01.self
(skippable, but contains context)
In an age where art and media are more accessible than ever, my aim with this series is to provide a stepping stone for individuals seeking to venture into the world of creative expression. Whether it's through music, visual arts, or any other medium, I hope to lay the groundwork and boost your confidence in unveiling your unique vision to the world by sharing lessons I’ve learned during my own journey.
I ended a 7-year long creative hiatus a few years ago, and my journey since then has involved a lot of mistakes, learning moments, embarrassment, and more. But most importantly, this endeavor back into the arts has offered me deep, intra-personal healing and connections with others that I will value for the rest of my life. It is human to create, and sharing our self-expression strengthens our sense of community and connection via shared experiences and feelings.
I hope that everyone can experience the joy of creativity driven by their unique motivators while also forging friendships, positively impacting the lives of others, building confidence, and making badass art to share with the world.
The DOSSIER series will cover a variety of topics and tools such as project management, tools I’ve found valuable, using social media to your advantage, and even armchair philosophy when it comes to navigating the music/art scene. I also aim to include a few guides on community-selected topics.
This issue focuses on understanding your motivation in creativity, and how to use that motivator to set clear, attainable goals for you to reach as you perfect your craft.
who are you?
There is immense value in understanding who you are, what drives you to create, and what you hope to achieve from it. Knowing the answers to these questions will help solidify your messaging and strengthen what you bring to the world. Some of the aforementioned questions are easier to answer than others, so let’s start with some common motivations for creating:
Passion for the arts: A deep love for a specific form of art, whether it's painting, sculpture, music, or any other medium.
Desire for self-discovery: Using art as a means to explore one's identity, emotions, and inner thoughts.
Advocacy and activism: Using art as a tool for advocating social or political change, raising awareness, or promoting certain causes.
Therapeutic benefits: Seeking emotional release, healing, and catharsis through the process of creating art.
Creative expression: The desire to convey thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in a unique and artistic manner.
You will likely identify with one of these reasons, if not multiples. An understanding of the drivers behind your creative urges can be used as a tool to deepen your connection with your art, community, and drive you to accomplish what you might not realize you’re capable of.
In addition, your motivators should function as a beacon while determining what your larger goals are.
goals
I’m a person who finds goals to be invaluable, no matter how big, small, or mundane they may seem. Setting goals can offer you clarity, focus, and motivation in both your creative journey and personal life.
In the context of creativity, it’s important to remember that these goals aren’t intended to initiate self-shaming if you don’t meet a deadline, but instead help build the pathway for what you can accomplish when you focus on what’s in your control. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a goal, and instead offer yourself flexibility with your timeline while still holding yourself accountable. Writer’s block is a very real thing, and there are a myriad of things that come up in life and hinder our progress. Be gentle towards yourself.
I highly recommend trying out SMART goals, which should meet the following cadence:
Specific - I’ll produce an album
Measurable - of 6 songs
Achievable - (one song per two months)
Relevant - to give me an outlet during my healing journey
Time-based - before the end of 2024
“I’ll produce an album of 6 songs to give me an outlet during my healing journey before the end of 2024” is a SMART goal, as long as the creator of this goal feels comfortable writing a new song every 2 months.
An example of a goal that is not SMART would be “I’m going to drop a track so 🔥 that I’m going to become famous”. I respect the ambition and it could very well happen in the modern age, but this goal fails to design a clear path towards actuation and may leave the creator of the goal feeling negatively if not achieved.
Similar to lofty New Year’s resolutions that 80% of people give up on by February, vague and immeasurable goals set you up for failure by not giving you a roadmap to get where you want to be. Goals without a plan are simply ideas.
Once I establish a goal, I pause to imagine myself achieving it and reflect on the emotions it brings. While I usually link positive sentiments to setting goals, there have been instances where I’ve felt anxiety or apprehension. If you try this exercise and confront negative sentiments towards a goal, contemplate whether to proceed acknowledging the difficulty or whether modifying the goal is the wiser choice.
Goals have helped me in my journey with music, sobriety, and managing my mental health. Breaking out of monotonous thinking with the application of goals can serve as a brilliant catalyst for development, whether it be personal or arts related.
in closing
At this point you may have a decent understanding of your artistic motivation and how to turn that into a tangible goal. If you’re not quite there yet, take your time to reflect on it and ensure you deeply identify with the value in your motivator.
The next article in the series will touch on valuation, which focuses on understanding the external and self perception of creativity, managing finances, and discussing pay with people.
Thanks for reading 🎶
