Living Your Best Life as Creative Artist
Happy New Year!
If I could wave my magic wand and change one thing for all of my fellow creatives out there, it would be this:
Or, more importantly, to convince you to ignore that fear. Because let’s face it, it’s holding you back. We’re human, and humans are, by nature, pretty self-absorbed. We constantly wonder what others are thinking about us and saying about us behind our backs, and while that’s a perfectly normal thing, it, unfortunately, keeps a lot of people from living their lives and working towards their dreams.
Sound familiar?
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t because you’re afraid of what others will think?
Yeah, I thought so.
Here’s a blurb from the last newsletter I sent out to my list before the holidays:
“We’re heading into the last of the festive holiday shopping/party/gigging weekends of the year, and it’s a jam-packed weekend of fun. Coffee meet-ups with friends, a boat parade, an ugly sweater party, a chili and cocktails party (best combo ever), and that Christmas Tea I put on my Thrive Fest: Holiday Edition wish list? That’s happening on Sunday, and I can’t wait! We’ll end the weekend with our usual pup quiz (brushing up on Holiday Movie trivia NOW) and then it’s a matter of PCR tests, packing, and flying to the UK for a week with family (fingers crossed!!)”
So, that list above? I was so excited about all of it and yet, writing it made me want to throw up. Why? Fear of judgment from my colleagues in the music industry.
But this fear of judgment is something that we ALL feel, and we feel it often. In fact, it’s the #1 issue that my clients bring up when they are (otherwise) excitedly telling me about an amazing project they’d like to take on.
“What will THEY think?”
And the underlying thought behind all of these? Is the idea that our colleagues want us to just stay in our lane and do what “we’ve” all been doing all these years.
– Like the drinking buddies who get annoyed when you order a non-alcoholic drink.
– Like the friends who get mad that you don’t want dessert when you’re trying to lose a few lbs.
And when it comes to our friends and family (those people who are supposed to love, care, and support us?) When they express concern for our new adventures, it’s (almost) always their way of protecting us from potential failure or heartache.
That’s nice of them.
The trick, I’ve decided, isn’t to stop wondering what those voices are saying (because as humans, we’ll never stop wondering.) and it’s not even to stop fearing it (because again…that’s only human.) But rather, it’s to keep moving forward ANYWAY. To basically say “So what?” to each of those imagined comments.
“She’s going to fall on her face!”
So what?
Trust me, I have felt this fear and heard those imaginary (and some not-so-imaginary) comments so loudly at times that I was literally shaking as I hit “GO” on a post, a project, an announcement, etc.
But every time, I somehow managed to say “So what?” and do it anyway.
At the end of the day, it’s YOUR life, not theirs. And you’ll be the one with the regrets of unrealized dreams and ideas, not them– ”they” will have forgotten all about it in a week anyway.
So, in case you feel like you need permission (you don’t!) I’m here to unnecessarily grant it to you.
Whatever it is.
Maybe you’ll fail.
Maybe it’ll break your heart.
Maybe you’ll take a financial hit.
Maybe it’ll be a huge, life-changing success.
Maybe it’ll teach you important things about yourself and the world.
Maybe it’s what you were always meant to do.
And they just didn’t know it yet.
P.S. Want to get my weekly Newsletter? It’s called The Weekend List, and it comes straight to your inbox every Friday, loaded up with things for you to read, watch, ponder, or try over the weekend. You’ll also be the first to know about new courses, programs, and free workshops that I have planned throughout the year, and get access to early-bird discounts and special “inner-circle only” events. CLICK HERE to sign up.
P.P.S. Looking for a bit of New Year Motivation? Grab my free resource on 5 Ways to Boost Motivation.
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