Keep your spirits up!
Like many artists, I’m very sensitive to my environment. Who I interact with, how the weather is, what’s playing on the radio and so on, are things that affect many of us creatives and non. To recognize these influences and make a mental choice about how to deal with them helps keep focus, channel inspiration, and even turn a frown upside down.
But then there are rainy days, maybe even flooding your basement, compiled with a car overheating, coupled with a fight with the Mrs., exacerbated by the devaluing of society, adding insult to injury by the dismissive nature of non-creatives (or whatever combination piles up on you sometimes) and you’ll think “THAT’S IT!”
“What’s the point? I’m taking my ball and bat and going home! I give up, I’m going to find a mindless job, and work until I die!”
It’s easy to lose perspective. It’s important to stop and count your blessings. For example, the poorest person in America is still richer than most of the rest of the world.
But success is a relative concept, isn’t it? With a progressive society, comes progressively “raising the bar” - whether it’s done for us or we even do it for ourselves.
So what to do when you’re “full?” You “don’t want to play anymore?”
Hope and faith are a big key to overcoming adversity. Our character is shown by how we handle pressure. Leaders panic, but don’t necessarily show it. Victors still fear, but know that success is worth the struggle.
And it’s important to have a good support network around you - Mom, friends, spouse, kids, whomever you can rely on to say “everything’s going to be all right. Here, have some chocolate!”
But is that enough? How do you truly overcome - spirit, mind, body, all of it?
Like our adversities which seem to pile up when we’re at our weakest, so too must our fight encompass all the areas under attack.
So, develop an “adversity emergency” kit and keep it handy. Here’s one formula:
A c.d. with your favorite song to play on repeat
A big bar of chocolate
Your favorite scene from your favorite comedy movie on a DVD for instant playability
All the lights are on in the room you’re in
You have your best friend/mom/grandpa/etc. on speed dial
A bubble blowing kit
A collection of those squishy stress ball things.
Make sure you’re wearing comfortable clothes
Ignore or shut off e-mail/business phone/anything distracting
And do the above in any order OR all at once! Granted, it may confuse the heck out of whomever is on the other line of your cell phone, but DO IT.
When depression attacks, fight back. Recognize your limitations and “break the glass”
And your formula may be entirely different from above, but always have a good one - not one you’ve tired of. Keep it original because your challenges are going to be coming from all forms and areas, I guarantee it!
GO ROCKY!!
Tags: advice, Art, creative, encouragement, help, imagination, support