8 Lies Creatives Tell Themselves (And What to Believe Instead)
Whether you’re launching something new or pushing through a tough creative season, we all fight the same internal battles. I’ve told myself every one of these lies—and believing them almost kept me stuck.
Here’s the truth I wish I had learned earlier:
1️⃣ “I need to be an expert to start.”
Nope. You just need curiosity and courage. Expertise comes from doing, not waiting. Start messy. Start scared. Just start.
2️⃣ “Someone’s already done this.”
Sure, but you haven’t. Your perspective, your story, your voice—that’s what makes it original. The world doesn’t need more content; it needs more you.
3️⃣ “I’m not creative enough.”
Creativity isn’t a gift. It’s a muscle. And every time you follow a hunch, try something new, or take a creative risk, you’re building it. The more you create, the more creative you become.
4️⃣ “If I ask for help, I’ll look like I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Truth: No one has it all figured out. Collaboration is how the best ideas get better. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
5️⃣ “It has to be perfect before I put it out.”
Perfection is fear in disguise. Publish the draft. Share the idea. Hit upload. Done is better than perfect, and feedback fuels growth.
Guess how long it took me to follow my gut on Season 3 of my podcast, Life in the Carpool Lane? Way too long. But once I stopped chasing perfect and started trusting my instincts, everything got better—and way more fun. (First episodes of Season 3 are now live!)
6️⃣ “Failure means I’m not cut out for this.”
Actually, failure means you’re in the game. Every misstep is feedback, not a full stop. Fall forward and keep going.
7️⃣ “I’m too late.”
This one hits deep—but I’m here to tell you: it’s simply not true.
The latest season of the WGU Alumni Podcast is built around the theme It’s Never Too Late, spotlighting inspiring graduates who decided it wasn’t too late to invest in themselves, go back to school, and earn their degrees.
The timing wasn’t perfect. The path wasn’t easy.
But they showed up anyway. And so can you.
8️⃣ “I don’t have a voice worth sharing.”
Your voice is your most powerful creative tool. It might be quiet. It might still be forming. But it matters. When you find it—and trust it—you’ll stop creating for approval and start creating from purpose.
If you’ve been hearing any of these lies in your head lately, consider this your sign to call them out. You don’t need permission to do the thing. You just need to begin.