| As an artist and creativity coach, I have discovered | | | | that the Creative Voice is the true voice. Moreover, I |
| that the Creative Voice is infinitely more powerful | | | | designate the Critical Voice as a false voice. Fighting |
| than the Critical Voice in the creative process. This | | | | with it won't help. Trying to get rid of it won't help. |
| statement is often hard for artists and others | | | | Because at its core, it contains something essential to |
| involved in the creative process to absorb, especially | | | | creativity that we must recover. That is, it contains |
| if their Inner Critic has been in the lead, either | | | | the creative power to assess, to review, to |
| consciously or unconsciously. But our intuitive center | | | | re-arrange, and to improve. It was designed to be in |
| is always urging us toward healthy new risk, like a | | | | support of the Creative Voice before it "went |
| lighthouse beacon calling us to reach our creative | | | | astray." |
| potential. On the path of creativity, anxieties will | | | | In other words, the Critical Voice is the "Helpful |
| coexist with the joys, to be sure. But when we are | | | | Editor" in disguise. Contrary to the impulse to push it |
| called, we best surrender, or experience far worse | | | | away, we must embrace it, hear it, get underneath |
| anxieties in the refusal. | | | | its bullying jabs. When we do, we recover its positive |
| Many of us must listen more clearly to our Creative | | | | attributes and re-position it within its true role, as a |
| Voice, truly listen. Then we must trust it enough to | | | | servant to the Creative Voice and our creative |
| act upon it. If we do act, our Creative power will | | | | process. This discovery is a joyful experience. Time |
| begin to emerge organically. We will grow closer to | | | | and again, clients are amazed by the power of their |
| ourselves, our creative potential, and who we are | | | | Creative Voice to inspire, enhance, transform, |
| meant to be. I attribute this unfolding to the notion | | | | empower and deepen their creative process. |