I’ve been thinking a lot about this? How do you create when you’re getting close to 40?

Here’s my thing – I worry so much about whether or not I can still create. Not that I can’t do it, but rather, that is it acceptable that I do it? I know a lot of this is anxiety, but it comes in nonetheless.

What happens when you want to create art, but something is telling you to focus on money-making ventures instead? What happens when it feels like you’re past the point when people are watching what you’re making?

If you’re like me, sometimes you ask “Should I keep doing this? What is the point? How long am I going to keep getting friends together to make a film?”

There’s this worry that I’ve missed my window, that I’m not able to do this anymore, that I’ll get judged for doing it.

I know what I have to do. I have to say “screw it, I’m going to make what I want to make, and I don’t care what anyone else says.” But more often than not, the negative thoughts come in and tell me I can’t do it, that I should stick to something that is more traditional.

I know I need to get those voices away. I know I need to just make things and not judge myself. But it’s hard. It’s not easy to break away from that conditioning.

Have you dealt with that?

How do you release yourself from it?

How do you stop judging yourself?

I’d love to hear what you all think.