Do What You Don’t Do

Challenge your limiting stories

We have stories about ourselves, and those are not who we are. We have stories about the work, and those are not what the work is.

We can put limitations on ourselves when we say, I don’t do that kind of thing. That’s not my style. I’m not that kind of artist.

If you make something and you like it, that’s what you do. There’s no additional story needed. Anything added will just get in the way and confuse the issue.

To challenge these limiting stories you’ve told yourself about your creative identity, explore uncharted territory. Choose something you enjoy, something you’re drawn to, but have told yourself, “that’s not what I do.” Then, do exactly that.

Complete the following sentences as honestly and instinctively as you can:

I don’t make ________________

I’m not the kind of artist who ________________

I wish I could ________________

________________ is just not my style.

Then choose one of the things you’ve told yourself you don’t do and do it.

• If you’ve told yourself, “I don’t make instrumental music,” make an instrumental piece.

• If you’ve said, “I’m not the kind of artist who paints abstracts,” paint an abstract.

• If you’ve wished there were more humor in your writing, write a comedic work.

Approach the experiment without worrying whether it fits your style, your audience, or your previous work. Don’t ask whether it belongs. Just make it.

Afterward, reflect:

• How did it feel to work outside your usual boundaries?

• Did you discover anything surprising about your style, preferences, or capabilities?

Dismantle the self-imposed limitations that stifle creativity. If you make it and you like it, it’s your style. No story needed.