So you want to be authentic. You’re tired of playing it safe and keeping secrets, and you’re ready to be yourself, your whole self, and nothing but yourself. Terrific! I salute you, but there’s something I need to warn you about.
If you’ve never permitted yourself to be yourself, you may have a distorted view of what that entails.
The One Track Artist
For example, let’s say you’ve always seen yourself as a writer but never allowed yourself to be one. You might think becoming one means kissing your friends and family goodbye, holing up in a cave, living on bread and water, and spending every waking minute putting words on a page.
I’ve read about creatives who lived this way, but their stories seldom end well. Being a total hermit seldom provides happiness. Even Thoreau eventually left Walden Pond and moved into town.
I’m assuming that being creative isn’t your only desire. I’m guessing you might be interested in being happy, healthy, and whole as well.
Thriving for Balance
To live your life, you’ll need to strike a balance and live your whole life, not just your artistic one.
Some things are obvious. You have to eat, drink, and sleep or your artistic life will be a short one, no matter how brilliant.
But beyond surviving, there’s thriving, and that’s what I hope you’re aiming for.
A life of quiet inspiration isn’t just about the art or music or business you create; it’s about everything you create: the habits you develop, the relationships you form, the connections you make with yourself and the world you live in.
Don’t let your children become strangers while you write the great American novel. Don’t let your body become frail and weak because you’re too busy painting a masterpiece to bother with eating a healthy diet and exercising. Don’t let others suffer needlessly because you’re too wrapped up in creating an empire to take notice and help.
There’s More than One Way to Make Meaning
The creative life is all about making meaning. Art is one way to do this, but there are other ways as well. Incorporate as many as you can.
It’s a matter of time. Take some to do something daily, develop your craft, and make things. Spend some with friends and family. Give some to a cause you really care about. Invest some in tending to your body, mind, and spirit.
In the end, your art won’t suffer. Instead, it will be infused with the energy and inspiration you gain by being your entire self and living a full and balanced life.
In other words, it will be authentic and so will you.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I suppose art can seem like a harmless endeavor to most, but just like anything else we can get carried away with it, and thus identify with it TOO much.
Great advice. I’m sharing it with my Twitter followers.
.-= Steven Handel´s last blog ..Six Aspects Of A Well-Balanced Person (Part 2) =-.
Agreed, Steve. People who define themselves completely by their art or any one thing can be unbearable.
You really are balanced! Nice post Ken; very gentle and insightful advice.
Oh, I’m balanced on paper, but I struggle as much as anyone with these things. But awareness is half the battle.
Great post, Ken….I strive for balance but life keeps getting in my way so I’m doing a terrible job of achieving that goal! I keep hoping and dreaming though. You’ve given me some food for thought! Thanks!
“Don’t let your children become strangers while you write the great American novel.”
I think its so important to keep in touch with your family in order to inspire really good art. It just makes for wholesome and stable energy.
I’ve been really trying to hangout with my little brother a lot more lately and I find it to be an enjoyable and inspiring time.
.-= Rocky | R O C K O N O V A . C O M´s last blog ..why concerts are so cool =-.