Somehow, somewhere, at some point we are apt to find ourselves believing that in order to do what we feel intrinsically called to do (especially those called into creative industries) we must sell our whole selves to an industry in order to be taken seriously.
To be a writer, one must be churning out manuscripts, scripts, poems and plays like machines.
To be an actor one must be in every topical show, series, performance that the current society is raving about on twitter.
To be a visual artist, one must have a booming social media account full of Lucious images that gain a million likes within seconds of posting.
Somehow we have found that this means ‘success’ and that this is what we need to do in order to be validated in our work, our life and our ultimate existence on this earth.
It’s all a lie.
All of it.
If you write, you are a writer.
If you act, you are an actor.
If you make visual art, you are a visual artist.
How much or how little is irrelevant.
How many people know your name is a selfish and silly game the creative industries and society have taught us to believe equals our self worth.
What matters?
How much of yourself is in the work you do?
How are you showing up for your work, not just in the moments you do it, but also the moments you don’t?
How do you cultivate and create space for those that consume, collaborate and support the work?
How do you honour your own rhythm and pacing?
How are you living not just within the work, but outside the work?
Everything informs everything.
Martin Short is known to have this idea that he is only the sum of his total whole self. If he has nine sections of his life, and one aspect of his life isn’t doing the hottest at any given moment then the rest of those parts, no matter how seemingly important or unimportant are all part of the balance to remind oneself, being successful at one part of life, but terrible at the other parts does not mean success. But to find ways to honour varying aspects of oneself, is to approach life and work as a whole person.
Creatives like to think they are the best or the worst depending on the day.
I’d like to see more of us believe that we are just like each other.
Human beings answering a calling as best they can while working to be there for their friends, family, side projects, personal growth and everything inbetween.
We are more than our awards, subscribers, honourable mentions, our nominations and our successes, or lack thereof.
We are people.
Living.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Reflecting.
Working.
people.
