What Creative People Need To Understand

Why sometimes zoning out and doing something for yourself might be good for your art/creative project.
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[@MountedDragoon]

Dreaming. I've kept dream journals since 2013. Dreams are sacred to me and so is writing them down and sharing those experiences with my friends and hearing theirs. It's been said that a man who's awake can live 100 years, but a man who dreams every night can live 200 years. There's so much to experience in life, including the things that don't happen, the people you meet who were never born, and the emotions you feel when your unconscious is looking at you and only you. "What do you see when you turn out the light?" "I can't tell you but I know it's mine."

[@flamingaish]

what do you think is the best way to keep one?

[@elisacastanio]

@@flamingaish to keep a dream for yourself? Or what do you mean?

[@loveahulic]

This is absolutely beautiful 🥺☁️

[@emoelmo780]

I started podcasting around late last year. I knew that I've always wanted to engage and connect with an audience who share similar values as I do. But to my dismay, it hasn't reached the success that I was expecting. I used to beat myself up about it until I re-listen to my older podcast episodes. Just the joy I got from coming up with a draft to recording the episode itself, that strong feeling of satisfaction came back to me as I listen to how enthusiastic I sounded. It was then that I realize that it's okay if I have little to no listeners. At the end of the day, I created my podcast because I wanted to materialize my thoughts and have a medium to express myself.

[@RCWaldun]

I love it. Keep it up! In my experience if you stick with it, you'll find your clan eventually. This is how I ended up with such an amazing community around my work. :)

[@flamingaish]

what's the name of your podcast, if you don't mind sharing?

[@emoelmo780]

@@flamingaish yeah, sure! It's called R&R. I talk about Malaysian culture and history mostly but it consists of other topics I'm interested about.

[@ten1162]

My hobby is dancing, and every time it makes me feel at ease, like I'm in control, and that there is something to life after all. However, I've observed that whenever I've tried to show it to someone, it would push me towards this weird feeling, which is deeply unsettling. I never understood why it happened. Thanks to your video, it helped me gain insights into this experience and gain some clarity as to why it happened. Not every time the gifts that you have received need to be flaunted; sometimes, just cherishing them and keeping them to yourselves is more than enough. Against something so integral to you and your life, the grasp of money should hold no strength ,so don't try to harness it at the cost of your inner peace.

[@Diana-di5cl]

I started drawing even before I could write, and I never did an art school but I drew everything I saw all of my free time. In my teenage years I decided that I would devote my life with art and became very critical to everything that I was creating. I drowned in thoughts that I should become a "perfect" artist, and each of my drawings should be a masterpiece to make money. And of course, my parents never supported the idea of making art as a job. So it all ended up being a big depressive episode for me, and I haven't touched all of my art supplies for years now. But I really like to watch videos where people trying different hobbies for the first time and share their not perfect results :) and maybe one day I will get back to drawing and doing art for fun.

[@LaurenLaass]

I agree!! I am a theatre performer and I felt like if I wasn’t perfect I shouldn’t try. I wouldn’t practice tap dancing because I was worried that while practicing I would realize I am not perfect, so why try at all? But I don’t really feel that way with ballet because I have never studied it, so I know I am bad at it, so I am more okay with practicing it. Does that make sense?

[@snuppl512]

If we stopped something because of other people, We will regret later in life. And If we had stopped because of our own self, due to various reasons, we can face them and do the right thing by heart, or again regret later in life because of what we didn't do when we had chances. It's not as easy as we talk, but we can start with tiny little steps

[@도치맘-w3x]

Try to do it .!!! Cheer up!

[@panicat.the.fandom2218]

Art has always played an enormous part in my life, as everyone around me encouraged me to pursue it. Piano lessons for years (leading to nowhere), tons of books and art materials for my birthdays. But I wasn't doing any of it for me - whatever I wrote, I wanted it to be read, had I drawn something, I would put it on my wall or post it somewhere, playing the piano only in my church and to impress others hah, sewing clothes to get the satisfaction of producing. I was caught up in a cycle where I felt the need to do something that would be seen, to show the whole world what I was doing. But it didn't bring me any joy and made me come of as quite the show-off. So last year I discovered dancing. Alone, in my room, with lights turned off. Nobody home. Eyes closed, allowing myself to feel as a part of this world. Allowing myself to exist outside of my ideas. To be present. Trying to simply live for a moment. Nothing else.

[@hainejung]

“Life and art are so intimately connected.” Couldn’t agree more!

[@lynnm6611]

Sport is actually saving me in this situation. I’m not that trained to turn it into a profession, but enough to enjoy myself. Reading fashion magazines, embroidering and learning languages are also great

[@TerryC69]

"Zone out activities?" The first three things that came to mind are: a good conversation by a fire, practicing being still and quiet and finally, I like to plan and create a beautiful meal for another person. I really enjoy these thoughtful videos, Robin.

[@RCWaldun]

Love it Terry. Cheers for the comment. :)

[@SwissLotus]

it might sound silly but: coloring pages I print out coloring pictures or use a paint after numbers kit, put on a podcast or just music and zone out because I'm an aspiring artist, I feel like every sketch and every artwork i do has to be put in my portfolio and if it's not good it's not even worth keeping I also started a "Brain Dump" - journal (your common place book video inspired me to it btw. :) just to get my thoughts on paper because my mind kinda doesn't shut up and it's been really helping me

[@a.mrobson1567]

This video really made me think of something i've been talking with my therapist over the past year. Sometimes i get to obsessed with work and school projects (i'm a freelance music creator, a theatre student, a writer, an actor and an assistant professor), and that make me ignore other parts of my life, like my family, or my relationships and hobbies. I discovered that i needed to start doing things for my mental health, even if those activities have a huge potencial for an artistic project. I believe that, we (as artist and creative people in general) have the power of produce something universal in the mind of other people. For that, we need to live for make those products feel honest and pure. If I spend my hole time making things with a "potential value", things that are salable... when it's time for my for me to live? I know we are in an fast consuming culture and everything have to be there: the story, the picture, the next big thing... But we have to start drawing a line between life and the art that represents life, the line that divide the private from the public. I started by playing my instruments just for relaxing. Sometimes i just practice some popular songs, or started to improvise something cool, and sometimes i end up with a really good idea, but instead of start working, i leave it there. That helps me understand two things: 1.- Not all that i do has a value. 2.- My creativity is not limited on a spontaneous moment. I can bring those moments when i have a deadline, or when i get into the working and inspiration zone. After all, art has the power of represent life. Remembering the moments that mede me feel alive helps me find an equilibrium between work and private life.

[@Atmviola]

Music graduate student here- for me, cooking/baking is definitely my escape, and that’s why I don’t want to take cooking classes. I want to be able to figure things out on my own time without any external pressure

[@leamubiu]

Exactly my struggle in this beginning of the year. I've chokeholded myself again with the expectation of producing something "worth looking at". T_T hence doing nothing

[@ericksalazar3644]

i absolutely have felt like im always making art for some material end, and it makes me sad thinking about how much more creative i could have been, had i just created for creation’s sake. what helps though, is keeping a notebook that you are not allowed to show to anyone, no matter how much you would want to. you find your writing gets liberated and you can only write what you want to be writing

[@allygong]

Love the video topic!

[@tidesoflifeg]

Singing on the guitar, my pets, as of 2022 drawing!

[@jessicamendes3805]

I completely identify with this. Everytime I read a book or watch something or something happenning in front of me, sometimes it clicks an idea in the back of my head so I keep a notebook of ideas so I don't loose them 😅

[@titaniumexpose6365]

I’m currently facing a slump. I get depressed very easily if the environment around me is not motivating enough, by motivating I mean freedom, feeling and being free creatively speaking . I’m a fashion designer and right now I’m working for a contemporary textile brand that has nothing to do with what I want my own brand to be. I’m dedicating this period of my life (currently 25 yrs old) doing something that I have stopped enjoying. I want to build my brand, dedicate my mornings, my evenings into building knowledge, developing my ideas into actual products but I can’t fully do that because I have to focus and give my time to this brand, ofc I’m getting paid but it’s not even enough to live independently and I’m not getting the tools that I really need. I only have 4 hours available each day and I have to prep my meals, wash the dishes and by 9 I’m mentally exhausted. I have Saturdays available and also want to start a baking project but I don’t have an oven where I live so I have to go to my parents house on Saturdays and bake, I want to bake every two days, put my creativity into action but my current situation doesn’t allow me to do so. Am I really complaining about something that has an easy solution? Am I ignoring something? Am I lazy? Help me.

[@itsisha9762]

You're hitting the nail on the head, but I basically took drawing as a career and i guess I have to rely on music (my other love to get by) and get my ideas flowing.

[@brookelynn3567]

This is interesting. I struggle with the opposite issue, I can't create anything if I'm focused on commercial output. Nothing I do can be turned into a career, the demand of that kills creativity. Everything has to be personal and spontaneous. One of a kind. I'm a "life artist", my life is only for me, autonomous, simply living and going with my personal flow is enough. Anything else feels like death. From the outside it appears I live in a world of escape, distraction and diversion from what people see as "real life", the career, money, responsibility etc... And funnily, this extreme is the one pathologised : Pathological Demand Avoidance aka. Persistent Drive for Autonomy.

[@NicoleNageli]

I love this video!! This might be because I’m not focused on monetizing my art, but my perspective is that ‘art is FOR life, not the other way around.’ I feel like art is supplemental to living a fulfilling life! That way, when I’m working on a project that means a lot to me, no matter what the result of the project is (yeah, even if it’s HORRIBLY BAD) I genuinely have fun doing it because it changed me as a person. I think making intentionally bad art once in a while helps you maintain that love and playfulness✨ great video!!

[@bunnyteeth365]

For me it's just learning languages that I know don't have any practical use. I'm not learning them for some career, life path, or even communicating with people. I'm learning to just escape my life and I couldn't care less about how practical they are.

[@lanakim2537]

French, fashion sketches, philosophy, music and creativity. You sound like a much smarter male version of me, i got chills lol. Just wanted to leave something cuz of the chills 😏

[@bookgirlie444]

my escape activities include breathwork, meditation, and a nice shower. they all interconnect in some way because i’m able to shift my attention away from my work and into self-care. by focusing on the breath, i’m letting thoughts come and go. not dwelling or trying to force myself to think, just noticing. it’s taught me about work/life balance maybe, i’ll write down an idea that comes up or maybe i won’t, but in those small moments when i focus on something outside myself i find myself feeling free

[@jackscieneguedes5363]

You just blew my mind

[@imiikhan]

well my escape activity is watching your content and then contextualising it to my point of reference.

[@isla7225]

I'm sort of a creative/crafter but your last question actually made me think. And I remember how origami (specifically folding a snowflake!) has been my escape when very stressed out, for more than a decade now. Haha! Such a small task. 😂

[@도치맘-w3x]

Hello, i am so interesting your story. My interest for zoning out is walking on the mountain. But Whenever Every my actions make me distracts my things , i want to be more critical thinking and focus on one things than other stuffs .

[@prabha5821]

Okay this video came right on time for me.

[@ndescruzur4378]

Hm...maybe I should compose more for myself. If I get use to always share my music to other people I might start to just think "would other people like this" when composing, when actually it would bring the most happines to my life if I just did whatever I wanted without worrying if it may please others. Well just a thought out of this video, great work!

[@rorocio93]

I also have this idea of ​​what would be work for me, it's also what I do for fun. And when I'm bored or thinking about what to do, what I'm thinking about is what artistic thing can I do. I think the only non-artistic thing I do that I like is watching Star Wars 😂 or watching movies. It's beautiful to have this relationship between work and art, but sometimes it's pathological because one demands a lot of oneself. So cool having someone who shares artists' thoughts online!

[@TheTnaidu]

I’m a PHD final year student and surprisingly like you said I stepped back in these final months of toil and allowed myself to create writing without being so harsh on myself and aiming for perfection and publication , to my surprise my professor had the most positive comments about my most recent chapter which was written with my own voice, I actually enjoyed it!

[@adie4928]

This is helping me a lot. Like tons. I’m confused right now and this one helped me. Thank you. Thank you! I now discovered why I never do art commissions. I feel as though the creativity from what I draw is not something any currency can equal. It’s my haven.

[@RCWaldun]

Thanks Addie! Glad I could help.

[@md_plays]

For me it would be reading books, im more on the fiction genre of books, I am amazed at how people create the characters, environment, etc.

[@coconutmilch2351]

You resonate with me strongly. I also turned my passions into jobs and I don’t have a single hobby that couldn’t potentially be commercialized except maybe watching KZbin videos. But even then, when I’m watching videos I am trying to absorb wisdom & knowledge. I find it difficult to simply let go and have fun… which is probably why I am artistic but not creative. Artistry is about craftsmanship and “betterment” of a skill but creativity requires going outside of existing boundaries. I don’t really go outside of boundaries because I don’t let myself. I want to find something to do that is purely for fun!!

[@aurora_boketto7746]

My outlet is organization I think. Something about things being neat really calms me down. As well as understanding other ppl and writing about it

[@RCWaldun]

I need to get better at organisation. For me it's a chore and I like that organised chaos. 😂

[@aurora_boketto7746]

@@RCWaldun Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment ☺️🤍 😂 I can definitely understand that. In its own way chaos is organized lol And I always find more inspiration in it. Tbh you seam very organized and well put together, what is it you want to organize? 🤔

[@prettyinpink2102]

I really enjoy your channel

[@daphnesagun2523]

Right now, it's playing the ukulele for me. But I've been thinking more about learning a new hobby to really explore other ways of being creative.

[@kww10]

This is why i was somewhat glad i didnt end up turning my hobby into career. I've lost the passion to pursue art and not as ambitious but then i think its better because art is my only escape. Though talking abt childhood interest or my actual interest is in Oceanography and archeology. Kinda sad where im from this is not deemed as serious so i still see it as hobby lol. And fashion too, i've been following it for years but never applied it to myself because of self esteem

[@ohbrotherjacob]

I love the videos you're making. I *really* wish they were available in podcast form. (Just a thought...)

[@RCWaldun]

I'll keep that in mind.

[@HeOfTheBeginning]

I'm a published author and I couldn't agree more with you

[@blakealexander9729]

Really liked this one

[@lineah4508]

Can we just appreciate how robin is getting better in video making. Like omg, these vids are just ✨✨✨

[@RCWaldun]

Stepping up that cinematography. :)

[@avinavdoonga2429]

Something that I want to do just by myself is also, art, digital art and concept sketching, ofcourse.

[@aurora_boketto7746]

That's why my favourite quote is "If it happens then it'll be a nice surprise, and if it doesn't well- its not like I really cared in the first place" - OITNB it's a great mindset to have for the things we desperately desire, yet very damn hard to keep. But with practice anything is malleable. I also found that it's best to assume the worst in a situation will happen- "Anything bad that can happen, will (eventually) happen" -because then no matter what u will be delighted. Because if even a little goes well you will be relieved lol

[@learneralways6609]

I wanted to be one of the earliest viewer of this channel atleast once.Glad to be able to do it 😀

[@jakeparker8675]

i see a 7 minute documentary about money

[@agrimsingh1248]

Can totally relate to 3:35!!

[@nifeviolin7263]

I think in my case I struggle with the opposite on one end... I make visual art solely for myself and I have an issue monetizing it or making it a public piece... a part of me thinks once I start monetizing it, it means I am no longer making it for myself and to me that self gratification is so important.... its kinda interesting to see how different artists operate... I would rather do visual art as a "hobby" forever and have performing arts as a job. On the other hand I can totally relate because I am writing a book currently and I had to stop for a while because I kept catching myself writing with an audience gaze in mind which can be so dangerous because as the author thats not my job but I work in a book publishing company so I am noticing it has affected the way I deliver my work... it's up to me to look for a balance I guess...... still figuring it out... did you face something similar to this when you were writing your book? Thanks for making this video... hope you have a good week!

[@normandy2501]

There can definitely be room for a balance. But for a majority of artists that need to pay bills, that desire to make art just for themselves or other (probably also broke) artists won't really work out too well. I don't mind doing real estate photography just for the money because it's still something I like doing (the act of photography itself), but macro and landscape are my passion projects that don't need to blow up into some business.

[@Jupiterssilhouette]

For me I’ve found creativity in improvising on piano

[@muchi77]

I love those tiny cinematic clips

[@cherryjuice9705]

I agree with that so much!!! I wanted to become a fashion designer, since it is my passion. However I notice this pressure you get from the job, to a point where I burn out and don’t enjoy anymore. I decided to change my career path and keep fashion and sewing as my “escaping” hobby. I hope that I can start my history semester this year

[@kristenbooks]

Although my creative projects are not currently how I make money, this idea is something I've been mulling over for quite a while myself, as someone who's always wanted to publish a novel. When I write, I almost always write with the lens that it will one-day be shared, but I rarely actually share it. However, I often find myself overcompensating for this by oversharing with all of my other creative hobbies. I've gotten to the point where I have outlets to share most of my hobbies, and have had them for so long that my brain turns everything into content. It's a double-edged sword. I would never want to lose that sense of inspiration-- the way my brain's immediate instinct is to create and analyze. I wouldn't have any of my creative projects without it. But with social media, more often than not, it's something surface-level that's going to consume more of my time than it's worth for the fulfillment I get out of it. Lately, my attempt to change this has simply been to TRY to step back from the platforms where I tend to share those surface-level hobbies-- from the things I post just to try to get clicks, from making short videos that take a lot longer to make, from writing posts that no one's going to read anyway-- in order to work on those longer-term *big* meaningful projects, like writing my novel, etc. It's a slow process, basically unlearning long-established habits, but progress is being made lol

[@randomcenteral]

Love this video! I'm not a "creative" by trade but this advice applies to every walk of life. We tend to monetize as much of our time as possible under capitalism that even downtime activities like reading become focused on developing skills to bring value, advance careers, etc. It's so important to have hobbies that serve purely to bring joy! For me it's yoga, hiking, and drawing/writing in a private journal.

[@Konzzs]

I realized that there is no hobby in my case as an creative, as there is this pressure to have ones own unproductivity. I feel sick of not working, not accomplishing something desirable that there is not much left in Life for me. As a creative, there is no certainty for you surviving tomorrow if you don't produce something. It seems not to be just about a hobby, but a whole Life philosophy to deal with ones insecurity of surviving, exploring and being financially fine with ones Life. It's more nuanced than having just a hobby.

[@c__fragments]

I just want to thank you for this video because it resonates very strongly (and thanks to Andy !)

[@RCWaldun]

Thank you for this comment, and yeah Andy rocks. :)

[@lexbrunov]

I should probably comment something more obscure and elevated, but that matte black Pilot VP is a sharp lookin' pen! I like your style in writing instruments just as much as in clothes.

[@inkiwell]

#sketchbook 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@EricTian3]

Really enjoyed this video and loving the sketches! Bike rides are my respite from stress - struggling up Swanston St forces you to be meditative for a while.

[@RCWaldun]

The famous Swanston Street bike rides. 😂Thanks for the comment Eric. :)

[@fofo-hm6rc]

i cant believe this man is 21

[@dari.robertos]

"I decided that I would do my best in the future not to write books just for the money. If you didn't get the money, then you didn't have anything. If I did a work I was proud of and I didn't get the money, at least I'd have the work" - Neil Gaiman

[@bughead5615]

What pen are you using?

[@SwissLotus]

1:35 this feels ike a callout to my current situation and I don't apreciate it

[@mangoisland4792]

i’d definitely listen to your podcast if you made one

[@stephenjohan4198]

For myself what's interesting is. I can be very distracted or deeply passionate about many things even if I lack common knowledge in that field and struggle For Example Mathematics or science still i love the concept idea of how it can incorporate these things sometimes into you're own life. I love The pardox between how learning can shift the view on how you see life this is questioning but it's also interesting because you strive to self improve and understand more now then you have in the past and it make you more aware and conscious of the beauty of life. :)

[@michalspernakovic9136]

Howdy ! Im curious about the pen you've been using in this video. Always thankful for your content :)

[@RCWaldun]

It's the Pilot vanishing nib fountain pen.

[@mediumjohnsilver]

My last creative outlet came from learning how to write Japanese kanji, using the method of writing a short paragraph that combines the meanings of its components. For example, the three stroke radical named “pack of wild dogs” combined with the seven strokes for “good” yield the kanji for “wolf”, for which I have this mnemonic story. I was confronted by a pack of wild dogs. Boldly, I went up to the lead wolf and patted him on the head saying, “Who’s a good boy? Yes you are. Wolfie is a good boy.”

[@musicalbabysteps9863]

Well, to answer your last question, I'm a musician so I usually spend hours a day playing music, but I don't earn any money yet and I'm starting projects for youtube, and concerts...so for me music is something I do "just for me" but as you said, baking a cake, or walking in nature I love, and many more things. Actually almost my whole day is for myself, i try not to have a job when I can.

[@julianasacomani2722]

Perfect!

[@realbluebird1705]

FIRST !not really but why not

[@wheresmyeyebrow1608]

Girlfriends?

[@zendao7967]

Oof words can kill.

[@consus9739]

BTFO'd

[@sunkintree]

fun, but a waste of time more often than not

[@karennataliaromero3997]

I’d say My escape activity is watching videos on KZbin 🙈. If that’s not valid, I’d say it is listening/watching things in Italian.

[@cgb5235]

Just watch some Tarkovsky or Lynch films.

[@phoemelaballaran1786]

When I want to take a break from doing art stuff, I study or do math/coding.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

Funding

[@zioness-kb9pr]

Writing.

[@grishamorrison273]

Yes, dude. Every time u think about money/selling u lose immediately.

[@nealluczkiewicz6846]

Complaining about making money for being creative? My friend you are on rare ground. Most creatives would probably wish for your problem.

[@anjalixg]

good mental health? :/