Find Your Creative Tribe
The Power of Creative Connections
Creativity requires you to be a lone wolf.
To grow and flourish, you need space and time to reach your zone place, and that is often achieved by being alone. The travails of creative pursuits require courage to defeat the voices of self-doubt and navigate the uncertain waters of creativity.
Those who are not pursuing a creative life may not understand the journey. Their attempts at support may turn out to be unhelpful.
That’s why finding other creatives in your life is such a worthy goal.
If you have surrendered to the process of an artistic vision and have a willingness to carry through with that vision, you share something with fellow creative folks. You too have been vulnerable and courageous enough to make something artistic that was not there before.
You aspire to create an outcome solely from your potential and love of your craft by using your imagination.
All artists share facing harsh voices of a frightened ego.
So, when you hear another artist share their vulnerabilities and their self-doubts about their abilities, all artists will empathize
I used to be surprised by it, but now I expect it. Early in my creative life, as an introvert, and an empath, I was identified as “too much” — too sensitive, too dramatic, too excitable. I dreaded going into new environments to take an art or writing class. If the need and compulsion in me to discover and to learn new skills was great enough, however, I had to face the unknown of meeting new people. What I would come to learn is that artists are the most kind and supportive people in the world. Now, I believe I know why.
What I’ve discovered is that creative types are generous with each other. They share resources and tricks of the trade. I’ve noticed a profound lack of competitiveness amongst artists. Instead of hoarding their secrets that they have learned over time, artists know that creativity is limitless, so they are at the ready to help someone else. I noticed that if a style is borrowed or copied, the artist sees it as a form of flattery, knowing it will morph into the other’s personal and unique style eventually.
There is an abundance of generosity coming from artistic souls in the world. While our society at large is based on competition and ambition to succeed, seasoned artists gave up that paradigm long ago. The idea of win at all costs (I win, you lose) has nothing to do with the artist’s journey or process. It is unreasonable to expect people who are not on an artistic journey to provide you with the quality of support you may need as an artist.
So much of creativity is done in silence and isolation. It is imperative to find your tribe of other artists. With too much seclusion, you can lose perspective, experience an imbalance of proportion, or develop an obsession with detail, combined with an inability to see the larger picture. Artists are a unique breed and when we find common souls who can support our work and efforts, it is a most beautiful and joyful connection.
Some of the best connections are one-on-one. To have someone else bolster you when you feel like giving up, when you are lost, or when you are on a tough learning curve can literally make the difference in your work and your sense of balance as an artist. Better yet, find a collection of people to form your own tribe! There is so much power in a group of people with the same intentions.
Every act of group cohesion starts with someone saying, “me too.” The best groups support each other to defeat the voices that keep everybody small.
Therefore, it’s important to have a tribe of fellow artists who can commiserate and cheer each other on for showing up regularly. Group members can remind each other that anyone who has the courage to be raw and vulnerable, and who can create, deserves a medal! Champion yourself, champion each other.
Take my writers group, for instance. I see us growing weekly. I see us supporting each other, telling the truth about our raw, sensitive places, pushing the limits of what we have done before, and encouraging the leap into new areas. People who have been “too much,” until they got broken open so they could be free, have a new home. I feel so damn blessed to have them.
Go find an art partner, start an art salon, or join a writing group. Share challenges. Have someone to share your work with, not to judge, but to celebrate that you showed up to do some work. Any artistic personality knows the courage it takes to do so. You don’t have to close off relationships, you just need to fill your artistic social tanks with the life force essences of others!
Go find your people. They are easy to see. You’ll probably recognize a fellow artist by the twinkle in their eye. They look happier and bouncier somehow; more joyful, more playful. They don’t quite fit the mold society tries to fit them into. If you notice, they will also believe in unseen forces and have a strong connection to their inner guidance. This might make them trust themselves more and be able to tap into the field of unlimited possibilities. There is a glow coming off someone who had a good day making.
Go make your tribe; those fellow creatives that support you. Doing so will make a huge difference in your life as well as your creative pursuits.