What about the inner critic?
The inner critic can be a paralyzing force. To structure the space consciously provides safety and containment (See, The Creative Space) and I have found that the right medium can go a long way in giving one just enough initial breathing space to get the process going. Finding the right medium may be a journey, well worth the undertaking. (See, Choosing Your Medium)
We tend to value the mind above our natural instinctive wisdom, and we often struggle with the cultural over-emphasis on training. Sometimes we say we must take lessons; we must learn from another. Of course, this can be an important beneficial process, but one problem may be that when we start to look for guidance outside, that we stop to listen to our inner voices. On the other hand, I have learned that the unconscious will give you what you need.
“Sometimes an image or idea appears first in the mind’s eye, but it may or may not want to come out. More often than not, images arise in a completely spontaneous way as we work with an expressive medium.” (Chodorow p. 8)
If one experiences opposition from inside, one solution may be to negotiate with the critic before starting by telling it that one is not about to make an artwork but to engage in a conversation with one’s inner world. This can be part of the initial writing up. (See the discussion of The Creative Space.) If one tries to ignore the inner critic, it is most likely to be obstructive. In the image at right, we see Grima Wormtongue with the king of Rohan, from the movie, Lord of the Rings.
An immediate negative reaction from inside telling you that your work has no value is a very possible sign that your complex may be trying to interfere, but when one writes out the unfolding of the image, it brings you back to your experience and you can see e.g. here I did something that is different to what the complex or the critical voice is trying to tell me. The best way to approach it, however, is by exploring the content/meaning of the image and how this relates to your initial writing up. (See, Finding Meaning)
If the creative process has been wounded by previous criticism of the individual’s creativity itself, this should be addressed in analysis.
Rigid inner resistance should always be respected. It is there for a reason. Using forceful methods to overcome it, is unwise. If there is a storm at sea, it is not the time to go surfing. Neither is it when the sea is as calm as a dam. There is also a timing factor.
We must keep in mind that all content coming up from the unconscious is not always helpful; on the contrary, Jung said that we should treat material from the unconscious in the same way that we would treat the opinion of another person. But if you stay with your own process, it will contain and protect you.
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