Ego vs. True Art

Before you say that you aren’t an artist, this article doesn’t apply to you and click away, hear me out.

Every person is an artist of some kind. Some of the definitions of an artist are defined as someone whose work exhibits an exceptional skill, a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc, or a person who produces works that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria (dictionary.com).

But, I am going to focus on those that are athletes, dancers, painters, sketchers, writers, sculptors, musicians and everyone else that either trains or creates in one form or another. As a reference, I am going to speak from personal experience as a dancer, and a dancer is considered an athlete.

Are you unhappy in your training, your classes, your work or your life in general? If you are like me, your dance classes and physical activities are what feeds your excitement, challenges you, boosts your happiness and self esteem and always something to look forward to. But if things aren’t going right then the first thing one must question and meditate on is whether you are truly creating something or are you just building up your ego?

When you create something, this doesn’t just apply to visual artists that have an object to show as a piece of art or a composition from a musician. Your own body is a piece of art. Your mind and how you sculpt it is a piece of art. You as a human being can be a piece of art. In definition, your body has required skill to mold, design to plan how to train or move, and you can adhere to specific aesthetic criteria in your own forms.

As an athlete or a dancer, when you aren’t acknowledged, you can tend to get really down and find it hard to be motivated to keep continuing. In one way or another, what you don’t realize you are doing is using your art to define you. This obsession causes you to constantly search for approval or a sense of worth simply defined by what you are doing and not by what you have created. You are constantly trying to prove yourself, prove that you are “worth it” or that you are special. There is a difference between needing attention, testing your worth and a neediness vs. fulfillment and expression.

Your drive to “be the best” doesn’t have to do with creating yourself or developing your own form of art, but rather you are filling your ego. But how do you separate your ego from your art?

Find ways to create and explore who you are away from what you are doing. Stop being obsessed. Obsession leads to boredom when you run out of goals and milestones to reach. You will constantly be searching for the next best thing or the next accomplishment. Ego is all about accomplishments and pushing limits. Art is creating and leaving something for others or yourself to just enjoy and find happiness from.

Breaking your body down, pushing unreasonable limits, forcing yourself to train or what you think creating is, suffering on purpose thinking it will make you stronger or better … none of this lasts. You will fizzle out, get hurt or even lose your passion altogether. Preserve your body or art. Appreciate what you have done and bask in the journey and progression of what you are creating. This is true art.