I was reading The Art of Being Alone by Renuka Gavrani. There was a page where she was giving the process of how she started recognizing and accepting her values instead of searching for external approval.
At that moment, it struck me that we always find ourselves at the same stage in every single project, except we never reach the final stage of production, where we click that export button. Before doing so, we tend to watch what we’ve done so far over and over again and then ask,
Is this fully done or ready to go out?
What we were doing at that time was self-validating, which, most times, what goes through our mind and what we tend to do is to have our short piece of craft shared anywhere we can get external validation. But wait (a digression), what is that thing that makes you feel like,
No, this video, design, or work is ready to go out?
I mean the moment you feel confident that your work is ready to go out, even without feedback. I don’t know as well, but I believe it’s when one has this clarity, or when intention matches the outcome. So, back to where I digressed.
When I was starting as a video editor, I had nobody or a community where I could share my self-project to get feedback or external validation. All I did then was just to trust my creative process. Then I put it out, whether I got nice comments or not, I just believed that I was in the process of growing (and still am), and I did that till I got my first client.
A few months back, I joined a creator community (my first ever) that was created by itsn3t. In the community, there were content creators, video editors, designers, and more, but you know the community was created by an editor, so there are more editors there. Most times, fellow editors drop their work there to seek feedback, and the members of the community react and drop some helpful, cool feedback, which helps the person who shared know where he or she needs to adjust. I must say, I see that process as a way to fast-track one’s growth because we have amazing video editors there, so getting feedback from them is super cool and beneficial.
But in the world of creativity, one thing makes an individual stand out and makes us different from each other: our thought process. Because it’s less about how others see things or following fixed rules, and more about how you feel, connect, see, and illustrate your idea. This often comes in a way that others don’t. So it’s safe to say other opinions shouldn’t influence our thought process, except if it’s coming from a client (smiles)… because you can’t claim that on a project that’s not yours. I think you get it.
So I’m saying, using self-validation or imposing your thought process on your craft, or any project where creative freedom is given, can help in various ways. First, when validating your ideas instead of waiting for outside approval, you build confidence. Secondly, it brings your work to life with added personality. Also, sometimes you get feedback, either positive or negative, and you’re not shaken, because your sense of value comes from your process, not from pleasing others.
How about consistency in your style? I believe when you trust your thought process, over time, you develop a clear style, people will recognize it’s your edits, your cuts, your tone, and your vibe. And I believe that’s how creative identity and growth are formed.
I work with individuals and businesses to create videos that resonate by combining storytelling, thoughtful editing, and a creative touch, all with attention to detail, creativity, and a seamless collaborative process. More about me
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