Gain Confidence & Eliminate Inadequacy
The Artful Dodger and his chums invite Oliver into their group, immediately asking him to “consider yourself our mate.” They’ve taken to him straightaway and insist that he is one of them now. Do you consider yourself an artist? Why, or why not? If not, you aren’t alone. Many people have a difficult time admitting that they are an artist. The term “artist” carries with it a certain level of experience and talent that is expected. People think being an artist is something you are bestowed with or that you must create a revered piece of work to gain the title. These ideas go right along with the feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy that plague- well, people in general- but also those involved in the arts. Here we will discuss how you can hopefully start to replace those feelings with confidence, and recognize the common behaviors that lead to putting yourself down and keep you from truly accepting that you are an artist.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Oh, comparison. We know we shouldn’t…but sometimes we just can’t help it. Comparing yourself to others can be truly detrimental though. It’s wonderful to recognize and celebrate our different talents and strengths, and we should continue to do so. However, comparing our abilities and skill level to others isn’t really fair. On one hand, things aren’t always as they seem. You may see the best of those around you, but you don’t always get to see their struggles and failures behind the scenes as they are learning and improving. You also don’t know how much training they have received. If they have been taking classes for 5 years, and you just started, how can you possibly compare yourself to them? Besides, everyone is so unique in their talents, it’s like trying to compare apples and oranges: both delightful, both fruit, but completely different in look and flavor.
“It’s Just a Hobby”
One way people downplay their art is referring to it as “just” a hobby. For some people, that is the truth and that is just wonderful! Art as a relaxing thing you do in your free time is great. But for those of you who are planning on making a career out of it, condensing it to a mere hobby isn’t fair to yourself. Granted, some people in this world don’t view art as a true profession, which isn’t correct. So, instead of downplaying your passion as something that will be “socially acceptable”, let yourself take pride in your abilities and hopes and dreams by referring to it as a career and a profession and a job.
The Wrong Room
If you’re the best person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Variations of this quote have been attributed to many different people, but the sentiment remains the same. If you are better or smarter than everyone else around you, it’s time to find a new place that will challenge you. While it is good for our egos to feel like we are the best, which can inspire confidence, pretty soon you aren’t progressing anymore. It’s so easy and tempting to stay where life is comfortable, but pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will always give you a chance to grow. Surround yourself with people who have different strengths than you and see what happens, even if it seems intimidating. You can’t stay in that wrong room forever, no matter how comfy it is.
In a Year…Will it Matter?
Artists tend to put immense pressure on themselves. Art can be a very personal and meaningful thing so sharing it with others can seem a bit intimidating. But listen to this: Failure is simply a deviance from expectation. Read that again. What that means is that failure isn’t anything to stress over. You had an expectation of how something “should” go or how you wanted it to go, and the outcome didn’t match that. So, what? I know it’s easier said than done to let go of your high expectations but if you start to think of failure in this different light, you’ll see a change in how you approach classes, auditions, and performing. When you start to think about failure, truly ask yourself:
What if I fail? What will actually happen? If you won’t care or remember in a day, a month, a year…let it go. If the consequences that could plausibly happen won’t matter to you after a little bit of time, it’s not worth stressing about or putting too much pressure on yourself.
Take the Compliment
Society tells us that to be polite we must turn down compliments we are given; our minds tell us we don’t deserve them. I’m sure you’ve had the experience of complimenting your friend and they dismiss it, which probably makes you wonder how they couldn’t believe that about themselves when it’s so obvious to you. Well, I’m sure you’ve also been on the opposite side of things. The thing is, accepting a compliment and thanking someone for it isn’t rude. Even if you don’t completely believe it yourself, the person that said it must believe it and that was very kind of them to tell you. Next time you get the urge to disagree with a compliment, try saying “thank you” instead. Not only will the person be glad that you seem to agree, over time your self-confidence will start to thank you. It’s incredible what can happen if you allow positivity in instead of pushing it away.
Art is…
What exactly qualifies as art? Paintings in a museum. A film in a movie theatre. A ballet by extensively trained dancers. All these things are art, but they are not the only art. Art is your doodles on notebook paper. Art is the barista who made a design on the top of your drink. Art is how you matched your socks with your shirt. Art is finding good light for a selfie. All kinds of things can be art! Even in the places we don’t expect. So, start looking for art in the everyday, in the normal, in the mundane, and I guarantee you’ll find it. With this mindset, art becomes a little less sacred. Art stops being an unreachable and untouchable level. You can make art, even if you are a beginner! Art is for everyone, regardless of experience.
One day- I hope soon- you will be able to honestly and completely consider yourself an artist. No qualifiers or exceptions- simply an artist. Someone who is always learning and growing, but knows that they are important just as they are and what they bring to the table is always special and unique. So, go ahead and say it (even if it’s just a whisper): I’m an artist.