An overactive mind can trap us in scarcity mindset, making us feel like uncertainty is our enemy instead of the source of strength it truly is.
Art is not a thing; it is a way.
The Overactive Mind
I had the pleasure of working with three different leadership teams this week (Austin, LA, and Atlanta).
A recurring theme emerged during each virtual workshop: How can one escape the constant flood of thoughts produced by an overactive mind that is wired for scarcity and survival?
Thoughts such as the following:
“I need to be better at doing X.”
“I am not enough.”
“There’s not enough time or money to do X.”
“If it’s (or if I am) not perfect, I’ve failed.”
“I should master (doing this thing I hate to do/do not have a conative strength for).”
There are few things I enjoy more than debunking brain-generated limiting beliefs and cultural lore that just ain’t so. And when I can show how making something (and the other 5Ms) is our path out of the brain/culture trap, I watch relief wash over faces and souls.
Embracing Art
If you’re feeling uncertain and/or under siege from a scarcity brain, try approaching life as an artist approaches their work (by the way, you are an artist).
Experiment. Try something new without worrying about whether it will be perfect.
Express yourself in ways that feel meaningful—through writing, music, cooking, conversation, or any other form of creativity.
Even small acts, like rearranging your space, journaling your thoughts, or taking a walk in nature, can be artistic expressions that not only bring clarity and peace but also bring us back to our true selves.
Back to believing in ourselves, trusting ourselves.
Engaging in creative acts is how we build the musculature for taking bold action and making courageous moves.
Embracing Uncertainty
It is our path to learning the art of tolerating (and mining) uncertainty and the shadowy Unknown.
I wrote about this in my book, BUOYANT:
I have begun experimenting with an entirely new mindset when I am up to my knees in a creative project. Rather than sitting in the dark ready to cover my eyes with my hands when the scary stuff shows up, I walk right toward it.
Yes, it is going to hurt. The work will be hard. But I know the best part of me will show up as a result. The most layered and creative version of me will crawl from her shell with claws at the ready.
We’ve got to hack our way through the jungle while simultaneously forging the machete we need for the job. The tool we need will reveal itself to us. Let yourself not know throughout the entire process, because that’s how the magic shows up. The troubles we encounter along the way make our work, and us, better. Note: This is not my favorite thing! No matter how many times I have walked into the unknown, I still want to try to control how things will go. But we cannot. The only way out is through surrendering and doing the work. This is your own personal jungle, and no one else can clear the way.
The fear of the unknown may be a well-disguised version of the fear of being who we truly are. It may be easier to not boldly be ourselves. Not show what we see. Not reveal our vision of the world and her inhabitants and reflect that back in our art. It is always easier to stall. Water down the expressive parts of us. Not ruffle feathers. If we don’t move, there won’t be any ripples in the water. If we don’t breathe, maybe no one will even know we are here.
Show up anyway. Move and breathe and create.
It’s going be hard. Harder than we ever imagined. The challenge is the fire that takes the glass of us and shapes us into a new form with dazzling colors. The choice, then, is to show all of our colors or die on the vine comfortable. Let’s say who we are and mean it.
Don’t pray for mythical gifts or talents; pray for perseverance and the ability to exhale deeply and dive in. The gifts will arrive in the doing, during your time in the fire. The flames will take you further forward in your provenance of becoming, where you will find at last the freedom and enduring impact you seek.
Art isn’t just something we create—it’s how we live. It’s a mindset, a way of seeing the world, and a process rather than a fixed outcome.
Uncertainty isn’t a sign that something is wrong; it’s the birthplace of possibility. It’s what fuels new ideas, deepens connections, and opens doors to unforeseen opportunities.
Calming the Overactive Mind Means Going Headfirst into Creation
Making something is a way of being in the world. To create is to exist fully. When we embrace the Unknown, we stop seeing uncertainty as a threat, reframe our overactive mind, and start seeing it as an essential part of the creative process.
Keep moving forward, keep creating. And trust that, like any great work of art, your path will take shape in ways you never expected—and in the end, it will be uniquely yours.
