We are worth knowing, far more than what we give ourselves credit for.
Rational assessment may say otherwise. But to believe that our work matters less than what’s deemed socially valuable or popular is insanity.
We have to practice empathic firmness toward making our art. Only a few become naked and famous. After all, Van Gogh sold one painting during his lifetime —to his brother!
Inevitably, what seems interesting to us is what informs and propels the craft—being creative means finding comfort in our weird selves. Productivity offers a type of reflective and hypnotic self-talk.
It takes considerable effort and confidence to maintain mere autonomy. The restorative power of seeking significance through the canvass is a self-optimization strategy in its own right.