The Artists Identity Crisis: Who are you Without Work?

Okay—this needs to be discussed because it happens to everyone, including me. There will be days when you’re not confident about your work, so you start doubting yourself. Someone tells you no, and suddenly you’re asking yourself:

“is there something wrong with me?”

The short answer is: no.

But I’m going to get into the meat and potatoes of it all.

When you write, sing, dance, or do anything creative, you put your heart on display for the world to dissect. So when that novel you’ve spent over a year on hits shelves, and you start flipping through the pages, wondering:

“Why didn’t I write it this way?”

“This could’ve been so much better.”

“What if I’m not a good writer?”

That’s the identity crisis creeping in on you when you least expect it.

As a fellow artist, I’m here to remind you: you’re talented—and you know it, too— all those quality reviews didn’t pop out of thin air. But what do you do when that one harsh review hits you like a bag of bricks?

CAN YOU HANDLE THE HEAT?

You saw that harsh criticism for your book and now you’re freaking out.

I’m here to tell you: it’s okay.

This happens frequently to first-time publishers or to the artists who are just starting out. This is a normal part of the process. A process you should accept with open arms.

The truth is: without harsh reviews, you wouldn’t grow—as an author, a musician, a dancer, a painter… the list goes on.

We’ll dig into that another time. Right now, I want to give you tips on how to stop an identity crisis sneaking in and sucker-punching you in the gut. Sure, it would be easy to say: ignore it,” but let’s be honest—that’s hard. Especially when you’re a creative: being a creative is being vulnerable. You’re giving a piece of yourself.

QUIET THE NOISE

It’s going to be loud with praise and critique. But it’s up to you what you tune into. Have you gotten a mental health check? If you’ve read my blog, you’ll know that I’m passionate about this subject. Putting your art into the world is no small task.

It takes courage.

You’re probably thinking, “But you just said ignoring the noise isn’t easy.”

You’re right—I did. And it isn’t. When I say, “it’s your choice of what you tune into,” I mean it shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re a creative, chances are you’re sensitive. And if you feel deeply, you have to take precautions, and to take precautions you must know yourself first.

THE SHIP HASN’T SAILED AWAY

Now, before you start running off, declaring intimidation, you should know it’s not as bad as it seems. The words must and know yourself can be uncomfortable to hear for some, but to be a well-rounded artist, you have to take the first step. Being an artist is already tough for you as the creator. It’s not perceived that way by the consumer, though.

A message for the artist: You can’t put your art out into the world without doing the inner work first. Skipping that first step can put you at risk.

A message to the consumer: You can’t pass judgment on something you’ve never done yourself.

Now, let me finish making my point to the artist. Imagine being Tarzan—swinging into the jungle without knowing how to survive. Thank goodness he had Kala. And lucky you, you have me. I’m here to guide you like she did—because I don’t just want to see you survive, but I want to see you thrive.

LET YOUR ART FREE

If you haven’t—get that mental health check, I promise you, it will do you wonders. If you want general advice? I would say, don’t listen to the naysayers— and by that, I mean the people who have no idea what they’re talking about. Those are the people who just want attention.

Don’t give them a reaction.

You’ll see a difference if you use the tips I shared in my blog posts. Tell me if this post gives you peace of mind in the comments below.