Happy Friday & Happy Valentine's Day! I don't know about you, but I have never really cared about Valentine's Day other than making cute little heart-shaped cards in my homeschooled elementary school group. Although as I've gotten older and slightly less cynical, I find this day to be more of a reminder of all the valuable relationships in my life, including the one I have with myself. On that note, I want to say a little more about self-love in the context of mental health as an artist and a tool that I have found extremely helpful.
While I love my job so much, being a solely self-employed artist has its ups and downs. Often, I hear folks in the know talking about the asymmetrical year of art sales. Typically, artists make the majority of their income in the second half of the year and sometimes the last quarter. Of course, we learn to adjust and plan, but sometimes in the midst of Winter when the sales are barely trickling in and you’re anxiously awaiting acceptance or rejection into Summer shows, mental health is a thing (I mean, not to mention that Winter is already dark, cold, and gray enough in the PNW).
Anyway, a big part of my ability to maintain a positive outlook and mindset (which is a huge part of the creative and business process), has been listening to affirmations when I feel myself starting to spiral. I created a playlist in Spotify that has some favorites of mine, so it's super easy to pull up and play while I'm painting or working on other elements of production in the studio. I got this idea from a photographer friend of mine who said it completely changed her life. It works like a charm to reset my brain and pull myself out of negative cycles. A couple favorites on the list this week are Alan Watts & Emory Hall.
And on this topic of self-love and affirmations, one of the sweetest things I've heard on my playlist lately is “What if you were your best friend instead of your worst enemy?” When I compare the things I say to my best friend vs. the mental self-talk I sometimes find myself caught up in, there can be a pretty distinct difference. What would it look like to be more comforting and nurturing with yourself?
If you can relate or have thoughts to share, drop them in the comments.