Overcoming the 3 Biggest Barriers to Creativity and Sustainable Living

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the beautiful images on Pinterest or social media—so much so that you think, I could never pull that off? Or maybe you’ve been told that what you love “doesn’t match” or “isn’t the right fit” for you?

These mental blocks don’t just affect how we express our personal style—they also impact our approach to consumption and sustainability. Through my work in interior redesign and aesthetic styling, I’ve identified three key challenges that hold us back from fully embracing our creativity and making more mindful choices. I call them The Three C’s: Comparison, Consumption, and Criticism.

1. Comparison: Overcoming the "I Can’t Do That" Mentality
Social media is filled with stunning interiors, outfits, and creative ideas—but instead of feeling inspired, we often feel discouraged. We assume that only people with a “good eye” can create beautiful spaces or styles, and we hesitate to trust our own instincts.

How to Break Free from Comparison:

• Instead of thinking, I could never do that, ask yourself: What do I love about this? Look beyond the specific items and identify the elements that attract you—whether it's color, balance, texture, or minimalism.
  
• Create a Pinterest board of styles you love, but don’t just admire them—analyze them. What patterns do you see? How can you incorporate these ideas using what you already own?
  
  

2. Consumption: The Habit of Buying Instead of Creating
When we want a fresh look—whether in our wardrobe or our home—our first instinct is often to shop. We think that a new purchase will bring inspiration or change, instead of first looking at what we already have.

One of the biggest shifts I made during my time as an interior redesigner was realizing that people often wanted to buy new furniture simply because they felt uninspired by their current space. But when we rearranged and restyled what they already owned, they were amazed at how fresh and beautiful their space felt—without spending a dime.

How to Shift from Consumption to Creativity:

• Before making a purchase, pause and ask: 'What am I really trying to achieve with this?'
  
• Try styling your space or outfits in a new way before buying anything. Often, the feeling of “new” comes from how things are arranged, not from buying more.
  
• If you do decide to buy, be intentional. Make sure it's something that aligns with your style and will truly add value to your space or wardrobe.
  
  

3. Criticism: Trusting Your Own Intuition
This is perhaps the biggest barrier of all. Many of us have had experiences where someone—whether a stylist, a designer, or even a friend—told us that something we loved wasn’t right for us. Maybe they said a color didn’t match our skin tone, or that our home decor wasn’t “on trend.” These comments can make us doubt our own sense of style and creativity.

I’ve worked with people who stopped wearing certain outfits or abandoned their favorite decor choices simply because someone else criticized them. This is a huge loss—not just for personal expression but for sustainable living. When we don’t trust our own style, we’re more likely to keep buying, hoping to “get it right.”

How to Overcome Criticism and Trust Your Own Style:

• Remember: Style is personal. If you love something, that’s what matters.
  
• Instead of seeking external validation, focus on how an outfit or space makes you feel. Do you feel confident? At home? Inspired? That’s the true measure of success.
  
• Start sharing your creative ideas and personal style. The more we express ourselves, the more we inspire others to do the same.
  
  

Why This Matters: A Lifestyle Shift for Sustainability
These three challenges—comparison, consumption, and criticism—don’t just affect our confidence. They have real consequences:

• Wasted money on items we don’t love.
• Increased stress and indecision about what “fits” or looks good.
• A throwaway culture where we constantly replace old with new, instead of appreciating what we already have.
  

But here’s the good news: Making this shift doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. Creativity should be fun, accessible, and shared in a way that makes us feel empowered. That’s why I created the Your Aesthetic Style (YAS) Method—an approach that blends innovative styling with sustainable living.

Through workshops like the VIBE Class, I help people rediscover their creativity, repurpose what they own, and build a more intentional, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle.