Scott Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "stoicism-creativity"
A Quick Look at Stoicism
A Note from the Author
This is the opening chapter of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Want more free chapters? Visit http://www.TheStoicCreative.com.
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your ExcellenceThe Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Struggling Creatives Are Driven by Passion. Thriving Creatives Are Driven by Purpose.
Isn’t a "stoic" someone who is passionless and a "creative" someone fueled by passion?
The meaning of the word stoic depends on whether it begins with a small s or a capital S! In common usage “stoic” describes a person who grimly endures life’s challenges. A “Stoic” is a student of an ancient philosophy that cultivates a sense of well being by developing your potential.
In other words, the common use of stoic means the opposite of what Stoic philosophy teaches!
And Stoic philosophy can teach Creatives plenty!
Let’s take a quick look at the philosophical tradition and teachings of Stoicism that will inform many of the exercises in this handbook. This chapter is an intentionally quick introduction. If you’d like to investigate this beautiful philosophical tradition more deeply, I’ve included several references in Chapter 9.
For the ancients, philosophy was not a navel gazing activity reserved for academics, but a daily practice for everyone. Every ancient philosophy tried to determine what it meant to be truly human and happy and develop systems for becoming more of both. Among the competing philosophies, Stoicism endures. Why?
Stoicism was founded in 300 B.C. by Zeno of Citium, a shipwrecked merchant who lost everything and landed in Athens, Greece. Making the best of his situation, he took up philosophy by reading about Socrates and studying with a teacher. Over the years he began to develop his own philosophy based on what he had learned. He taught and discussed it with his students in a covered portico in the Athens market, the stoa poikile (the painted porch), from which Stoicism gets its name.
Stoicism enjoyed great popularity in ancient Greece and thrived for years thanks to subsequent leaders of the stoa, Cleanthes and Chrysippus in particular. As the power of Athens and Greece faded and that of Rome rose, Stoicism continued to develop and remain popular. The primary Roman Stoic writers were a freed slave turned teacher; Epictetus, a playwright and political advisor; Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, the last of the “good emperors” of the Roman Empire.
With the rise of Christianity, secular philosophy fell out of favor, but what little literature from the Stoics remained continued to find an audience throughout history. Stoicism is undergoing a resurgence now thanks to the many books, blogs, sites, and events that advocate Stoicism’s virtues, values, and relevance.
So, what is Stoicism and what are its basic principles and practices?
Like most ancient philosophies, Stoicism addresses “What is the good life?” In other words, what does it mean to be human and truly happy, and how do we become more of both?
The Stoics believed that “the good life” was one of “human flourishing.” The ancient Greeks had a word for it:εὐδαιμονία or eudaimonia.
All that was required for such a life was virtue. For the Stoics, virtue is the only true good and virtue is its own reward. The ancient Greek word for virtue was arete, which is translated as “excellence of character.”
Striving to achieve our potential as happy and healthy humans requires us to “live in agreement with nature.” This means not only living in agreement with our human nature as social creatures born with the capacity for reason but also with the entirety of the natural world which includes the cosmos.
Applying reason to social living for greater tranquility and thriving is central to the teaching of Epictetus who began The Handbook (based on notes taken by his student), with the following statement, “Some things are up to us and other things are not.”
Staying in the “here and now” (hic et nunc, the Romans would say), and mindfully addressing what is within and what is outside our control is at the heart of Stoic practice, as is what is within our influence.
The words of Epictetus often remind people of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.”
Developing Stoic mindfulness to life’s celebrations and Stoic resilience to life’s challenges are achieved through exercises that apply our reason to what we experience in the here and now, and to do what is best for ourselves and others, in alignment with our virtue. Here are a few.
The View From Above – Imagining a bird’s eye view looking down at ourselves from above and beginning to zoom further and further out. This exercise helps contextualize our place in the planetary community and beyond.
Hierocles’ Circle – This is similar to the exercise above, but reminds us of our place as social creatures in service to each other. Again, starting with ourselves, we reach out to ever-widening circles of contact. Our family, our friends, our neighbors, people living in the same city or town, and so on, to the planet and beyond. As we reach each new circle, we imagine pulling those people closer to us and into the previous circle.
Negative Visualization – Beginning the day by imagining what obstacles or misfortunes we may meet and planning how we might face or handle them in alignment with our virtue. This exercise helps us de-catastrophize minor issues and perhaps see impediments as opportunities.
Gratitude for What You Already Have – Contemplating the simple gifts and benefits already within our possession. Not material objects necessarily, but basic human needs, connections, the beauty of the natural world, and another day of life to live.
This overview of Stoic philosophy is a very brief introduction to the basic tenets of Stoic philosophy and practice. There are many resources for further investigation into this beautiful and powerful philosophy of life at the end of this handbook. However, with this brief overview complete, let’s continue our journey and apply some of these ideas and exercises to developing a courageous creative posture and a thriving artist’s mindset.
Key Takeaway from Chapter 1 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
Achieving your potential as happy and healthy human beings is difficult without a blueprint and an operating system. The time-tested approach of Stoicism has been successfully applied by slaves and prisoners, artists and entrepreneurs, and employees and emperors.
To realize our potential, we must identify, understand, and work with our strengths and weaknesses. Developing ourselves and delivering the goods will require us to handle internal doubts and fears as well as external obstacles and misfortunes.
To do this, we need to draw on our creative nature, apply our capacity for reason, and develop our social instincts. Whether or not you become a declared Stoic, you can draw upon the philosophy’s lessons and exercises to undertake this journey with a greater sense of thriving.
An Exercise
The Stoics aspired to be an ideal human being called the Stoic Sage, one who was wise and a citizen of the world. The Sage experiences natural emotions and desires but is not enslaved by them. The Sage loves others and loves fate, even when doing so subjects him or her to misfortune and poor treatment. Through all life’s vicissitudes, the Sage remains unperturbed, tranquil, and joyful.
Is becoming the Stoic Sage likely? No. Many Stoics believed no such person has yet walked the earth, but they did see glimpses of the Sage in men like Socrates and other great teachers.
Sit and contemplate for a minute how the ideal human being thinks and acts. Make a list of people who exhibit those qualities. They can be people you know, people from ancient or recent history, or characters from books or movies. Write them down and list the virtues or acts that you associate with each one. Identify your heroes, and it’s more likely you’ll become one.
Onward!
This is the opening chapter of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Want more free chapters? Visit http://www.TheStoicCreative.com.
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your ExcellenceThe Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Struggling Creatives Are Driven by Passion. Thriving Creatives Are Driven by Purpose.
Isn’t a "stoic" someone who is passionless and a "creative" someone fueled by passion?
The meaning of the word stoic depends on whether it begins with a small s or a capital S! In common usage “stoic” describes a person who grimly endures life’s challenges. A “Stoic” is a student of an ancient philosophy that cultivates a sense of well being by developing your potential.
In other words, the common use of stoic means the opposite of what Stoic philosophy teaches!
And Stoic philosophy can teach Creatives plenty!
Let’s take a quick look at the philosophical tradition and teachings of Stoicism that will inform many of the exercises in this handbook. This chapter is an intentionally quick introduction. If you’d like to investigate this beautiful philosophical tradition more deeply, I’ve included several references in Chapter 9.
For the ancients, philosophy was not a navel gazing activity reserved for academics, but a daily practice for everyone. Every ancient philosophy tried to determine what it meant to be truly human and happy and develop systems for becoming more of both. Among the competing philosophies, Stoicism endures. Why?
Stoicism was founded in 300 B.C. by Zeno of Citium, a shipwrecked merchant who lost everything and landed in Athens, Greece. Making the best of his situation, he took up philosophy by reading about Socrates and studying with a teacher. Over the years he began to develop his own philosophy based on what he had learned. He taught and discussed it with his students in a covered portico in the Athens market, the stoa poikile (the painted porch), from which Stoicism gets its name.
Stoicism enjoyed great popularity in ancient Greece and thrived for years thanks to subsequent leaders of the stoa, Cleanthes and Chrysippus in particular. As the power of Athens and Greece faded and that of Rome rose, Stoicism continued to develop and remain popular. The primary Roman Stoic writers were a freed slave turned teacher; Epictetus, a playwright and political advisor; Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, the last of the “good emperors” of the Roman Empire.
With the rise of Christianity, secular philosophy fell out of favor, but what little literature from the Stoics remained continued to find an audience throughout history. Stoicism is undergoing a resurgence now thanks to the many books, blogs, sites, and events that advocate Stoicism’s virtues, values, and relevance.
So, what is Stoicism and what are its basic principles and practices?
Like most ancient philosophies, Stoicism addresses “What is the good life?” In other words, what does it mean to be human and truly happy, and how do we become more of both?
The Stoics believed that “the good life” was one of “human flourishing.” The ancient Greeks had a word for it:εὐδαιμονία or eudaimonia.
All that was required for such a life was virtue. For the Stoics, virtue is the only true good and virtue is its own reward. The ancient Greek word for virtue was arete, which is translated as “excellence of character.”
Striving to achieve our potential as happy and healthy humans requires us to “live in agreement with nature.” This means not only living in agreement with our human nature as social creatures born with the capacity for reason but also with the entirety of the natural world which includes the cosmos.
Applying reason to social living for greater tranquility and thriving is central to the teaching of Epictetus who began The Handbook (based on notes taken by his student), with the following statement, “Some things are up to us and other things are not.”
Staying in the “here and now” (hic et nunc, the Romans would say), and mindfully addressing what is within and what is outside our control is at the heart of Stoic practice, as is what is within our influence.
The words of Epictetus often remind people of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.”
Developing Stoic mindfulness to life’s celebrations and Stoic resilience to life’s challenges are achieved through exercises that apply our reason to what we experience in the here and now, and to do what is best for ourselves and others, in alignment with our virtue. Here are a few.
The View From Above – Imagining a bird’s eye view looking down at ourselves from above and beginning to zoom further and further out. This exercise helps contextualize our place in the planetary community and beyond.
Hierocles’ Circle – This is similar to the exercise above, but reminds us of our place as social creatures in service to each other. Again, starting with ourselves, we reach out to ever-widening circles of contact. Our family, our friends, our neighbors, people living in the same city or town, and so on, to the planet and beyond. As we reach each new circle, we imagine pulling those people closer to us and into the previous circle.
Negative Visualization – Beginning the day by imagining what obstacles or misfortunes we may meet and planning how we might face or handle them in alignment with our virtue. This exercise helps us de-catastrophize minor issues and perhaps see impediments as opportunities.
Gratitude for What You Already Have – Contemplating the simple gifts and benefits already within our possession. Not material objects necessarily, but basic human needs, connections, the beauty of the natural world, and another day of life to live.
This overview of Stoic philosophy is a very brief introduction to the basic tenets of Stoic philosophy and practice. There are many resources for further investigation into this beautiful and powerful philosophy of life at the end of this handbook. However, with this brief overview complete, let’s continue our journey and apply some of these ideas and exercises to developing a courageous creative posture and a thriving artist’s mindset.
Key Takeaway from Chapter 1 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
Achieving your potential as happy and healthy human beings is difficult without a blueprint and an operating system. The time-tested approach of Stoicism has been successfully applied by slaves and prisoners, artists and entrepreneurs, and employees and emperors.
To realize our potential, we must identify, understand, and work with our strengths and weaknesses. Developing ourselves and delivering the goods will require us to handle internal doubts and fears as well as external obstacles and misfortunes.
To do this, we need to draw on our creative nature, apply our capacity for reason, and develop our social instincts. Whether or not you become a declared Stoic, you can draw upon the philosophy’s lessons and exercises to undertake this journey with a greater sense of thriving.
An Exercise
The Stoics aspired to be an ideal human being called the Stoic Sage, one who was wise and a citizen of the world. The Sage experiences natural emotions and desires but is not enslaved by them. The Sage loves others and loves fate, even when doing so subjects him or her to misfortune and poor treatment. Through all life’s vicissitudes, the Sage remains unperturbed, tranquil, and joyful.
Is becoming the Stoic Sage likely? No. Many Stoics believed no such person has yet walked the earth, but they did see glimpses of the Sage in men like Socrates and other great teachers.
Sit and contemplate for a minute how the ideal human being thinks and acts. Make a list of people who exhibit those qualities. They can be people you know, people from ancient or recent history, or characters from books or movies. Write them down and list the virtues or acts that you associate with each one. Identify your heroes, and it’s more likely you’ll become one.
Onward!
Everyone's a Creative. Are You Ready to Be an Artist?
A Note from the Author
This is the second chapter of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Want more free chapters? Visit http://www.TheStoicCreative.com
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Do You Know That You’re Lying?
“Let’s start with a quick poll. Raise your hand if you’re a Creative. Great! If your hand is raised, put it back down. Now, raise your hand if you’re not a Creative. That's interesting. Keep your hand raised. Alright, if your hand is raised, keep it raised if you know you’re lying…!”
This poll is how I open my workshops on becoming a “bulletproof creative” (aka a Thriving Artist). The results are always about the same. One-third raise their hands to the opening query, another third to the next, and the final third to the last (often with nervous laughter).
We Are All Creatives
Here’s the deal: everyone is a Creative. A Creative is simply someone who brings something into the world that didn’t previously exist. Every time you make a meal, make a mess, or make amends, you’ve engaged in an act of creation. Creating is an everyday human activity.
Whether you’re a musician, writer, painter, parent, teacher, or an entrepreneur or employee, we are all Creatives. And we can all become Artists in whatever we do if we choose to develop our craft and deliver our work.
The Distinction Between Creative and Artist
Artists are Creatives who develop their craft with greater intention, but the defining difference is that Artists share their work with others. They put it out there with a specific aspiration in mind—and they do so knowing it might not work.
It takes courage to offer your work to someone. “Here, I made this. I hope you like it.” Once you do, all bets are off. It’s an act of generosity and vulnerability. It’s not for everybody.
But if you want to fulfill your potential as a Creative (and as a human being), you must strive to become an Artist. When you adopt that posture, the journey begins. If you want to experience a greater sense of flourishing and equanimity along the way, you’ll need to grasp the difference between criticism and feedback. More on that in the next chapter.
By the way, if you haven’t yet, go ahead and put your hand down… it’s time to move on!
Key Takeaway from Chapter 2 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
You have everything you need to fulfill your potential as a happy, healthy, and engaged human being. You possess reason, a social instinct, and a creative capacity. Everything you need to develop your craft and deliver better work to the right people with a bigger impact is already in your possession!
Adopt the posture and mindset of a thriving Artist and start shipping your work. Stand where people can see you, speak your truth out loud, and generously share your gifts.
“If you didn’t learn these things in order to demonstrate them in practice, what did you learn them for?” – Epictetus
More on all this on the following pages. But first, do this now!
An Exercise
An essential Stoic practice is being grateful for what you already have. Not material possessions, but the everyday gifts.
Make a list of people you are grateful to have in your life: parents who provided you with life, teachers who have guided you, and friends who support you. You could list rivals and competitors who challenge you because they make you stronger and more determined.
Write down the life tools you possess such as the gift of language and the connection it creates.
Write down anything that helps enhance your life in a basic and essential way. Keep this list handy! Pull it out when you feel grumpy, frustrated, or scared—to remind yourself that even when times are tough, you’ve got a pretty d*mn good life!
This is exactly how the best known Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, began his journal, The Meditations. He thanked his family, friends, and teachers and listed the gifts they bestowed upon him.
Go Further
To enhance the value of this exercise, connect with some of the people on your list. In person, if you’re able, by phone if you’re not. Don’t settle for a text, message, or email. Tell them that you’re grateful for them, and why. Ready for what’s next? Me, too! Let’s leap!
This is the second chapter of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Want more free chapters? Visit http://www.TheStoicCreative.com
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Do You Know That You’re Lying?
“Let’s start with a quick poll. Raise your hand if you’re a Creative. Great! If your hand is raised, put it back down. Now, raise your hand if you’re not a Creative. That's interesting. Keep your hand raised. Alright, if your hand is raised, keep it raised if you know you’re lying…!”
This poll is how I open my workshops on becoming a “bulletproof creative” (aka a Thriving Artist). The results are always about the same. One-third raise their hands to the opening query, another third to the next, and the final third to the last (often with nervous laughter).
We Are All Creatives
Here’s the deal: everyone is a Creative. A Creative is simply someone who brings something into the world that didn’t previously exist. Every time you make a meal, make a mess, or make amends, you’ve engaged in an act of creation. Creating is an everyday human activity.
Whether you’re a musician, writer, painter, parent, teacher, or an entrepreneur or employee, we are all Creatives. And we can all become Artists in whatever we do if we choose to develop our craft and deliver our work.
The Distinction Between Creative and Artist
Artists are Creatives who develop their craft with greater intention, but the defining difference is that Artists share their work with others. They put it out there with a specific aspiration in mind—and they do so knowing it might not work.
It takes courage to offer your work to someone. “Here, I made this. I hope you like it.” Once you do, all bets are off. It’s an act of generosity and vulnerability. It’s not for everybody.
But if you want to fulfill your potential as a Creative (and as a human being), you must strive to become an Artist. When you adopt that posture, the journey begins. If you want to experience a greater sense of flourishing and equanimity along the way, you’ll need to grasp the difference between criticism and feedback. More on that in the next chapter.
By the way, if you haven’t yet, go ahead and put your hand down… it’s time to move on!
Key Takeaway from Chapter 2 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
You have everything you need to fulfill your potential as a happy, healthy, and engaged human being. You possess reason, a social instinct, and a creative capacity. Everything you need to develop your craft and deliver better work to the right people with a bigger impact is already in your possession!
Adopt the posture and mindset of a thriving Artist and start shipping your work. Stand where people can see you, speak your truth out loud, and generously share your gifts.
“If you didn’t learn these things in order to demonstrate them in practice, what did you learn them for?” – Epictetus
More on all this on the following pages. But first, do this now!
An Exercise
An essential Stoic practice is being grateful for what you already have. Not material possessions, but the everyday gifts.
Make a list of people you are grateful to have in your life: parents who provided you with life, teachers who have guided you, and friends who support you. You could list rivals and competitors who challenge you because they make you stronger and more determined.
Write down the life tools you possess such as the gift of language and the connection it creates.
Write down anything that helps enhance your life in a basic and essential way. Keep this list handy! Pull it out when you feel grumpy, frustrated, or scared—to remind yourself that even when times are tough, you’ve got a pretty d*mn good life!
This is exactly how the best known Stoic, Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, began his journal, The Meditations. He thanked his family, friends, and teachers and listed the gifts they bestowed upon him.
Go Further
To enhance the value of this exercise, connect with some of the people on your list. In person, if you’re able, by phone if you’re not. Don’t settle for a text, message, or email. Tell them that you’re grateful for them, and why. Ready for what’s next? Me, too! Let’s leap!
“Here, I Made This. I Hope You Like It….” Feedback Vs. Criticism
This is the third chapter of The Stoic Creative Handbook. Want more free chapters? Visit: http://www.TheStoicCreative.com.
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Creating is simply the act of making something new. However, simple doesn’t mean easy. The creative process can be lonely, intimidating, and fraught with self-doubt. Then comes the hard part...sharing what you made with others.
Do I Have to Share?
That depends. We’re all creatives. We make things, right? We make conversation. We make plans. We make promises, and we make babies. We have absolutely no problem making or sharing these creations. However, when we intentionally create something that will evoke a reaction or even a transformation in others, when we start acting like artists, things change.
Therein lies the rub. All artists are creatives, but not all creatives are artists. Artists create with intention and motivation. They put their creation out into the world. They ship and they deliver the goods.
Artists must share their creations. That's the only way they will get the feedback required to develop and improve their art. Aspiring and advancing artists must hold their work out to an audience. "Here, I made this. I hope you like it." And when they do, all bets are off.
What Happens Next
“A thing is neither better nor worse for having been praised.” – Marcus Aurelius
Sure, they may love it. Hopefully, they’ll at least like it. If not, perhaps they’ll say, “That’s nice.” But they may very well say, “I don’t get it.” Or, “What’s the point?” Maybe even, “I hate it!” How does that feel? Depending on how much you’ve invested in your art it could hurt a little, or it could be devastating!
Tips On Turning Pro
So you made it. You were clear on your intention and motivation. You invested every bit of your talent and emotional labor. You held it out to others and said, “Here, I made this.” And, to yourself, quietly said, “I hope you like it.”And they didn’t. Not a bit. “What the hell is that?It sucks!”
Time to separate the dilettantes from the real artists, the amateurs from the pros. Here’s how:
Make sure you’re clear on what it’s for. “Art for art’s sake” is an amateur’s hustle. Art has a purpose. If you don’t know what your art is for, you didn’t make art.
Make sure you’re clear on who it’s for. Art must have an audience. It is your job to find it. If you think your art is for everybody, it’s actually for nobody, and it’s not art.
Make sure you’re clear on the change you’re trying to make. If your creation is made simply for attention or to make a buck, then it’s not art. Art connects, communicates, and changes those who come into contact with it.
Okay, Now What?
You’re clear on what it’s for, who it’s for, and the change you seek to make. You put it in front of the right people and...?
They didn’t love it. They didn’t like it. They didn’t even get it! Is that their fault or yours? It’s easy to say, “Heathens! You don’t know art when you see it!” But, it’s very likely that you didn’t do your job fully.
Did you do all the work? Did you do it well or at least well enough? Are you sure this is your audience? Did you share it properly? Did you need to deliver something else?
Don’t let these questions swirl around in your head. Ask your audience! Remember, it’s for them! If you’re looking for recognition or praise or hoping to get picked, or perhaps even to make a little filthy lucre, then you did not have the right intention or motivation!
Mean People Suck
Just in case you weren’t aware, haters gonna hate. There are trolls, hacks, cranks, and critics out there. They don’t like themselves and they sure as sh*t ain’t going to like you or anything you share. They’ll go out of their way to make you aware of their disdain. Unsolicited criticism is not helpful and not worth your time or emotional labor.
Being a hater is its own karmic consequence. If you can, empathize. If you can’t, smile and say, “Sorry, but if you didn’t like it, I guess I didn’t make it for you.”
Get Back to Work
What to do next? Get back to work! Take a step back. Hold it out in front of you and take a long objective look. Should you scrap it and start over? If not, what’s worth keeping? What should be eliminated? What needs refining? Decide. Then get back to work. That’s what artists do.
An artist, who is a pro, understands that quitting is not an option. Artists pick themselves up, dust themselves off, gird their loins, and get back in the arena. It’s an infinite, not a finite, game. It requires patience, practice, and persistence. Shun the fixed mindset. Adopt a growth mindset.
Here are a few more parting thoughts. A sense of humor doesn’t hurt. Humility is essential. Purpose is required.
That’s it. Good luck. Have fun...and most importantly, get to work.
Oh yeah, and enjoy the process because that’s all we have. Remember the wise words of Samuel Beckett, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Key Takeaway from Chapter 3 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
Before art can be significant, it must have a proper motivation and intent. What’s it for? It then must be created with skill, emotional labor, and a clear purpose. What is the change you seek to make? Finally, art must be performed or placed in front of the right people. Who is it for? You then must take note of the response.
Art is always a collaborative activity because there is always an audience. Learn to love feedback and shun criticism. Develop your ability to discern the difference.
An Exercise
Epictetus famously stated, “It is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.” Feedback reveals the elements of our art that have missed the mark, need further development, or should be discarded.
By the same token, unhelpful criticism is, well, unhelpful! The Stoics encouraged the memorization of short maxims to have on hand for difficult moments. “They are nothing to me,” was a line Epictetus encouraged his students to use when confronted with something unpleasant, but also unimportant.
So, when the critic delivers mean-spirited venom, simply smile and say, “Your opinion is nothing to me,” or, “I didn’t do it for you.” Even better? Smile sweetly and say nothing. This drives trolls crazy! All they really wanted was to watch you cry.
Remember, the pursuit of excellence and mastery in your craft takes courage, but it begins by taking a healthy dose of humility. Take your craft and your art seriously, but not yourself.
Go Further
When you receive well-intended and helpful feedback, be sure to say “Thank you.” Even when listening to the feedback hurts.
When you receive hurtful criticism, take Epictetus’ advice to “endure and renounce,” but also forgive. The Stoics believed that people are not intentionally mean, just ignorant and out of alignment with virtue. Keep in mind Marcus Aurelius’ reminder to himself, “Tolerate ignorant persons, and those who form opinions without consideration.”
Fail often, fail fast, and fail forward. We need your art. Ready? Me, too! Forward. March!
The Stoic Creative: Embrace Your Purpose, Engage Your Courage, Share Your Excellence
Creating is simply the act of making something new. However, simple doesn’t mean easy. The creative process can be lonely, intimidating, and fraught with self-doubt. Then comes the hard part...sharing what you made with others.
Do I Have to Share?
That depends. We’re all creatives. We make things, right? We make conversation. We make plans. We make promises, and we make babies. We have absolutely no problem making or sharing these creations. However, when we intentionally create something that will evoke a reaction or even a transformation in others, when we start acting like artists, things change.
Therein lies the rub. All artists are creatives, but not all creatives are artists. Artists create with intention and motivation. They put their creation out into the world. They ship and they deliver the goods.
Artists must share their creations. That's the only way they will get the feedback required to develop and improve their art. Aspiring and advancing artists must hold their work out to an audience. "Here, I made this. I hope you like it." And when they do, all bets are off.
What Happens Next
“A thing is neither better nor worse for having been praised.” – Marcus Aurelius
Sure, they may love it. Hopefully, they’ll at least like it. If not, perhaps they’ll say, “That’s nice.” But they may very well say, “I don’t get it.” Or, “What’s the point?” Maybe even, “I hate it!” How does that feel? Depending on how much you’ve invested in your art it could hurt a little, or it could be devastating!
Tips On Turning Pro
So you made it. You were clear on your intention and motivation. You invested every bit of your talent and emotional labor. You held it out to others and said, “Here, I made this.” And, to yourself, quietly said, “I hope you like it.”And they didn’t. Not a bit. “What the hell is that?It sucks!”
Time to separate the dilettantes from the real artists, the amateurs from the pros. Here’s how:
Make sure you’re clear on what it’s for. “Art for art’s sake” is an amateur’s hustle. Art has a purpose. If you don’t know what your art is for, you didn’t make art.
Make sure you’re clear on who it’s for. Art must have an audience. It is your job to find it. If you think your art is for everybody, it’s actually for nobody, and it’s not art.
Make sure you’re clear on the change you’re trying to make. If your creation is made simply for attention or to make a buck, then it’s not art. Art connects, communicates, and changes those who come into contact with it.
Okay, Now What?
You’re clear on what it’s for, who it’s for, and the change you seek to make. You put it in front of the right people and...?
They didn’t love it. They didn’t like it. They didn’t even get it! Is that their fault or yours? It’s easy to say, “Heathens! You don’t know art when you see it!” But, it’s very likely that you didn’t do your job fully.
Did you do all the work? Did you do it well or at least well enough? Are you sure this is your audience? Did you share it properly? Did you need to deliver something else?
Don’t let these questions swirl around in your head. Ask your audience! Remember, it’s for them! If you’re looking for recognition or praise or hoping to get picked, or perhaps even to make a little filthy lucre, then you did not have the right intention or motivation!
Mean People Suck
Just in case you weren’t aware, haters gonna hate. There are trolls, hacks, cranks, and critics out there. They don’t like themselves and they sure as sh*t ain’t going to like you or anything you share. They’ll go out of their way to make you aware of their disdain. Unsolicited criticism is not helpful and not worth your time or emotional labor.
Being a hater is its own karmic consequence. If you can, empathize. If you can’t, smile and say, “Sorry, but if you didn’t like it, I guess I didn’t make it for you.”
Get Back to Work
What to do next? Get back to work! Take a step back. Hold it out in front of you and take a long objective look. Should you scrap it and start over? If not, what’s worth keeping? What should be eliminated? What needs refining? Decide. Then get back to work. That’s what artists do.
An artist, who is a pro, understands that quitting is not an option. Artists pick themselves up, dust themselves off, gird their loins, and get back in the arena. It’s an infinite, not a finite, game. It requires patience, practice, and persistence. Shun the fixed mindset. Adopt a growth mindset.
Here are a few more parting thoughts. A sense of humor doesn’t hurt. Humility is essential. Purpose is required.
That’s it. Good luck. Have fun...and most importantly, get to work.
Oh yeah, and enjoy the process because that’s all we have. Remember the wise words of Samuel Beckett, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Key Takeaway from Chapter 3 and an Exercise
Key Takeaway
Before art can be significant, it must have a proper motivation and intent. What’s it for? It then must be created with skill, emotional labor, and a clear purpose. What is the change you seek to make? Finally, art must be performed or placed in front of the right people. Who is it for? You then must take note of the response.
Art is always a collaborative activity because there is always an audience. Learn to love feedback and shun criticism. Develop your ability to discern the difference.
An Exercise
Epictetus famously stated, “It is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.” Feedback reveals the elements of our art that have missed the mark, need further development, or should be discarded.
By the same token, unhelpful criticism is, well, unhelpful! The Stoics encouraged the memorization of short maxims to have on hand for difficult moments. “They are nothing to me,” was a line Epictetus encouraged his students to use when confronted with something unpleasant, but also unimportant.
So, when the critic delivers mean-spirited venom, simply smile and say, “Your opinion is nothing to me,” or, “I didn’t do it for you.” Even better? Smile sweetly and say nothing. This drives trolls crazy! All they really wanted was to watch you cry.
Remember, the pursuit of excellence and mastery in your craft takes courage, but it begins by taking a healthy dose of humility. Take your craft and your art seriously, but not yourself.
Go Further
When you receive well-intended and helpful feedback, be sure to say “Thank you.” Even when listening to the feedback hurts.
When you receive hurtful criticism, take Epictetus’ advice to “endure and renounce,” but also forgive. The Stoics believed that people are not intentionally mean, just ignorant and out of alignment with virtue. Keep in mind Marcus Aurelius’ reminder to himself, “Tolerate ignorant persons, and those who form opinions without consideration.”
Fail often, fail fast, and fail forward. We need your art. Ready? Me, too! Forward. March!
