The Creative's Curse

by Todd Brison

The primary asset which sets the Creative apart is her ability to see a future nobody else sees.

Don't explain what you're trying to do. Do what you're trying to do, and then let your art speak for itself.

One of the most poisonous lines of thought will tell you success is random, there's nothing you can do and life isn't fair.

All you can control is what you do. Comparison is a waste of time.

This is the Creative's Curse - you can never hope to come up with anything new. The best you can do is say: "This is the truth, told as only I can tell it through my experiences, beliefs, and talents at this moment in time.

creation is about sending a message. It's about the transfer of a thought or action or emotion.

In order to step into your calling as a Creative, you have to give yourself permission to create junk.

The Creative’s conscious feeds off a collection of emotion brought to a tangible piece of work

Normal people (bless them) have been trained to think creativity is something fluffy. Like it's more a hobby than a habit and more a luxury than a requirement. They will laugh and file you in the same part of their brain as little Jimmy and his mud pies. Luckily, I’ve found a secret around this, a way to avoid the condescending looks, the raised eyebrows, and the thinly veiled disbelief. Just say "It's for work."

Your job is to see the truth in the way you see it.

Creation is always a mix and match approach, not a formula.

People like to pretend that creativity is this massive cerebral process, but more often than not, it's just pin the tail on the neuron.

Getting where you want to be is not a great leap forward. It’s not a short burst for a moment. It’s not a sprint. It’s waking up and taking another step forward, and another step forward, and another step forward.

Nobody else cares if you have time to create or not.

You will never have the time to do your life's work unless you make it a priority. The universe will never allow you to create until you prove you are willing.

Life is too short to operate outside your calling.

Ideas are only the combination of things which already exist. Given that definition, new ideas are infinite.

The second thing you should know is that generally, you can get started simply by starting. The third thing you should know is that your output on any given day does not ostracize you from being a Creative.

flow is simply the balance between anxiety and boredom. It's walking the fine line where your task is challenging and you have the skills to complete it.

The Muse lives within flow. She longs to meet you there.

Go get her.

You define what is “important.” Don’t let the lizard brain or your girlfriend or society or your mother try and talk you out of it.

It is not only important you become who you mean to. It is imperative.

The realization that most people don’t care about your work might just be the most freeing thing that ever happens to you.

Comfort is overrated.

How can you have done “enough” if you are still breathing?

Let me remind you, though, it’s generally the things we don’t do which are a source of regret.

It’s like Bruce Lee said: “Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.”

you’ll have to cut out some of the things you’re currently saying yes to. This doesn’t mean you are a jerk. This means you are conscious about how few

minutes there are on this planet. This means you are willing to sacrifice some short-term pleasure for long-term impact.

Your hours of quiet are not going to appear suddenly, you have to fight for them. Win the Muse. Gain her respect. And then speak into the silence.

Action builds momentum. Momentum builds respect. Respect leads to assistance. Assistance leads to inspiration. Inspiration sparks action.

Don’t be embarrassed to start small.

There is nothing quite so beautiful and tragic as the professional Creator.

Throughout history, Creative people have been underpaid.

If all you do is create what people expect and enjoy, that's not very Creative is it?

The only goal of accepting corporate money is to purchase a key that will free you from the cage, not buy more bars for it.

No great work comes from safety anyway.

Love the work. Not the result.

If you love the work, creation

beats affirmation. Every. Single. Time.

If you only do what other people tell you to do, you will not create the things they never dreamed of.

This is the Creative's Curse - to push past what is and run the opposite direction.

Do not create content. Create art. Do not create like a business man. Create like a human being. Do not create with your brain. Create with your soul.

Most of the time, you can find someone who needs $50 a whole lot more than you do.

It's too bad great art doesn't come from an easy life.

although dreams are important, moments are better.