There Are No Suits Of Armor For Creatives.
Criticism can be a fatal blow to your ego, or it can propel you to greatness.
“Creative people are 50% ego and 50% insecurity”
— Lee Clow
October 25, 1415. Agincourt, France. The Hundred Years War has been raging between England and France. No battle has been more fierce than the one being fought here, on this field, on this day.
In the chaos, an English knight, Sir Thomas Erpingham, suddenly finds himself surrounded by French soldiers.
One of them swings a heavy mace, striking a terrifying blow to Erpingham’s head.
Later, the young knight left no doubt that, were it not for his steel helmet, he most certainly would not have lived to see another day.
You and I, of course, have no such armor to protect our egos when sending our work out into the world.
In the realm of creativity, criticism and attacks are inevitable.
Whether you're an artist, writer, musician, or any other kind of creator, your work is bound to face scrutiny, sometimes even open hostility.
While criticism can be constructive, attacks can feel like daggers to the heart. They happen. And that’s just a fact.
So, how do we navigate these emotionally painful typhoons without losing our passion or compromising our artistry?
Start with leaning into vulnerability. Stop running away from it. Embrace the emotional risk. It’s the first step in surviving criticism and attacks. Not everyone is going to love your work. Fine. Let it go.
Criticism of your creativity isn’t a personal attack on you as a human being. There’s you. And there’s what you do. Detach. Do that and you can approach criticism as a learning experience instead of, say, a mace to the head.
Understand that there’s a difference between rejection and feedback. Seek out people who can give you thoughtful critiques and insights that can help you grow as an artist.
Instead of letting criticism deter you, use it as fuel to propel yourself forward. Resilience is your steel helmet. Put it on and never take it off.
Focus on your why. Why do you create? What drives your passion? Reconnecting with your purpose reminds you of the intrinsic value of your work, regardless of external opinions.
When those armies of critics come at you, a strong support system is huge. Lean on people who believe in you. Other creatives, mentors, friends, and family. Their support can shore up even the most insecure of us.
I know it can hurt. I know it’s easy to get discouraged. But go easy on yourself. Don’t let them get to you. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. It’s okay to question yourself but don’t go off the rails.
Here’s an important one. Perfection. Seek it at your peril. I’m not saying it’s impossible. But the pressure it puts on you is intolerable. Focus instead on growth. Learning. Improving. Evolving as a creative.
Your vision is unique in all the world. So is your voice. Your work is a reflection of every experience you’ve ever known. To question your perspective on life, to wonder if your harshest critics might be right about your work, just don’t go there. Ever. Authenticity is a rare gem in a world of conformity, and it's what sets your work apart.
Instead of allowing criticism to stifle you, channel that negative energy into your work. Use your emotions as raw material to fuel your creative expression. Turn pain into poetry, anger into activism, doubt into determination.