It’s a funny thing.
You get asked to do something awesome like taking pictures for a well-known web magazine, and you’re on top of the world. This is so.totally.cool.
Forty-eight hours and three meltdowns later, you’ve dumped all your self-confidence into ten casseroles. More accurately, ten photos. Ten. Stinkin. JPEGs.
And then comes the obsessive online searching. Are they there yet? They’re not there yet. Why aren’t they there yet?
And then – whoa – they’re there.
Wait, what? They’re there! Those are my photos?!
And suddenly, something weird happens. Instead of feeling proud and excited, you feel scared and nervous and disappointed, like they aren’t your best, and what if people don’t like them, and what if they’re not really that good anyways, and what if you never get asked to do anything like this again, and what will people say about you, and, and…
There are a lot of things that I learned from my experience last weekend. One of those things is that negative, obsessive, fearful, and unproductive thinking is totally real.
And it’s totally me.
It actually has a name. It’s called the Lizard Brain. Have you heard of it? On his blog, Seth Godin says “Your lizard brain is here to stay, and your job is to figure out how to quiet it and ignore it.”
{deepbreath} That’s seriously hard.
But guess what? An anxious, negative mindset is not n-o-t NOT going to help do a better job next time. It’s just not. And I do want to do things better, so it’s time to get over it.
I wanted to share this on my blog because I think we all feel this way, no matter where we are at with cooking, photography, blogging, or just life. We all have a Lizard Brain that says, I don’t have enough Facebook likes, and my photos aren’t as good as so-and-so, and I hardly have any followers, and this is never going to work, and, and…
and… stop that.
I’m challenging myself to be proud of what I’m doing, not fixate on the small things that I wish I would have done differently, and be ready to take on the next challenge. Even if it’s ten casseroles! Oiy, maybe it’s too soon for that one.
Thanks for letting me unpack this whole thing with you. I’d love to hear about your thoughts, experiences, or strategies related to that ol’ Lizard Brain!
Let’s take this thing down together.
Happy Monday Lindsay,
I’m so proud of you for doing the transformation work and going from “employee to side hustle millionaire” blogger. I’m glad you got over the fact that you’re not cut out to work for somebody else for the next 20 or 30 years, keeping us inspired with your amazing food blogs and sharing your undying positive energy. Keep doing what you’re doing my friend and look forward to hopefully interviewing you in your future about your humble beginnings from “employee to blogging side hustle millionaire.” Thank you for just being you Lindsay 🙂
Hey Lindsay, I love your honesty. That lizard brain can get pretty loud sometimes, that’s for sure. I like your tip in the Food Blogger Pro course – don’t wait until it’s perfect. I’ve been guilty of that heaps of times, and I’m starting to get it that everyone else is just as human as I am, and so long as I can be comfortable being me, whatever that is for today, things actually do turn OK. And it helps when you have other people to learn from as well 🙂
Hey! I resemble this post! THANK YOU for posting this as a kind reminder to all us lizard brainers to STOP IT. 🙂
Just wanted to say that I looked at your pictures on bonappetit.com and they look ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Seriously, my mouth is watering. I look at a LOT of food pictures and I think you did an excellent job. Also, I’m obsessed with your blog. I discovered it a couple of months ago and I check it daily. I’m hoping to actually start one of my own someday but haven’t had the time yet…BUT when I do start it, I hope it is as beautiful, silly, and delicious as yours.
Wow. That made my night. Let me know when you start one of your own! 🙂
That is so cool! To be asked by a national magazine? Wow! Like others have already said, your photos are amazing (this coming from a photographer myself, but not food photography yet). If I were to start, heck, I’d have to buy nicer dishes!
We did make an emergency trip to the thrift store for some new dishes. Not necessarily NICE dishes, 🙂 but we needed about 9 more casserole dishes than what I already had! 🙂 Thanks for the nice comment!
I’ve had that lizard brain piece saved myself – such smart words. You did a FABULOUS job with the casseroles. Excellent work, Lindsay. Not one bit of doubt on my end. 🙂
I totally love your honesty in this post Lindsay. My Lizard Brain makes me sweat about all kinds of things – especially when putting myself out there, in real life or the web. The sweaty palms, negative thoughts are always there. I try to remind myself of the truly important things in life and also why I do the things I am doing in the first place (because I love it!).
That said, your pictures were fantastic – you should be very proud of yourself. Not just the pictures but the feat of cooking through all that food and taking pictures/editing in one weekend! Amazing job!! 😀
I totally agree about reminding ourselves about the important things in life. There are so many other important things in the world and I’m trying to constantly think “big picture” when it comes to this stuff!
Oh good, I’m not the only person who is constantly freaking out?! 🙂 yay!
HA! 🙂
I truly, totally recognize this. I’m my own biggest critic and comparing never helps, it just feeds the insecurity. Thanks for sharing this story, Lindsay! But you can be so proud of the end result, I LOVE the pictures!
Thanks Denise! That darn Lizard Brain is everywhere, isn’t it?!
The kids and I wolfed down the casserole in one sitting. Then, with warm, contented tummies, we took a little nap. Thanks for making my Saturday wonderful and for another happy memory with my kids.
Congrats on taking photos for the BonAppetit website! I think the photos look fantastic and the casseroles look delicious. More importantly, my husband who is in advertising and has done a fair amount of food photography also thinks they look fantastic. He thinks you have a great eye. Good work!
I’m expecting casserole on your treat day…
Thanks Mimi! And I do actually have treat duty this week! There are some leftover casseroles remnants, but I think they’re better off in the trash (for lack of freshness) than on the treat table at this point. 🙂
This post is so refreshingly honest – I adore it! Its so hard in the blogging world – where no-one wants to write a negative post, or bring people down in the 3 minutes they are trying to escape the trickier side of life. But life isnt ALL candyfloss and cute photos of shortbread – and you ve managed to keep your post optimistic AND real. Woops to you!!! AND your photos are great. Honest to God. xox
Thanks so much! It’s always a balancing act between staying honest and also keeping the blog upbeat 🙂 but I thought people would be able to relate.
Oh, I SO know what you mean about Lizard Brain… I totally have it too. I just took a peek at your series of casserole photos, and they are superdy-duperdy fantastic. So, just tell Lizard Brain to shut.the.heck.up.
LOL! You crack me up! K, I just looked at the pictures and they are all amazing and beautiful! I wouldn’t want to eat most of the casseroles, but the pictures are gorgeous! What a great experience *:)*
Oh, I don’t know if I can really offer advice on this. I just agree. I have anxiety with almost every post, but I knew going into it that this would happen. It’s been a part of me always – with my paintings, photographs, anything I write that I know many people will be reading, but it’s all OK with me, because I know I am growing with each new photograph and post. Until recently I was tempted to cater my photography only to what I thought Foodgawker and Tastespotting wanted – so I could have more recipes featured, but I decided, that’s not me. I will shoot my photos how I like them, keeping in mind the techniques I am learning – that way I won’t loose the “me” in the photos. I’m still tempted to try to please only them, and I still obsess – I just obsess a little less. I have been surprised by a couple submissions they have accepted because they were, what I would consider, far out of their norm. I am trying not to concern myself with whether or not they “like” me – it’s starting to work. I have been very pleasantly surprised by how many people are choosing to follow my blog. For that, I am just grateful 😉 And I’m also grateful to the experienced bloggers who have been willing to take some time and point me in the right direction. 🙂
See? like right now. Racing heart, cringing at the length of that reply. . .
Lol… You’re hilarious. I’m so glad you’ve been able to let go of the perceived “perfect” shot that you think others might be looking for and follow your artistic instincts with confidence! 🙂
The pictures are great! I guess we are always are our worst critics. Keep taking food pics!
First thing I did the other morning was to check twitter. Saw your post. Looked at your pictures. Couldn’t believe my eyes. They were beautiful! Stunning.
But I hear ya, Lindsay…I once heard that comparison robs us of contentment. I think I better take this one to the bank. 🙂
So true. Comparison is a dangerous game… and I’m trying not to play that one! Thanks for the comment Soo!
This is just what I needed to hear today! I’ve been struggling with this too. Anything i do is never good enough. I need to remember that I’m doing this because its supposed to be fun and if its not, then I need to step back and refocus on why it is.
I need to bookmark this post and read it weekly. I get down on myself all of the time – comparing myself to other bloggers and thinking that I don’t measure up. Thank you for being so open and honest!! (Oh, and BTW – I think you are absolutely amazing!!)
Lind-SAY! You are amazing, congrats on this and your pictures are gorgeous as ever!
Your photos are beautiful, Lindsay!!! Wow!! You make everything look so delicious!
I can’t imagine making all 10 of these casseroles in one weekend! You must have been exhausted!!
Your photos look amazing, congrats! I think we all have that feeling of up and down around self-doubt and excitement.
Your photos are gorgeous! Job well done. And I can’t believe you had to make all the food too!!!
Your photos look fabulous. I know you can’t help but be your own worst critic; but seriously, the photos look fabulous!