aligned with purpose, to create something meaningful. The idea of creating a journal and this brand has been with me for a long time, and in September 2023, I finally began bringing it to life. Creating Honor & Bloom and this guided journal has allowed me to take what I’ve learned from my own journey of personal growth and use my creativity to help others on theirs.

Something else unexpected happened, too: a few years ago, I started writing poetry. These poems just come to me when I am in a flow state of creativity, and I am tapping into that more and more. I believe we all have endless capabilities and potential. The more open we are to what we can do, the more it flows out of us.

For years, I denied that creative part of myself, and I felt the cost of that every day. Now I use it in any way I can, and it comes out more and more in different ways.

Remember, if you’re struggling with your mental health, emotional wellbeing, or anything discussed in this post, please remember that help is available. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for support. You are not alone, and there are people ready to listen and assist you.