What artists need in the world today.

Today's article is an answer to a call by fellow writer and wonderful human being, Elle Griffin, whom I most recently connected with. I like competitions, so I answered her challenge fast.

I will give my version of what artists need the most. In my opinion, is not one but three elements that all artists need to have in place so they can kick ass in the world we live in today.

But first things first. Let's start with the basics. Who are we?

Who are the Artists?

Artists are sensitive, creative creatures who constantly seek different outcomes and realities to tap into.

They do that by using their favorite toolset, whether it is painting, singing, dancing, acting, writing, boxing, or myriad other forms of expression.

A real artist never stays still, always exploring, always looking for something new to create.

I was born as one, a dreamer with a vision for a robust future.

God blessed me with many gifts and talents, I had everything I needed for a prosperous life. 

God also gave me the choice to decide whether to use them wisely or not, to fight hard and establish myself in the world, or to let the world step on me and smash me into pieces.

Become wise or stay wounded is your choice.

In my earlier years, the second happened; I remained wounded for a long time; I lived in the past, and I refused to heal for a long time.

Throughout all that time, I didn't have the necessary discipline or willingness to go deep, execute my goals, and fulfill my dreams. My art remained strictly personal, just for fun.

As a child and later as an adult, I was always undisciplined, unstructured, and wild.

The wild horse in me was running unstoppable in any direction.

The Struggling Artist

My identity was that of a struggling artist, a dreamer with nowhere else to go.

I was feeling like a victim and acting like one.

"Lost forever in no man's land."

Everything in my life had become a constant pain. The way I gained momentum through the years came from journaling. Then, my maturing started. At 39 years old, I saw the light and started to become wiser.

So what do artists need in the world we live in today?

They need to grow up. Simple.

Simple. But how?

All artists need to become more responsible in their lives and better manage their days.

We artists need to get real with our lives.

You know, my ex-girlfriend used to tell me that I live in a bubble and she was right. I had been living in Laland most of the time while we were together, and I couldn't accept it.

It was so much easier without having the biggest responsibilities in life: how to take care of the house, how to work and pay the bills, and how to be a loving, responsible partner and human being. I was a child.

Artists are like children who never want to grow up

It is like the story of my dear friend Peter Pan. That wonderful Disney character, the child who never grows up, who always wants to experience fun and games, who is always up for adventure.

I never wanted to grow up as a child; I wanted my life to be a constant play, but reality told me time and time again a different story.

Reality told me that when the game is over, life must start and vice versa, but I didn't want to listen. I had to pass 50 to finally accept this.

You see children can be very stubborn at times and I was very stubborn.

"If you don't grow up, if you don't reason with yourself, you will lose."

And I did lose. I lost my true self, and I have given a huge battle to get it back.

Artists need to grow up, to man up or woman up. It's essential for everybody's life, that's what I strongly think.

Game On and Game Over

Artists need to create boundaries. The need to know when one must start and finish.

We only have 24 hours per day, and to make the best of it, all artists need a plan.

Grow up or Get Lost

It's easy for the artist to get lost in the bliss that his creativity creates. Time stops, and everything else becomes irrelevant. They call it the flow.

So they need to develop discipline in the areas of their life that matter.

How can I be disciplined and stay creative at the same time?

Wouldn't the one cancel the other? It's a good question.

I'm scratching my head on this one but the answer is really simple. "You don't replace it, you add to it." You create an order.

 I like to do many things at the same time, if one clicks, many others can click too, but if they are spread, it's not possible to happen anything.

To be an artist means to give others the chance to experience something unique.

Let's be honest with ourselves, and let's make peace with discipline.

A complete mindset

When I was a teenager, I used to paint portraits in black and white. I found it easier than dealing with all these different colors, too many colors were bringing me a headache, and seemed too much for me to handle. I loved the simplicity of black and white but I was missing a lot.

I was missing a lot from free expression, and in recent years, my painting exploded. I began using colors, lots of them, and I had so much more inspiration.

We artists need to see everything as a whole. We need to become better communicators. We need to heal ourselves from past hate and stop being selfish. 

"Create so you can connect. Connect so you can create."

We artists need to create; it's in our blood, and we must do it until we die; retirement is not an option.

We also need to connect frequently with people, especially our beloved audience, and of course with each other. 

After ten months in Substack, I began to feel alone and I was alone, with zero interactions from people and fellow writers and only creating content but for whom and for what audience?

Ultimately, what is my satisfaction? Is it to just create or to give something worthwhile to others?

I think it's both but in the long run is the second. Long after I’m gone the second will remain. Love never expires, never ends. It’s infinite through time and space. It’s the most powerful force in the universe.

So I decided to change my approach and become more open, and things are changing.

 I'm writing more often, and I'm creating new connections and friendships. It is going great.

Your Strongest Why Will Help You Continue.

Here I will speak like Tony(Robbins) one of my favorite mentors. All artists need to be self-driven, self-oriented, and towards the greater good.

How do we achieve that? By having good enough reasons to continue our work. Good enough reasons that can hold us together when the going gets tough. Your strongest will help you move forwards.

My Strongest Why

To me, one strong reason is that I want to save the world. I want to give the world strength, light, and hope. This reason comes basically from my birth; since I was a kid, I always had this vision of becoming a superhero and saving the world. And this reason alone is good enough for me to continue.

Final Words

So that settles it. My argument is complete. I hope all artists get something out of this if not at least I tried.