Artists: Overcome Self-Doubt & Unlock Creative Dreams

Every artist’s journey tells a story. And every story has an antagonist.

Quick Answer

According to Crista Cloutier, founder of The Working Artist, the "monster" that often hijacks artists' dreams is an internal antagonist born of fear, specifically named "NOT ENOUGH." This monster manifests as feelings of not being perfect, strong, or good enough, acting as an adversary that comes between artists and their desires. Confronting this "NOT ENOUGH" monster by questioning it is crucial because it leads artists to truth and transformation, enabling them to realize their inherent worth and become the hero of their own story.

The story of your artist’s journey is no different.

The antagonist is the adversary, the opponent. It’s what comes between the hero and her desire.

Consider your own journey, where you are right now.

Can you identify an antagonist in your story? Yes, it could be a person but more frequently it’s a habit or belief.

What’s the antagonist in your story?

I believe that if you look the antagonist in the eye, you’ll see what it really is. It’s the monster, born of fear, named NOT ENOUGH.

Not perfect enough. Not strong enough. Something’s wrong with me, I’m not good enough.

But in any story, it’s the antagonist who leads the hero to truth, to transformation. Even though it’s a monster, it’s an important character in determining how to story ends.

Because you’ll find the monster named NOT ENOUGH at every turn of the artist’s journey.

Don’t resist nor retreat when you see it.

The best way to claim victory over the monster is to question it.

That’s right, each time you find yourself doing battle with NOT ENOUGH, let the sharp sword of your questions cut deep to the truth.

The truth is that you ARE ENOUGH.

Armed with this knowledge, you’ll step out of the monster’s shadow and into your own light. You’ll become the hero of your own story.

I wish you many happily-ever-afters!

Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)

Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is "the monster" that artists often face in their journey?

The article describes "the monster" as the antagonist in an artist's story, often a habit or belief born of fear, specifically named "NOT ENOUGH." This includes feelings like not being perfect, strong, or good enough.

2 How can an artist identify their personal antagonist?

Artists can identify their antagonist by reflecting on their current journey and looking closely at what comes between them and their desires. It's often an internal habit or belief rather than an external person.

3 What is the recommended way to overcome the "NOT ENOUGH" monster?

The page advises confronting the "NOT ENOUGH" monster by questioning it. By using questions to uncover the truth, artists can realize they "ARE ENOUGH" and step out of its shadow.

4 Why is confronting this internal "monster" important for an artist?

Confronting the antagonist is crucial because it leads the hero to truth and transformation. By facing the "NOT ENOUGH" monster, artists can claim victory, become the hero of their own story, and achieve happily-ever-afters.