Creative journeys are a slog.
When people say following your dreams can be hard, they’re actually saying something more subtle, but far less sexy: that getting up when you’re knocked down takes commitment. What they mean—even though they don’t explicitly say it—is that it really hurts to work for something that always feels just out of reach. It's arduous and tiring.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately as I embark on the MAP Year Project.
About 10 years ago, my best friend answered the phone when I was in the middle of a mental health crisis. My voice wobbled, but his didn’t. He was calm, offering sage advice that ended up saving my life. Years later, I’d asked him how he’d stayed so level-headed during that phone call, since it was his clarity that'd made the difference. What he said next is something I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life.
He told me that when he answered the phone he was terrified. But he knew he needed to find a way to keep calm. So he asked himself: “What would Derek do if the roles were reversed?”
And then, he tried to act like me.
My throat still catches thinking about it. It’s one of the most profound mindset shifts I’ve ever come across. I use it all the time now. When I’m down and trying to remember to be nice to myself, I think of how he’d help.
Then I act like him.
So in that spirit, I offer a simple reminder (for you and for me)... sometimes, chasing creative dreams looks like:
- Being tired.
- Taking a break.
- Coming back to it tomorrow.
But most importantly: please remember to be nice to yourself while you do it.
onward.
-dmac