Note No. #10 // Flex Your Creative Muscle to Build Creative Confidence

How small daily habits, experimentation, and letting go of perfection can grow your creative potential.

Sep 21, 2024

*Image generated with ChatGPT + DALL•E.*

Good morning, and happy Saturday!

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been posting a lot of photos. The past few years, I felt stuck creatively. I’d take a ton of photos but never do anything with them. My work started to feel repetitive—same websites, same designs. I hit a plateau. So, at the start of this year, I set a goal: grow my creative confidence.

1. Creativity Is a Muscle

Creativity gets a false rep as something that strikes out of nowhere, and only for “creative types.” But it’s a muscle anyone can build. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. It’s about showing up, putting in the reps, and giving yourself space to experiment, fail, and grow.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing, designing, or trying something totally new. The goal is to show up and create—no matter how small the effort. The more you flex your creative muscle, the easier it gets. And creativity isn’t just for “creatives.” Starting a business or designing an experiment? That’s all creative work too. Find your outlet and start.

2. Start Now

If you waited to feel “inspired” before working out, you’d never get started. Creativity works the same way—you’ve got to start before you feel ready.

Don’t wait around for the perfect moment. Whether you’re writing, designing, launching a business, or solving problems, creativity is already part of your life. The goal is to recognize it and act on it, even if you’re not sure where to begin.

3. Build the Habit

Once you start, focus on making creativity part of your daily routine. Flexing your creative muscle daily will grow your creative confidence over time. It doesn’t matter what you’re working on, as long as you show up.

Here are a few creative habits to consider:

Daily Journaling: Jot down your thoughts—messy or not. Free-write for clarity or keep a list of content or business ideas.
Photography Walks: Take your phone or camera on a short walk and capture whatever catches your eye.
10-Minute Sprints: Spend 10 minutes daily on a creative or business idea. Keep going if you're feeling it—if not, you’ve still made progress

For me, I’m experimenting with a few different outlets. I’m writing weekly on Substack with Wherever Notes, exploring AI tools for creativity (and launching a new Substack called Tomorrow’s Creatives), and spending 5 minutes almost daily editing old photos. These experiments are helping me figure out what works, what doesn’t, and what excites me most. And they all build that creative muscle.

4. Experiment. Share. Reflect.

If you want to grow creative confidence, you need to push yourself to try new things and put your work out there. Not everything you create will be a hit—and that’s okay. It’s all part of the process.

Explore new mediums, techniques, or styles. Mix it up, and see what resonates with you. The more you experiment, the more you’ll discover what works and what doesn’t.

And don’t keep it to yourself—share it. Post it on social, show it to friends, or find a creative community. Sharing can feel terrifying, but that’s exactly why it’s important. Putting your work out there helps break down the fear and builds creative confidence. Plus, feedback is essential for growth. You’ll learn what’s working and where you can improve by letting others in.

And don’t forget to reflect—on both the process and the feedback:

What did I enjoy?
What challenged me?
What would I do differently next time?

Reflection is where real growth happens.

5. Forget Perfection

Perfection kills creativity. One of the biggest hurdles is the fear of not getting it “just right.” But there’s no such thing as perfect art, perfect writing, or a perfect process.

That’s where the 80-20 rule comes in. Aim for 80% of the result with 20% of the effort. It’s about progress, not perfection. If you’re getting 80% there, you’ve already won. Focus on building the habit of creating, not obsessing over the outcome.

Every failed attempt adds to your skill set. The more you let go of perfection, the more freedom you’ll find in your creativity.

Creative confidence doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through action. Try new things, share what you make, and see what sticks. The more you create, the more you’ll understand what fuels your passion, and before you know it, your creative confidence will grow. You’ll feel ready to jump into new projects, and the possibilities will start to expand.

So, what’s your next move? I challenge you to try something new, share it, and reflect. Don’t worry about perfection—just start. Flex that creative muscle, and soon enough, you’ll have the confidence to take on any creative challenge that comes your way.

Have a great week!
Becca

P.S. Look what happens when you start taking action! Post #10 of Wherever Notes. I started at the beginning of the year with nothing—no habit, no plan, and a lack of creative confidence. The proof is right here. I can’t wait to see what you create too 😆

Where I Find Inspiration:

Collection of random stuff that inspired me this month:

[Book] Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis – I mentioned this book last week, but it’s worth bringing up again for this topic. It’s been a huge inspiration behind this post. I’ve been applying its ideas to strengthen my creative muscle and boost my confidence.
[Podcast] Also by Chase Jarvis, the Chase Jarvis Live Show, episode: AI is About to Change Education Forever (Again) | Sal Khan – This episode ties perfectly into my new Substack on Creativity and AI. It’s a fascinating look at how AI is already impacting education—and how it will continue to shape it.
[Podcast] How to Breath Out Fear with freediver Li Karlsen | A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek – fascinating conversation with freediver Li Karlsen on facing fears, all through the lens of freediving.

A Question for you:

What’s one small creative habit or experiment you can start today—just 10 minutes—to flex your creative muscle and build your creative confidence?

I’d love to hear about it! Share your creative experiments with me using the hashtag #WhereverNotes or drop a comment—let’s inspire each other!

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