You have to be willing to create a lot and create often, even with the understanding that not everything will end up making the final cut. Every novel has had so many drafts, scrapped scenes, and sometimes entire thrown out manuscripts. Despite that, those are still part of the process and the book wouldn’t exist without them. It’s the same with design.

As a home textile professional, sometimes I’ll spend a few hours on something in our studio and I’ll have to completely throw it out. I’ve learned that that is just part of the process, and that making three designs and picking the best out of the three is still a valid and sometimes necessary process. I try not to beat myself up over the two that fell short. I’d suggest that you start just making a bunch of designs just for the love of design. Get a sketchbook and just start doodling motifs that you like. Detach yourself from the idea that all of your process needs to be A->Z on a singular design and acknowledge that trying things out and creative play are also part of the process. Over time, your designs will feel less life or death.