What If a Photographer’s Fear of Failure Isn’t Fear at All? Psychologist Zahra Ciardi Explains

I'm joined again by Zahra Ciardi, a registered psychologist and the founder of Ascendant Bali, for a second conversation about the psychology behind photography and creativity. We talk about what happens when a photographer's identity becomes fused with their work, and why that turns making, editing, sharing and feedback into a constant threat. We also talk about how to hold a sense of self that is clear but flexible. Zahra explains the difference between creating from the wound and creating from wholeness, why healing can mean grieving the emotional charge your photographs once carried, and how to train attention, presence and boredom tolerance when the world runs on 6-second focus. If criticism of your photography feels like a verdict on who you are, this conversation may helps you how to separate yourself from your work so you can create it, finish it and share it again. Other things we discussed: The chameleon effect: borrowing pieces of everyone around you when your sense of self is empty Non-attachment, and being the blue sky behind the rainbows and the rain What gives a photograph its charge The Body Keeps the Score, and small ways to practise presence Shame, the defectiveness schema and the 3 ways we cope: surrender, avoidance and overcompensation MDR, schema therapy, compassion focused therapy and internal family systems The question Zahra would ask to open the door to all of this inner work Listen to the first conversation here: https://youtu.be/keUo-Sq5sh8 Zahra's Links: https://www.zahraciardi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/zahra_ciardi/ https://www.ascendantbali.com/ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Support the show _________________________________ Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can listen and watch full extended and ad-free episodes in my community - The MOOD Insiders - where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as meet with the community on book club weekly events, special guest features, bonus content, open forum access, free resources and so much more. Join The Community - extended episodes & bonus features https://www.mattjacob.co/insiders The App That Transformed My Art & Mind https://wakingup.sjv.io/c/7738181/3958771/54965 Website: https://themoodpodcast.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay