5 Ways To Have More Self-Compassion As An Artist

In our Guide to Self-Compassion for Artists, we explored how creatives can turn negative feelings into positive ones in order to have more self-compassion. To further expand on the topic, in today’s article, we’ll be offering five ways you can have more self-compassion as an artist. All of these tips are actionable steps you can immediately begin to incorporate into your personal and creative routines to shift your mindset to a more positive, and compassionate one.

Talk To Yourself Like You Would A Fellow Artist

According to Positive Psychology, self-compassion is “treating yourself with kindness, understanding & acceptance, much like you would a good friend.” 

So, let’s take this a step farther and say that your friend is a fellow artist. They confide in you that they’ve hit a creative block. They’re struggling with self-doubt and are being overly critical of themselves. As their friend, you have total confidence in them. You know they’re an amazing, capable artist. You know they possess the talent and potential. Yet, because you’re removed from the situation, you can see that they’re being too harsh with themselves. 

Logically, it’s clear to see they’re the ones getting in their own way. All they need is a little pep talk and some fresh perspective. You’d probably offer support and speak some kind words of encouragement to them. Yet, how often do we forget to do this with ourselves? 

When you’re being hard on yourself, pause and ask: “Would I say this to a friend?” The answer is: probably not. The next time you catch yourself being self-critical, practice shifting that harsh inner voice to one that’s more supportive and gentle. Doing this enough can actually rewire your brain and help you to be more confident and self-compassionate.

Redefine Your Relationship With “Failure”

There are few words scarier to humans than the word failure. Our brains try to avoid it at all costs because we’ve labeled it as painful. It’s painful because when we “fail” at something, we feel like we’re not good enough. We feel like the whole world is judging and laughing at us. 

However, to be successful, you have to redefine your relationship with failure. After all, there is no room for growth in your comfort zone. And when you step out into a place you’ve never been before, you’re bound to make mistakes and yes, even “fail”. 

But instead of viewing failure as some horrific, scary thing, we can instead shift our mindset to one of gratitude. Yes, we can be thankful for our failures. Because failure means we’re trying – that we’re taking risks and actively pursuing something we’re passionate about. And, honestly, that’s a lot more than most people can say. 

So, stop being afraid to fail and give yourself permission to make mistakes and even “bad” art. Once you learn this, you’ll be able to create without feeling the pressure to perform at a standard you set for yourself that doesn’t even exist. Every so-called “failure” is a chance to learn, grow, and experience something new. And that in itself is one of the most important and beautiful parts of the creative process!

Learn To Love The Process, Not Just The Product

We are artists! How cool is that? That we get to wake up each day and create. We get to take a mere idea and turn it into a tangible, physical product. We get to play around with novel ideas and provoking thoughts. As artists, we are the trendsetters and innovators of our generation. That’s pretty cool if you ask me!

Yet, so often, we get so laser-focused on the finish line that we forget to enjoy the race. We rush through the long miles so desperate to get to the end that we don’t take the time to savor all the amazing views in between. Instead, we must choose to be present so that we can find joy in the small moments just as much as the big milestones.

Being an artist isn’t just about your art, it’s a chosen lifestyle. That’s why you can call yourself an artist as long as you’re creating art, even if you’ve yet to publish a single piece. Your worth as an artist doesn’t lie in the final piece of work, nor how well-received your art is by the rest of the world. Instead, your value lies in the way you choose to live life as an artist. Your real art is in how you create. 

So take joy in the little moments! Even the ones that don’t directly lead you to the “finish line” of a finished piece. Learn to love the process and not just the final product. Take pride in the journey: the unsure beginning, the messy middle, the sketching, daydreaming, and every abandoned draft. They all are a beautiful and meaningful part of what it means to be an artist.

Make Space For Rest Without Guilt

One way to have more self-compassion as an artist is by granting yourself the time and space to rest. Yeah, I know, to some the idea of rest may seem like a foreign concept. How do you expect me to rest when there is so much to do?

But here’s the thing – rest isn’t the opposite of productivity. Instead, it’s a very necessary part of being productive. Yet guilt creeps in because we live in a world that glamorizes hustle and labels rest as unproductive and lazy. 

Let me say this again: rest is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Because not getting the proper rest will eventually cause more harm than good. It can lead to burnout. And let me tell you, it’s a whole lot easier to avoid burnout than it is to recover from burnout!

We must shift our perspective on rest. I like to think of it as creative fertilizer. Rest is not the absence of creativity—it’s an incubation period – a breeding ground for exciting new ideas. It’s where your best ideas hide out, waiting for you to slow down enough to notice them. It’s an invigorating cup of tea for the creative spirit; the quiet calm in the eye of the creative storm.

Remind yourself that you are a person, not some endless creating machine. You’re not a never-ending spring of inspiration and ideas. And that’s okay! You are a living person with fluctuating energy levels, hormones, and emotions. There will be times when you need more rest than others. 

Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to rest without guilt. Remember that resting is a chance to recharge your creativity battery. So go schedule some time for rest this week. Your mind, body, and art will thank you for it!

Take The Pressure Off

One of the most self-compassionate things you can do for yourself as an artist is to just take the pressure off of creating. 

Artists have a tendency to be perfectionists. At least when it comes to deciding when a piece of work is officially “done”. 

While many people might consider perfectionism to be a good trait, I consider it a toxic one that we need to unlearn fast. Because the truth is that “perfection” is this imaginary, unobtainable standard that we try to hold ourselves to. 

We then get so caught up in our heads wondering if what we’re creating meets this non-existent bar of “good enough”. We could theoretically beat and mold a piece a thousand different ways for the rest of our lives. And even then, it still wouldn’t be good enough if we didn’t think it was. A piece is only “good enough” or finished when we ultimately decide it is. 

Many times we have to get to a point as artists where we stop trying to make a masterpiece and come to terms with something being “good enough” for ourselves. Because that’s really the only measure of perfection we should be holding ourselves to:  whether a work of art is good enough for ourselves. When you make the choice to take the pressure off, you can create so much more freely and joyfully.

Which one of these steps are you going to take to instill more self-compassion into your life? Share in the comments!

Photo Credit: Hassan Ouajbir on Pexels