Psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo, who previously was a screenwriter, wrote in a column in Psychology Today about the kinds of “stuff” that gets in the way of being able to write:
Because the simple fact is, we do bring our “stuff” to our creative endeavors...Some artists can’t get past their fear of failure; some struggle with a nagging sense of inadequacy regarding their talent; some feel the pressure of being unknown and thus feeling powerless.
Add to that the relationship issues, financial pressures, marketplace fluctuations, and sense of isolation that creative types must contend with on a daily basis---and suddenly the amount of “stuff” you’re supposed to put aside in order to “get out of your own way” starts to feel like a veritable mountain of personal baggage.
He suggests rather than trying to solve all of these issues, we accept that they are part and parcel of what we do:
One particular subset of human beings, creative artists, have all the same “stuff” as the rest of the tribe. Except for the need and desire to create art out of it. We may produce stories or screenplays. Or films or TV pilots. Or novels, poems, and songs. But what all artists, regardless of approach, really do is try to make sense of their “stuff.” In a language or medium or form that is understandable to the audience. In other words, “stuff” talking to “stuff.”
Rather than trying to eliminate all such elements, we need to reframe them:
From my perspective, a creative artist who invites all of who he or she is into the mix---who sits down to work engulfed in “stuff,” yet doesn’t give these thoughts and feelings a negative connotation; who in fact strives to accept and integrate whatever thoughts and feelings emerge---this artist has truly gotten out of his or her own way.
From this standpoint, it’s only by labeling a thought or feeling as either good or bad, productive or harmful, that you’re actually getting in your own way. Restricting your creative flow.
When you think about it, we write about conflicts, about desires, about obstacles, but we put them into stories about characters that we make up. It's only our own experience of those things that gives us the raw material to work with.
Palumbo admits that while embracing one's fears is a simple notion, it’s not easy to put into practice. However, thinking this new way about the things that you feel are in your way might be the start of being able to work more freely.
(You can read his whole column here: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hollywood-the-couch/201303/getting-out-your-own-way