What’s In It for Me?
Lots of people will tell you that your artwork is a vehicle of your personal expression. Your painting could only be made by you and the world needs your work. Here’s a quick reality check. If you never made a painting, wrote a poem, created a new flower garden or sculpted something to put in your backyard, the world would go on. And so would you.
I think a better question is “How does what I create help build the life I want?” Maybe the quilt you sew engages you for hours of satisfaction and peace. Perhaps the clay you mold at the potter’s wheel allows you to center yourself and gives you a sense of accomplishment. The same is true as you write songs, poems, books or blog posts. You share yourself with the world (or not) but, the point is that when you give your creativity space to breathe you are giving yourself the gift of clarity of ideas, connection or a greater self awareness.
It’s not selfish to ask yourself “What’s in it for me?”Because if you are voluntarily involved in an activity, any activity, there is a reason. Does knitting lower your blood pressure while you feel the satisfaction of slow progress. Does painting transport you from an overactive mind and allow silence to enter your thought stream? Do the swirl of colors you see make you happy just for the experience of seeing them? Really - What’s in it for you? If there wasn’t some intrinsic reward for you, you’d quit. And to be honest, you should. Because if it doesn’t bring your life something you value, you may want to go looking for something that does.
I encourage you to take an objective look at how you spend your free time. What you do with that time that energizes you or brings you contentment? What are you doing that steals that energy? Social platforms love to steal your time and energy - it builds their bank account. That’s what’s in it for them. They are not as interested in you as they would have you believe.
Yes, the world has a YOU shaped space that is yours to fill with anything you choose. Choose what fills you up. Lifts you up. Lifts your spirit. Because if you didn’t make your art, the world will go on. But if you choose to create what will be uniquely yours, you will fill the space with a light that burns inside of you and illuminates the space around you. That shines out and you feel it. That is what’s in it for you.
If you show it to the rest of us, we get to share in it. If you decide it’s only for you, then do it anyway. Knowing that it’s valuable to your life - just because you did it.
