“This might be good. Or maybe not. No, actually, I think it’s pretty good. Maybe it’s too simple. Or too complex? I wonder if it could be misinterpreted. Have I already done one like this? No. I think we’re fine. This is a solid effort. I’ll give it one more look and then it has to ship.”

Not always, but sometimes the creative process is like this. Or something similar. An internal back and forth. A shifting between confidence and question, between action and hesitation.

Part of the practice is in ushering yourself through. In trusting yourself. In moving beyond — or just beyond enough — to where the work gets out into the world.

It’s rarely full-confidence, full-throttle. More often, it’s a mix of uncertainty carefully wrapped in moxie.