One of the main struggles I have faced as a creative is the constant feeling of “I have to do more“. Sometimes, I just want to create. Create like an artist. I don’t want to worry about how my work is perceived by others online, about promoting it to the world, about making a profit about everything. All the time.
I honestly, would love to just be. I just want to be, and let my work flow.
But nowadays, it seems that being is just not enough. And when the obligation of sharing pops-up something dies inside of me. My inner child doesn’t want to share all the time. Even my adult side doesn’t want to do it either. Because when sharing has the hidden purpose of getting something out of it, it seems to me that the concept of sharing dies.
So don’t get me wrong, sharing is good and positive. Exchanging ideas, work and insights makes the world a better place. I just don’t like the feeling of “having to” do it.
What if…
What if I could just go back to the real world, and have real conversations with people? Or what if I could just share ideas, influences, and the things I love with the people near me? What if I actually love sitting side by side with people, connecting with them in person, instead of spending my free time again in front of a screen, doing something that for me feels more natural to do in my daily life with the people I encounter?
Well, this is just a reflection of one of the new authors that is crossing my path: Austin Kleon, and his book “Show your work!“, 2014, where he encourages us to share like an artist. You can find his work in his website: https://austinkleon.com/ I’m half way through his book, but if there is one thing I want to thank you for, is to give me the permission I needed to start blogging again. Even if it is for the hidden purpose of starting promoting myself -or more accurately- my work, again!
Updated one day later:
After finishing reading the book, I must say I really liked it. I loved the fact that the author understands the value of real time connections and provides very simple but yet straight forward advice.
Finally, I would love to share some of the highlights I have found useful:
- “Think about something you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others”.
- “Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you”.
- “Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow”.
- “Write your thoughts down in a notebook, or speak then into an audio recorder”.
- “Focus on days”.
- “If you are in the very early stages, share your influences and what is inspiring you”.
- “When you find things you genuinely enjoy, don’t let anyone else make you feel bad about it”.
And finally, the quote: “whatever excites you,go do it. Whatever drains you,stop doing it”, Derek Sivers.
So let´s all start and/or keep sharing like artists, for the shake of our own work, and for the shake of contributing to this world, even if it is just one piece at a time.
