The Let-It-Go Method: Create Freely Using What You Already Know
Introduction
So can we talk about Elsa, of Disney’s Frozen fame? As a grown up human, I was mesmerized by this animated film, and I am still inspired by a specific aspect of this story. I’ll admit that I am not a Disney person, in general. I’m just as surprised as you are that I’m using yet another Disney heroine metaphor to get into this next pillar of creativity. Here are the first three pillars:
Set the Stage
Fill Your Well
Build Skills
And now the 4th…CREATE!
What are your hidden powers?
What could you create with your current skills?
Despite the beautiful castle she lived in, and the amazing magical powers she had, she was repressed, isolated, told she should control her magic…I mean they actually used the words “Conceal, don’t feel!”
Today I want to talk about that moment when her powers were revealed by accident…and then she ran out into the mountains and “Let it Go!”, no longer holding back or behaving in the way her family and kingdom expected.
I know I felt exhilarated as the music was building and she was throwing up a magical ice castle with her hair and voice flowing free and powerful. In this moment, she wasn’t editing herself, criticizing herself, or worrying about other people’s opinions. She used what was already natural for her, what she already knew how to do, and she just Let. It. Go.
This is a phase of creativity that is exciting but scary, and it’s very easy to slip right back into judgement as you are in this active “Create” mode. To get there, we need to figure out what our “on switch” is, yank off the gloves, allow the feelings to flow, and don’t worry about the outcome. Easier said than done, right? What if we don’t have enough credentials, enough training, enough skill to make something yet? Maybe we should read another book, watch another video, and then someday we will have what it takes to create…
There is a clear path and method to get into the state of creating though, and it is the opposite of what we talked about last week, skill-building. Let’s learn how to work with the skills we have today, and bring them all together to create something new. Ready?
At the end, I’ll give you three simple actions to help you rip off the gloves and put into action the creative possibility already within you.
But if I just took one more course…
Or read one more book…
The Expertise Paradox: How We Accumulate Knowledge But Struggle to Trust It
You know more than you give yourself credit for. Every day, you've been accumulating knowledge, improving skills, and integrating experiences that resonate with you. There's no one else with your exact combination of knowledge and perspective. Yet despite this wealth of experience, we often discount our past learning and feel we need to start from scratch.
Many of us fall into the "expertise trap"—feeling we're always one course or book away from being ready. In my career as a healthcare provider, I was a serial student, constantly seeking new certifications and degrees, thinking then I'd finally feel comfortable. Years into my work as an optometrist, I realized no one ever really knows everything—we're all figuring it out as we go.
This constant preparation is often just fear in disguise. When I finally acknowledged my artistic dreams, I had to learn to be comfortable with not knowing everything, with making "bad art," and just creating anyway. This helped me gradually find my own voice and style.
The Let-It-Go Method
Phase 1: Recognize Your Internalized Expertise
It's surprisingly difficult to identify our own strengths and internal resources because they feel natural to us. Try mentally stepping back and considering how others might describe you, or how you remember yourself at different life stages.
As a teenager working at a fancy hotel, the manager discovered I knew calligraphy and had me write all the buffet dish descriptions. Just today, I found myself carving calligraphy-like designs into a mug without consciously drawing on that past experience—it simply emerged naturally. THIS is exactly the energy we're after.
If you struggle to identify your strengths, simply acknowledge that you have a wealth of experience within, and trust it will emerge when needed. Your internalized knowledge is your most authentic creative resource, one you've already acquired. Now it's time to put your powers to work!
Phase 2: Create Your "Ice Castle" Environment
In Frozen, Elsa didn't build her ice castle in the town center with frightened citizens watching. She sought space and peace before letting her magic flow. Similarly, we need judgment-free creative spaces.
While we can't all have a mountaintop, we can establish boundaries that protect our creative process. Research published in "Trends in Cognitive Sciences" shows that stress activates the brain's threat response system, reducing activity in the prefrontal cortex where creative connections happen. Judgment-free environments reduce this stress response, enhancing neural connectivity.
When I work in the community ceramic studio, I sometimes feel self-doubt creeping in when more advanced potters are around. My solution? Arriving earlier than others or wearing earbuds to tune out studio chatter and signal I'm in creation mode.
Phase 3: Remove the "Gloves" of Limitation
If you're still struggling, you might have some "gloves" on—restrictions limiting your creative permission. This calls for deeper investigation, perhaps a conversation with someone who knows you well enough to identify your blind spots.
Try setting a timer for 20 minutes and create without judgment or thought. Follow your gut and let the paint fly! I once had fun intentionally trying to make a painting uglier with each step—and my brother immediately asked to buy it afterward! The reckless abandon was somehow palpable in the finished piece.
Phase 4: Let Your Expertise Flow Freely
Trusting your intuition isn't woo-woo—it's simply NOT worrying about making a finished product and instead playing with your materials. When there's no "end product" in mind, you're off the hook to just let loose.
Timers are excellent for relaxation because you know exactly when you'll stop. Later, you can bring in analytical refinement, but for now, focus on letting go. Be yourself, not anyone else. What feels like the next move IS the next move. Trust the expertise embedded in your mind and body—it's real, valuable, and uniquely yours.
Common Questions:
- "What if I freeze up despite trying this approach?"
Keep trying! Adjust the time period—shorter or longer depending on how quickly you relax. Add music and create to its rhythm. Try limiting your color palette to reduce decision fatigue.
- "How do I balance creative freedom with necessary refinement?"
Set your intention before beginning: is this a free session or a refining session? Think of it as wearing different hats—the artist and the editor—each with their own purpose.
Don’t think about the outcome -
Just get out the supplies you already have…the skills you already have…and start!
Summary
The Let-It-Go Method isn't about abandoning standards but accessing your authentic creative voice as it actually is today, with no apologies or excuses about what you don’t yet know. It feels good, enriches your art work, and reduces stress for a healthier brain.
CALL TO ACTION!
- Quick Win:
Today, spend 15 minutes creating something using only what you already know—no references, no tutorials.
- Solid Solution:
Look closely at your calendar, and block a 30-minute Let-It-Go session at least once a week for a month. Share your experience - what was fun about it, and what was hard?
- Treat Yourself:
Register for an upcoming class or workshop with the side-quest of developing creative confidence as you practice trusting yourself and dropping criticism at the door.
Like Elsa, your most powerful creations emerge when you trust your internalized expertise, remove the limitations of others' opinions, and express yourself freely!
With Enthusiasm for Life & Art,
Heidi
References:
Arnsten, A. F., Mazure, C. M., & Sinha, R. (2012). This is your brain in meltdown. Scientific American, 306(4), 48-53.