Can’t Hurt Me

May 14, 2025


Being an artist is a raw, vulnerable act. You pour your thoughts, your memories, your pain, and your joy into your work. Every piece is a reflection of something deeply personal. And then you put it out into the world—open to the eyes, opinions, and critiques of others.

It’s beautiful. But it can also hurt.

The harsh reality of the creative life is that, at some point, someone will criticize what you make. Some of it may be fair. Much of it won’t be. And if you haven’t built a solid foundation of confidence, even a passing comment can rattle your belief in yourself. So how do you keep creating without letting the outside world tear you down?

It starts with building a kind of confidence that doesn’t rely on applause.

Real confidence isn’t loud. It’s quiet, steady, and deeply internal. It comes from doing the work over and over again—not for likes or praise, but for yourself. When you show up consistently, especially when no one’s watching, you begin to prove something important to yourself: I’m not here for approval. I’m here because this is who I am.

As you grow, you’ll start to notice something: criticism becomes less threatening. That’s not because it stops hurting entirely—it’s because you start to understand that not all criticism deserves your attention. Some feedback is useful and helps you sharpen your skills or see something you missed. But a lot of it? It's projection, noise, or someone’s personal taste dressed up as absolute truth. You don’t have to internalize everything you're told.

The key is learning to separate your identity from your art. Your work is personal, yes, but it doesn’t define your worth. You are allowed to create something imperfect. You are allowed to grow in public. You are allowed to take risks and fail. Confidence comes from embracing all of that—and continuing anyway.

This doesn’t mean you have to become emotionless or indifferent. Building resilience is about feeling the sting and still choosing to show up. You don’t need to respond to every comment or defend your every decision. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is keep creating and let the work speak for itself.

Surrounding yourself with the right people also matters more than most realize. Find your creative allies—the ones who challenge you with love, who give you honest feedback, and who remind you why you started in the first place. A strong community can protect your fire when the world feels cold.

And above all, remind yourself often: you’re not meant to be for everyone. The bolder and more honest your work becomes, the more it will naturally attract—and repel. That’s a sign you’re doing something real. Bland art tries to please everyone. Brave art speaks to the few who need it most.

So when you hear the doubters or read the comments, and that old insecurity starts to rise—pause. Breathe. And say to yourself: Can’t hurt me.

Because it can’t—not if your confidence is built from within, and not if you know who you are.

Keep creating. Keep growing. Keep going.