As a smart person, you no doubt see through much of life. You see clearly the realities of politics and social structures, the realities of the art world, the realities of health and mortality, and so on.
All this excellent reality testing can make a person pessimistic, unmotivated, and sad. Often what is required in order for an artist to proceed is that he move to an “optimistic” place where he does less reality-testing, future-thinking and future-worrying and instead concentrates on two things: showing up to his art and enjoying himself more.
If this is something you need to do, this requires that you get a grip on your mind and make a decision about where you want to focus (on your art, not on the world or the future) and how you want to be (present, committed, and devoted).
Would you like to try to make that “switch”? Does that seem like the right change to make? If so, stop everything, get a clear picture of the change you want to make, take a deep breath, take a second deep breath, and flip the switch.
See if you can make that change “just like that.” Maybe that’s just a pipe dream. But maybe it’s a genuine possibility. Isn’t it worth two minutes of your time to see?
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Eric. A great article. I can vouch from a position of experience that the CHANGE can happen. I discovered it on my own and along with the things you mentioned I have one that worked with the others and was a big help to me. Living day to day and stepping over the obstacles as they come. Too much planning, questioning, and worry do a person today little good. But if you wake, smile and face the day. I believe artists have a gift and not just talent. We have a profession that gives us something exciting and challenging to do. Thus minds are stimulated without need of video games or boring exercises and with these positive outcomes is the fact that if you have art you have a friend. An artists is not alone. The art is waiting. There is not much else to be concerned with. First do the art. Enjoy doing the art. And let yourself me guided away from worldly troubles to a place of inner strength. It is there. Thanks Eric.
Thank you, Eric! This is great advice, and something I needed to hear. I woke this morning faced, once again, with the “realities,” and felt the dreaded anxiety building in my thoughts. Fortunately, “Art and Optimism” was the first article I read today, and wow, it woke me up! Even better than a cup of coffee.