Artists: How to Unlock the Power of the Creative Mind by Reframing Negative Thoughts in 3 Steps

Unlock Your Creative Potential Now: Overcome Mental Blocks and Achieve Success Through Mindful Focus on the Present Moment

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One of the biggest takeaways from my journey in the music business over more than a decade is that talent is a small proportion of what helps an artist to be successful.

When I say a small proportion, I mean that your talent is likely only 20% of what leads to success; the rest is down to one thing only and that is your ability to control your mind toward taking the actions you need to take at every step of the way.

The ability to avoid getting caught up in negativity and worrying about outcomes that you can't control, or getting lost in thoughts that others have imposed on you, is one of the critical components you need to master in order to truly maximize your ability to do your best work and create art that makes the biggest possible impact.

Mindset and self-development guidance are given huge prominence in sectors such as sports and coaching, but in contrast, there is a gaping void within these areas in the music business.

Instead, the music industry focuses almost exclusively on vanity metrics such as streams, followers and video views. Little to no thought is given to the people metrics, mindset and self-development qualities that an artist needs to maximize to reach their true potential for success on their journey.

In creating my Substack, my goal is to talk about and provide value in areas I feel are under-served within the music business (and business in general) and so in this article, I wanted to talk about how as an artist, you can use the power of reframing as a tool to help you get through creative blocks and flip the obstacles that come your way into opportunities to help you keep moving forward.

I often tell artists they need to 'get out of their own way'.

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What do I mean by 'getting out of your own way'?

It's very common to feel stuck in a creative rut or experience mental blocks when it comes to creating art.

The pressure you put on yourself, along with the pressure you feel from others; be it friends, family, peers or your fans can also further compound the situation, making it difficult to make the best art you possibly can.

When this happens 'you're getting in your own way' because it's down to you to navigate a pathway out of the situation and the longer it takes for you to do so, the longer it will take for you to move forward and create the type of art that you truly desire. 

The good news is that there are strategies you can use to reframe your thoughts, focus on positive thinking and break through those barriers.

In this article, we'll explore how you can 'get out of your own way' by shifting your mindset and changing your perspective.

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Why is it important to reframe your thoughts?

Reframing your thoughts is an effective way to shift away from the mental blocks that are preventing you from creating your best art.

When we reframe our thinking, it helps us gain perspective on our situation and gives us the ability to look at things in a more positive light.

This can be incredibly beneficial for artists who can struggle with self-doubt or perfectionism.

By understanding the power of reframing, you'll start to look at the creative process in a more productive manner, which can lead to increased creativity and productivity.

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Here are 3 steps to unlocking the power of reframing:

Step 1 - How to use Tools to Reframe Negative Thoughts:

Practicing self-compassion is a great way to shift your thoughts away from negative thinking and help you recognize that everyone experiences creative blocks at some point in their lives.

It’s important to remind yourself that it's normal to feel stuck sometimes, and instead of beating yourself up for not being productive or creative, try looking at your work with a more constructive eye.

Conquering impostor syndrome can also help you shift your perspective and foster a more positive approach to creating art.

Impostor syndrome is the feeling that you don't deserve the success you've achieved or that everything will eventually fall apart -- even if it's been successful in the past.

Letting go of entitlement can also help you reframe your thoughts and focus more on the creative work you need to do to truly break through.

Entitlement is a mindset where you expect success without doing any of the necessary work.

It might be that you feel you've worked really hard and you, therefore, deserve to be further along then you currently are.

When this happens, it's easy to become frustrated if things don't go as planned.

However, by recognizing that hard work is essential for achieving goals, you'll be able to focus more on the process and less on the outcome.

Using positive affirmations and mantras can also help to break through mental blocks and reframe your thoughts in a more productive way.

Positive affirmations are statements that are meant to encourage, motivate and remind you of who you truly are.

They can be as simple as "I am capable of amazing things" or "I have the power to create beautiful art".

Using mantras can also help you reframe negative thoughts and focus more on the positives.

For example, instead of thinking "What if this isn't good enough?", try saying to yourself "I trust my creative process and I know that I'm capable of making something extraordinary" or even just taking a few deep breaths to reset your mindset.

By taking the time to reframe your thoughts and practice positive thinking, you'll be able to break through any mental blocks that are preventing you from creating amazing art.

Exploring where these thoughts come from and how to best confront them will empower you to create the type of art that you truly desire.

If the thoughts are internal, try addressing them with compassion and acceptance.

If they're external, create boundaries that protect your creativity and remind yourself of just how valuable your art is.

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Step 2 - How to Reframe Negative Thought Patterns:

Identifying triggers and challenging core beliefs about talent and success can help you replace negative thought patterns with more productive ones.

When we identify our triggers, this helps us to be aware of what situations or influences can cause us to slip into negative thinking and avoid the dreaded 'negative stack' (when a negative moment, brings you to focus on everything negative your mind can possibly think of).

Once we become aware of these triggers, we can take proactive steps to address them and shift our thoughts in a healthier direction.

In addition, it’s important to recognize any core beliefs we might have and challenge them.

For example, if you have a belief that your talent isn't enough or that success is only for certain people, try replacing this with the thought that everyone has something unique to offer and that hard work will always be rewarded.

Using visualization techniques can also help you to focus on the positive and envision yourself succeeding in your projects.

No matter what strategies you decide to use, remember that it’s ok to struggle with creative blocks and negative thoughts at times.

Taking the time to reframe your thoughts and practice positive thinking will lead you down a path of creativity and ultimately help you break through mental blocks.

Focusing on the present moment instead of worrying about future outcomes, is the key to being able to move forward.

The more we remind ourselves that the actions we take right now are the actions that will affect our future, the easier it is for us to direct our thoughts away from the future and into the present.

Incorporating mindfulness into daily activities to stay productive yet grounded can set the foundation for true creativity.

Taking the time to be mindful and focus on what you can do right now is essential for achieving success.

It’s also important to remember that it’s ok to struggle with creative blocks and negative thoughts at times—it doesn't mean you're lost in a rut, but that you’re actively working to break through any mental blocks preventing you from creating amazing art.

By taking the time to focus your mind and reframe your thoughts through practicing positive thinking, you'll be able to break through any mental blocks that are preventing you from creating amazing art.

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Step 3 - How to Release Negative Habits to Get out of Your Own Way:

Finding a supportive community to turn to in difficult times can be invaluable, when you have a support system of like-minded people to turn to, it's easier to remind yourself that you're not alone in your struggles and that everyone faces creative blocks at some point or another.

Changing limiting routines, such as comparison with others, and adopting more helpful ones, like focusing on self-improvement & learning from mistakes, will help you 'get out of your own way'.

It's also important to create boundaries that protect your creative space and practice self-care to help manage stress levels.

Finally, it’s essential to give yourself permission to make mistakes and a break from time to time—it's all part of the journey. In conclusion, when you take the time to be.

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Making the most of experiments to find what works for you, and taking the time to celebrate small wins, can also aid immensely in releasing unhelpful habits.

By making these simple shifts, it's possible to transform your creative journey and make room for more productive thoughts and actions.

To conclude, it's easy to get stuck in a rut of negative thoughts, but by reframing those thoughts and replacing them with more productive ones, you can break through mental blocks.

Taking the time to be mindful and focus on what you can do right now is essential for achieving success.

Identifying your triggers will help you become aware of any situations or influences that may cause negative thinking.

Additionally, challenging core beliefs such as believing your talent isn't enough or that success is only for certain people can also aid in shifting your mindset towards positivity.

Visualization techniques are another powerful tool that enables us to envision ourselves succeeding in our projects and ultimately helps us break through creative blocks.

Finally, remember it’s important to have a supportive community that understands what we're going through so we don't feel alone during times of struggle.

By taking these steps into consideration while releasing unhelpful habits like comparison with others and focusing on self-improvement instead, it's possible to transform one’s creative journey and make room for positive actions leading toward true creativity!

Kind Regards

Carl AKA 'The Baker'

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Missed my first and most important article?here’s the link to it:

I realized that no-one in the Music Business knows what they're doing: Part 2

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