It's Not Your Problem

The world of an artist has long been associated with adversity. Ask any actor, writer, singer, painter, or dancer how they embellish their latest artistic endeavors to keep the patience of their parents at bay, and you are certain to get some creative stories. Let's face it, being an actor is hard. In addition to the struggles around finding work there is often the need to fend off not only your own doubts but the ones from friends and family who question the validity of your dreams. 

I recognize how fortunate I've been in cultivating a circle of friends who are wildly supportive. They recognize my victories and on occasion voice their admiration. It's not necessary but it' sure is nice to hear from time to time. 

Still, there is a small percentage of people in my life who simply don't get what I'm trying to do. Never have. Never will. Sitting in a cafe for an hour and half to work on a screenplay, or spending a few hours polishing a monologue in a drab black box theater doesn't make much sense to them. It can be hurtful because we naturally want the people closest to us to appreciate our passion - our calling.

But the older I get the more I've learned to lean on those who support and not share my dreams with those who don't. Admittedly, this can be a tricky balance since the latter can come in the form of dear friends, or even family. What I've learned is this:

-- No matter what you do with your life there will never be a consensus that it's time well spent. Even the most conventional paths have doubters as do the folks we associate most with fame, money, and success. We shouldn't judge what we don't understand, but we do. As a result, if you're around a community of people who critique for that reason it's time to find a new one.

-- Second, and most importantly, if someone doesn't appreciate or understand your need to write, paint, dance, act, sing, sculpt, or create IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM. It's not your job to be a molder of consensus but to be a master craftsman and share your gifts with those who appreciate them. Doing anything for validation is a no-win game. It's never-ending, unfulfilling, and impossible to sustain. 

Own YOUR path. 

Be selective with those you share your aspirations with. 

And remember, it's not you that's got the problem. 

You Gotta Start Somewhere

One of the reasons people never begin a creative endeavor is because the distance between where they are and where they hope to be feels so daunting. What's helped me over the years see a project through from beginning to end is breaking it up into small stages, while trying to infuse a little bit of perspective into the overall goal.

Start small. Whether you're an actor, writer, singer, or visual artist begin by beginning. Set aside a specific time each day where you'll work on your craft, or build your project. It can even be 10 minutes a day until it becomes a discipline. From there you can slowly increase the amount of time you work until it accommodates your schedule and gradually moves the needle forward. Just make it a priority.

And that part about perspective? What's helped me is the realization that every project, whether the screenplay for a critically acclaimed film, or a best-selling novel began at a dimly lit kitchen table, or a noisy coffee shop, with a first word, a stroke of the brush - an idea.