Oh the war of art… It’s a constant a interior battle. How can something so wonderful and magical like art and creativity also be a struggle? It all depends on your intentions and expectations. I had been reflecting on my blog this week, on how it has been evolving (i.e. obsessing about analytics and audience growth) when I had a major Aha! moment as I was reading Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art (a must for all you creatives!). On the very last page he ends with this:
“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it.” He adds to this “We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune of attention or applause”.
This made me reflect on the work I have been doing on my blog. I hadn’t been receiving many comments or “likes” on my posts and although I do see from the stats that people are reading them, I sometimes wondered if they were really enjoying what I was writing.
When I finished Steven’s book, I realized that I shouldn’t be focusing on the feedback (or lack thereof) and should just keep on doing what I have been doing: creating content that I am passionate about. I strongly believe that we each have a gift to share with the world and it’s not our job to question whether it’s good or how valuable it is. We just have to trust what is coming from your heart and keep putting it out there.
And then there is this amazing video featuring Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love and more recently Big Magic) interviewed by Marie Forleo (entrepreneur, life coach and a women I ADORE) that explains how to view the creative process in a way that we can stay sane and be at peace with whatever we create, be it a raving success or a total flop:
I’ll sign off by inviting you to read a powerful quote from Martha Graham that I shared in my very first blog post for the Red Fairy Project. It truly illustrates the meaning of creating our art unselfishly and why that is our main purpose during our fabulous time here on earth.
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open…”
For a daily dose of inspiration to live healthy, happy and tap into that beautiful creativity (without the harsh self judgement), hop on over to my Instagram. Namaste, Geneviève
