Artists: How to Unlock the Power of the Creative Mind by Reframing Negative Thoughts in 3 Steps

One of the biggest takeaways from my journey in the music business over more than a decade is that talent is a small proportion of what helps an artist to be successful.

When I say a small proportion, I mean that your talent is likely only 20% of what leads to success; the rest is down to one thing only and that is your ability to control your mind toward taking the actions you need to take at every step of the way.

The ability to avoid getting caught up in negativity and worrying about outcomes that you can't control, or getting lost in thoughts that others have imposed on you, is one of the critical components you need to master in order to truly maximize your ability to do your best work and create art that makes the biggest possible impact.

Mindset and self-development guidance are given huge prominence in sectors such as sports and coaching, but in contrast, there is a gaping void within these areas in the music business.

Instead, the music industry focuses almost exclusively on vanity metrics such as streams, followers and video views. Little to no thought is given to the people metrics, mindset and self-development qualities that an artist needs to maximize to reach their true potential for success on their journey.

In creating my Substack, my goal is to talk about and provide value in areas I feel are under-served within the music business (and business in general) and so in this article, I wanted to talk about how as an artist, you can use the power of reframing as a tool to help you get through creative blocks and flip the obstacles that come your way into opportunities to help you keep moving forward.

I often tell artists they need to 'get out of their own way'.

What do I mean by 'getting out of your own way'?

It's very common to feel stuck in a creative rut or experience mental blocks when it comes to creating art.

The pressure you put on yourself, along with the pressure you feel from others; be it friends, family, peers or your fans can also further compound the situation, making it difficult to make the best art you possibly can.

When this happens 'you're getting in your own way' because it's down to you to navigate a pathway out of the situation and the longer it takes for you to do so, the longer it will take for you to move forward and create the type of art that you truly desire.

The good news is that there are strategies you can use to reframe your thoughts, focus on positive thinking and break through those barriers.

In this article, we'll explore how you can 'get out of your own way' by shifting your mindset and changing your perspective.

Why is it important to reframe your thoughts?

Reframing your thoughts is an effective way to shift away from the mental blocks that are preventing you from creating your best art.

When we reframe our thinking, it helps us gain perspective on our situation and gives us the ability to look at things in a more positive light.

This can be incredibly beneficial for artists who can struggle with self-doubt or perfectionism.

By understanding the power of reframing, you'll start to look at the creative process in a more productive manner, which can lead to increased creativity and productivity.

Here are 3 steps to unlocking the power of reframing: