CONSIDER THE SOURCE!!!!!!!!

My mother always told me,

"When people tell you things ALWAYS consider the source."

That was one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received. It is very important to consider the source. Are they reputable? Can they be trusted? Does their advice come from a knowing place? What do they have to gain as a result of sharing this advice?

All appropriate questions, right?

RIGHT.

I was speaking in depth with a very talented actress friend of mine...although we don't talk as often as we used to (life gets in the way sometimes...you understand) when we do it's always great because it's pure uncut truth!!!!!! Super refreshing.

Anywhoo...we were talking about the arts and creative works & what artists see in concerns to their work as opposed to what the audience may see when they view our work. It got deep quick...& I was all for hearing what she had to say.

She spoke to me about what one person's feedback was after seeing one of her shows. She said he was very forthcoming and blunt and she really saw what he meant when he made his comments and he gave her something to think about that she hadn't thought about before. I thought that was great. We all can IMPROVE & GROWTH is a part of life...So what could be better than learning and growing and doing it better the next time around.

So, yes...I think it's important to be open to listening to what seasoned professionals have to say as well as taking heed to what your audience has to say because at the end of the day without the audiences approval & support...it just won't work.

That said, I still think it's important to have your own vision...After all, art is subjective, everything isn't for everybody. Besides, isn't that what makes art interesting...when it's debatable?

My point is you have to follow your heart and your vision. This is your "baby". You have spent the most time with it, nurturing and caring for it. Nobody will ever love your baby as much as you do. If you are constantly bending and leaning to the whim of others opinions you lose your voice.

So if you take all the advice thrown at you and it succeeds, GREAT...but can you really take the credit because without all of these outside voices your choices would have been vastly different.

If you take all the advice in the world and it fails then that feels even worse because you aced yourself out a prime opportunity to be firm in your vision and win because you stayed true to your own ideas.

Trial & error is how we learn. What's most important is to suffer no delusions. Be humble...understanding that you can always falter. Something can go wrong...despite how much you plan...despite how much money you invest...and the reality of that can be devastating, especially when you put your heart and soul into it.

FALLING DOWN AND GETTING HURT IS NEVER FUN...

BEING HEARTBROKEN AND DEPRESSED IS NEVER A JOY...

BUT GETTING UP AND GETTING ON WITH LIFE STRONGER & WISER IS INSPIRING.

FORGIVING YOURSELF & OTHERS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GETTING YOUR SWAG BACK IS EMPOWERING.

...& I WISH US ALL THAT KIND OF SUCCESS!!

FOLLOW YOUR VISION...

WIN OR LOSE...

LEARN, GROW & DO IT BIGGER AND BETTER THE NEXT TIME!!!!! :)