How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as an Artist & Start Creating Without Fear
Sometimes I have to ask myself:
Am I waiting for permission from the outside to create — because now it’s relevant?
Or do I want to create simply because it’s calling me, regardless of external validation?
When I saw a specific project on instagram, something inside me woke up.
A longing for travel. For experience. I wanted to be in a different city, dressing people, preparing for a shoot that would bring my vision to life somewhere new. Exploring the streets together. Sharing moments. Creating something beautiful.
Especially when it comes to Ananthara, I imagined dressing my models for a shoot or a film and feeling the commitment of every single person in that moment — people sharing my vision. Being part of something bigger. Surrounded by like-minded creatives willing to give their all during those days together.
And then — only seconds later — the doubts creep in.
Suddenly, despite having done similar projects before, I see myself as someone who can’t do it:
“I don’t have a big community yet.”
“No one cares about Ananthara or my ideas.”
“I’m not there yet.”
Reality often interrupts the dream.
Even when I take the first step, things need time to unfold. And I need a steep learning curve to develop the skills and mindset to get where I want to go.
Right now, I’m mostly dreaming about how it could look.
But dreaming alone won’t get me there. Will it?
These thoughts come back again and again — especially when I open my feed and see everyone else’s success.
“I’m not good enough.”
“I need to work harder.”
Meanwhile, I’m already spinning like a rotisserie skewer.
Sometimes I tell myself I don’t have time. That nobody would care. That all my energy would go into something that will probably fail.
So instead of creating, I start optimizing.
Instead of executing, I plan.
Instead of moving forward, I analyze why nothing is moving.
Like my book that has been sitting in Google Docs for two years while I keep telling everyone how amazing it is. Classic.
What’s Actually Stopping You?
The question I often get is: “What’s stopping you from just doing it?”
How do I know something will fail if I’ve never tried it?
And why am I creating more for entertainment than for myself?
That last question hits deeper.
Through business strategies and everything you see online, I started focusing on results. Many people say you can calculate success. But you can’t really.
How many people simply followed their instinct, even when publishers, investors, or others only saw risk and “what if”? And then the book, the song, the idea became a hit — because someone followed passion instead of fear.
If I never allow the possibility that things could turn out differently, I’ll stay stuck in this mindset forever.
I hate this sentence as much as anyone else — but the key really is: just do it.
No room for speculation. Brush in hand. Paint on canvas.
That moment — that’s when I create for myself.
Not to achieve a specific result that blocks me.
When I created my oracle card deck, I spent €500 on a small batch of eight sets.
The question was: why risk sitting on them just to own my own deck?
Because I wanted it.
I don’t regret it. I even use the extra unboxed stacks from the printer to include personal readings in my Mail Club letters. And I ended up selling three sets later on.
I created something that brought me joy first — and only then thought about its purpose.
Same with my Ananthara shooting concepts. I created them, posted about them, reminded people they existed — and suddenly they sold out.
I kept it realistic: max four participants per concept.
But the concepts happened. That’s what counts.
And if nobody had booked? I would’ve put myself in front of the camera. Wings and dress included.
It wasn’t about whether it would sell.
It was about whether I wanted it enough
Sometimes the Only Permission You Need Is Your Own
Even when I think, “How am I supposed to build a retreat with no community?”
Or, “No one will buy this.”
It becomes even more important to ask:
Do I want to do this?
And then start.
The moment you give yourself permission, everything is already set in motion.
You’ll do what’s necessary. The planning. The execution. The growth.
The process reveals itself as you go.
The more aware I become of this, the easier it gets to mute the mental carousel and simply start painting.
But how do you actually deal with recurring self-doubt?
This goes deeper than a blog post.
These thoughts were planted through your experiences, your upbringing, your environment. Some of this work belongs in therapy and long-term self-reflection.
But here’s what worked for me:
1. Your Why
I constantly remind myself why I do what I do — without money or fame involved.
I reconnect to the feeling of selling my first favorite artwork. Winning my first client.
What thoughts carried me through that process? My why is my strongest foundation.2. Question Your Thoughts
For example: “I have no community. Nobody cares.”
Is that true? Is there really no one? Not a single friend who supports me?
Do I actually know this — or am I assuming?
Am I not interested in my own project? If I am, isn’t it possible someone else could be too?
Is there a way to execute this project without depending on anyone?
When I challenge these thoughts, I feel freer. Sometimes I literally imagine sticking my tongue out at the little devil on my shoulder and saying, “Watch me.” That’s the energy we need.
3. Goodbye Social Media
Pause your apps. Turn inward. Create instead of consume.
I stayed off social media for three months. It wasn’t easy. Suddenly I had time. Silence. My own thoughts.
But that confrontation is necessary. Without constant comparison, you stay closer to yourself and your needs. Go into stillness. Reflection. Creation. Stop consuming. Start building.
4. Success Journal
Last year, my success journal changed everything.
I wrote down every small win. The first post. A 30-day plan. Even weekends where I just played console games.
I learned to see how much I actually do. It strengthened my confidence and dismantled the narrative of “I’m not doing enough.” Black on white. Proof.
Final Thoughts:
These thoughts won’t disappear overnight. They’ll probably return again and again — because we were raised in a competitive society.
But the more aware you become, the more control you gain.
I’ve learned to always leave space for the possibility that my perception isn’t the ultimate truth.
I didn’t think anyone would care about my letter club either. I built it anyway — and now I send art and stories to beautiful humans all over the world. There is always a way to prove yourself wrong.
As long as you’re open to the unknown. As long as you trust yourself enough to do what’s necessary.
Give yourself a chance.
Plan the project.
Execute it.
And see what happens. ✨
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