A message for the procrastinating creative
People don’t talk a lot about the discipline it takes to be a successful creative.
It’s showing up every single day to make something.
It’s promoting your work regularly. It’s showing up for your community.
It’s building, launching, refining.
Over and over again.
Even when it’s hard.
Especially when it’s hard.
I’ve got some fun news.
After a pretty rough start to the summer, I’m happy to have some good news to share.
I am thrilled to announce that I was selected to join the 2023-24 cohort of the Long Table Collective with five other phenomenal creative professionals, including: @gkjcreates, @minstudio_, @seejessletter, @andrepardo__, and @allverygoods!
The Long Table Collective provides professional mentoring for Black, Indigenous, Latino/a, and Asian artists & creative entrepreneurs (including those of mixed race or ethnicity), in a year-long small group format led by @lisacongdon and @emilyonlife.
Ya boy is beyond excited and I look forward to the growth that will continue to come from this season of meaningful growth.
June 2023 Recommendations
In The Weekly Reset Email I share a variety of recommendations. Here’s a roundup of all of the links from the month of June.
Something to read:
This article might help if you struggle with forgiveness.
A podcast to listen to:
Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. I love this podcast. It gives you just enough drama without any real stakes.
A SoCurious Update:
I updated the SoCurious homepage for the first time in a long time. It’s real cute.
Something to watch on Youtube:
Evelyn from the Internet released the first episode of her new variety show called “Evelyn and Friends.” From sketches and interviews to taste tests and advice, there’s a little something in here for everyone. It just made me feel happy.
A personal announcement:
Yesterday I gave my signature speech: How to Reset Your Life in 7 Not-So-Easy Steps to the Creative Mornings community. 900 people signed up in total!!! If you missed it, you can sign up to receive the replay.
Something to enjoy:
This is the summer of the agua fresca. And I need to try this recipe.
Another fun update:
The Joy Bombs affirmation cards were sent to the printer last week and should be delivered to me sometime in late June or early July. There’s still time to pre-order to card deck.
Something to read:
This article is about learning to allow. My therapist mentioned this in a session and I was like: “Bruh, what are you talking bout?” But when I read this I started to understand.
Someone to follow:
Last week I had a phone call with illustrator, Emily McDowell. Her work is phenomenal.
Related:
The song Phenomenal by Janelle Monae has been on repeat this week. I love her new album: The Age of Pleasure. It reminds me of Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall for reasons I can’t fully explain. But it’s electric and seductive and a fun way to bring in summer. (Beware there are cuss words)
Something to try:
I recently got a Nintendo Switch and ya boy is now a cozy gamer. I finished my first game since childhood called Jenny LeClue Detectivu. It was an incredibly enjoyable murder mystery featuring a child detective. Here’s a video review.
Something worth reading:
How To Release Emotions Stuck In Your Body. I feel like this year has been so much about shaking out old energy and this article was an interesting read about processing energy that’s stuck in your body.
Related:
I tried a qigong exercise over the weekend to “purge and tonify.” In case you have’t heard of it, qigong involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being. Ironically, it did cause me to “purge,” which was unexpected, but also slightly freeing as well. (Sorry if that’s TMI)
Currently watching:
Season 2 of Cruel Summer on Hulu. This TV show is equal parts thrilling and cheesy. Set in a small seaside town in the 99 and 2000s (ifykyk), a teen’s life totally changes when her mom opens their home to a foreign exchange student. There are love triangles, terrible decisions, and at least one dramatic death. It’s the perfect escape show because it’s so camp, you don’t get too invested. Here’s a full review.
A podcast I’m enjoying:
Austin Kleon on the Creator Science podcast. Kleon is most known for his New York Times bestselling book, Steal Like an Artist, but he actually published a book of poetry before reaching massive success. I really enjoyed learning more about his story through this podcast episode.
(Fun fact: We worked at the same digital marketing agency in Austin, TX… but unfortunately at different times)
Listening to:
Dancing with Nobody by Surfaces. This downbeat pop song always makes me smile when it comes up on shuffle.
Currently playing:
Lost in Play on the Nintendo Switch. This delightful game is a journey through childhood imagination with thoughtfully crafted puzzles and colorful characters. The animations are adorable and the puzzles are genuinely challenging so I’m greatly enjoying this game. Here’s a 3 minute review.
Have you seen anything interesting on the internet? Send me a DM on Instagram.
Here’s how you really let go
For so much time I held life with clenched fists, doing my best to control the outcomes.
I thought if I held my hands tight, maybe I could keep all the good in and keep all the bad out.
But even with closed fists, there is loss.
You hold on to “it”
Whatever “it” may be for you.
Dreams, desires, people, ideals, idols.
But unfortunately, you can’t enjoy something if you’re too desperate to keep it captive.
And if you hold something too tight, eventually you wring the life out of it.
This has been a season of letting go.
Of releasing closed fists and sitting with open hands.
Inviting good and accepting bad to come as it may.
A little less expectation and somehow a lot more joy.
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Where in your life are you holding on too tightly for a specific outcome?
How to allow your emotions to evolve
Within any given emotion contains the potential of infinite depth.
Depth that at it’s core contains a contradiction.
By feeling grief, you can better experience joy.
By embracing your anger, you can become more compassionate.
By experiencing your fear, you can more easily find courage.
There’s no need to master your emotions.
You just have to feel them.
And allow them to evolve.
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Reflect on a recent experience where you felt a strong emotion. What unexpected insights can you gather from feeling that particular emotion.
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