So, the worst thing that could happen to you, is you accepting the illusion that you don't have a choice, therefore losing yourself? Thanks again for the always well timed lesson.
There's 2 quotes that I remembered listening to you: "losing all hope is freedom" and "if you think it can't get worse, it will definetly get even worse". I learned this for myself in the same hard way, but that's how good swords are made, hitting and shaping the iron again and again. Glad you learned about everything and you're in a better position with you and your life now. Cheers man
That's exactly why i started 3D art. I was with a bad relationship and when it ended, i thought i just lost everything. But it gave me the reason to start using Blender and improving myself, i don't know why this happened, i wasn't supposed to recover so fast like this. But for some reason i didn't give up just this time, and i continued until this day.
maaaaannn this hit harder than the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs the part at 13:00 talking about knowing your sense of self is what got me. It's something I've really struggled with internally my entire life, and despite all the encouragement from peers and family it never really blossomed, still hasn't Never too late to improve that though, right?
After ending up effectively homeless twice and being forced into a situation where I've had to cut all ties with my family for my own safety and wellbeing, this resonates pretty hard with me. I think I'm on the road to recovery but will see how the next few years treat us. Thank you again, Adam
@@TheSilverDiego Thanks for your concern, i appreciate it. Saddly no news, i'm stuck in limbo untill I can get employment. Busting my ass to go self-employed as an illustrator so that I can move to a better location.
Shit just keeps on coming. This looming sense of dread that just behind the next corner there's one more surprise waiting to punch you in the face, kick you down once more. The feeling that you've grown numb already, but no, not really. It still sucks so fucking much every time. But in the end you're right, Adam. At least I know who I am now. I hope to be able to get up and start walking again soon.
Personally, I know what I'm the most fearful of is having everything fall apart. Watching everything fall into complete and utter ruin. I remember distinct points in my short life where I distinctly felt like I lost everything. I remember feeling so frustrated and lost, not knowing where to go or what to do or who even to turn to because at that time, I always felt that everyone was like an enemy, that they were out to get me. It was dark, and I remember distinctly how awful I felt. It's happened maybe a couple points in my life but I remember the first time I felt it, I was still in high school. I remember feeling that sense of liberation when I walked out of what was otherwise a very toxic environment. And I guess, hearing and looking back on it, I think Adam and his friend Jeno (I apologize if I spelled his name wrong!) is right when he said it's very...well, small stuff. In the grand scheme of things, I walked away from the situation losing what were once great friends, sure, but I don't feel so "bogged down." I think it's something that I have to constantly remind myself of though, to not get caught up on things that most would never care or think twice about. Hearing it from Adam, it's nice. Comforting. Thank you. And thank you to anyone reading this if you saw this whole thing. I know it's kinda personal for the internet, but I don't know. I guess I wanted to share some little experience? Otherwise, I hope that your holidays are merry and your days bright.
Rest assured that you aren't the first to feel this way. We artist have a tendency to be particularly hard on ourselves. We are unravelling the fabric of life itself after all - not an easy feat :)
"It throws your sense of self out of wack because you were never deciding for yourself in the first place; you were letting other people decide that for you." I don't think anyone has ever slapped me in the face with such an accurate statement before. Good to know 😶🤔 I need to remember this when those pesky doubts come around. "Everything is small stuff."
The best we can do is "manage" it to the best of our abilities. We never have it totally mastered, but we can get better at it. That statement comes in handy when you're facing the feeling that "you're completely lost". It reminds you that feeling lost isn't the end of the world :)
Rockbottom was the September month for me. Went through a family tragedy, followed by a breakup after many years in that relationship, lost an important game due to the heartbreak, and the days that followed were my birthday on top of working overtime. Adam, your words continue to tug into my heart. After hitting rock bottom, I had a good long walk for myself with some bubble tea, feeling the same way as you did, thinking, so what? What next? Gained some experience points and leveled up! Hahah! And you're right. What matters is that we don't lose ourselves then, and you and your friend put it into words here. Thank you 💓
Aww, you're more than welcome Mary. And although I'm sure you can look back and see the strength you gained - that doesn't take away from what you know you went through. It's very reassuring to hear that you're coming out the other end intact.
Our brains only evolved to deal with some stress not huge amounts but we have the ability to be the boss of our minds and bodies into a more pleasent world. What you can control you can change it = the mind is changable and the body is changeable too. And what you focus on it becomes reality
Can we agree and disagree at the same time? Everything may be small stuff, but everything is big stuff at the same time. You, we, affect others even when not doing anything, even when not doing anything wrong, even when doing absolutely everything right. The path to hell is paved with good intentions after all, and even a perfect game can be lost. Life's never that simple, yet always is.
I learned things in a hard way when I was at a young age. I was being bullied (mentally and emotionaly) in my elementary school, I was conpletely invisible in my highschool days. I'm not even choosed with group activities that's why I tend to do things alone. I'm asking every single day on what's wrong with me and crying every night. It got worse when I attended camping at school because no one wants to share a bed with me that's why I always go out every night and have a walk around the campus just for them to be comfortable at my suppose to be bed. Art is my only friend that time. It allows me to be in a fantasy where I feel like I belong. It continues until I decided to move down a section (I was on the number 1 section consistently for 3 years) so I failed one class on purpose so that I can leave to my nightmare. When I was assigned to a 2nd to the highest section, things have change. They accepted me as me and little by little, I'm feeling like I'm not invisible anymore. I feel like I belong and I feel like I found a new family. Back in the present (senior highschool ), I learned to imitate a confident person but I'm not that confident when I rely on my own confidence because of the damage that was caused by my past. I found my friends and I feel genuine happiness. I'm still recovering to my past but I'm slowly loving myself. My past is truly a nightmare but I have to accept it as a part of me because it really is a part of who I am. For those people who's experiencing bad things, I belive in you. I believe that you can manage to overcome those things and be a stronger person
I love this channel, it's like Bob Ross had fused with a therapist. Jokes aside, it's always a pleasure to come back here once in a while, not only for the art. My best wishes, Adam.
I'm in my 30s and work at Walmart, I want to work in the art field one day but I stress over work so much I can never focuse on anything out side of work. Fellow coworkers in my department do are lack luster at the job and I try my best just to end up not meeting the goal of the work day, even though I try to do my best the job is a team based job and will ever be a place where you can run of a few good workers and be a successful day. Even tho the lack luster workers are causing the issues I feel like a failure for not meeting the goals of the work place. I also never been to any art schools at this point of life as well, feel like I'm wasting too much time being lost. I just can't separate work and home life, I think and stress about work too much. Need to focus on my art and have a healthier mental state, I never feel like drawing with my stress.
I’ve got a question not necessarily relating to this video, but something that you’ve touched on and spoke about in several other talks. It’s on the idea that, as artists, we shouldn’t produce work for the sake of getting clicks, likes, views, etc. which is something that I completely agree with. However, along with the spiritual and emotional side of art, there’s a whole business side as well, with one of the most important aspects of it being marketing and branding. Seeing as you need (at least it seems nowadays) social media traffic, clicks, likes, views, etc., the balance of staying artistically true to yourself while building a following seems like a hard one to strike. I understand that there is a separation between the actual artwork one makes, and the way it is/they are marketed and branded, but I’d really like to hear where you believe that line is, and how to draw it, and your thoughts on striking that balance. Love your videos, they’ve helped me through a lot :)
How I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me. It's only the end of the world if you say it is. I don't think I can tell myself that enough. God I fucking love your videos.
That was intense. I have literally just given up a drawing, cause I am too tired to keep up, and then started beating myself up with “you’ll never be a professional artist if you don’t make sacrifices and push yourself harder” but i work full time and concept art course I’m doing have been more of a burden than a good experience. And When I get home I’m so exhausted I simply can’t do anything. Couldn’t stop crying when you said “you may not be a successful artist yet, you may just be pushing yourself as hard as you can, remember everything is small thing” As I said on the previous video, there are time’s you save my mental health... thanks Adam
I have so much more clarity about how I feel now than I ever did. It's a sad thing that it takes hitting that rock bottom to find ourselves, for most of us. It's as if that's the point in our lives where we start to think about what's most important to us. Of course, everyone has their own "bottom", some worse than others, but ultimately that's not the point. At some point I just started to feel more at peace with myself, not that I forgot what it feels like to make choices that didn't feel right. At the end of the day, I'm just grateful for knowing why I feel the way I do, as weird and mystical as that sounds. It used to be a torture not knowing.
Thank you Adam and Take Care as well. Thank you for sharing ... wish I could draw like you do... even during my Architecture period of my life ... all I could do was lines and solid blocks... hand free drawing / is still something new to me.
ive never met anyone that knew so deeply about ego and how to deal with it, and ive been held captive of it my entire life, without realizing it, you have no ideia how much more freedom you have been giving me since i discovered your channel last year to now. In art, in being myself, in every aspect of my life in fact
Thank you SO much for your videos. I just watched last weeks video and I'm crying right now, because I feel SO bad. It is a little bit like what you are discribing in this video right now. I simply had too much pressure the last three years and I don't know how to balance myself yet. Too much happend in the past. My dad and my gandpa died within the last two years, I moved from home and got back to school to get a degree in game design, gaphic design, photography, music- and video editing. I was broke last month, because of corona. (I'm better now, because I get a little bit of money from the rent.) It is just a lot of stress and I am simply not able to keep working on the big projekt I have started for a client a couple of month ago right now. It is okay, I do have time, but I feel the pressure. I wanted to work on the projekt, because it could change something in my country. I want to do the best work possible and I'm not in the state of mind where I am able to do this. So it is okay, I am allowed to feel like shit, I just have to get out of this state of mind, with changing my environment if possible. Thank you so much, your art talks help me to get new energy and inspiration, even if I do not feel great.
Adam: "Now what I just painted for you..." Me, switches windows immediately to see the painting Adam: "is a single scenario" Me, feeling incredibly stupid: :°) Anyway, I'm sorry to say that this talk is one of the reason for me to stop watching your videos, the unexpected therapy. I usually get this feeling once a week during my sessions lol Still, I must thank you Adam, you make me work a lot on myself, and although it will never be enough, it somewhat helps. Thanks for helping us all without any payment or anything. And thanks for being the fatherly figure I never had, even though it's not your job.
I think you should include a private therapy session in your description. Your videos inspire so many people to reflect on themselves and accept the way they are, albeit never stop improving of course.
I've been in a high-stress situation like you're talking about and when everything fell apart, I felt so relieved. It was the strangest thing because I thought I'd failed somehow. Looking back on it, I think it was necessary because after that I started focusing on the things that were important to me instead of what I thought would impress others. (Also, pro-tip for anyone reading this: HR 's job isn't to protect employees, they exist to protect the company. Anything you tell them will be used against you.)
Thank You, Adam. I try to be a grateful person. I feel I've found a semblance of myself, in gratitude. In accepting that I am have limits to myself. In embracing peace, when I cannot muster the fight any longer. When the chaos of the world is so heavy on my shoulders, and the inner demon ducklings quackin' up a storm in my head are just piling on more. I find myself.... When I forgive myself. When I step back, and say 'No more' to the voices telling me to fight. To pull myself up off the ground, to fight that one more battle. Mocking me because I have to conquer, or else I'm a loser. I have to get up and work my ass off, or else I'm a deadbeat, waste of space, no purpose in life individual. I have to be productive, and force an artwork out of my hands, or else I'm not an artist......... I find myself, when I forgive myself. For being unable to reach the extremely high, nigh perfectionistic, standard that I feel is all too easy to be thrust upon my shoulders. And I accept that I am human. And that the inner demon ducklings, aren't going away. So I can pick up my shepherding crook, and help guide them to a tranquil pond to help them to accept who I am. I am a humble shepherd. I am not a conqueror or king. I am an artist, but that is not what defines me. I am free. And being free, makes me happy. EDIT: And who I want to be; is Kind. I want to be kind to everyone else, who mocks my choice of peace. When they haven't yet seen; that fighting isn't always the answer. I want to be kind to my enemies. I want to be kind to all who despise me.... Even when the only one hating myself; is I. I will become kind.
It must've not been easy to open up about your personal life, but that's exactly why I love your art talks. Whenever I draw & listen to you, it feels like I'm listening to a genuine person.. An actual human being, who's been through a lot & yet speaks with the conviction of spreading hope among the people who feel lost or who feel like things won't ever go right. "Don't sweat the small stuff", is actually something that I really needed to hear. I'm grateful for that
I usually listen to your vids as I'm drawing, and it genuinely keeps me going. Way better than listening to some podcast or whatever. Thanks for everything.
You can buy the book on Amazon for $8.99 - "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It's All Small Stuff": Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Series) Paperback - Published January 16, 1997
It's strange how many times you drop a video related to my situation and it's comforting. I'm at the crossroad in my life where I need to change my long relationship and job, and I never done it before so I really appreciate your message.
I'm currently at my worst, honestly I don't know how to feel when hearing that "I shouldn't ssweat it" because it's what all the people usually say to me to just turn to the same emotional page as them and as much as I try to let things pass and don't let them have power over me they always come back and break me down once again or even worst. But I honestly admire Adam a lot and I hope someday I can get to find the streght that adam and other people in the comments have..
Thank you. This video just helped me a lot. I'm going through a bit of a stupid situation where the plan I had for study abroad failed due to the whole virus situation and I didn't look into the education I was signing up for here and screwed myself over. So after a few months of wanting to quit it and trying to manage the whole situation with my parents I'm at a point where I don't even know what I'm really doing and somehow whenever I'm in an undesirable situation your vids tend to get me out of them. At least the mental part. To sum up, thank you for existing and being such a wonderful person.
I enjoy the things you say even if I don’t necessarily agree with it all. It seems a bit sad to think no one cares about you when human life is so built on relationship with other people. Especially friends and family. Thanks for the video nonetheless!
Thanks you Adam, from the bottom of my heart. I wish more people like you would be out there, being teachers, parents and mentors to have a positive impact on the next generation. All the best to you from the other side of the world.
You can be so proud of yourself!! .. It's even hard enough to reach this level of skill self confidence and even that point not to decide to break down!... People who understand this and be aware of who live is as a concept artist are looking up to you. I'm looking up to you! Kind regards
i had this exact "defeated" moment a few months ago and i spent this entire video smiling. it reminded me the "liberation" feeling... The instant "i did something right and i love it" feeling. Takes a lot of tears finally having the strenght to say: i love myself, i love what i love and if you have a problem with that is your problem, not mine. i love this channel so much.
i recently found your channel and no cap every video leaves me in tears (good tears xD). recently i've been feeling overwhelmed with a lot of stuff-school, mental health, not feeling good enough about my art, self worth, etc. your videos have been such a refreshing reminder that things are going to be okay, and that im not alone in what im going through, that we're all getting through this together. and you deliver these videos with so much authenticity and empathy that connects with your audience. thank you so much for everything, art dad
Yeah, all of us will one day hit the rock bottom (or at least most probably). It is sad that you had to go through it but I am so glad you pulled it through and your friend is a Legend among legends. He just told it right into your face xD. And now you become that legend to us because you say it to us. So again, just as always thank you. Thank you for your time and therapy as a lot of people are calling it that and I cant argue with it. So as always, we love you with all our hearts beating as one for you and Happy painting. Sending love, signing off
I have to submit my portfolio for my uni application this week and I was really stressing out today but this has helped a lot. With all my heart, thank you
adam you are a fantastic artist, thx for motivating me everyday!. your stories hit me always close, i always felt like im not good at anything less along with art and everytime i hear you and i keep doing stuff in blender it's like i discover new things and get motivated also i can feel how my mind tries to find the beauty beyond the flaws and failures that we as humans have. Maybe that darkness and (ugliness) that we also have is what makes our art unique and something more deep!
That music at the very beginning feels so similar to "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel, which is one of my favorite songs and actually very fitting for the topic of this video. Great video as always too, I always walk away feeling transformed after listening to you, so thank you for that. Your videos are like a perfect form of therapy and meditation for me and I'm sure many others.
Adam you genius, ily I've heard many times i take life too seriously and that's a big issue of mine that holds me back. Thank you. Sooner or later this will get into my head. I'll write it down like any piece of good life advice, i'll remember it.
Hi Adam! I just wanted to thank you so much for this video! I don't know how you do this but each video you put up is just perfectly timed for stuff that's happening in my life. I really needed to hear all that. Thank you
Your talk reminded me of the lyrics of "Preciso Me Encontrar" (Need to find myself) from the great musician called Cartola. "Leave me be, Gotta walk Going somewhere to find smile not to cry..." Ps.: Thank you for all Adam!
Everytime I feel down or unsure about my art I just go and listen to you and it always gets better. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and experiences with us!
Wow i love your stories and how analyze them psychologically afterwards. I can really relate to this. Before you mentioned you 'felt liberated' i already guessed that thats what would happen at the end of the elevator ride, before you said 'you dint lose one thing' i already guessed 'yourself'. And then the realization that you dont have influence on external things (everything you own -your job/material goods/relationships- end up owning you, just like the Fight Club quote you mentioned at the start of this), you can only Choose how to deal with this, how to go forward (sounds rather stoic). :) I always compare these Tragedies and traumatic situations (carreer failure/ heartbreak/ struggle to find a new path) with the Phoenix myth from a psychological standpoint. The Phoenix dies one day and bursts into flames, burns down to ashes and is reborn after that. The idea is that in tragedy you burst into flames (get overwhelmed/ fall into hell) and burn off all the things that were not worthy to be part of you (the pain you feel in those tragic times is exactly that- the burning off of your useless deadwood) ... after you hits rock bottom theres only You left.. you didnt lose yourself.. just all the things that were not you, you feel cleansed, liberated and a sense of finding back to your own path. Thank you for doing these wonderful Arttalks Adam
This talk was interesting. Earlier today I was in church and the priest said something very similar to what you @Adam Duff Lucidpixul said. Fearing the worst can be a huge burden on goals.
Sorry for the difficulties Adam. Some of that stuff sounds so crushing to me, but I'm glad you came away with wisdom and are willing to share it. Thanks for the needed message!
I need this right now. I just got grilled by my music teacher even though I did 2 performances this month of pieces I composed myself because I "shouldn't have done one of them" and I should prioritize things better. Not necessarily wrong, but it just feels so ungrateful to be so negative even though I worked so hard to make all that shit work. Oh well, thanks art dad for the free therapy sesh. And Thanks for reading my non-art non-thisvideo related short rant.
I always appreciate these talks, helps to know that we are not alone and reinforce the positive mindset needed to push forward through the trenches daily.
Ngl, my biggest fear is losing my hands or going blind. Just not being able to do art again, ever. That is definitely what will make me hit rock bottom and what I think of when I hear "the worst that could happen"
Hi Adam! I just quickly wanted to let you know that i love the content you produce so much :)! I almost always listen to a video of yours when im making art, and i love how much you relate your topics to the things that artists experience, it really helps a lot!
i know he didn't intend for it to sound like this, but it felt like a big rant on my depression "oh they probably didn't hit their rock bottom so that's why they overreact" it sounds like experiencing trauma is supposed to make you stronger how much deeper im supposed to go for my broken state to be valid for you? ive been in a point in my life where i tried to kill myself everyday, by this logic, am i supposed to actually die to "realize" that i should stop feeling what i feel?
I know this is an old video, but regardless if anyone reads or responds to this, I'll write it anyway: I know it's all in good intention and you and others personally found the advice like "don't sweat the small stuff," "you choose how you react (aka how you think and feel), " and "don't let people decide for you what your worth and identity" to be very helpful. More power to you and everyone else that found it helpful. However, there is absolutely nothing new about any of this for me, yet it never helped me at all. In fact, I find it, to some extent, invalidating and dismissive. Not everyone can get rid of their problems all on their own. It's not enough for anyone struggling with confidence, self-esteem, loving yourself, etc to just see their problems as "small." There's pretty bad stuff that can happen. The struggles, feelings and thoughts we have all matter, even the nasty ones. Sure, in terms of how we react as in what actions to make matter. Just because we suddenly get a though or feeling that we're all doomed and everyone sucks, doesn't mean you should act on hurting others and give up all hope in humanity. That much I get. But even with that, even more so when it comes to mental illnesses, it's not going to cut it for everyone. It could be because I might still not get it and I'm still not in a good place mentally as someone who struggles with mental illness myself, but your videos still give me hope and assurance. I do agree that when your in a good place, you know who you are and not as likely to care what others think. I just have a long way to go with that and it's still working on it myself. Thanks for anyone who read and have a good day regardless if you celebrate anything during the holiday season or not ^_^
Music to my soul, ty for inspiration, i've made a drawing because you've inspired me to do so ;)) much love and kepp doing qality and good stuff for good people!
I feel like i've hit rock bottom right now. I lost my job due to covid (or at least that's what they told me). I completed a study in game art in 2018 but still haven't found a job in it. I can't make myself work on personal project because I always feel I'm not good enough. I'm stuck in a house with room mates I don't like. I don't have a girlfriend. I don't know what to do anymore.
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I start tearing up every single time he says "I love you all, with all my heart"
Same man, you just know the video always end like that, but you cant help and cry because he means it when he says it.
Ikr
Looks like Adam is a good guy 🙂
I swear it's the same, Adam is the paternal figure I never had
That's probably because I fully mean it
therapy time...
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things." - George Carlin
God love George Carlin - my number 1 :)
So, the worst thing that could happen to you, is you accepting the illusion that you don't have a choice, therefore losing yourself? Thanks again for the always well timed lesson.
There's 2 quotes that I remembered listening to you: "losing all hope is freedom" and "if you think it can't get worse, it will definetly get even worse". I learned this for myself in the same hard way, but that's how good swords are made, hitting and shaping the iron again and again. Glad you learned about everything and you're in a better position with you and your life now. Cheers man
I love both of those quotes - particularly the first one. It ties in perfectly to my message, thank you for that.
That's exactly why i started 3D art. I was with a bad relationship and when it ended, i thought i just lost everything. But it gave me the reason to start using Blender and improving myself, i don't know why this happened, i wasn't supposed to recover so fast like this. But for some reason i didn't give up just this time, and i continued until this day.
Well, I must say that even I haven't met you...thank you for being my friend. :)
Well said Adam, the stoic way, "You have power over your mind, not outside events, realize this and you will find strength"
maaaaannn this hit harder than the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs
the part at 13:00 talking about knowing your sense of self is what got me. It's something I've really struggled with internally my entire life, and despite all the encouragement from peers and family it never really blossomed, still hasn't
Never too late to improve that though, right?
After ending up effectively homeless twice and being forced into a situation where I've had to cut all ties with my family for my own safety and wellbeing, this resonates pretty hard with me. I think I'm on the road to recovery but will see how the next few years treat us. Thank you again, Adam
Do you have any updates for us?? I’m hoping your situation has gotten better
@@TheSilverDiego Thanks for your concern, i appreciate it. Saddly no news, i'm stuck in limbo untill I can get employment. Busting my ass to go self-employed as an illustrator so that I can move to a better location.
Therapy is expensive but Adams videos are free
Shit just keeps on coming. This looming sense of dread that just behind the next corner there's one more surprise waiting to punch you in the face, kick you down once more. The feeling that you've grown numb already, but no, not really. It still sucks so fucking much every time. But in the end you're right, Adam. At least I know who I am now.
I hope to be able to get up and start walking again soon.
Personally, I know what I'm the most fearful of is having everything fall apart. Watching everything fall into complete and utter ruin. I remember distinct points in my short life where I distinctly felt like I lost everything. I remember feeling so frustrated and lost, not knowing where to go or what to do or who even to turn to because at that time, I always felt that everyone was like an enemy, that they were out to get me. It was dark, and I remember distinctly how awful I felt. It's happened maybe a couple points in my life but I remember the first time I felt it, I was still in high school.
I remember feeling that sense of liberation when I walked out of what was otherwise a very toxic environment. And I guess, hearing and looking back on it, I think Adam and his friend Jeno (I apologize if I spelled his name wrong!) is right when he said it's very...well, small stuff. In the grand scheme of things, I walked away from the situation losing what were once great friends, sure, but I don't feel so "bogged down." I think it's something that I have to constantly remind myself of though, to not get caught up on things that most would never care or think twice about.
Hearing it from Adam, it's nice. Comforting. Thank you. And thank you to anyone reading this if you saw this whole thing. I know it's kinda personal for the internet, but I don't know. I guess I wanted to share some little experience? Otherwise, I hope that your holidays are merry and your days bright.
Rest assured that you aren't the first to feel this way. We artist have a tendency to be particularly hard on ourselves. We are unravelling the fabric of life itself after all - not an easy feat :)
"It throws your sense of self out of wack because you were never deciding for yourself in the first place; you were letting other people decide that for you." I don't think anyone has ever slapped me in the face with such an accurate statement before. Good to know 😶🤔 I need to remember this when those pesky doubts come around. "Everything is small stuff."
The best we can do is "manage" it to the best of our abilities. We never have it totally mastered, but we can get better at it. That statement comes in handy when you're facing the feeling that "you're completely lost". It reminds you that feeling lost isn't the end of the world :)
20:04 - Yes. Be a Stoic.
Rockbottom was the September month for me. Went through a family tragedy, followed by a breakup after many years in that relationship, lost an important game due to the heartbreak, and the days that followed were my birthday on top of working overtime. Adam, your words continue to tug into my heart. After hitting rock bottom, I had a good long walk for myself with some bubble tea, feeling the same way as you did, thinking, so what? What next? Gained some experience points and leveled up! Hahah! And you're right. What matters is that we don't lose ourselves then, and you and your friend put it into words here. Thank you 💓
Aww, you're more than welcome Mary. And although I'm sure you can look back and see the strength you gained - that doesn't take away from what you know you went through. It's very reassuring to hear that you're coming out the other end intact.
Our brains only evolved to deal with some stress not huge amounts but we have the ability to be the boss of our minds and bodies into a more pleasent world. What you can control you can change it = the mind is changable and the body is changeable too.
And what you focus on it becomes reality
Can we agree and disagree at the same time?
Everything may be small stuff, but everything is big stuff at the same time. You, we, affect others even when not doing anything, even when not doing anything wrong, even when doing absolutely everything right. The path to hell is paved with good intentions after all, and even a perfect game can be lost.
Life's never that simple, yet always is.
I learned things in a hard way when I was at a young age. I was being bullied (mentally and emotionaly) in my elementary school, I was conpletely invisible in my highschool days. I'm not even choosed with group activities that's why I tend to do things alone. I'm asking every single day on what's wrong with me and crying every night. It got worse when I attended camping at school because no one wants to share a bed with me that's why I always go out every night and have a walk around the campus just for them to be comfortable at my suppose to be bed. Art is my only friend that time. It allows me to be in a fantasy where I feel like I belong. It continues until I decided to move down a section (I was on the number 1 section consistently for 3 years) so I failed one class on purpose so that I can leave to my nightmare. When I was assigned to a 2nd to the highest section, things have change. They accepted me as me and little by little, I'm feeling like I'm not invisible anymore. I feel like I belong and I feel like I found a new family. Back in the present (senior highschool ), I learned to imitate a confident person but I'm not that confident when I rely on my own confidence because of the damage that was caused by my past. I found my friends and I feel genuine happiness. I'm still recovering to my past but I'm slowly loving myself. My past is truly a nightmare but I have to accept it as a part of me because it really is a part of who I am. For those people who's experiencing bad things, I belive in you. I believe that you can manage to overcome those things and be a stronger person
I love this channel, it's like Bob Ross had fused with a therapist. Jokes aside, it's always a pleasure to come back here once in a while, not only for the art. My best wishes, Adam.
I'm in my 30s and work at Walmart, I want to work in the art field one day but I stress over work so much I can never focuse on anything out side of work. Fellow coworkers in my department do are lack luster at the job and I try my best just to end up not meeting the goal of the work day, even though I try to do my best the job is a team based job and will ever be a place where you can run of a few good workers and be a successful day. Even tho the lack luster workers are causing the issues I feel like a failure for not meeting the goals of the work place. I also never been to any art schools at this point of life as well, feel like I'm wasting too much time being lost. I just can't separate work and home life, I think and stress about work too much. Need to focus on my art and have a healthier mental state, I never feel like drawing with my stress.
"I am what I choose to be right now." Words to live by, and I try my best to.
I’ve got a question not necessarily relating to this video, but something that you’ve touched on and spoke about in several other talks.
It’s on the idea that, as artists, we shouldn’t produce work for the sake of getting clicks, likes, views, etc. which is something that I completely agree with.
However, along with the spiritual and emotional side of art, there’s a whole business side as well, with one of the most important aspects of it being marketing and branding.
Seeing as you need (at least it seems nowadays) social media traffic, clicks, likes, views, etc., the balance of staying artistically true to yourself while building a following seems like a hard one to strike.
I understand that there is a separation between the actual artwork one makes, and the way it is/they are marketed and branded, but I’d really like to hear where you believe that line is, and how to draw it, and your thoughts on striking that balance.
Love your videos, they’ve helped me through a lot :)
How I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me, how I react to a situation is entirely on me. It's only the end of the world if you say it is.
I don't think I can tell myself that enough. God I fucking love your videos.
It's hard to work when I'm crying. Thank you Adam.
That was intense. I have literally just given up a drawing, cause I am too tired to keep up, and then started beating myself up with “you’ll never be a professional artist if you don’t make sacrifices and push yourself harder” but i work full time and concept art course I’m doing have been more of a burden than a good experience. And When I get home I’m so exhausted I simply can’t do anything. Couldn’t stop crying when you said “you may not be a successful artist yet, you may just be pushing yourself as hard as you can, remember everything is small thing”
As I said on the previous video, there are time’s you save my mental health... thanks Adam
I have so much more clarity about how I feel now than I ever did. It's a sad thing that it takes hitting that rock bottom to find ourselves, for most of us. It's as if that's the point in our lives where we start to think about what's most important to us. Of course, everyone has their own "bottom", some worse than others, but ultimately that's not the point.
At some point I just started to feel more at peace with myself, not that I forgot what it feels like to make choices that didn't feel right. At the end of the day, I'm just grateful for knowing why I feel the way I do, as weird and mystical as that sounds. It used to be a torture not knowing.
Well it sounds to me like you can relate entirely to what I just shared with you. :)
Incredible. Ty for sharing your story and the stoic philosophy you utilized to overcome the difficulties you faced.
I can't really find the right words right now but thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you Adam and Take Care as well. Thank you for sharing ... wish I could draw like you do... even during my Architecture period of my life ... all I could do was lines and solid blocks... hand free drawing / is still something new to me.
ive never met anyone that knew so deeply about ego and how to deal with it, and ive been held captive of it my entire life, without realizing it, you have no ideia how much more freedom you have been giving me since i discovered your channel last year to now. In art, in being myself, in every aspect of my life in fact
Thank you SO much for your videos. I just watched last weeks video and I'm crying right now, because I feel SO bad. It is a little bit like what you are discribing in this video right now. I simply had too much pressure the last three years and I don't know how to balance myself yet. Too much happend in the past. My dad and my gandpa died within the last two years, I moved from home and got back to school to get a degree in game design, gaphic design, photography, music- and video editing. I was broke last month, because of corona. (I'm better now, because I get a little bit of money from the rent.) It is just a lot of stress and I am simply not able to keep working on the big projekt I have started for a client a couple of month ago right now. It is okay, I do have time, but I feel the pressure. I wanted to work on the projekt, because it could change something in my country. I want to do the best work possible and I'm not in the state of mind where I am able to do this. So it is okay, I am allowed to feel like shit, I just have to get out of this state of mind, with changing my environment if possible. Thank you so much, your art talks help me to get new energy and inspiration, even if I do not feel great.
Adam: "Now what I just painted for you..."
Me, switches windows immediately to see the painting
Adam: "is a single scenario"
Me, feeling incredibly stupid: :°)
Anyway, I'm sorry to say that this talk is one of the reason for me to stop watching your videos, the unexpected therapy. I usually get this feeling once a week during my sessions lol
Still, I must thank you Adam, you make me work a lot on myself, and although it will never be enough, it somewhat helps. Thanks for helping us all without any payment or anything. And thanks for being the fatherly figure I never had, even though it's not your job.
I think you should include a private therapy session in your description. Your videos inspire so many people to reflect on themselves and accept the way they are, albeit never stop improving of course.
I've been in a high-stress situation like you're talking about and when everything fell apart, I felt so relieved. It was the strangest thing because I thought I'd failed somehow. Looking back on it, I think it was necessary because after that I started focusing on the things that were important to me instead of what I thought would impress others.
(Also, pro-tip for anyone reading this: HR 's job isn't to protect employees, they exist to protect the company. Anything you tell them will be used against you.)
Thank You, Adam.
I try to be a grateful person. I feel I've found a semblance of myself, in gratitude. In accepting that I am have limits to myself. In embracing peace, when I cannot muster the fight any longer. When the chaos of the world is so heavy on my shoulders, and the inner demon ducklings quackin' up a storm in my head are just piling on more.
I find myself.... When I forgive myself.
When I step back, and say 'No more' to the voices telling me to fight. To pull myself up off the ground, to fight that one more battle. Mocking me because I have to conquer, or else I'm a loser. I have to get up and work my ass off, or else I'm a deadbeat, waste of space, no purpose in life individual. I have to be productive, and force an artwork out of my hands, or else I'm not an artist.........
I find myself, when I forgive myself. For being unable to reach the extremely high, nigh perfectionistic, standard that I feel is all too easy to be thrust upon my shoulders.
And I accept that I am human. And that the inner demon ducklings, aren't going away. So I can pick up my shepherding crook, and help guide them to a tranquil pond to help them to accept who I am. I am a humble shepherd. I am not a conqueror or king. I am an artist, but that is not what defines me. I am free.
And being free, makes me happy.
EDIT: And who I want to be; is Kind. I want to be kind to everyone else, who mocks my choice of peace. When they haven't yet seen; that fighting isn't always the answer.
I want to be kind to my enemies. I want to be kind to all who despise me.... Even when the only one hating myself; is I. I will become kind.
ty mate ... i been trough something like this now
It must've not been easy to open up about your personal life, but that's exactly why I love your art talks. Whenever I draw & listen to you, it feels like I'm listening to a genuine person.. An actual human being, who's been through a lot & yet speaks with the conviction of spreading hope among the people who feel lost or who feel like things won't ever go right. "Don't sweat the small stuff", is actually something that I really needed to hear. I'm grateful for that
I usually listen to your vids as I'm drawing, and it genuinely keeps me going. Way better than listening to some podcast or whatever. Thanks for everything.
Thank you Adam
You can buy the book on Amazon for $8.99 - "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It's All Small Stuff": Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Series) Paperback - Published January 16, 1997
It's strange how many times you drop a video related to my situation and it's comforting. I'm at the crossroad in my life where I need to change my long relationship and job, and I never done it before so I really appreciate your message.
I'm currently at my worst, honestly I don't know how to feel when hearing that "I shouldn't ssweat it" because it's what all the people usually say to me to just turn to the same emotional page as them and as much as I try to let things pass and don't let them have power over me they always come back and break me down once again or even worst. But I honestly admire Adam a lot and I hope someday I can get to find the streght that adam and other people in the comments have..
I hope One day I'll have decent chain of words to express how grateful I am for what you do :')
Thank you. This video just helped me a lot. I'm going through a bit of a stupid situation where the plan I had for study abroad failed due to the whole virus situation and I didn't look into the education I was signing up for here and screwed myself over. So after a few months of wanting to quit it and trying to manage the whole situation with my parents I'm at a point where I don't even know what I'm really doing and somehow whenever I'm in an undesirable situation your vids tend to get me out of them. At least the mental part. To sum up, thank you for existing and being such a wonderful person.
I enjoy the things you say even if I don’t necessarily agree with it all. It seems a bit sad to think no one cares about you when human life is so built on relationship with other people. Especially friends and family. Thanks for the video nonetheless!
Thanks you Adam, from the bottom of my heart. I wish more people like you would be out there, being teachers, parents and mentors to have a positive impact on the next generation. All the best to you from the other side of the world.
You can be so proud of yourself!! .. It's even hard enough to reach this level of skill self confidence and even that point not to decide to break down!... People who understand this and be aware of who live is as a concept artist are looking up to you. I'm looking up to you! Kind regards
this is the kinda of advice i'm gonna need sometime later in my life, thank you for making this video man.
Great video. I liked hearing your stories and hearing about how you overcame your own personal challenges. Can't wait for the next one.
Wow Mr. Addam you give so much encouragement and wisdom.Thank you for your art talks !
i had this exact "defeated" moment a few months ago and i spent this entire video smiling. it reminded me the "liberation" feeling... The instant "i did something right and i love it" feeling.
Takes a lot of tears finally having the strenght to say: i love myself, i love what i love and if you have a problem with that is your problem, not mine.
i love this channel so much.
Thank you so much Adam for everything
i recently found your channel and no cap every video leaves me in tears (good tears xD). recently i've been feeling overwhelmed with a lot of stuff-school, mental health, not feeling good enough about my art, self worth, etc. your videos have been such a refreshing reminder that things are going to be okay, and that im not alone in what im going through, that we're all getting through this together. and you deliver these videos with so much authenticity and empathy that connects with your audience. thank you so much for everything, art dad
this video was a gift, thank you!
I have just made a 3D Poly door model in maya and fully UV rapped. I think I might be a psychopath for also enjoying the UV unrapping part.
Yeah, all of us will one day hit the rock bottom (or at least most probably). It is sad that you had to go through it but I am so glad you pulled it through and your friend is a Legend among legends. He just told it right into your face xD. And now you become that legend to us because you say it to us. So again, just as always thank you. Thank you for your time and therapy as a lot of people are calling it that and I cant argue with it.
So as always, we love you with all our hearts beating as one for you and Happy painting.
Sending love, signing off
Love you too Adam ❤️
Thank you for this video
I have to submit my portfolio for my uni application this week and I was really stressing out today but this has helped a lot. With all my heart, thank you
Did u get in🙂
Thank you 🙏🏼
Your wisdom always seem to be well timed... thanks Adam!
Beautiful work & words as always thanks Adam
adam you are a fantastic artist, thx for motivating me everyday!. your stories hit me always close, i always felt like im not good at anything less along with art and everytime i hear you and i keep doing stuff in blender it's like i discover new things and get motivated also i can feel how my mind tries to find the beauty beyond the flaws and failures that we as humans have. Maybe that darkness and (ugliness) that we also have is what makes our art unique and something more deep!
I really like hear lessons not about art only, but about life from you, Adam. Thanks very much.
You really know how to get to someone's heart. It all starts with honestly. Another great one, man. I appreciate it and your work. ♥️🤟🏾
This was the most realist video I ever watched from Adam, very relatable
That music at the very beginning feels so similar to "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel, which is one of my favorite songs and actually very fitting for the topic of this video. Great video as always too, I always walk away feeling transformed after listening to you, so thank you for that. Your videos are like a perfect form of therapy and meditation for me and I'm sure many others.
Sir I really love your work!
adam being a straight up art hero right here good job adam and i hope u are staying safe and happy big fan ❤❤😊😊
Thanks Adam, I really appreciate hearing this. Much love ❤
you posted this on my birthday, thank you loved and needed it
thank you a lot Adam.. thank you.. thank you
Adam you genius, ily
I've heard many times i take life too seriously and that's a big issue of mine that holds me back. Thank you. Sooner or later this will get into my head. I'll write it down like any piece of good life advice, i'll remember it.
Hi Adam! I just wanted to thank you so much for this video! I don't know how you do this but each video you put up is just perfectly timed for stuff that's happening in my life. I really needed to hear all that. Thank you
I needed this. thank you.
Your talk reminded me of the lyrics of "Preciso Me Encontrar" (Need to find myself) from the great musician called Cartola.
"Leave me be,
Gotta walk
Going somewhere to find
smile not to cry..."
Ps.: Thank you for all Adam!
Everytime I feel down or unsure about my art I just go and listen to you and it always gets better. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and experiences with us!
Wow i love your stories and how analyze them psychologically afterwards. I can really relate to this.
Before you mentioned you 'felt liberated' i already guessed that thats what would happen at the end of the elevator ride, before you said 'you dint lose one thing' i already guessed 'yourself'. And then the realization that you dont have influence on external things (everything you own -your job/material goods/relationships- end up owning you, just like the Fight Club quote you mentioned at the start of this), you can only Choose how to deal with this, how to go forward (sounds rather stoic). :)
I always compare these Tragedies and traumatic situations (carreer failure/ heartbreak/ struggle to find a new path) with the Phoenix myth from a psychological standpoint.
The Phoenix dies one day and bursts into flames, burns down to ashes and is reborn after that.
The idea is that in tragedy you burst into flames (get overwhelmed/ fall into hell) and burn off all the things that were not worthy to be part of you (the pain you feel in those tragic times is exactly that- the burning off of your useless deadwood) ... after you hits rock bottom theres only You left.. you didnt lose yourself.. just all the things that were not you, you feel cleansed, liberated and a sense of finding back to your own path.
Thank you for doing these wonderful Arttalks Adam
Thank you for your words. Love you too
Such a sweet idea with the little lamp and the atmosphere :3 !
This talk was interesting. Earlier today I was in church and the priest said something very similar to what you @Adam Duff Lucidpixul said. Fearing the worst can be a huge burden on goals.
Sorry for the difficulties Adam. Some of that stuff sounds so crushing to me, but I'm glad you came away with wisdom and are willing to share it. Thanks for the needed message!
It definitely was at the time - but then you learn that you can absolutely survive being crushed
Adam we love you back too, thank you for existing in this platform. You truly help people and it’s so important
I need this right now. I just got grilled by my music teacher even though I did 2 performances this month of pieces I composed myself because I "shouldn't have done one of them" and I should prioritize things better. Not necessarily wrong, but it just feels so ungrateful to be so negative even though I worked so hard to make all that shit work. Oh well, thanks art dad for the free therapy sesh. And Thanks for reading my non-art non-thisvideo related short rant.
I always appreciate these talks, helps to know that we are not alone and reinforce the positive mindset needed to push forward through the trenches daily.
Ngl, my biggest fear is losing my hands or going blind. Just not being able to do art again, ever. That is definitely what will make me hit rock bottom and what I think of when I hear "the worst that could happen"
Hi Adam! I just quickly wanted to let you know that i love the content you produce so much :)! I almost always listen to a video of yours when im making art, and i love how much you relate your topics to the things that artists experience, it really helps a lot!
Thank you for the perspective I never thought that way it makes me feel better about life
very kind and beautiful words, thanks for this
i know he didn't intend for it to sound like this, but it felt like a big rant on my depression
"oh they probably didn't hit their rock bottom so that's why they overreact" it sounds like experiencing trauma is supposed to make you stronger
how much deeper im supposed to go for my broken state to be valid for you? ive been in a point in my life where i tried to kill myself everyday, by this logic, am i supposed to actually die to "realize" that i should stop feeling what i feel?
I know this is an old video, but regardless if anyone reads or responds to this, I'll write it anyway:
I know it's all in good intention and you and others personally found the advice like "don't sweat the small stuff," "you choose how you react (aka how you think and feel), " and "don't let people decide for you what your worth and identity" to be very helpful. More power to you and everyone else that found it helpful. However, there is absolutely nothing new about any of this for me, yet it never helped me at all. In fact, I find it, to some extent, invalidating and dismissive. Not everyone can get rid of their problems all on their own. It's not enough for anyone struggling with confidence, self-esteem, loving yourself, etc to just see their problems as "small." There's pretty bad stuff that can happen. The struggles, feelings and thoughts we have all matter, even the nasty ones. Sure, in terms of how we react as in what actions to make matter. Just because we suddenly get a though or feeling that we're all doomed and everyone sucks, doesn't mean you should act on hurting others and give up all hope in humanity. That much I get. But even with that, even more so when it comes to mental illnesses, it's not going to cut it for everyone.
It could be because I might still not get it and I'm still not in a good place mentally as someone who struggles with mental illness myself, but your videos still give me hope and assurance. I do agree that when your in a good place, you know who you are and not as likely to care what others think. I just have a long way to go with that and it's still working on it myself. Thanks for anyone who read and have a good day regardless if you celebrate anything during the holiday season or not ^_^
Inspiring as always, thanks Adam
Having just gone through a breaking point, this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Adam. ❤
Music to my soul, ty for inspiration, i've made a drawing because you've inspired me to do so ;)) much love and kepp doing qality and good stuff for good people!
I feel like I need to listen to this daily D:
Thank you
Great video. Always the stuff I need to hear.
I feel like i've hit rock bottom right now. I lost my job due to covid (or at least that's what they told me). I completed a study in game art in 2018 but still haven't found a job in it. I can't make myself work on personal project because I always feel I'm not good enough. I'm stuck in a house with room mates I don't like. I don't have a girlfriend. I don't know what to do anymore.
Can I get the brushes you use somewhere? I love your art so much!
wow. that was just beautiful. thanks! helps a lot!
" it's like darksouls, I'm already dead" God damn man