This is so deeply important, I can tell I'll be digesting it for the rest of the day. In the meantime, I have to share a teeny tiny confession that is soo far from the point: whenever I read one of your posts or watch one your workshop recordings I always think wow I like her so much and she has *fantastic* hair. (And not just because I'm currently also rocking the braids-and-black-jeans look.)
hahaha, THANK YOU! this, too, is deeply important (to me specifically) so thank you for sharing. and in my commenter's defense, i used to have a bleach job and self dye manic-panic colors over it. it was a different time... but sometimes i still miss it.
Thank you Ali! This is my first read of your work and it resonates deeply. I know when I’m hitting a cord with my own creations, I feel so much more charge around sharing and often then won’t! Thanks for the permission, and also reminder of just doing it anyway 💖
Yes to doing it anyway, but also YES to the fear! It's guiding you, I promise :) So glad you found my newsletter and thank you for sharing and for being here 💕
I love the clarity this essay offers, that the fear is a symbol of a soulful piece. If it's not there then part of me is likely missing. If it's there I am probably on track, need to step up fully, send the work into the work then let go of the rest. I know, easier said than done, but your words resonate deeply. Thank you Ali.
I found this post via Michelle Thompson's shout-out on Notes.
"Fear is a symbol of a soulful piece" is such a perfect summation. Fear is what guides us to our full potential. I'm so glad this resonated. Thank you for sharing this, Donna!
“If there was no fear, it told me that I’d created something for somebody else... The panic, I realized, was a gift.” --- right on time, thank you, Ali
Kinda feeling VERY seen with this line: "How ironic for me, a person afraid of judgment, to pick a career entirely based on gatekeepers judging you." Because, same. It's wild that I want to write a newsletter about opinions but also then do not want people to judge me (out loud, at least).
"I am afraid all of the time. I wonder how I am perceived all the time. I just keep going anyway." It's gotten better for me over the last decade that I've been writing, but I think there's still some room for growth for me. Reading articles like these, from people who also share a similar career path & fears, helps me realize we're all creating because we really really want to. It's so hard to navigate the need for validation & approval and create something authentic while also appealing to so many, and let's not even talk about the desire to be paid fairly for something we create while also wanting to remain "true" to our art/creativity (burn the starving artists ideal smh).
This is so deeply important, I can tell I'll be digesting it for the rest of the day. In the meantime, I have to share a teeny tiny confession that is soo far from the point: whenever I read one of your posts or watch one your workshop recordings I always think wow I like her so much and she has *fantastic* hair. (And not just because I'm currently also rocking the braids-and-black-jeans look.)
hahaha, THANK YOU! this, too, is deeply important (to me specifically) so thank you for sharing. and in my commenter's defense, i used to have a bleach job and self dye manic-panic colors over it. it was a different time... but sometimes i still miss it.
Thank you Ali! This is my first read of your work and it resonates deeply. I know when I’m hitting a cord with my own creations, I feel so much more charge around sharing and often then won’t! Thanks for the permission, and also reminder of just doing it anyway 💖
Yes to doing it anyway, but also YES to the fear! It's guiding you, I promise :) So glad you found my newsletter and thank you for sharing and for being here 💕
Yes! Trusting the fear as a guide 💖
I love the clarity this essay offers, that the fear is a symbol of a soulful piece. If it's not there then part of me is likely missing. If it's there I am probably on track, need to step up fully, send the work into the work then let go of the rest. I know, easier said than done, but your words resonate deeply. Thank you Ali.
I found this post via Michelle Thompson's shout-out on Notes.
"Fear is a symbol of a soulful piece" is such a perfect summation. Fear is what guides us to our full potential. I'm so glad this resonated. Thank you for sharing this, Donna!
Hey, I just saw you're a featured Substack! Well done, that's awesome. I can't wait to dive in.
“If there was no fear, it told me that I’d created something for somebody else... The panic, I realized, was a gift.” --- right on time, thank you, Ali
So glad it resonated!
Kinda feeling VERY seen with this line: "How ironic for me, a person afraid of judgment, to pick a career entirely based on gatekeepers judging you." Because, same. It's wild that I want to write a newsletter about opinions but also then do not want people to judge me (out loud, at least).
"I am afraid all of the time. I wonder how I am perceived all the time. I just keep going anyway." It's gotten better for me over the last decade that I've been writing, but I think there's still some room for growth for me. Reading articles like these, from people who also share a similar career path & fears, helps me realize we're all creating because we really really want to. It's so hard to navigate the need for validation & approval and create something authentic while also appealing to so many, and let's not even talk about the desire to be paid fairly for something we create while also wanting to remain "true" to our art/creativity (burn the starving artists ideal smh).
All this to say...loved this one, Ali. :')