One of the things I'm struggling to come to terms with at the moment is that if I can't 'lose' myself in my photography, my photography suffers.
I already knew I couldn't interview someone and capture their portrait at the same time. I knew couldn't tell the story in both ways, simultaneously, but oh how I've fought 'knowing' this.
The Belgian bloke asked me last night, 'Does a painter teach painting and paint at the same time?'
Well of course not but ...
I always expect better of myself. But always.
I read something yesterday where a woman is complaining about her boss: she doesn't give me enough praise, barely lets me take a day off, will not give me a pay raise. She goes on and on about how we must invest profits back in the company.
Then she talked of her employee: often doesn’t show up to work, comes and goes and she pleases, treats her job as a hobby.
Artist & CEO of Ann Rea, Inc. Founder of Artists Who Thrive.
Of course, the woman was self-employed and talking of herself. It's an interesting article and well worth a read if you're trying to create your own business.
And it's true. I rarely take time off and yet I fit a million other things in around the work that must be done.
Justine Musk wrote something I love on this particular subject:
I have come to believe that perfectionism is a kind of evil, that it’s poisoning my gender and holding us back, as individuals and as a group. I wish more women knew in their core that they have a right to be who they are without trying to please or worrying about what other people think.
Perfectionism is the endless chasing of external validation, and it steers you away from your inner guidance system, your soul-voice. It makes you think that the small things are just as important as the big things, or that everything is a big thing, and this just isn’t true.
You can choose your priorities according to what truly gives you meaning, and you can let the other things slide. You don’t have to do everything.
Men know this. Men go for the touchdown. Women head in that direction, but then start obsessing over the state of the grass – and blaming themselves for every little weed, every little bald patch.
I wish more women knew to trust themselves more – to be themselves on purpose – to allow themselves to express their own power, creativity and greatness instead of trying to keep everything so controlled. Life will not be controlled.
Justine Musk, from The Self-Love Series.
And so you see how it is today. I'm pulling out everything I know on the subject while trying to put together a life where I concentrate on the things that are important. I understand that it's quite possibly okay that I'm willing to work all the time but some praise to myself wouldn't go astray. Prioritising 'distractions' might be a plan too.
Let's see how it unfolds.
