How to Deal With Failure as an Artist

Failure is inevitable, it is just a matter of when, how and with what. Knowing that fact alone can prepare you for future failure. In this post, I will share three keys for how to deal with failure as an artist.

Sometimes we need to separate feeling from fact. At the same time, you are the only one who can define what failure is for you as an artist.

Change Your Perspective

Failure is a very strong word with very negative connotations. It also sounds final, like what you have been working on is done and gone. Are there other ways that you can define failure? What about setback, learning curve or growing pains?

Define Your Purpose

What is your main reason for creating? Are you creating out of joy or obligation? Remember your art is directly tied to your life purpose and calling.

Everything that you create must have one or more of your core values backing it. If what you are doing cannot be backed by any of your values, then you need to consider why you are doing it. To discover what your core values are for your business, go to Discovering Your Why For Your Business.

If you know your “why” then you will be able to pick yourself up from a setback and start anew.

Every time you take on a new task or project, ask yourself if it serves your why. If it does not relate to why you are doing what you are doing, then any setback will become a treacherous path.

Make Friends With and Makeover Your Inner Critic

The inner critic can show up when you experience failure. The inner critic targets your worth and tells you that you are not enough. This can feel like a bigger failure than the “failure” itself. It can quickly move you away from what you love and put you in a place of despair…if you let it.

So, the next time this happens, here’s what I want you to do – press reset in your mind or what I call – renew your mind. In my workbook, “Becoming a Confident Artist: Overcome Fear & Create Your Best Work” there are a list of questions that are key to challenging your inner critic and call out the lie in them. They are found on pages 14-15. Grab your workbook through the link below.

Make a Plan

Knowing that failure or setbacks are going to happen, having a backup plan handy is important. Sometimes, you might need a break, time to step away and re-evaluate what is important and what you are trying to accomplish.

I find it helpful to have another creative project waiting in the wings, one that it fun and just for me. Can you think of something similar in your creative life?

I hope you have gleaned some helpful truths from this post that will infuse your art practice with hope and renewal when you have a setback. If you have liked this post, please share your love with a comment or a pin. Thank you!

Blessings from my house to yours,

Darlene Brink