
If you want to make anything and put it out to the public, then there’s one skill you’re going to need to consciously cultivate.
Train yourself to view your art as separate from your identity.
What I mean by that is, the stuff you’re making, whether it’s visual, music, writing etc. is not you. It contains your opinions, your ideas, and a lot of your sweat and tears, but when it’s all said and done you have to step back and see it as something “other.”
Why? Well, first, that’s just the truth. Second, if you don’t you will be shoved around, agitated, stressed, and embittered by every little critique or perceived slight your work gets.
You may be trying to say something in your work you deeply hold to be true about the world. Even in that case, and this is hard, you need to set aside your ego when you get push-back. If it is the truth about the world, it would be truth apart from you. If you’re right, you have nothing to worry about and and push-back is an opportunity to defend truth. If you’re wrong, have the humility to readjust your position.
All this is easier said than done. But the more you do this, the more free you become.
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