Whatever your approach, time and time again you get so close to your creative dreams - and the creative life you truly want - before somehow falling short of the target?

It's as if this creative life you long to have, and the freedom, happiness and fulfilment that it will give you, is like a beautiful lush garden right in front of you with every colour, shape and scent of flower you can imagine.

There are even waterfalls, exotic birds and a mini rainforest!

The only problem is, there are huge imposing iron gates between you and this dream garden.

And there doesn't seem to be any way through.

Whichever direction you come from, however you seem to change your angle of approach, whether from North, South, East, West, under, over or around, you still come up against the same impenetrable gates, with that wonderful garden - your creative dreams - tantalising close.

So what's happening here? Why such huge gates? And why are they always locked?

The irony here is that you actually already have the key to these fearsome gates. Right there in your pocket. But you don't know it.

All that's stopping you from moving through those gates and closer to your creative dreams, is in fact one word:

Permission.

The only reason you're not using the key to the gates is because, at some deeper level, you're not ALLOWING yourself to.

You're not giving yourself permission.

"But why would I do that, if what's on the other side of the gates is so valuable, and exactly what I want?" I hear you cry!

There are many reasons why we don't give ourselves permission to reach for our creative dreams and ambitions.

Here's a closer look at 5 of the most common:

1. I'm not worthy, I'm not a good person. Maybe you feel because of past events in your life you don't deserve the opportunity to achieve your creative dreams. You tell yourself you'll give yourself permission "when I've been good" or "when I've made amends", knowing this day may never come.

2. I'm scared of the unknown. Maybe your creative dreams won't be as you thought they were. Maybe you'll get through the gates into the garden and it'll be disappointing in some way and you'll have to find another garden. Or maybe your creative dreams will be EVEN BETTER than you thought. Either way, you're not sure you're ready to experience it so to protect yourself you stay on the safe side of the gates.

3. I believe there are others more deserving of success. You feel that for some reason there is a limit to the number of people who can be successfully creative and you're way down the list of people who deserve to be, so you don't let yourself go for it.

4. I simply don't know how to try for what I want. You just haven't had the experience of achieving any of your creative ambitions, you feel you wouldn't know where to start. This apparently huge task ahead overwhelms you and you retreat behind the gates, not letting yourself even try one small step at a time.

5. I'm not good enough, I'm not talented enough. You feel you can't be successful because you've haven't got enough creative talent or ability, so you don't even give yourself the chance to try, to learn, to evolve and to grow your creativity.

Which of these do YOU connect with? Maybe it's one or two, maybe all of them in some way?

Permission is such a crucial element in creating.

Until we allow ourselves the permission to go for our creative dreams, we'll remain frustrated and limited in what we achieve.

So when are YOU going to take that key out of your pocket, unlock those gates and make your way, one step at a time, to that wonderful garden that holds your creative dreams?

© Copyright 2007 Dan Goodwin