As someone who has worked in a creative field for most of my life, I have seen my share of ups and downs. Things like trying to balance passion vs. income, fighting insecurities around capabilities, and finding your niche are just a few of the tough struggles us creative types go through. Over the years I’ve read a lot of helpful books on how to get through these battles and not give up on my biggest dreams. Here’s my top 5!
The War of Art - Steven Pressfield
This book digs into one of the biggest struggles artists have - resistance. Resistance comes in many forms but often shows up as procrastination, distraction, or blockages. The book suggests making smaller more attainable daily goals in service to more lofty ones, being aware of not creating drama in ones life to distract from creating, and looking at things like feeling blocked as a symbol of being onto something new and necessary to the artists world. I also enjoyed the author’s encouragement to work hard, and allow room for new ideas to enter by being less judgemental of ones creative experimentation.
Biggest Takeaway: The Universe supports creatives that work hard.
Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert
I’ll admit when I first started reading this one, I did it with little expectations of the writer who’s books are often dubbed as “chick lit”. Soon after diving into this one however, I was fully enthralled. Now a copy of this book lives on my working desk. The main concept in this book is how to deal with the fears that come with being a creative, and that it takes a certain amount of bravery to show up to do the work, share it, and allow it to be what it is. It talks about ideas being alive and all around us, and how to show up for them lest the disappear from our grasp. Gilbert shares many personal anecdotes to support her ideas and it makes for an interesting and uplifting read.
Biggest Takeaway: it is far better to show up for, support, and celebrate our work, than try to perfect it or insist it makes us money.
10% Happier - Dan Harris
Even though this book is not technically marketed towards creatives, it may have been one of the biggest life changing books of my life, and here’s why: The author, a major news anchor for ABC, explains how he overcame drug addiction and crippling anxiety with the use of daily meditation. Although the story itself may not sound groundbreaking, his authentic voice - specifically about his initial skepticism towards meditation - gives the book both humour and a more genuine feel. He says things you might say yourself in his journey towards bettering himself and it helps humanize the sometimes airy fairy notion of meditation. After starting meditation while reading this book, I highly recommend both to any and all creative types, and really just anyone looking to better their life.
Biggest Takeaway: Becoming more zen is important, but it doesn’t mean becoming spineless or sedentary. On the contrary, meditation gives us the mental clarity to recognize our thoughts as they happen, and better equip us to deal with our problems head on, in a calmer more effective way.
Can’t Hurt Me - David Goggins
This is another book that was not specifically written for artists, but I think anyone with goals could gain something from it. This book shares David’s entire incredible journey from a dark and traumatic childhood, to becoming one of the world’s top athletes. Goggins defied the odds at every turn by sheer will and determination. He made the decision to see what he was really capable of, and he continues to do so to this day. By asking himself “what if”, and living by his 40 % rule (when you think you can’t do more, you’re only at 40%!) he completely changed his life trajectory. I devoured this book in less than a week, and would stay up late reading his incredible stories such as how he lost 100 pounds in 3 months to begin his training as a Navy Seal, and his intense and grueling path to a Guiness World Record for the most pull ups in 24 hours. (2013). If you are slogging through your days, but have big dreams, I can not suggest this book enough.
Biggest Takeaway: Our self limiting beliefs can hold us back. Only by asking ourselves what we are truly capable of, can we reach our ultimate potential.
Getting There - Gillian Zoe Segal
This is a book for anyone who thinks success is an overnight journey. Written by 30 of some of the world’s most successful people, this autobiographical book shares each of these mentors journeys, challenges, and how they found themselves in their achievements. It’s easy for us to assume that most successful people had it easy, but many of these people’s skills were born from their toughest challenges.
Biggest Takeaway: We often find our true purpose through the amalgamation of our entire lives. Our challenges, mistakes, and choices are all part of the story of our successes.
