Is your work important? Does it matter? Why bother?
I strongly recommend that every artist I mentor have a website or at least blog to share his or her work with the world. One of the artists I worked with once asked me:
“Who in the world needs another blog from a half-hearted artist?”
Who, indeed?
Who are we to say what the world needs or doesn’t need? It’s important to be able to step back from that voice and to recognize it for what it is. It’s the voice of our ego. Our ego prefers to be liked, to stay safe and protect us from criticism or negative reaction.
I want to remind you of your power as an artist. The power art has in general. Whether our audience is large or small, we all have the potential to positively impact others lives with what we do.
While the ego likes to stay safe it is also attracted to the seeming glamour of celebrity and fame. It’s a strange dichotomy, isn’t it?
So unless we are really, really big, unless lots and lots of people like and admire our work, it doesn’t seem worthwhile.
Take a moment now to recall anyone who has expressed even the smallest appreciation for something you have created. A brief compliment, an email, a note, a thumbs up.
Now savor that moment slowly for what it was. Really feel into it and allow it into your being, your body, your heart.
You touched another person’s heart, even for that moment, in some humble way.
Where there was one, there could easily be hundreds. (It’s a big planet, you know.)
It is tempting to keep things safe and play a small and familiar arena. It’s tempting to avoid the risk and vulnerability of putting ourselves and our work out for the world to see. It is so much easier. We need not take the time nor make the effort.
But how do you know that someone wouldn’t be inspired by, love, or really want to see your blog? How do you really know this?
Aren’t there plenty of other artists who have inspired you? Are you glad for their online presence? Isn’t it wonderful to live in an age where we can access inspiration from other artists’ work past or present with the click of a mouse?
Who are your favorite artists of all time? How would your life be different if your favorite artists had never pursued their work and committed to getting it out to the public?
What it takes is commitment. I think the key word in this artist’s question was “half-hearted”. I know the asker of this question to be a truly dedicated and committed artist with wonderful gifts to share.
However, if we go about creating a website or instagram only half-heartedly, then most likely neither we nor our potential viewers will gain satisfaction from it. Beyond the content, the energy behind the content will be lackluster.
However, if we commit ourselves to it, even if we can only post once a month and we do our best to get the word out and share it with the world, I am convinced that we can touch others in a meaningful way. People will be drawn to our enthusiasm and what we have to offer.
When we do things without true commitment they lack that power of our own intention. If things don’t work out how we expected, we have no reason to continue or follow-through.
The ego likes this because we stay in our safe zone. We don’t expose ourselves to criticism or perhaps worse for the ego, neglect.
When we are committed, we will do whatever it takes.
I invite you to share a moment where you persisted, or how you overcome the urge to give up in the comments below. Your story makes this a community and can help others.
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Connect with others to accelerate your progress!
A few months ago, a friend invited me to join at women’s fitness challenge group she was forming.
Participating has radically changed my yoga practice (In addition to getting me more in shape and encouraging me to do even more cardio.)
I have been practicing yoga for 27 years now.
I’ve had dozens of amazing teachers over the years. I’ve gone through periods when I went to 3- 5 classes a week and periods when I’ve just practiced on my own.
I’ve had times when I stepped away from it temporarily.
But mostly, I’ve practiced daily for all these years.
But I need to admit something to you.
There are poses I just have not really progressed in.
I can do a mean triangle pose but I’ve never been able to do a full vrischikasana (scorpion) without assistance:
or bacasana (crow pose):
I just haven’t built the upper body strength.
So that has been a big part of my commitment with the fitness challenge – to work on my upper body strength.
And I have. I’ve been doing poses all on my own that I shied away from. And it’s all due to the support of this wonderful group of women.
I am so grateful to them.
So what does this have to do with you? And with your art?
Is there an area of your art life and career where you haven’t been challenging yourself?
Have you been coasting? Staying with what’s familiar or easy?
I heartily recommend gathering a group of like-minded individuals around you. You’ll be amazed at how motivating it is.
Some people call this a Mastermind – a group in which the power and intelligence and motivation of the group far exceeds that of each individual.
That’s why I always build a group forum into the Mindful Artist Mentorship Program. I have experienced first-hand what an enormous difference this makes and now I wouldn’t want to be without it.
When you are discouraged or needed advice, you have the group to turn to.
You cheer each other on during trying times.
You celebrate victories!
You encourage each other to stretch for excellence.
You will also help each other to recognize when your goals are unrealistic or when you are being too hard on yourself.
Here are six steps to create a similar group to turn your dreams into achievable goals:
1. Select the people you invite carefully. Make sure you find some folks who are equally committed. People who aren’t committed and don’t participate can drag the energy of the group down. People who are committed and enthusiastic lift the level of participation and energy in the group to a remarkable degree and really make it work.
2. Set a time specific time frame for when the group will start and end. This way people can jump in and fully commit even when they are very busy. They know it’s not a forever commitment but chances are many will want to continue.
3. Set manageable goals and make your commitments to each other. I realized my first set of goals was unrealistic after reading everyone else’s and I ratcheted it back a notch or two. (By the way it feels much better to exceed your goals then to not meet them.) and feeling good about yourself is self perpetuating it makes you even more motivated to achieve.
4. Designate a day for a weekly check-in via email. I actually don’t recommend trying to meet in person unless you all have oodles of time and live close to each other.
5. Create a simple form of questions for your weekly check in. – I’ll share our fitness form here for an example:
- Name:
- Week #__ of 12:
- Did I reach my goal?
- How did the week feel/ how did it go?Any changes I would like to implement?
6. Have a simple way to connect between your weekly check-ins– a facebook group is free and works really well for this.
Have you ever experienced the power of a group to propel you forward? Share in the comments section below.
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Is your work important? Does it matter? Why bother?
I strongly recommend that every artist I mentor have a website or at least blog to share his or her work with the world. One of the artists I worked with once asked me:
“Who in the world needs another blog from a half-hearted artist?”
Who, indeed?
Who are we to say what the world needs or doesn’t need? It’s important to be able to step back from that voice and to recognize it for what it is. It’s the voice of our ego. Our ego prefers to be liked, to stay safe and protect us from criticism or negative reaction.
I want to remind you of your power as an artist. The power art has in general. Whether our audience is large or small, we all have the potential to positively impact others lives with what we do.
While the ego likes to stay safe it is also attracted to the seeming glamour of celebrity and fame. It’s a strange dichotomy, isn’t it?
So unless we are really, really big, unless lots and lots of people like and admire our work, it doesn’t seem worthwhile.
Take a moment now to recall anyone who has expressed even the smallest appreciation for something you have created. A brief compliment, an email, a note, a thumbs up.
Now savor that moment slowly for what it was. Really feel into it and allow it into your being, your body, your heart.
You touched another person’s heart, even for that moment, in some humble way.
Where there was one, there could easily be hundreds. (It’s a big planet, you know.)
It is tempting to keep things safe and play a small and familiar arena. It’s tempting to avoid the risk and vulnerability of putting ourselves and our work out for the world to see. It is so much easier. We need not take the time nor make the effort.
But how do you know that someone wouldn’t be inspired by, love, or really want to see your blog? How do you really know this?
Aren’t there plenty of other artists who have inspired you? Are you glad for their online presence? Isn’t it wonderful to live in an age where we can access inspiration from other artists’ work past or present with the click of a mouse?
Who are your favorite artists of all time? How would your life be different if your favorite artists had never pursued their work and committed to getting it out to the public?
What it takes is commitment. I think the key word in this artist’s question was “half-hearted”. I know the asker of this question to be a truly dedicated and committed artist with wonderful gifts to share.
However, if we go about creating a blog only half-heartedly, then most likely neither we nor our potential viewers will gain satisfaction from it. Beyond the content, the energy behind the content will be lackluster.
However, if we commit ourselves to it, even if we can only post once a month and we do our best to get the word out and share it with the world, I am convinced that we can touch others in a meaningful way. People will be drawn to our enthusiasm and what we have to offer.
When we do things without true commitment they lack that power of our own intention. If things don’t work out how we expected, we have no reason to continue or follow-through.
The ego likes this because we stay in our safe zone. We don’t expose ourselves to criticism or perhaps worse for the ego, neglect.
When we are committed, we will do whatever it takes.
 Veiled Face Michele Théberge, ink on paper ©1998 |
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