A few years ago I read three books back to back that had a big impact on me, my career and how I think about creativity. Actually, I listened to each of these books — I love a good audiobook (btw - you don't have to give your money to Amazon/Audible - you can fund an independent bookstore through Libro.fm) and it’s especially nice to be read to by these authors sharing their experiences. The three books were:
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear - Elizabeth Gilbert
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person - Shonda Rhimes
Yes Please - Amy Poehler
If you haven’t read them - I highly recommend. I learned so much from each of these women and their experiences. I would even say that their philosophies changed my life.
After reading them I started writing for myself for the first time. I finally wrote my own songs. Some were silly little ditties that I had hummed for years; three in particular were really stupid - but that was their whole point - they were meant to be “stupoopid!” I took this work and I put on the variety show I had wanted to do for years but never had the courage to go through with.
In saying “Yes” to me and to my soul - I started to feel differently about creativity and fear, failure and success. I used to not share my art because I cared too much about it. I was too precious with it and couldn’t release it; I didn’t want to let my babies out in the world… I didn’t want to share me with the world because I was afraid of not being loved or accepted, I was afraid of judgement. I was afraid of failing. I was afraid of my own inner critic destroying me and telling me that she was right, that I’m not good enough to share my art, my heart, my self.
What ended up happening was that I felt alive - truly alive and like I was living my purpose. I was proud of myself and my work and I wanted more. I wanted to make more, share more, do more. I found that focusing on my show and material made me happier, lighter and I actually ended up booking more work during that time because I wasn’t concentrating on my career. I was focused on what I wanted to share with the world, how I wanted to connect to my audiences and creating for the purpose of creation, joy, light, happiness.
I’ve attached two of my favorite quotes here for you. I even turned them into cute wallpaper you can download and put on your phone for a reminder.
The first one is from Amy Poehler's Book - Yes Please. She has a chapter titled "Treat Your Career Like a Bad Boyfriend" and this quote is edited down from a couple different spots in that chapter. The distinction she makes between career and creativity was profound to me. I think I had understood that on some level, but never heard it articulated in this way! As an artist/performer the lines can be very blurry between the two... but they are very very different things. Career is a fickle beast - sometimes wrapping it's arms around me and making me feel on top of the world, but then noticing a cuter, prettier, younger li'l thing across the room and dropping me like an old show. Creativity however loves me back, and the more time I spend with creativity the more it fills me with joy and warmth and makes my life happier and more beautiful. Creativity is my friend who really sees me and loves me deeply.
The second is Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. I kid you not, when I heard her say these words I rewound several times to hear it again and again, I remember when I heard it. I was standing on the street with my dogs after going for a walk, halting all of us to a stand-still frantically texting the words out to myself so that I could see it in print. I kept this quote in my notes app for years so I could pull it up and copy/paste it into a text when someone might need it. Countless times I have sent this quote to friends and colleagues as a little boost. It's my favorite reminder to create for creations sake, not for the outcome, but for the joy of it, for the way it fills our time and makes our lives happier.
I have turned to these quotes over and over in my career. May they bring you the same spark and comfort they’ve brought me.
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