Artists and Creators May Often Feel Insecure. How to Gain Confidence

Short intro audio from text below:

Do feelings of insecurity and self-doubt impact us as artists and creators? Of course.

Here are some brief excerpts from perspectives in the audio podcast, and on this page.

“I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.” Director Francis Ford Coppola

“I hold myself to such ridiculously high standards that if I don’t meet or surpass them, I doubt myself.” Zendaya

In the past, “I also could still fall back into Not enough—not pretty enough, not thin enough, not good enough.” Viola Davis

Kristin Neff, PhD: “So self-compassion is actually quite simple.”

“I have to admit that even twelve years after graduation I’m still insecure about my own worthiness.” Natalie Portman in her 2015 Harvard Commencement Speech

“I started out with what I would say is zero confidence. My journey to reach confidence has really evolved a lot...” Therapist Julie Bjelland

Therapist Mihaela Ivan Holtz finds “If you are a highly creative person, an injured self-esteem will show up in your journey over and over again.”

In this audio episode, the Notes bekow, and the related articles, artists and psychologists express perspectives on our common feelings of insecurity and self-doubt – and how to improve our confidence and healthy self-regard.

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Actor Annette Bening thinks we benefit from some insecurity:

“When you’re a creative person, whatever your field — writing or painting or singing, acting — there’s always a certain amount of insecurity or uncertainty or there’s a search going on and, in a way, that never really stops.”

But, she adds, “You want to be in a place of uncertainty, a place that maybe something surprising could happen.”

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In a video interview, actor Jessica Chastain commented:

"I don't think I was good at auditioning at all. I had a lot of insecurities and confidence issues when I was younger and my voice would always pitch really high when I would get into an audition room.

“And it's a complicated thing...it's easy to say to someone: Be confident. It's a really hard thing to do."

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"Not good enough."

Viola Davis said “At thirty-eight, things changed. I didn’t jump out of bed one morning and everything was perfect. I’ve always known I was a strong woman, but I wanted ‘fast-food joy’—quick, easy joy. More tools and tricks.

"I also could still fall back into ‘not enough—not pretty enough, not thin enough, not good enough.’

"One day my therapist asked me a pivotal question: ‘What if nothing changes—your looks, your weight, your success—would you be okay?’

“For the first time, I thought, You know what? Yes, I would. I really would.

“This is when I realized that the past was not going to define me."

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Kristin Neff, PhD: "So self-compassion is actually quite simple. It's simply treating yourself with the same kindness, warmth, care, and concern when you struggle that you would naturally show to a friend."

From the 5-Day Self-Compassion Challenge (with Chris Germer, PhD): A free series of "10-minute video sessions to help you apply this transformative practice to your life."

Programs and Resources

Self-Acceptance programs from Sounds True:

* Radical Self-Acceptance by Tara Brach
* The Self-Acceptance Summit recordings
* Unconditional Self-Acceptance by Cheri Huber
* and more

Programs by Kristin Neff

* Self-Compassion Step by Step - Audio, CD
* The Power of Self-Compassion - Online Course
* Understanding Narcissism - Online Course - Various Presenters
* The Yin and Yang of Self-Compassion - Audio
* and more

» Confidence and Self esteem video list - Self concept, self-regard, self-compassion, self esteem, self-worth, identity, self acceptance, confidence, impostor feelings.

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Continued with more by Francis Ford Coppola, actors Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Zendaya, and Psychotherapists Julie Bjelland and Mihaela Ivan Holtz.