Do you know this? You're sitting in front of a creative project—whether it's a blog post, a painting, or a short story—and you just can't make any progress. The ideas do not bubble, the words do not want to flow, and the brush remains untouched. In such moments, a simple but effective tip can help: Lower your expectations of yourself.

I myself recently had this experience. A story that appeared to me in a dream developed further in my imagination. When I began to write them down, the words just bubbled out of me. It was a wonderful break from everyday life. But then the inevitable happened: the thought "Maybe this will be a book" crept in, and slowly but surely, I began to write less and less.

 

Don't put yourself under pressure!

Why is it so helpful to lower expectations? The answer lies in our brain. Pressure activates our primal instincts – fight, flight or freeze. When our brain senses pressure, the amygdala, which is responsible for our emotional reactions, is activated. It takes control of our creative thinking, and we find ourselves in a state where we either fight, flee, or freeze.

When we put ourselves under pressure and have unrealistic expectations, we not only have to overcome the challenge of creative work, but also deal with our fear. This pressure is often caused by external influences – what will others think? Will my work be good enough?

But here's the crux of the matter: it's not about what others think. It's about doing the best work we can do at the moment. That's what really counts.

In Kaizen Muse Creativity Consulting, we often talk about unrealistic expectations, especially with perfectionists. The work is never good enough, you yourself are never good enough, and the process is simply no longer fun. It becomes pure drudgery.

 

 

What lowering expectations does NOT mean

Many people confuse lowering expectations with giving up ambition. However, these are two completely different things. Unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, and high stakes are often associated with fear of the judgment of others. But in reality, it's just a matter of doing the best work we can do at the moment and then sharing it.

When we're done, we'll move on to the next project. What others think or don't think is not important. Really not.

But how do we lower expectations if we still want to do great work? By not assuming that our entire lives and creative careers depend on how well others take our work.

Rick Rubin, a well-known music producer, believes that we need to create for ourselves, whether we sell our art or not. Staying true to our true selves is the best way to connect with others.

It's unrealistic to try to create for an audience with the goal of making them like our work. We can never control or predict other people and their moods. It seems downright crazy to even try.

Of course, it depends on the type of business how much influence customers should have on what we sell. But even in my part-time job in a clothing store, where I am responsible for the webshop, we sell brands that the owner stands behind. She listens to her customers, but ultimately sells brands she is passionate about.

It's always better to be passionate about something. The energy of enthusiasm and passion is contagious.

Result

For me personally, it helps to overcome my creative blocks by reminding myself that I am creating for myself. I create for my own pleasure, my mental health, as a way to get to know myself better, for self-love. And because I find comfort in the process, where I am alone with my thoughts and feelings.

If I focus on having to share my work on Instagram, Pinterest, or my website, I stop working. For me, lowering expectations means remembering that I am doing this for myself.

Let's close with one last quote from Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act: A Way of Being", in the hope that it inspires you to lower expectations and just keep creating: "True creativity comes when we have the courage to stay true to ourselves and find our unique voice. Everything else is secondary."

So, take the pressure off, lower expectations and let your creativity run wild. You'll be surprised at what can happen.