The story Behind a Piece of work

The story Behind a Piece 

of work

CREATIVITY

All great works of art are trophies of victorious struggle.—Julius Meier-Graefe

The second week of January was tough. Late at night, tight sleep and a little sleep. To sum it up, I lost my favorite handkerchief, even the deadline for my monthly pass and the horror of the late mark for an entire hour.

As soon as the birth of new art (and the birth of a newborn) is approaching, I say that this crazy lifestyle will only worsen. It amazes me how much more I can struggle with.

However, the next day, something happened that forced me to think differently.

You’ve got to enter the mess

The hospital room may be spotless and sterile, but birth itself will always take place amid chaos, pain, and blood.—Steven Pressfield

We all have our struggles — our obstacles and hardships. If we’re not careful, they can hold us back from moving forward, from doing what really matters.

I’m learning an important lesson about struggle and art: Creation always comes from chaos.

Often, we want to wait for perfection before pursuing our craft. We want to clean the desk before going to work. To empty our inbox before we begin writing. But often, this is just stalling. If we’re waiting for perfect, we’re kidding ourselves.

Life is messy. And if we’re going to do meaningful work, we’re going to have to enter the mess. Babies are born amidst pain, sweat, and blood, and so are our greatest projects. There is no way around it.

                    Getting your hands dirty

"Best wishes to wonderful journey''

Every painting is a war.—Neil Welliver

The other night, I spent four hours working on citations for my art. It left me feeling angry and exhausted. But when I shared my feelings of struggle with others, I realized I was not alone.

This is the feeling we get when we dare to do dirty work. And let’s face it: All work is dirty. What we mustn’t do is avoid the mess.

Sure, our hands will stay clean, but the world will still race towards entropy. Humanity will still descend towards destruction, while you hold the key to its rescue.

All artists struggle. It’s an indication that you’re actually “in the game.” I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: We need your voice. Start using it.

Yes, there will be a pain, but there will also be the glory. Every graveyard is a tale of legacy, of something important left behind. So will your stories of struggle live on in your absence. If you dare to be an artist. See you on the battlefield.

What’s a project you’re currently struggling with? Share in the comments.