I recently had a friend say to me: "why are you not sharing your art with more people? That's actually super selfish of you." It really was a great slap in the face actually to think about it in such a different way.
Oh yes, I had a point. My friends were busy working but when they got done working they just watch TV or whatever and ask me if writing ever got boring. Now I have extra money and they don't 😁 and I help out but we won't get into that😂 learn today so you can live tomorrow 😁
When he said "A lot of people are not prepared to be themselves, they're nervous when you do it and try to keep you from doing it bc they really wish they could do it. They don't have the courage to do it bc there aren't any railroad tracks that mark it out clearly." Also when he talked about failing the universe by not living out your dream and failing the people you may have influenced by living out your dream, that part really spoke to me.
Yes, but remember that the competition is fierce for slots like being an actor. Just because you want to be an actor, and may even be good at it, doesn't mean that you'll have great chances of making a living at it. Some artistic fields are highly impacted. It's just a reality. However, if you do your art an an avocation (channeling Herman Melville) you'll get to do what you want to do, when you're not capitulating to pay the bills with a day job. Do what you love and the money will follow... well.... not necessarily. Keep your day job, yes, your bills will be paid.
Im 38 and just now becoming an artist - after years of self abuse, echoing a traumatic child hood in a loop. I know i can do this now. 🌱🌳💚✌🏻 if i can anyone can. x
inkwell flood I’m 40 right now. I wanted to be an artist myself when I was a child. I swallowed a lot disapproval & nonsupport during my educational years. Ever since I took the route of being an productive adult I been battling with it everyday. Bravo to you at 38. The videos & comments like yourself will give me the drive to even pick up a paint brush in so long.
@@luisgregoryhinojosa please do captain, ive honestly struggled, from suicidal to this over years, meditation - allan watts - positive music, any tool i could use to get going, if its what you love go for it, art truly sets you free. 🌱🌳💚
Similar story here. Best of luck; you'll learn things that you could never imagine, and you'll confirm things that you already know. Stay away from negative, envious people. Cheers and courage!
This is one of the channels that gave me the courage to start my RUclips channel 11 months ago about self development. Now I have 2,077 subs and > 2k hours of watch time. I know it’s not comparable with others but I’m still proud I started because I’ve been learning so many lessons that I could haven’t learned without getting started in the 1st place.
This dude just consistently drops the most powerful, inspiring knowledge. Whenever I need to feel justified about the creative things I do, I think about the stuff he says. Thank you Ken.
Einstein said "stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution". Most people are too damn lazy and spend their life making excuses instead of pursuing their passion or dreams. If you choose not to decide, or take action, you still have made a choice.
His thoughts on being selfish is 100% right. Some people spend their whole life tending to needs of their family. Being a good husband, dad, mother is virtuous but there has to be a line drawn. Finally it comes down to making choices which truly matters. Sometimes you have to say no to your loved ones and just be selfish and do what your heart desires.
“If you do something creative, focus on that, and it’ll make sense out of the rest of your existence. That’s all anyone can manage, their own existence.” riveting
"You're not allowed to judge yourself. That's not your job. Your job is to do art, the creative work. Do as well as you can at the moment, the best you can. Strive for excellent. And then everybody else make up their mind."
Exactly. Nice polite interview is way better than those fucking self proclamed enlightened life coach gurus on stages with dramatic music, copy paste inspirational messages and teachings. Hate those fuckers.
"You have to be willing to be yourself" and "The universe did create you and if you're not doing the thing that you're dreaming of doing then you're failing not yourself but the rest of us..."
“You have to have a healthy ego to truly not care what others think about you” It’s funny how the Universe works I’m going through a spiritual awakening and I’m at a stage called The Dark Night Of The Soul. It’s like a snake shedding his skin. For me it’s simply getting rid of my old ego and creating a new one. I’m starting to follow my dreams and it feels amazing. When he said the word “ego” it hit me and something told me to check the time and it was 05:05am, which is a synchronicity from my higher self. Everything happens for a reason
My stand out line was when the Uncle said, “Just remember that nobody is really thinking about you most of the time… …so relax’. When I had the same thing pointed out to me (some decades ago) it was I think, the most freeing thing I’d ever heard. I was able to stop being so self-conscious and just be more ‘myself’. 🤘😬✌️
Yup. I’ve been a productive artist for over 4 decades. I have piles , stacks, volumes, and a’m still creating….more. I am unknown, I am un famous, I must believe in who I am and pursue my own shit till I have nothing left to create. I have battled every sort of mental and emotional demon that has stood in front of me, but the hardest suggestion I have needed to come to some sort of peace with is that I will possibly never receive back from the world what I have put in. For me, being part of the greater whole of artist people, those like me have gotten little back, so to speak, that gives me my “people”, my fellows, my strength . I am not here for “you”, I am here for “us”.
Fucking AWESOME interview Film Courage. When he said, "Do the work, let everybody else make up their mind", something just went off inside my head. These were the words i needed to hear. Thank you...
So relatable... "If you believe in any sort of a higher power, the universe did create you and if youre not doing the thing you're dreaming of doing, you're not just failing yourself but the whole universe as well." Lmao. It's almost as though he understands the gravity of the situation.
I resonated with that as well. Have felt the sting of it first hand from not telling a story that's wanted to be birthed into existence for a long time, but I am going to tell it now - it's my work for 2020. When we withhold our true gifts from the world, not only do we suffer as artists, the whole world suffers because we've withheld something that could have made a positive contribution.
@@JDubeta ...whatever your doing or not doing..it’s all good..be happy with what’s going down NOW...you automatically are ..doing or not...according to what the creator deigned for you...this and YOU..are IT.....no add ons..no subtractions...
When Ken talks about guilt or being afraid with pursuing something, this reminds me of how my parents were so persistent in discouraging any kind of artistic endeavor. They would constantly mention how I would turn into a starving artist, and live on the streets because they dont make that much money. Even to this day, I ruminate on how things could have turned out had I just been given a little push towards an interest rather than away. Probably too old to do anything about it now, very thought provoking video, well done.
No you are not "too old." I can give you some realistic advice. I don't know your preferred art form, so I'll just launch in. Begin by observing the artists you admire without allowing judgments to chatter in your mind. If you observe without preconceived notions, chances are you will notice MANY things about them that you never noticed before. Allow yourself to be intrigued by that, and try to keep judgment at bay. Now consider this: at what age did artists in various fields do their best work? Very rarely has a dancer done their best work at 40, and no figure skater has at 30, but plenty of novelists did their best around 60. Poets tend to be younger, but no other writers are. The benefit of starting young is the chance to grow into it, and build wisdom and craft, and meet good people -- which may mean no more than a lucky break. Pianists have given their most moving performances late in life; violinists, not usually. Picasso painted the morning before he died. Sophocles wrote throughout his 80s. If your art is in one of the areas where the finest have excelled or continued to excel late in life, then what is stopping you now? It is completely realistic to pursue it now. Also, the arts are approached so differently in other cultures compared to our own. I find that emotionally, I am too dependent on approval, but intellectually, I know that is SO wrong. In Europe, it is relatively common for parents to try to dissuade a budding artist -- not in order to stifle them at all, but in order to provoke them to rebel. Rebellion is considered a necessary step on the path to profound art.
@@l.w.paradis2108 I'd probably have more of an internal battle of if what I was making was just mediocrity. We're all our worst critics. There is also an oversaturation of creative endeavors across the board. I think the only path to success would be to fill a niche or something interesting outside of what most chase in mainstream. I did hear from a writer (forget who said it) where it went "nobody should be writing books until they're 40" or something along those lines, and I can understand why that would be. The perspective of youth or early adulthood is still relatively sheltered until they reach a burgeoning of some kind with enough experience or exposure to life. I've heard of the concept of people killing their muse if they dont sate their creativity, which is a pretty scary thought.
"I think there is an element of selfishness in creativity." I'd prefer to think of it as self respect and a refusal to blindly follow the crowd like a push over.
It's all about consistency. If you produce enough of whatever you do eventually people will have no choice but to notice the compound effects. You can do something new and unique but it will take a lot more of it than what is trendy. But the payoffs will be far greater to the future societies..
Work is life. The most successful people on the planet understand this. There is only work-life balance for those who work purely for sustenance and attempt to build happiness after they've punched out. Dividing yourself into parts destroys your integrity. No wonder depression is on the rise. Fulfillment, people, is everything. Do what you are and integrate it into your entire existence.
I just put a sticky note on the top left corner of my desktop (supplanting one with my work hours) that just says this: ""YOUR JOY AND YOUR MISSION IN LIFE IS TO DO THE CREATIVE WORK." - Dr. Ken Atchity - It will be a great reminder to start and finish each day. Thanks!
What he said is so true. He is self aware and understands that you need to choose how to prioritize not only your time but your mental space. I don't believe he is out of touch. He speaking to people who are in a position to make these changes but refuse to see them through. This really resonated with me because I have been guilty of several things he touches on.
Wow. I'm really glad I found this. I found peace hearing all the wisdom he shared. For a very long time I've had my own battles in pursuing creative work. The loneliness, the guilt, the selfishness, the ego. But I've always believed that there's always a price to pay, and that whether my work is appreciated or recognized is well beyond me. My job is only to create and move on. Thank you for the wisdom.
"The people who love their work, the Type C personalities (like Alison Monroe), their life is their work. It's like a calling. And if you don't do it, you're not living. When you are not doing it, you are alive, but if you are not doing it on a regular basis then you are not living your life, you are living someone else's life or you are living anyone's life. But the artist is someone who lives their life - their own specific life, that she shaped for herself." I cried when I heard this. I have never felt so deeply recognised in one sentence.
The acknowledgement that artists are "selfish" is reassuring. There is so much scorn associated with that word, but the truth spoken about here is that artists are involved in "self-expression" and it is that quality that makes them unique.
This is a great conversation for any artist. The MOVIE business, is very relationship driven, takes a lot of people to build it, and amazing artists can fall by the side due to lack of connections, BUT that should not keep the artist from creating or have to wait till an EXEC gives them a BIG BREAK or believes they can make money with you. If you make or are able LIVE your dream, you should be able to move toward it with out someone financing it. Make your own thing if the Movie business will never make the effort to know you, if you keep waiting for others to give you permission, you could miss your life dreaming and not DOING.
I love the idea that these negative emotions, e.g. guilt, are imaginary. It removes the weight from them, and just almost eliminates them as an obstacle to just write
I do believe that I was born to be an artist, but I had not finished a painting in over 10 years until last week. It felt great to sign my work signifying that it was done. I don't want to let the universe down! This guy's perspective on creativity is very inspiring!
I once had a great chat with a native Hawaiian on the island of Kauai. We talked about this very thing - missing out on life if you're too busy with work ... and he said something profoundly poignant. ... He responded to me by stating: .... "What you focus on in life, determines what you miss" .... to this day, I have never forgotten his quote. --- Thanks for sharing this video - I need to hear this
“Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.” ― Richard P. Feynman
The part about failing yourself, others and the universe really got me. I have been,for the past several months, doing nothing. I live at home, I help my folks sometimes with some stuff, such as picking up my siblings from school and that s it. I wish to pursue a career in the arts, maybe not as a writer although, I'm leaning more towards directing, but this still got to me profoundly. I have been lazy and making excuses and I realize that now. I'm starting to hate myself and want to end it all, but I won't because these videos give me back the courage I need.
Dude. A lot of people get lazy or lose their way. People fail. That's how we learn. Back in '89 I was depressed and slept til noon, 1 o'clock. Every day is a new day. Get up in the morning and start something- however small. And read- read a lot! In your spare time if you're working. Not just online stuff but actual books. The act of checking out a book at the library and turning pages is something a lot of people don't do. Keep a journal and write about it. Write about your thoughts, ideas, etc. Believe me- I'm a slow as hell reader myself- but you'll make connections to stuff in life that will trip you out. Just whatever you do- don't turn to drugs. The people that have to have them (medical) have no choice because they're fighting cancer or Parkinsons disease - fighting for their lives and didn't ask for it to begin with. You know Rodney Dangerfield right? Dude was Fug-ly! He didn't care- he used self defamation and pointed all his jokes at himself. He was (and still is) funny as hell. Dated beautiful women and had Johnny Carson falling down laughing. Do you know when he started his routine? Age 40. Some people start even later than that because they have collected enough life experiences and want to talk about it! And Richard Pryor. His life was HELL. But he reached out and made EVERYBODY LAUGH. Carson, too. Stay positive, yo!
At the end, when he mentions a lot of people out there don't even know who you are. I also find that comforting, it does make it easier to put my work out there, takes some of the pressure off.
paradoxically the beefed up ego is the one that makes everything personal, "oh what would they think of me if i do this" while, as he said, few people truly care about you, on the other side our existence and what we do is only to make a self sense out of all this chaos and share so maybe someone can relate
I really needed this today, thank you. I have OCD so most of the time my thoughts just keep spiralling. Guilt and failure is the most comon feeling I Feel because I have learned my whole life to cater to the needs of others. So... no matter what I do I never feel enough. When someone sais "You are such a good person", I just dont believe it. The thought makes me happy for a moment, and then the Doubt and Guilt is back. Guilt that I let my condition consum me. Guilt that I am to exhausted to bend over backwards for my family. Guild that I dont enjoy my Job. Its like this every day. But when I am making art i just feel light and free, and I honestly do feel that my creativity is the reason that keeps me alive. The thing the universe wants from me. Its so important to me that I refuse to take antidepressants, because they have fogged my brain and drained me of creativity in the past. I really want to make more time in my Life to do art. Maybe even make a career out of it. So I think What Dr. Atchity said about a healthy amount of "selfishness" and just not caring, is something that I should really apply in my life going forward. Because there will always be something holding me back, if I dont start and make this my priority
I was having some mental health issues I was out of work because of it (I’m a graphic designer) I decided I was going to study the origins of stigma and use other people’s stories as inspiration for others to get help. I decided to make a book and no matter what came at me I would finish it and I did. I also got counselling which was great and a couple of publishers are interested. My point is get off your f&@“ing ass and do it. That’s the best advice and don’t give up. It’s gonna be hard yes but it’s worth it.
Hi Calvan, thanks for the comment. Love to hear that you have rebounded from a low point in your life. Congrats on finishing the book and on not staying down. We're pulling for you.
Each answer is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and encouragement. Some of my quick notes, not exact quotes, during the interview: 1 Work is what you get to do when you are not living. If it weren't for work, life would just swallow you up and spits you out at the end of the day. 2 If you are not doing the thing that you are dreaming of doing then you are failing the Universe, your dream, yourself and the rest of us too. 3 What is guilt? Isn’t it kind of a mental thing, isn’t it kind of imagery? Isn’t fear and guilt also imaginary? If you can't think your way through that you should stay home and do the job in the grocery store. 4 Mediocrity is a retroactive judgement. You can't make that decision until it's all done. (Sometimes even after.) 5 When you are an artist you can’t think that way. (Mediocrity) You have to strive for excellence. Do the best that you can at the moment and let the world judge it or not judge it. Who cares? Your joy and mission in life is to do your creative work. The STRENGTH of doing that you have to have a healthy ego. Not a huge ego or a little ego, which causes people to become egoistic but to truly not care what other people think. Great interview, Thank you!
Much of the things mentioned resonated with me. The part of being selfish, and failing the universe if you don’t do what you dream of doing. To not care what others think. I come back to listen once in a while as a reminder. Thank you.
These are wise words indeed. I grew up in a small village in New Brunswick. There was never any work, the little that there was, paid lousy. But at 16, I had been drawing and sketching for about 7 years, I loved it, but it always had to take a back seat to basic survival. I didn't attend college. My parents couldn't afford it. I moved to Alberta, and worked in several blue collar jobs,( forklift, warehouse, heavy industrial wire and cable, etc.) I was always really tired after work, but still managed to pull off a few pieces. I was not happy. I was working my ass off, and just barely keeping my nose above water. Then, at 60 yrs old, I had a revelation. Stop Working. It was the best move I ever made. My wife and I arrent old enough to collect the old age pension, but we get something called CPP. I get $545.00 per month, my wife gets just over $100.00. Social services pays the rest. We usually run out of food before the end of the month, both of us smoke, so we raid local ash trays for butts, that we re roll into cigarettes. It is definitely not "ideal" but for us, it is. Before I would get up at 5am, get to work by 6:30, work 8 hours and come home exhausted. My wife is the same age and she was working part time at a sub shop. We both stopped. Now I get up at 7 or 8, and start my day watching cartoons, or whatever. Then I have the day to create. Yes we had much more money before. But now we are happy, and I do as I damn well please. And my artwork is getting better all the time. For us, this choice was a no brainer. It might sound cliche but, JUST DO IT!!
I had to show this video to my husband, because I couldn't believe that every single thing you said was nearly verbatim of what I've been saying my whole life. I just said to him, "Who does this sound like?" Thank you for validating my intuitive understanding of the creative process & the way I think. That was freaky awesome! I KNOW everything you said was 100% accurate! At leaste for me!
"Your joy and mission in life is to do the creative work and that's all you have to worry about. Let everyone else make up their minds." And, "...The only thing that people can manage, I think, is their own existence."
The whole thing, very accurate.... God knows how much I needed to hear that right now. It's more about the walls I'm bringing down than the things I'm building up. I sometimes get lost between what I like and trying to please audiences ! Thank you so much for that.
"If you're not doing what you're dreaming of. You're not just failing yourself, but the whole universe. If you're a story teller and you're not writing because you're afraid to start, then you fail those, to whom your story might be life-saving and the funniest story they ever heard." Damn, Dr...
Some very liberating and empowering thoughts here. For me, I appreciate his perspective on simply doing what you want to do and not worrying about what the rest of the world thinks.
I really like ....missing out on life....not really...because this IS YOUR LIFE...yes...I personally feel true............I have a day job....I do art as hobby, look after family and its issues.......however, my ART is my purpose and prayer in life.....Its so meditative..... brings me to that inner silence even for few moments...its bliss...I m lucky that I dont have to create art for feeding myself!
I remember someone saying this I can't remember who exactly but they said, "Imagine you're on your deathbed and every single thing that you didn't create were circled around you and telling you what could've been." And that has always stuck with me more than anything.
GOD, so many lines jumped up at me. I sent it to my granddaughter that's 25yrs. Old too. She was a worried about what people thought about what you was doing her life and she was getting very depressed. I had told her to forget about what people thing and to just be yourself and do the things that she enjoyed doing and look for her calling. She started doing that a couple of months ago and she seems to be a lot happier. Thank you for your video I'll send it to her to reiterate my point. At the end of the day, no one cares about what we do in our lives. We just think they do!
Beautiful comment Deborah. It's wonderful that you have used this video in a loving way for your granddaughter. Sending you both our best. Keep creating!
"So what that tells you is that the artist can't think about things like that. You can't think about whether what you're doing is excellent or not. You have to strive for excellence, cuz if you don't strive for that you'll never get anywhere near it. But you don't judge yourself based on any of those criteria cuz that's not your job. Your job is to do your art, and do that as well as you can at the moment... and let the world judge it. Or not judge it. Who cares? Your job and your mission in life is to do the creative work, and that's all you have to worry about... The strength to do that means you've got to have a sufficiently healthy ego... to truly not care what other people think... Most of the people out there don't even know who you are. So relax... If you do something creative, focus on that and it will make sense out of the rest of your existence." Dr. Ken Atchity
“You have to be willing to be yourself. and my justification or rationalization for that is that the universe…did create you, and if you're not doing the thing that you're dreaming of doing then you're failing not just yourself but the whole universe. The rest of us too. If you're a storyteller and that's what you're meant to be, and you're not telling stories, because you're afraid of this or that then you’ve failed yourself; you’ve your dream; and you've failed all of us to whom your story may be lifesaving, or the funniest story they've ever heard, and you're failing the universe which created you to dream about telling stories.”
The line that stuck out to me was the line about failure. And if you don't act on your dreams not only are you feeling yourself but you're failing everybody that you could have helped. I've been going through a spiritual awakening this last year and a half and that line really struck my heart. I've always battled with fear of being in the spotlight and putting myself out there. Coincidentally I just published my first book on Amazon and I've been frozen in fear to go out and pursue more. I have paintings collecting dust and I had full of stories of pain and gratitude that I want to share to those who listen but being scared s******* has stopped me. What he said about failure gave me a new perspective and gave me a vision of a shadow world without my light... And it sounds so selfish and conceited to say but I feel like I need to exude my light and tell my story and share my heart but I feel no one will give a s*** and I feel it would be a wasted time but I also know that's a lie and don't know what to do. Your channel has helped start the decimation of my wall of fear. So many of your videos have struck chords within me that I never knew existed. Struggles as an artist that I didn't know literally EVERY artist struggles with. You and your guests make me think beyond the realms of my usual thoughts. Shining light on shadows I assumed were just stains on my soul and irreversible. You are helping me heal so much and helping me see how literally nonsensical it is to not pursue my dreams as an artist, author, speaker, and beacon of truth, love, compassion, and light through whatever means I'm drawn too. I e considered myself a "Jill of all trades. Knowledge to lots, master to none" so I constantly experiment with different mediums but have never pursued it full force as a career due to fear. I put into the universe, I intend to overcome my fears, anxieties, self doubt, and lack of motivation and pursue my dreams and truest path. I am willingly open to this is whatever form and will no longer limit myself and no longer exclude myself from what I think I don't deserve. I appreciate you and this channel more than you'll ever know. You're definitely doing what you're supposed to be doing. Best interviewer ever. Thank you for being such a good example on respect, composure, and intelligence. You're changing lives.
Not from this particular video- but an anecdote Ken recalled: At a party, a little known actor was asked to recall the biggest thing she was in- she replied "The pacific ocean"
If you don't have a clue what your calling is then the best act is to be nice and treat others how you wish to. The hustle is real and hope is the new drug. If we followed the golden rule then the world would be a lot better shape than it is currently
We all have our “work”. Those hometown ladies in the kitchen were likely a powerful network of care for their family and community. That was their “work”. Choosing “art” for “work” means you have to go where the work is. I love the idea of remembering that theres really only a handful of people thinking about you. There’s so few who even know who you are!
Thanks, really appreciated this. His uncles comment resonated with me. Everyone has their own inner GPS and you can lose years if guided by the opinions of others!!🤗
Thank you. Yes. "You have to truly not care." (What others think, within reason). Yes, Totally agree. As artists, I think many of us worry to much about "What will they think of me if I....". Then there's the opposite who NEED to be in your face about it.... and that can be offensive.... Basic point, as we've all herd before is so true,.... -Just to relax and be yourself.☺️♥️
Agreed with everything he says except I'd say the truly difficult part of "not caring" is not really while you are immersed in doing the work, but more afterwards. When you are immersed in the creative process the momentum and inspiration you are experiencing because of your vision and the seemingly divine force propelling you forward is so overwhelming that you are blindly following it and there is no room for anything else. The difficult bit is the aftermath. Once you release your work into the world you need to cope with people not responding to it in the way you were expecting especially when you have burnt yourself out in the process of making something. I find that bit paralysing and too heartbreaking to bear and I still haven't understood how most creatives are able to cope with it and find the motivation to keep doing creative work.
the thing that i find very interesting is the pro artists' incapability of answering "how to balance work and life" question, cause they find work to be a part of every detail in their lives, its who they are and what they love to do and what they aspire to be and not necessarily something that interferes or hinders their lives. I really loved how he answered or apparently did not answer that question. I think its such a blessing to do something without the constant fear of missing out on things out there cause its very clear to you what really matters
I like that we are all similar yet different, many different aspirations yet require courage; and this courage can be contagious, just like any other pre-emptive actions (guilt, embarrassment, violence), creating a pack like behavior. And also being an innovator or entrepreneurial in any activities require the courage to deal with guilt of not conforming or feel the guilt of conforming
Looooved this! Thanks for this interview! As a musical theatre actor, there's always something to work on. Singing, dancing, playing the piano, acting. So many times I've felt guilt about playing video games or not dedicating enough work to my art and giving myself "a real chance". Now I'm just coming to peace with enjoying whatever I feel like doing. "What is guilt? ... Isn't it kind of imaginary?" I've done so many plays, but if I don't have the grit to constantly prepare for West End auditions, why should I feel bad about that? That's when my passion becomes work, when I need to force the things out of my life that make life worth living, in order to hopelessly pursue something that I may or may not get. Just chill. Find your own level of ambition.
Watch full videos interviews with Dr. Ken Atchity: ruclips.net/video/ZGVVXVdIMyo/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/Y6nshRTjSFw/видео.html
I liked the line: "If you're not doing your art then your not doing what you were created for and you're letting down the Universe." :)
That line is powerful.
I had to stop the video because of that line. I felt deeply connected to that responsibility and clarity of it.
No truer words have ever been written..
I recently had a friend say to me: "why are you not sharing your art with more people? That's actually super selfish of you."
It really was a great slap in the face actually to think about it in such a different way.
Loved it!! ❤
" Your job as artist is not to beleagure others opinions now or future, but to make art to the best of your ability at this time".
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Couldn't have said it better mate ...
Yavol und comandant... heels clicking together and standing straight und errect...😘
Yep. Took me 15 years to learn how to write. Going to workshops, exc. Now I'm an author.
Oh yes, I had a point. My friends were busy working but when they got done working they just watch TV or whatever and ask me if writing ever got boring. Now I have extra money and they don't 😁 and I help out but we won't get into that😂 learn today so you can live tomorrow 😁
When he said "A lot of people are not prepared to be themselves, they're nervous when you do it and try to keep you from doing it bc they really wish they could do it. They don't have the courage to do it bc there aren't any railroad tracks that mark it out clearly."
Also when he talked about failing the universe by not living out your dream and failing the people you may have influenced by living out your dream, that part really spoke to me.
Couldn't agree more
YESAI JAHBLESS
Your username really spoke to me since it's 2 am and I still can't sleep
Yes, but remember that the competition is fierce for slots like being an actor. Just because you want to be an actor, and may even be good at it, doesn't mean that you'll have great chances of making a living at it. Some artistic fields are highly impacted. It's just a reality. However, if you do your art an an avocation (channeling Herman Melville) you'll get to do what you want to do, when you're not capitulating to pay the bills with a day job. Do what you love and the money will follow... well.... not necessarily. Keep your day job, yes, your bills will be paid.
Im 38 and just now becoming an artist - after years of self abuse, echoing a traumatic child hood in a loop. I know i can do this now. 🌱🌳💚✌🏻 if i can anyone can. x
inkwell flood Bravo to you. And yeh, you can! Cos, what is there to stop you? Big fat nothing! ✌️
@@stellaqaustralia thank you so much, im finally out of my own way. 🌱🌳💚✌🏻
inkwell flood I’m 40 right now. I wanted to be an artist myself when I was a child. I swallowed a lot disapproval & nonsupport during my educational years. Ever since I took the route of being an productive adult I been battling with it everyday. Bravo to you at 38. The videos & comments like yourself will give me the drive to even pick up a paint brush in so long.
@@luisgregoryhinojosa please do captain, ive honestly struggled, from suicidal to this over years, meditation - allan watts - positive music, any tool i could use to get going, if its what you love go for it, art truly sets you free. 🌱🌳💚
Similar story here. Best of luck; you'll learn things that you could never imagine, and you'll confirm things that you already know. Stay away from negative, envious people. Cheers and courage!
This is one of the channels that gave me the courage to start my RUclips channel 11 months ago about self development. Now I have 2,077 subs and > 2k hours of watch time. I know it’s not comparable with others but I’m still proud I started because I’ve been learning so many lessons that I could haven’t learned without getting started in the 1st place.
This dude just consistently drops the most powerful, inspiring knowledge. Whenever I need to feel justified about the creative things I do, I think about the stuff he says. Thank you Ken.
So much truth in 13 minutes
Einstein said "stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution". Most people are too damn lazy and spend their life making excuses instead of pursuing their passion or dreams. If you choose not to decide, or take action, you still have made a choice.
If you make a choice and others judge you for it, that's on them--not you.
Einstein didn’t say that, but yeah.
Right! We shouldn't waste time with people who have basically given up on themselves instead of looking for their own buried treasures.
Rush
@@albertthecur48 💯🎯💯🎯💯
His thoughts on being selfish is 100% right. Some people spend their whole life tending to needs of their family. Being a good husband, dad, mother is virtuous but there has to be a line drawn. Finally it comes down to making choices which truly matters. Sometimes you have to say no to your loved ones and just be selfish and do what your heart desires.
Amen to that!!
Prabhdeep SinghI’d call it self caring rather than selfish.
@@attheranch873 I like that!!
💯💯💯
Prabhdeep Singh exactly
Para phrasing:
"If you're going to feel guilty either way, than follow you dreams and deal with the guilt (if there is any)."
Nicely put.
“If you do something creative, focus on that, and it’ll make sense out of the rest of your existence. That’s all anyone can manage, their own existence.”
riveting
a great tidbit of wisdom I should reread every day...
Well said!
"You're not allowed to judge yourself. That's not your job. Your job is to do art, the creative work. Do as well as you can at the moment, the best you can. Strive for excellent. And then everybody else make up their mind."
That was way better than all those inspiration videos with the dramatic music in the background. Really powerful stuff..Enjoyed this very much .
Background music and pop ups make me click the exit button instantly.
💣💣💣
Mari Laucher Dito
Exactly! Too many videos with that music that just distracts from the message.
Exactly. Nice polite interview is way better than those fucking self proclamed enlightened life coach gurus on stages with dramatic music, copy paste inspirational messages and teachings. Hate those fuckers.
"Your joy is to do the creative work."
"You have to be willing to be yourself" and "The universe did create you and if you're not doing the thing that you're dreaming of doing then you're failing not yourself but the rest of us..."
Powerful statement.
Love it!
When I'm not writing I just feel so irritated and sad, but when I write I just have this warm feeling that i don't want to be doing anything else
“Your joy and mission in life is to do the creative work.”
“You have to have a healthy ego to truly not care what others think about you”
It’s funny how the Universe works
I’m going through a spiritual awakening and I’m at a stage called The Dark Night Of The Soul. It’s like a snake shedding his skin. For me it’s simply getting rid of my old ego and creating a new one. I’m starting to follow my dreams and it feels amazing.
When he said the word “ego” it hit me and something told me to check the time and it was 05:05am, which is a synchronicity from my higher self.
Everything happens for a reason
That’s a song from Philip Wesley, Dark Night of the Soul…..you might like it
"people love, some hate you, but most don't care" Love that
This is a wise man. I enjoyed the interview.
Like another commenter, I found this extremely inspirational. I’m amazed that someone else sees much of the world the same way as me.
My stand out line was when the Uncle said, “Just remember that nobody is really thinking about you most of the time… …so relax’.
When I had the same thing pointed out to me (some decades ago) it was I think, the most freeing thing I’d ever heard. I was able to stop being so self-conscious and just be more ‘myself’. 🤘😬✌️
Yup. I’ve been a productive artist for over 4 decades. I have piles , stacks, volumes, and a’m still creating….more. I am unknown, I am un famous, I must believe in who I am and pursue my own shit till I have nothing left to create. I have battled every sort of mental and emotional demon that has stood in front of me, but the hardest suggestion I have needed to come to some sort of peace with is that I will possibly never receive back from the world what I have put in. For me, being part of the greater whole of artist people, those like me have gotten little back, so to speak, that gives me my “people”, my fellows, my strength . I am not here for “you”, I am here for “us”.
Fucking AWESOME interview Film Courage. When he said, "Do the work, let everybody else make up their mind", something just went off inside my head. These were the words i needed to hear. Thank you...
Bancroft Boreland yeh, another stand out for me too! All the best on your journey ✌️😬🎉
So relatable...
"If you believe in any sort of a higher power, the universe did create you and if youre not doing the thing you're dreaming of doing, you're not just failing yourself but the whole universe as well."
Lmao. It's almost as though he understands the gravity of the situation.
I resonated with that as well. Have felt the sting of it first hand from not telling a story that's wanted to be birthed into existence for a long time, but I am going to tell it now - it's my work for 2020. When we withhold our true gifts from the world, not only do we suffer as artists, the whole world suffers because we've withheld something that could have made a positive contribution.
@@JDubeta ...whatever your doing or not doing..it’s all good..be happy with what’s going down NOW...you automatically are ..doing or not...according to what the creator deigned for you...this and YOU..are IT.....no add ons..no subtractions...
When Ken talks about guilt or being afraid with pursuing something, this reminds me of how my parents were so persistent in discouraging any kind of artistic endeavor. They would constantly mention how I would turn into a starving artist, and live on the streets because they dont make that much money. Even to this day, I ruminate on how things could have turned out had I just been given a little push towards an interest rather than away. Probably too old to do anything about it now, very thought provoking video, well done.
Our best to you!
No you are not "too old." I can give you some realistic advice. I don't know your preferred art form, so I'll just launch in.
Begin by observing the artists you admire without allowing judgments to chatter in your mind. If you observe without preconceived notions, chances are you will notice MANY things about them that you never noticed before. Allow yourself to be intrigued by that, and try to keep judgment at bay.
Now consider this: at what age did artists in various fields do their best work? Very rarely has a dancer done their best work at 40, and no figure skater has at 30, but plenty of novelists did their best around 60. Poets tend to be younger, but no other writers are. The benefit of starting young is the chance to grow into it, and build wisdom and craft, and meet good people -- which may mean no more than a lucky break. Pianists have given their most moving performances late in life; violinists, not usually. Picasso painted the morning before he died. Sophocles wrote throughout his 80s.
If your art is in one of the areas where the finest have excelled or continued to excel late in life, then what is stopping you now? It is completely realistic to pursue it now.
Also, the arts are approached so differently in other cultures compared to our own. I find that emotionally, I am too dependent on approval, but intellectually, I know that is SO wrong. In Europe, it is relatively common for parents to try to dissuade a budding artist -- not in order to stifle them at all, but in order to provoke them to rebel. Rebellion is considered a necessary step on the path to profound art.
@@l.w.paradis2108 I'd probably have more of an internal battle of if what I was making was just mediocrity. We're all our worst critics.
There is also an oversaturation of creative endeavors across the board. I think the only path to success would be to fill a niche or something interesting outside of what most chase in mainstream.
I did hear from a writer (forget who said it) where it went "nobody should be writing books until they're 40" or something along those lines, and I can understand why that would be. The perspective of youth or early adulthood is still relatively sheltered until they reach a burgeoning of some kind with enough experience or exposure to life.
I've heard of the concept of people killing their muse if they dont sate their creativity, which is a pretty scary thought.
"I think there is an element of selfishness in creativity." I'd prefer to think of it as self respect and a refusal to blindly follow the crowd like a push over.
YES!!
It's all about consistency. If you produce enough of whatever you do eventually people will have no choice but to notice the compound effects. You can do something new and unique but it will take a lot more of it than what is trendy. But the payoffs will be far greater to the future societies..
Work is life. The most successful people on the planet understand this. There is only work-life balance for those who work purely for sustenance and attempt to build happiness after they've punched out. Dividing yourself into parts destroys your integrity. No wonder depression is on the rise. Fulfillment, people, is everything. Do what you are and integrate it into your entire existence.
I just put a sticky note on the top left corner of my desktop (supplanting one with my work hours) that just says this: ""YOUR JOY AND YOUR MISSION IN LIFE IS TO DO THE CREATIVE WORK." - Dr. Ken Atchity - It will be a great reminder to start and finish each day. Thanks!
"Your job, your mission in life is to do the creative work. And that's all what you have to worry about."
The only thing you can really manage is your own existence
Another really great one. Its all about the big picture lessons
What he said is so true. He is self aware and understands that you need to choose how to prioritize not only your time but your mental space. I don't believe he is out of touch. He speaking to people who are in a position to make these changes but refuse to see them through. This really resonated with me because I have been guilty of several things he touches on.
"Mediocrity is a retroactive judgment."
Profound.
Wow. I'm really glad I found this. I found peace hearing all the wisdom he shared. For a very long time I've had my own battles in pursuing creative work. The loneliness, the guilt, the selfishness, the ego. But I've always believed that there's always a price to pay, and that whether my work is appreciated or recognized is well beyond me. My job is only to create and move on. Thank you for the wisdom.
I love it when creative people talk to each other like this. I can watch this all day
'Work is what I Get to Do When I Get To' - what a terrific thought!
"The people who love their work, the Type C personalities (like Alison Monroe), their life is their work. It's like a calling. And if you don't do it, you're not living. When you are not doing it, you are alive, but if you are not doing it on a regular basis then you are not living your life, you are living someone else's life or you are living anyone's life. But the artist is someone who lives their life - their own specific life, that she shaped for herself."
I cried when I heard this. I have never felt so deeply recognised in one sentence.
"If you do something great focus on that and it will make sense out of the rest of your existence."
The acknowledgement that artists are "selfish" is reassuring. There is so much scorn associated with that word, but the truth spoken about here is that artists are involved in "self-expression" and it is that quality that makes them unique.
Thank you for watching, Kim. We appreciate the comment. :)
Yes!!!
This is a great conversation for any artist. The MOVIE business, is very relationship driven, takes a lot of people to build it, and amazing artists can fall by the side due to lack of connections, BUT that should not keep the artist from creating or have to wait till an EXEC gives them a BIG BREAK or believes they can make money with you. If you make or are able LIVE your dream, you should be able to move toward it with out someone financing it. Make your own thing if the Movie business will never make the effort to know you, if you keep waiting for others to give you permission, you could miss your life dreaming and not DOING.
YES!!!
Dr. Atchity provides more excellent perspectives on not only writing but how to live our own best personal lives.
I love the idea that these negative emotions, e.g. guilt, are imaginary. It removes the weight from them, and just almost eliminates them as an obstacle to just write
I do believe that I was born to be an artist, but I had not finished a painting in over 10 years until last week. It felt great to sign my work signifying that it was done. I don't want to let the universe down! This guy's perspective on creativity is very inspiring!
I can't wait until I can do the creative work I want to do full time!
I once had a great chat with a native Hawaiian on the island of Kauai. We talked about this very thing - missing out on life if you're too busy with work ... and he said something profoundly poignant. ... He responded to me by stating: .... "What you focus on in life, determines what you miss" .... to this day, I have never forgotten his quote. --- Thanks for sharing this video - I need to hear this
“No one is really thinking about you”
that part is probably worth watching every morning :))
And that's not a bad thing
“Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.”
― Richard P. Feynman
@@bobwes57 nice and I love this sir!👍🏼✌🏽
That’s very freeing :)
Work is what you do when you're not living🙌🏾
Wow hearing this man talk just calmed me down so much😂 so wise
The part about failing yourself, others and the universe really got me. I have been,for the past several months, doing nothing. I live at home, I help my folks sometimes with some stuff, such as picking up my siblings from school and that s it. I wish to pursue a career in the arts, maybe not as a writer although, I'm leaning more towards directing, but this still got to me profoundly. I have been lazy and making excuses and I realize that now. I'm starting to hate myself and want to end it all, but I won't because these videos give me back the courage I need.
||-// wish u luck fren
@@lglp3 thank you
Dude. A lot of people get lazy or lose their way. People fail. That's how we learn. Back in '89 I was depressed and slept til noon, 1 o'clock. Every day is a new day. Get up in the morning and start something- however small. And read- read a lot! In your spare time if you're working. Not just online stuff but actual books. The act of checking out a book at the library and turning pages is something a lot of people don't do. Keep a journal and write about it. Write about your thoughts, ideas, etc. Believe me- I'm a slow as hell reader myself- but you'll make connections to stuff in life that will trip you out.
Just whatever you do- don't turn to drugs. The people that have to have them (medical) have no choice because they're fighting cancer or Parkinsons disease - fighting for their lives and didn't ask for it to begin with.
You know Rodney Dangerfield right? Dude was Fug-ly! He didn't care- he used self defamation and pointed all his jokes at himself. He was (and still is) funny as hell. Dated beautiful women and had Johnny Carson falling down laughing. Do you know when he started his routine? Age 40. Some people start even later than that because they have collected enough life experiences and want to talk about it! And Richard Pryor. His life was HELL. But he reached out and made EVERYBODY LAUGH. Carson, too. Stay positive, yo!
At the end, when he mentions a lot of people out there don't even know who you are. I also find that comforting, it does make it easier to put my work out there, takes some of the pressure off.
paradoxically the beefed up ego is the one that makes everything personal, "oh what would they think of me if i do this" while, as he said, few people truly care about you, on the other side our existence and what we do is only to make a self sense out of all this chaos and share so maybe someone can relate
'Guilt is imaginary' hit me like a fucking truck. Thank you
I really needed this today, thank you. I have OCD so most of the time my thoughts just keep spiralling. Guilt and failure is the most comon feeling I Feel because I have learned my whole life to cater to the needs of others. So... no matter what I do I never feel enough. When someone sais "You are such a good person", I just dont believe it. The thought makes me happy for a moment, and then the Doubt and Guilt is back. Guilt that I let my condition consum me. Guilt that I am to exhausted to bend over backwards for my family. Guild that I dont enjoy my Job. Its like this every day. But when I am making art i just feel light and free, and I honestly do feel that my creativity is the reason that keeps me alive. The thing the universe wants from me. Its so important to me that I refuse to take antidepressants, because they have fogged my brain and drained me of creativity in the past. I really want to make more time in my Life to do art. Maybe even make a career out of it. So I think What Dr. Atchity said about a healthy amount of "selfishness" and just not caring, is something that I should really apply in my life going forward. Because there will always be something holding me back, if I dont start and make this my priority
Wow! This is inner eye opening! Soul unlocking.
2:57 made me realize that i am failing myself for not doing the thing that i like the most: writing
That last answer was perfection.
Im just blown away that these videos even exist. I'm taking it all in.
I was having some mental health issues I was out of work because of it (I’m a graphic designer) I decided I was going to study the origins of stigma and use other people’s stories as inspiration for others to get help. I decided to make a book and no matter what came at me I would finish it and I did. I also got counselling which was great and a couple of publishers are interested. My point is get off your f&@“ing ass and do it. That’s the best advice and don’t give up. It’s gonna be hard yes but it’s worth it.
Hi Calvan, thanks for the comment. Love to hear that you have rebounded from a low point in your life. Congrats on finishing the book and on not staying down. We're pulling for you.
Film Courage thanks very much appreciate it. Keep doing great things wishing you all the best.
Each answer is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and encouragement. Some of my quick notes, not exact quotes, during the interview:
1 Work is what you get to do when you are not living. If it weren't for work, life would just swallow you up and spits you out at the end of the day.
2 If you are not doing the thing that you are dreaming of doing then you are failing the Universe, your dream, yourself and the rest of us too.
3 What is guilt? Isn’t it kind of a mental thing, isn’t it kind of imagery? Isn’t fear and guilt also imaginary? If you can't think your way through that you should stay home and do the job in the grocery store.
4 Mediocrity is a retroactive judgement. You can't make that decision until it's all done. (Sometimes even after.)
5 When you are an artist you can’t think that way. (Mediocrity)
You have to strive for excellence. Do the best that you can at the moment and let the world judge it or not judge it. Who cares? Your joy and mission in life is to do your creative work. The STRENGTH of doing that you have to have a healthy ego. Not a huge ego or a little ego, which causes people to become egoistic but to truly not care what other people think.
Great interview, Thank you!
Much of the things mentioned resonated with me. The part of being selfish, and failing the universe if you don’t do what you dream of doing. To not care what others think. I come back to listen once in a while as a reminder. Thank you.
These are wise words indeed. I grew up in a small village in New Brunswick. There was never any work, the little that there was, paid lousy. But at 16, I had been drawing and sketching for about 7 years, I loved it, but it always had to take a back seat to basic survival. I didn't attend college. My parents couldn't afford it. I moved to Alberta, and worked in several blue collar jobs,( forklift, warehouse, heavy industrial wire and cable, etc.) I was always really tired after work, but still managed to pull off a few pieces. I was not happy. I was working my ass off, and just barely keeping my nose above water. Then, at 60 yrs old, I had a revelation. Stop Working. It was the best move I ever made. My wife and I arrent old enough to collect the old age pension, but we get something called CPP. I get $545.00 per month, my wife gets just over $100.00. Social services pays the rest. We usually run out of food before the end of the month, both of us smoke, so we raid local ash trays for butts, that we re roll into cigarettes. It is definitely not "ideal" but for us, it is. Before I would get up at 5am, get to work by 6:30, work 8 hours and come home exhausted. My wife is the same age and she was working part time at a sub shop. We both stopped. Now I get up at 7 or 8, and start my day watching cartoons, or whatever. Then I have the day to create. Yes we had much more money before. But now we are happy, and I do as I damn well please. And my artwork is getting better all the time. For us, this choice was a no brainer. It might sound cliche but, JUST DO IT!!
Just wanted to say how much I love this channel. Thank you!
Thanks Antony! We appreciate the love.
I did the selfish thing: Went to Paris when I was 24 ... to study Art.
7:30 What a great approach. And his interpretation of humane things is so exciting, pretty simplifying and relaxing.
I had to show this video to my husband, because I couldn't believe that every single thing you said was nearly verbatim of what I've been saying my whole life. I just said to him, "Who does this sound like?" Thank you for validating my intuitive understanding of the creative process & the way I think. That was freaky awesome! I KNOW everything you said was 100% accurate! At leaste for me!
Wonderful!
This why I’m still pushing towards my dream of being a great actor
"Your joy and mission in life is to do the creative work and that's all you have to worry about. Let everyone else make up their minds." And, "...The only thing that people can manage, I think, is their own existence."
You are doing the universe an injustice if you don’t follow your calling
YES!!!!!💯🎯
Agreed. It took me twenty years to transition to an Artist. I feel much better now. I hope you’re doing want you love. Live and keep going!
The whole thing, very accurate.... God knows how much I needed to hear that right now. It's more about the walls I'm bringing down than the things I'm building up. I sometimes get lost between what I like and trying to please audiences ! Thank you so much for that.
"If you're not doing what you're dreaming of. You're not just failing yourself, but the whole universe. If you're a story teller and you're not writing because you're afraid to start, then you fail those, to whom your story might be life-saving and the funniest story they ever heard."
Damn, Dr...
Some very liberating and empowering thoughts here. For me, I appreciate his perspective on simply doing what you want to do and not worrying about what the rest of the world thinks.
Wow. Man I can't even put into words how this is really hitting me. Time to take life back into my own hands.
I really like ....missing out on life....not really...because this IS YOUR LIFE...yes...I personally feel true............I have a day job....I do art as hobby, look after family and its issues.......however, my ART is my purpose and prayer in life.....Its so meditative..... brings me to that inner silence even for few moments...its bliss...I m lucky that I dont have to create art for feeding myself!
I remember someone saying this I can't remember who exactly but they said, "Imagine you're on your deathbed and every single thing that you didn't create were circled around you and telling you what could've been." And that has always stuck with me more than anything.
GOD, so many lines jumped up at me. I sent it to my granddaughter that's 25yrs. Old too. She was a worried about what people thought about what you was doing her life and she was getting very depressed. I had told her to forget about what people thing and to just be yourself and do the things that she enjoyed doing and look for her calling. She started doing that a couple of months ago and she seems to be a lot happier. Thank you for your video I'll send it to her to reiterate my point. At the end of the day, no one cares about what we do in our lives. We just think they do!
Beautiful comment Deborah. It's wonderful that you have used this video in a loving way for your granddaughter. Sending you both our best. Keep creating!
"So what that tells you is that the artist can't think about things like that. You can't think about whether what you're doing is excellent or not. You have to strive for excellence, cuz if you don't strive for that you'll never get anywhere near it. But you don't judge yourself based on any of those criteria cuz that's not your job. Your job is to do your art, and do that as well as you can at the moment... and let the world judge it. Or not judge it. Who cares? Your job and your mission in life is to do the creative work, and that's all you have to worry about... The strength to do that means you've got to have a sufficiently healthy ego... to truly not care what other people think... Most of the people out there don't even know who you are. So relax... If you do something creative, focus on that and it will make sense out of the rest of your existence." Dr. Ken Atchity
“You have to be willing to be yourself. and my justification or rationalization for that is that the universe…did create you, and if you're not doing the thing that you're dreaming of doing then you're failing not just yourself but the whole universe. The rest of us too. If you're a storyteller and that's what you're meant to be, and you're not telling stories, because you're afraid of this or that then you’ve failed yourself; you’ve your dream; and you've failed all of us to whom your story may be lifesaving, or the funniest story they've ever heard, and you're failing the universe which created you to dream about telling stories.”
The line that stuck out to me was the line about failure. And if you don't act on your dreams not only are you feeling yourself but you're failing everybody that you could have helped. I've been going through a spiritual awakening this last year and a half and that line really struck my heart. I've always battled with fear of being in the spotlight and putting myself out there. Coincidentally I just published my first book on Amazon and I've been frozen in fear to go out and pursue more. I have paintings collecting dust and I had full of stories of pain and gratitude that I want to share to those who listen but being scared s******* has stopped me. What he said about failure gave me a new perspective and gave me a vision of a shadow world without my light... And it sounds so selfish and conceited to say but I feel like I need to exude my light and tell my story and share my heart but I feel no one will give a s*** and I feel it would be a wasted time but I also know that's a lie and don't know what to do.
Your channel has helped start the decimation of my wall of fear. So many of your videos have struck chords within me that I never knew existed. Struggles as an artist that I didn't know literally EVERY artist struggles with. You and your guests make me think beyond the realms of my usual thoughts. Shining light on shadows I assumed were just stains on my soul and irreversible. You are helping me heal so much and helping me see how literally nonsensical it is to not pursue my dreams as an artist, author, speaker, and beacon of truth, love, compassion, and light through whatever means I'm drawn too. I e considered myself a "Jill of all trades. Knowledge to lots, master to none" so I constantly experiment with different mediums but have never pursued it full force as a career due to fear. I put into the universe, I intend to overcome my fears, anxieties, self doubt, and lack of motivation and pursue my dreams and truest path. I am willingly open to this is whatever form and will no longer limit myself and no longer exclude myself from what I think I don't deserve.
I appreciate you and this channel more than you'll ever know.
You're definitely doing what you're supposed to be doing. Best interviewer ever.
Thank you for being such a good example on respect, composure, and intelligence.
You're changing lives.
Dr. Ken with tough love and kick in the pants. Thank you, sir.
The part about not caring what other people think. It's very liberating.
Not from this particular video- but an anecdote Ken recalled: At a party, a little known actor was asked to recall the biggest thing she was in- she replied "The pacific ocean"
Dr. Ken, Lov these videos and I really appreciate your sharing of professional life, and work / life balance. Lots of nuggets here! Thank yoU!
This lad is so wise. Thanks for these videos. The line about people missing out on your story is powerful.
This is probably some of the best advice I’ve ever heard for creatives and artist. God bless you!
If you don't have a clue what your calling is then the best act is to be nice and treat others how you wish to. The hustle is real and hope is the new drug. If we followed the golden rule then the world would be a lot better shape than it is currently
So many lines from this jump out. I love interviews with Ken. Thank you for introducing me to him through these videos! So much wisdom.
We all have our “work”. Those hometown ladies in the kitchen were likely a powerful network of care for their family and community. That was their “work”. Choosing “art” for “work” means you have to go where the work is.
I love the idea of remembering that theres really only a handful of people thinking about you. There’s so few who even know who you are!
the idea that the rest of humanity, past, present and future, will never know I ever existed. i find that comforting in a sense.
Thanks, really appreciated this. His uncles comment resonated with me. Everyone has their own inner GPS and you can lose years if guided by the opinions of others!!🤗
I think I'm in love with this channel. Didn't expect this. #motivated
Thank you. Yes. "You have to truly not care." (What others think, within reason). Yes, Totally agree. As artists, I think many of us worry to much about "What will they think of me if I....". Then there's the opposite who NEED to be in your face about it.... and that can be offensive....
Basic point, as we've all herd before is so true,.... -Just to relax and be yourself.☺️♥️
Agreed with everything he says except I'd say the truly difficult part of "not caring" is not really while you are immersed in doing the work, but more afterwards. When you are immersed in the creative process the momentum and inspiration you are experiencing because of your vision and the seemingly divine force propelling you forward is so overwhelming that you are blindly following it and there is no room for anything else. The difficult bit is the aftermath. Once you release your work into the world you need to cope with people not responding to it in the way you were expecting especially when you have burnt yourself out in the process of making something. I find that bit paralysing and too heartbreaking to bear and I still haven't understood how most creatives are able to cope with it and find the motivation to keep doing creative work.
This guy has an epic voice, speaks in real blunt terms, but is also concise and calm. I am feeling very convinced right now.
the thing that i find very interesting is the pro artists' incapability of answering "how to balance work and life" question, cause they find work to be a part of every detail in their lives, its who they are and what they love to do and what they aspire to be and not necessarily something that interferes or hinders their lives. I really loved how he answered or apparently did not answer that question. I think its such a blessing to do something without the constant fear of missing out on things out there cause its very clear to you what really matters
I like that we are all similar yet different, many different aspirations yet require courage; and this courage can be contagious, just like any other pre-emptive actions (guilt, embarrassment, violence), creating a pack like behavior.
And also being an innovator or entrepreneurial in any activities require the courage to deal with guilt of not conforming or feel the guilt of conforming
The line that jumps out to me most is, " That's all that anyone can manage is their own existence."
Looooved this! Thanks for this interview! As a musical theatre actor, there's always something to work on. Singing, dancing, playing the piano, acting. So many times I've felt guilt about playing video games or not dedicating enough work to my art and giving myself "a real chance". Now I'm just coming to peace with enjoying whatever I feel like doing. "What is guilt? ... Isn't it kind of imaginary?"
I've done so many plays, but if I don't have the grit to constantly prepare for West End auditions, why should I feel bad about that? That's when my passion becomes work, when I need to force the things out of my life that make life worth living, in order to hopelessly pursue something that I may or may not get. Just chill. Find your own level of ambition.