Finding your center again as a Creative or Artist

This is a scene from one of my favorite movies, Center Stage. Although the instructor in the scene is talking about ballet, what she says about coming back to the love of your art is profound advice for any art form or creative endeavor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnApvAf1A8s

Your Assignment is Bigger Than Your Insecurity

Your calling 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c993T77vjdU

Dolly Parton had wisdom to share

and this legendary artist had a lot of it!

https://youtube.com/shorts/aFX3gJb5HiU?si=f4MjYaORdkYrlRRU

Granville T. Woods — The Black Inventor Who Held Over 50 patents

Granville T. Woods — The Black Inventor Who held over 50 patents and Powered the Railway

"Granville T. Woods held over 50 patents and did far more than revolutionize railway safety communication — he invented the device that gave streetcars the name "trolley," patented the power pickup system that became the basis of the third rail still used in subways today, and beat Thomas Edison in court twice. Yet most people have never heard his name." (from the YouTube video description)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Yw5PBHQ-NPk

Have multiple streams of income so you can focus more on your art or other creative work.

Remember, you have your creativity to share with the world, to make it a better place, and no one will do that in the exact same way that you will. You are valuable!

And there are more ways to make money than you may know. Check out the resources and my commentary below.

Fear will keep you broke! by Lynn Richardson 

https://youtu.be/DtJ2jIFvJwg?si=C-QfX2qoM2ARj1vD

                                                              

Skip the Struggle: How to Make Money Before Your First Fan
by Music Money Makeover Show

How to Make Money From Music Even If No One Knows You Yet 

by Music Money Makeover Show 

How to Make Money From Music Even If No One Knows You Yet

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! 

by Robert T. Kiyosaki 

Read the bestselling book, or listen to the audiobook (your local free library may have it), and/or play the Cashflow board game based on the book, or play the game online.
Increase your financial literacy while having fun.
https://www.richdad.com/

Rat Race Escape Plan by Andy Tanner 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/rd-downloads-01/Rat-Race-Escape-Plan-2nd-Edition.pdf 

Creating a Life Worth Living: A Practical Course in Career Design for Artists, Innovators, and Others Aspiring to a Creative Life

a book by Carol Lloyd available on amazon as an e-book and a paperback. 

The Top 6 Blocks That Keep Artists From Making Money by Josie Lewis         

https://www.josielewis.com/the-blog/the-top-6-blocks-that-keep-artists-from-making-money

13 Places to Show and Sell Your Art IRL (That Aren’t Galleries) by Josie Lewis

https://www.josielewis.com/the-blog/sell-your-work-irl

Every Screenwriter Should Think About Two Careers by Eric Edson

https://youtu.be/WMYMUoGj4Ws?si=dVpxLEPnJuQKQB5M

From Paycheck to Purpose: the Clear Path to Doing Work You Love by Ken Coleman (your free library may have it)

https://shorturl.at/8WooK

The Job Market Just Changed. Here's What To Do About It by ALifeAfterLayoff.

https://youtu.be/1BOKDGDBJrE?si=1KGDaVQU52UxYVy6

Spiritual Hygiene Moment for Money and Finances by Iyanla Vanzant 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhy2DRzVtIA

My commentary, what I've learned to do regarding day jobs:

Get a job that you at least like, even if you don't love it. Don't settle for a job that you dislike or hate and then stay there suffering indefinitely. That would not be good for your mental health or your physical health in the long run. If you can't get a job that you like right this second, then find that kind of job as soon as possible, a job in which you can play to your natural strengths most of the time. Yes, you do have natural strengths!  See one of Marcus Buckingham's YouTube videos on doing work that plays to your natural strengths, such as these, Defining Strengths and Invest in Your Strengths. 

And choose a job that you can also turn into a career which you can grow while you are creating your art. 

You're working at that those jobs not from the viewpoint of "it's work I do to fall back on in case I don't make it as a creative," but because of your decision to make money to help you live well WHILE you're also creating your artistic career. See the difference in viewpoint? One perspective is pessimistic and the other perspective is optimistic.

The latter feels better to me. It's my choice. A full-time writing goal, for example, will likely take more time than you thought it would, but in the meantime, don't postpone your joy and don't make yourself miserable in life. There will be challenges in life but be good to yourself, "keep yourself whole and healthy," as Iyanla Vanzant says in her short YouTube video in the above link, and with healthy relationships, too.

If you think you have too many Interests, don't be down on yourself. You have an advantage!

 If You Have Too Many Interests, You Are Probably Built For The 'M-Shaped' Future

See this video.

https://youtu.be/LACxHY9rFZ8?si=OClcrpUELMmeDeEA

Whitney Houston stands up for another artist

We know the phenomenal talents that icon Whitney Houston had, but did you know about a time when she insisted that another musician receive her due respect? This is a beautiful story to hear!

https://youtube.com/shorts/POeVZYFlXIs?si=T17Gl31Sx3-BsXsW

Your Past Doesn't Belong in Your Future

Just because your didn't reach a certain goal before, does not necessarily mean that you can't reach that goal now. Maybe there was a lesson you needed to learn to better prepare you for the next try, or maybe you needed to discover a strength in yourself that you didn't know you had!

Transformational Coach Lisa Nichols also has poignant things to say about why Your Past Doesn't Belong in Your Future. 

https://youtu.be/JuKB67Pt13s?si=7vIO0v5xgIVvjdFI

Wise insight from the Oracle

This insight may help you on your creative journey. In the second Matrix movie, the Oracle says, "you didn't come here to make the choice. You've already made it. You're here to try to understand WHY you made it." That sums up in a nutshell a very important part of this journey I'm on.

Creativity and Courage

To be a creative takes courage, whether you are using your creativity to enhance a family, a business, or a country.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday - Trailer (Official) | Hulu

https://youtu.be/USi-ppCfxEA?si=HzhUJZy-SGnhS9Qq

Time magazine voted jazz legend Billie Holiday's song, Strange Fruit, The Best Song of the 20th Century.

The Best Of The Century | TIME  https://time.com/archive/6737430/the-best-of-the-century/

You are needed more than you know.

"I see myself suddenly

on the piano

as a melody.

A terrible fear of dying

no longer plays with me,

for now I know

that I'm needed

for the symphony."

Symphony in Blue

written and sung by Kate Bush

from her album, Lionheart.

Your personal power

Don't forget about your personal power. You do still have it. Keep feeding it.

https://lnkd.in/eNMD9C8z

Women Who Fly

Nona Hendryx, singer-songwriter formerly of the group LaBelle, performs in this video a song she wrote, Women Who Fly, from one of her solo CDs, Skindiver.

https://youtu.be/oKNLV8o76k0?si=SUhbwkaQy2f5UTPY

"Women who fly have wings of their own."

 

Business is not a dirty word for artists and creatives

You have so much to offer. Do you really want to keep it to yourself? There are people in the world whose lives can be enhanced by what you create. 

https://youtu.be/_B5PuAdqKes?si=fs5NfjWksWqHNkwl

Don't forget to create self-love, too!

The legendary poetess, Nikki Giovanni, on the importance of self-love.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZStotsgCr9Y?si=H5H61NhJe6QXsk8B

Creating sounds that heal

Yoko Sen uses her talents as an Ambient Electronic Musician, and her skills as a businesswoman, to liaise with companies to transform hospital sounds into soothing, healing sounds! She has YouTube videos such as this one. This is artistry for enhancing life!

https://youtu.be/t70xxZ4D0kU?si=YeYJ4MdY-l0TP9tX

Angelic

 That's only one word to describe harpist Madison Calley as a musician.

https://youtu.be/u_uxypotVhw?si=D-kUBJ76fshzBInw

Advice from the Queen of Rock 'n Roll

Tina Turner lived a life of phenomenal artistry, and integrity, but anyone who knows her story knows that she did not arrive at that level of living instantaneously. Listen to the Legend tell you about it.

Also, I had to add my favorite song from her Private Dancer album, I Might Have Been Queen, about reincarnations.

How Music Icon Tina Turner Found her Nirvana

https://youtu.be/2FAG4Xy814U?si=BmizDAMbaCWo6uh7

There is more magic, musical and otherwise!

I'm so moved by these two musical geniuses that I could not decide which video to post - so I posted two videos!

Magic

Stunning shoppers with ORIGINAL classical music | U.T.C.T - Karim Kamar

And more Magic

The most EPIC Interstellar Piano Duet in Public! Camden Stewart and Karim Kamar

It's never too late to evoke the magic.

Contemporary soul violinist Damien Escobar thought his career was over, but his story didn't end there. He discovered his purpose again and realized that it's never too late to evoke the magic with music.