Sunday Souvenirs // 11
Self-worth, worthiness, valuable, worthless (!) - these are words that we have become inoculated to over years and years of magazine covers in checkout lines, pep-talks from spiritual leaders, and mantra meditations. And yet so many of us (myself included) have a hard time walking that walk.
Oh yes, I know that I am valuable, that my life is worthy, that I walk in power, that my time is money - I know those things... but I struggle to ask other people to know them also. And, before I start spinning my wheels about how capitalism is designed to make us feel like crap so that we can be sold things that can make us "better," let me acknowledge that we DO live in a capitalist society where time IS money and the things you make, do, share ARE valuable. Literally, you are able to place a price on them.
Of COURSE that isn't "the price of your life" but it is the degree to which you ask other people to acknowledge your worth.
What are you giving away for free?
What does that say about how much you expect other people to think your work is worth?
If we're going to project other people's judgements onto ourselves and our self-worth, then let's project that they think we're worth MORE, let's expect that they will want to support our dreams in spirit and in cash.
For us creative folks, this can be especially difficult because our work often flows easily to us, so pricing our work can feel like tying a string to the wind. But to people who can't do what you do (and honey, hear me when I say that NOBODY can do what you do when you're doing you) think you have SUPERPOWERS. If someone doesn't want to pay for your art, then your art is not for them. The people who want to low-ball you, water you down, ask you to do it "for the experience" are not interested in your superpowers. Find the folks who are.
I recently learned a new adage that really hit home with me:
The reward for digging good holes is a bigger shovel.
How you spend your time and effort will set the tone for how others value it. If you're doing work that is only going to get you a bigger shovel, stop digging. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of digging holes. I want to build castles.
xx,
Callahan
READ
Following up on last week's Audubon prints, one of my favorite contemporary artists, Kerry James Marshall has a new series of paintings inspired by Audubon. (NYTimes)
If you're feeling particularly nihilistic this week (it's been a doozy) try these tips for surviving in a simulation (Philosophy Now)
WATCH
Obsessing over these tours of slow, simple, sustainably designed homes around the world.
1. This Joshua Tree home took 8 years to build
2. Don't worry, this one is on AirBnB
3. BRB packing everything and moving to Spain
LEARN
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, August 15th at 2P Central will be the next installment in the Unbridled Creative Workshops. This time we'll be moving on to #2: Make Something!
Don't let that freak you out - we're just going to play! And also maybe literally light some projected fears on fire, but you know, playfully :)
Space is limited but instant replays are available! Register today to receive the instant replay!