086: Confront Your Limited Beliefs
Wherein I talk about confronting my own limited beliefs and how you can too
This week I was confronted with my own limited beliefs. For some, it’s uncomfortable to face, but I found it refreshing. Here’s the quick story and then I’ll add some tips on how we can self-identify our own limited beliefs.
A Youtube coach friend of mine, Brian G. Johnson, reached out to ask me for a new shirt design, and that he’d pay whatever I wanted. Instead of money I bartered for an official youtube channel consult.
Brian has helped so many youtubers I know grow, and i’m still learning about the in’s and outs and nuances of making video content and running my own channel.
I guess that’s another little tip… the idea that you may trade with the skills you have now to learn a new skill!
He asked me some very simple questions before the call about my Draw or Die Channel and the brand itself. What were my ultimate goals in the next 6-9 months?
My answer was basically reach even more artists out there with the Draw or Die brand. And I told him we weren’t a “how to draw” brand but more like a “why to draw” brand.
During the 1 hour call, Brian poked and probed. Long story short, he told me that while the Draw or Die brand is cool as it is, and we are growing albeit slowly, that we had a very limited reach with our topics basically being about encouraging those who had art block of feeling creatively depressed.
His suggestion was I produce more “how to” content, be it how to draw, or things artists are asking and searching for, beyond the “downer” topics. And he asked why I didn’t do more of that?
I had an uncomfortable feeling hit me, not at him, but just the topic in general. I said a few things out loud:
“Yeah I guess I just feel like there are a ton of “how to draw” channels out there so I wanted to focus on this side.”
“I don’t feel like I’m a really good “how to” teacher”
Brian yelled Hallelujah! We finally got to me saying my own limited beliefs out loud.
He then painted me a mental picture that really hit the concept home for me.
The Grand Canyon of Limited Beliefs
Imagine the Grand Canyon. On one side is you and what you’re currently doing, and my “philosophical bullshit”. On the other side are 10 million artists. The 10 million artists over there are yelling out for help. But they want to know things like “How do I get famous!?!” , “How do I make money with my art!”, “How do I get more gigs!”
And the canyon in between us is the blocker, the blocker is my limited beliefs.
And when my answer to that was, well, they can find TONS of that on Youtube and Google already. He threw back on me and said, there are TONS of chefs out there too, and they all cook, but they cook with their own style. They put their own spin on recipes and they tell their stories in different ways.
There may be a dozen pizza shops in your city too. But every pizza is a bit different.
People are always hungry for more of what they are passionate about.
That’s not just Youtube advice… that’s life advice when you really dwell on it.
So the advice for the Youtube Channel was simple. Do more broad content to attract artists from all parts of the creative journey, from those curious about starting to draw, the young energized, the old jaded, the burnouts or the newly inspired… Bring them ALL.
Build the bridge across that canyon of my own limited beliefs, and then they can discover my deeper philosophical bullshit 😂 when they need it the most.
“Give them what the want. Show them what they need.”
“Do that and watch what happens.” he said.
So all week long, I can’t get that visual of the Grand Canyon out of my head. It’s so perfect.
This doesn’t mean I’m watering down the main brand. Just that we can find a way to bring in MORE artists. I already saw this at the Draw Club nights. The diversity that showed up, all ages, genders, styles.
They’re all out there crying out for MORE support. Whether that’s helping get through art block, or figuring out fun tricks to drawing hands and hair.
Reminds me of another Limited Belief I had
This reminds me of when I would setup in Artist Alley at comic shows. For the longest time I wouldn’t draw “fan art”, only push my own books. I figured there were too many prints and people drawing Batman, I’d try to stand out and do my own thing. (Limited beliefs) And if you’ve done shows, you know that’s not going to make you much money.
When I finally started drawing fan art in my own style (think about the chef analogy) I made thousands of dollars at shows instead of barely covering my table costs. And many of those fans who bought Batman (or Green Lantern, thanks Joe G.!) became fans of my overall brand and whatever I was doing.
Give them what they want, show them what they need.
What Limited Beliefs Might You have?
And how do you even know they are there hiding out?
Examples:
"My art isn’t good enough to be a professional artist."
"It's too late for me to start a successful art career, I’m too old."
"I can't make a living from my art.”
Identifying Your Limited Beliefs:
Reflect on Your Inner Dialogue:
What do you repeatedly tell yourself about your skills, chances of success, or potential?
Are these thoughts factual, or are they opinions shaped by fear and doubt?
Trace the Origin:
Think about where these beliefs come from. Was it a passing comment from a teacher? A critical parent? A personal failure?
Challenge Your Beliefs:
Question their validity. Are they genuinely true, or are they assumptions based on limited experiences?
Seek Contradictory Evidence:
Look for examples that disprove your beliefs. For every artist who believes they can't succeed past a certain age, there are countless examples to the contrary.
Shattering the Limited Beliefs:
Affirmations / Mantras:
Use positive affirmations to counteract negative beliefs. Repeat phrases like "My art is valuable and unique" or "It's never too late to succeed in my passion."
Small Wins:
Set achievable goals. Each small success builds confidence against limiting beliefs. (example goal: I’ll draw every day this week and post it!)
Seek Inspiration:
Surround yourself with stories of artists who've overcome similar barriers. Let their journeys inspire you.
Embrace Failure:
View failures as learning opportunities, not confirmations of your limiting beliefs.
Professional Guidance:
Sometimes, it helps to talk to a mentor or counselor who can provide an objective perspective. Just like I consulted with Brian.
Remember, the walls of our limiting beliefs were built over time and won't crumble in a day. But every crack, every small break you make, is progress towards leveling up.
🔥This Week’s Drawing CHALLENGE!
This week’s drawing prompt is…
STUCK IN THE GRAND CANYON
Post your art over in our official DISCORD community! or on socials, tag #drawordieclub
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Hope you CRUSH your Limited Beliefs this week!
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I like this a lot. Speaks to me 100% Had limited success with not only showing my work, but selling it too. A local art gallery displayed a drawing, and later on a set of four black and white photographs one of which sold. The idea that hundreds of people stopped by to look at my work was mind blowing, and someone buying it even more so.
I haven’t had that much success since, selling online maybe two or three pieces a year (mostly friends) sometimes I feel that I’ll never get that again, so I changed gears a bit during the pandemic where I decided that even if I don’t get a job teaching art which I found out after subbing for some years was next to impossible, I’d give free basic lessons via downloadable/printable content, even so far as to flex my digital art muscles by creating printable coloring book art for kids and how-to’s. I don’t know if I’ve made a difference to anyone out there with these. No way to tell really, so I stopped after a year or so and just went back to drawing for myself and if t sells ok, if not, same thing. But in my mind I had this voice saying you’re not getting any younger and you gotta get this art thing done, now or never before you hit 50. Well, I’m three and a half months away from that and it still bugs me that I can’t seem to solve this riddle.
This was a good read, DJ. Good stuff.