Creative work has been around for centuries. For as long as they’ve been around, artists, singers, dancers, writers, speakers (and dern it I gotta include mimes)… they’ve all been heckled with “Get a REAL job” by those who don’t understand. And it hurts. It’s hard to NOT take that personally, even to a small degree, because it’s a passion and a naturally different expertise.
Aaahhhh… Different. How I love that word! Differentiation’s seed is planted when we no longer rely on the perceived reward of common acceptance. In other words, when we let go of the “what will they think” and “what if they don’t like (me, my idea, etc)” tool of the enemy, everything we need in order to begin setting ourselves apart can start to flow, even gain momentum. We gain a new perspective on our trade, our clients, our offerings, even on those who judge us. In turn, our offer becomes even more amazing than ever before and our expertise swells. Gratitude flows for our creations and demand increases – we feel pretty dern good! This calls for chocolate!
And yet the sting of the past can rear its ugly head, even after we’ve achieved great successes. “Get a REAL job” screeches in the ears like Fran Drescher’s… nails on a chalkboard. That all too familiar feeling of misunderstood judgment tingles as your heart so badly wants to tell those people to “Fahgettaboutit“. However, you’ve grown. You see things differently and not just because you’re different, but because you’re experienced. You realize their “suggestion” is their stuff, based on their understanding (or misunderstanding as it were) and you don’t have to own it as a negative thing. You can rise up with pride and say “Thank you for noticing I’m not like everyone else. That means my efforts are working as intended.”
To this day I occasionally hear “Get a REAL job”. Even family members used to make such “suggestions” in their own way. It used to offend me. (This IS my job!) Now I sincerely appreciate that they were thinking of me and placing me in their hearts the only way they knew how. They didn’t know what I know. They were displaying what they knew. There is great freedom in recognizing this simple truth. Their “suggestion” helps me to remember that I am, in fact, needed and touching lives. My craft, my offer, my style/approach, my humor, my message is needed.
If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend watching Amanda Palmer’s TED Talk. She discusses this very thing, as well as the art of asking. I particularly enjoyed when she shared her new-found understanding on receiving and “being the hat”. While I do not relate to her lifestyle/art, it’s a universal message from which one can glean quite a perspective shift.
Perhaps there are similar “Get a REAL job” ‘pains’ from your past experiences that twinge for you on occasion, that today could be tweaked with a new perspective. Perhaps today is the day you begin recognizing that those who judge with outside “suggestions” as such aren’t actually offensive at all (unless we’re talking about odor here), they’re just… doing their job.
© 2013 Jennifer Stoll |All Rights Reserved – So No Touchy | Violators Will Be Towed
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Jennifer Stoll, Artist and Caffeinated Brusher of Canvases Extraordinaire at JenniferSomething, is a recovered professionalist on a mission to spread creativity and inspiration through mobile art entertainment. Whether teaching workshops, painting whilst speaking, creating gallery pieces, or painting at events and fairs, Jennifer entertains visually and humorously. Visit JenniferSomething.com for more deets and pics of her art.
