Following the magic

The Artist's Default

I’ve got a million things that must be done, but in the midst of my productive morning, something struck me. I’ve promised myself when something creative floats into my universe, I’ll give it space to come forth and follow it wherever it leads without hesitation.

I just needed to say exactly that:

When you feel the creative rise to do or say something - please do.

As humans, we can’t deny the visceral, emotional state of our existence. Feelings permeate everything and often precede coherent thought. We may try to deny the state, but only when we cognitively accept what strikes us can we move forward.

Not the vibe

I’ve spent a good amount of time in emotional denial, telling myself things like

• No, you shouldn’t feel this way.

• You don’t feel this.

• You can’t.

• It doesn’t make sense.

• You know how you should feel.

But as I’ve gotten older, and arguably, wiser, I’ve realized how important it is to meet ourselves halfway. We may not want to feel a certain way, but denying it only prevents us from dealing with our feelings accordingly.

This was sparked, in all honesty, and with zero shame, by watching Kanye’s documented journey over the last 20 years. Jeen-Yuhs ignited all the good feelings in me from the moment I turned it on. Say what you want about Ye, but his story is quite remarkable.

Correct.

When Kanye played Through the Wire for Pharrell Williams (my first and favorite Kanye track), Pharrell told him to keep the same perspective when he blew up.

Meaning: keep letting your emotion flow into your art.

I NEVER considered myself an artist, but there goes that denial again. An artist is simply one who creates from their perspective. They attempt to reveal what is within them through their specific medium and point of view. People love artists because they relate. They want to be seen and heard in all the ways that artists are, but some people lack the courage, or confidence, or creativity… there’s a disconnect for a lot of people around self-expression. I’ve never had that problem. And therefore, I’m an artist by default.

But I only realized I was an artist when someone told me I was, and so I’m telling you if this sounds like you: you probably are, too.

If you need help figuring out if you are (you are) read this:

When I see this book on my shelf, I remember when I saw it on the shelf at the airport bookstore. It reminds me to follow the magical wisps of creativity when they enter my awareness. When I first read it, my daughter was very into the movie Brave. In the movie, the main character, Merida, is confronted by these ‘wisps’ of magical air that dangle in front of her and rush off as quickly as they came. I won’t tell you what they brought her, but I will tell you it was well worth the adventure.

So go on artist, follow the wisps through the wire or the airport or wherever. If you feel it, you must create it.

*EDIT: Remember, good is better than perfect. Push it out there.

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“Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”

-Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic