An Artist’s Personal Constitution: 10 Daily Reminders to Stay the Course of Authenticity
Start With a Self Audit
Most of my writing offers tactical tips for artists: pricing strategies, tools for navigating the blockchain as a traditional artist, a how-to guide for sustainable art success, etc.
Today, though, is a little more personal. Because I can’t help but believe that the more we’re inundated with other’s successes, triumphs, and even failures, the more blurry the vision for our own lives becomes.
I’ve taken most of this month off of social media — popping on occasionally to share good news or check a DM from my mom, and the longer I’m away, the more I’m realizing how infrequently we take time to come home to ourselves; to audit our lives (Am I happy? What’s going well? Where am I dissatisfied? Why am I feeling so impatient?).
It seems like we’re learning how to live only in the context of others, only in comparison to what’s happening around us. And I know this is true of myself — the more time I spend watching, consuming, observing my peers, the less I’m sure of my own trajectory. Is this path even mine anymore?
On the contrary, the more time I spend with myself, alone, or in close community with the people I trust to be a sounding board, the more I’m sure I’m moving right for my life, regardless of the chaos. Or, the more quickly I’m able to identify the things I’m not doing right so I can make adjustments without hesitation.
Begin With the End in Mind
As with all things in life, and especially as artists bearing Creative Responsibility, we must begin with the end in mind.
Stephen R. Covey, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, likens this concept to a blueprint and a house in his point that “all things are created twice.” If others’ successes, expectations, scripts, etc. are shaping how I draw my blueprint, then I’m going to build a houseI don’t even like.
But, if what I build or create is in alignment with my own values, desires, and vision for my life in the blueprint stage, then the house I build based upon it, I’ll love. I’ll be proud of it. It’ll feel like home.
So, today, I choose to rescript. I’m going to walk in alignment with my values, my beliefs, my vision, and my destiny according to the vastness and the beauty of the universe, so that the blueprint I draw can set the tone and provide direction for the house I want to build — without comparison to the homes of my metaphorical neighbors.
Let’s start with the end in mind.
Ask yourself: If I listened to what was spoken at my funeral, what would I want to hear? How would I want people to remember me? What would I want to be my legacy?
(I’d respond, for example: Wise, patient, beautiful, brilliant. Loved, lovable, loving. Magnetic, captivating, awe-inspiring. Miraculously, ridiculously, wonderfully creative — in that I execute on all things with excellence and precision. Intentional in relationship — as a wife and mother, unparalleled in my ability to see and know and provide for and cover my family and friends and business. A woman to behold.)
With this in mind — the end — where do I begin? What am I doing today that positions me for alignment with — and fruition of — this vision?
My Personal Constitution: 10 Daily Reminders to Keep Top of Mind
Say “no” to everyone and everything outside of alignment. Reject distraction, and invite in its place all the things that grow and stretch and challenge and inspire you, that bring peace to your heart and stillness to your storm. Trust your vision.
Listen to your gut. Don’t ever listen to anyone else, and do not follow through on something even if you love the person giving advice. Nobody is on this journey of yours; nobody has your intuition. Pursue inner peace. Spend time with yourself so that you can discern your thoughts arising, versus those programs from external sources. Trust your intuition.
Create opportunity consistently. Don’t sit and wait for it to come to you. Bring it forth. Be proactive — about relationships, friendships, communication, business opportunities. I beg you…go after it with everything you’ve got. Trust your anointing.
Do less. Stop trying so hard. Is what you’re saying, thinking, feeling, doing, being in alignment with your values (such as joy and peace and truth)? (“Is it Sophie to do this?” I’ll ask myself.) Or are you reading off of someone else’s script for your life? Trust your talent.
Be big. Go ahead and do it. Be big and wild and free and floppy and lovely and wonderful. Do not get to the end of this life wishing you had gone bigger.Trust your edge.
Take your time. “In this day and age, it’s better to land with precision and intensity, than scatter resources on low reverberations easily forgotten” (from Edmund Lock on Twitter). Trust the compound effect.
Do nothing specifically for social media. Create nothing for the sole purpose of social distribution. If you are already doing the thing, go ahead and take the photo. (Sharing is integral to connecting.) But, don’t set up a photo for the exclusive intent to share it. Trust that the world is more than the internet.
Stay Sophie. Don’t worry about the vanity metrics, think not of virality. Do only what is truest to you.Trust the process — and stay the course. Trust your identity.
Always, always, always come back home. If “home” is the Universe, if “home” is God, if “home” is the Source, etc., don’t forget to visit home. Infinite Intelligence (and, as an artist, Infinite Creativity), is bigger than us. We just need to make friends with it, to open ourselves up to its offering. Trust your cosmic creator.
Finally: Stay adaptable. Come back to this and make changes as necessary. You are water, not a brick wall. Trust your growth.
