I have been trapped as a has been flop “pop star” for over 10 years. I no longer want to spend the rest of my life punishing myself for not succeeding the way those around me expected me to do like other artists they hear on the radio. Today I paint figurines and ride my BMX. I make money sometimes and sometimes I don’t. I make a song a month and release it to anyone who will listen. Does creativity scare me still? Yes. But failure no longer does. I have failed as bad as anyone can fail in music by being publicly humiliated with the old “getting dropped” situation. But the pursuit of making money in creativity is a cancerous concoction. I’d rather make less and feel free and spend as much time as possible with my two boys than chase fame and fortune and never see my family. Is this just a cope? Possibly. But I no longer have panic attacks and can sleep every night with a clear conscience. I’m 38 and have no real plan. I just make art everyday in one way or another. I’m not trying to be profound. But just letting people know they’re not going crazy. Just take one day at a time.

This “tough” Self discipline is living from the mind not from the heart. Living From the heart is called “Conviction”. Finding the balance is called Wisdom.

I wrote the first two drafts of my first two novels over a year and a half or so, with fives pages a day. Ultimately trashed them as they were pretty raw. But I learned the rudiments of writing which is invaluable. I’ve completely reworked my worldbuild, and with the experience I’ve gained, the two will hopefully coalesce into something viable. I wrote those drafts six years ago. In between wrote a lot of music, practiced instruments, played basketball, lost 40 lbs and gained it back, read some great series (Brandon Sanderson is the man), went to my sisters wedding, went home for the first time in ten years. Not all who wander are lost. Y’all got this

It hurts to see so many people just fall into a pipeline that’s purposefully keeping them in a grift of shame & humiliation , cause that’s exactly what abusive relationships are

We are own best friend so remember to be kind to yourself during the process.

Balance... The key to literally EVERYTHING in life is balance...

I honestly think discipline is an overall good. But on the extreme end you are basically just torturing yourself and being abusive to yourself. Balance is everything

You are doing a huge act of service to all artists by creating these discussions. I feel compelled to write my first YT comment, because this was important! Your content is important!

in gratitude for this video. i’ve felt so ostracized for continuously maintaining a beginners mind in so many aspects of my work, approaching with heart above all else. refusing to sell things i no longer love, make for consumption or cater to market demands makes me unbankable. i continue to simply make things that feel meaningful to me… but also feeling like a failure the entire time (as far as external success is concerned). this video reminded me i’m doing it exactly as it should be done, and it’s not my business what anyone thinks, assumes or judges. just keep making. just keep exploring. just keep caring. thank you.

I’m so happy you made this video. I’ve been feeling like this for a while & no one seems to talk about it ! I’m so happy you touch on these subjects as I truly relate. All this self - centered pressure is eating me up & im not alone. Thank you This needs more spotlight ❤️

2 days ago my art lecturer told me I'm the next canon in the art discourse of a particular ideology regarding a certain group of people. I immediatley felt anxious and the pressure to produce. I have recieved distinctions for my practical works, 100/100 for exams. I self sabotage myself, because I just can't deal with that man. I find reasons not to work so that I don't dissapoint anyone. Everytime he said this is the next you thing you should do, I don't know how you're going to do it, but I know you can. If a man with a phd in art doesn't know how, how the f must I know. I don't speak to anyone about this anxiety... but I'm assuming all the people that will listen to this... are my people, so I feel okay here. IThe only place I've never been scared to fail was in art... but now I am.

I think balancing between delusion and living a healthy lifestyle is important for any artist. Be delusional enough to make something you didn't think you had in you, but also live your life and apply yourself to just existing. A lot of inspiration could come from those moments and they will feed into each other. I've been on this "self help" journey, listening to the same guys (Goggins, Jocko) and it's something I really need to hear because the people I'm around are not supportive in the same ways. My philosophy is something I want to call "playful hustling".

This hits home!! ❤🔥💯 because as an artist this is what I am coming out of, now im finding balance between quality work that matters to the heart. A balance between my creative nature and its ebb and flow with life and its circumstance. A lot of hustlers now will tell you that, you NEED to get your work out there and all, narrowing your worldview by using words like, discipline, motivation, and worst of all CONTROL and all those terms that ACTUALLY take away your awareness to your being and creative force, into a more machine like being. They made me feel like the only way to produce work is to make something out of it and most of the time, the end is a financial one. It made me create a lot more but I became more distant from the artistic plane and more attached to what or who is consuming it, therefore losing all self perspective and connection to the flows of my creative being. We are being hustled to produce because we live in a world that it governed by mass consumption, and the worst part is those who consume, can't relate. Its just pure consumption, on a mass scale, eventually what falls is the quality of the work. Its not just in art, its everywhere...in our food, technology and general production of anything these days. Its sad because, it all lacks HEART. Thank you for what you do, its REAL and speaks to who we are and not what we think we should be. Big Up All the way From South Africa💯.

this is such a wonderful video that gives a completely different perspective from the "rules" that have recently come up about "self discipline", "hard work" and others. The time and effort that you put into these videos is incredibly evident and very helpful as a creative. I love your work so so much keep doing what you're doing!!

I think this topic is actually super important. I am doing music since a long long time now and up to this day I am super surprised if a song is doing well where I didn't have 5 mental breakdowns in the process of creating it. It's kinda manifested that "if I don't suffer I don't deserve it". And this is so wrong. On so many levels. The worst part is: Literally all of my few musician friends feel the same.

I just found your channel recently, and what you're doing is so important for artists! Thank you so much!!

My first encounter with your channel and I’m only 0:58 in. Your subtle and smooth introduction has me hooked. I hope more creators realize this is the way to invite people in instead of sensationalism and loud effects.

As someone who is going though a sort of creative battle right now, I always love to hear how other creatives have weathered the storm and made it out the other side. KEEP CREATING AND GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

This video is a work of art. You have an ease/warmth with your connection too. It’s wonderful

This is amazing! I had to skip back and listen to some parts multiple times to fully process the depth of what you were saying. Full of value thank you I needed to hear all of this:)

I decided to resign from the career and comfort I had to devote to the things I always loved without any certainty I would ever be able to sustain myself with it. I made radical changes in my life to have the chance to work more closely with artists and culture. Very often I'm overwhelmed by the thought that I broke a path of progressive growth to divert into something that is not practical or productive. --- Thank you for posting this video ---. It has helped me to reconcile with the idea that something had to be done for the sake of expanding the frontiers of my own vision and creating some space for new things to develop. Even if it means doing things that seem illogical in this economy. I have no idea if the time and money I'm spending on this will ever pay back, I can't say I sleep at night with a clear conscience. But I'm trying really hard to stop beating myself for diverting from the discipline of building a productive career and reaching the "expected achievements" of someone my age. If you are out there trying to express yourself by any means, don't stop because it doesn't fit our existing limited real world. Give others the chance to expand into your creation.

I made about 125 public affairs documentaries as a salaried TV producer over 17 years. More or less it was one every six weeks, and I needed 22-24 minutes of content for each. My idea, my research, my interviews, my transcriptions, my script, my voice - I did pretty much everything but the filming (and sometimes that too), video editing, and post production. The boss always wanted me working on a second story at the same time so I could seamlessly transition from one to the next. I could never quite do that. What I learned over the years was that there were optimum times to tell a certain story and that actually I was keeping an eye (quietly) on all sorts of things at the same time, and as I moved from one story the next one would emerge because it was a good time to tell it. I could never begin to explain that process to my boss. She wanted an earlier commitment to an idea for the sake of certainty and scheduling, I suppose. I preferred an idea that had been brewing, sometimes for years, because it allowed me to learn along the way instead of hitting the button fresh and counting down from six weeks. During those years on that job, everything I did amounted to research and everyone I met was a potential resource. And I can say that I never did plateau.

In KZfaq there is a problem with everything and everyone wants a perfect solution.

Your channel is gold. Beautiful work and thank you so much.

only 10min in but just wanna say: another great video and topic. thank you for sharing a bit of your personal story ♡ ♡ we appreciate you and your work. also your references and where you draw from keep getting better and more interesting (george orwell, movies, visual artists, yes to that). being comfortable feeling uncomfortable is such a key thing to make peace with on our path to great things, thanks for the reminder

So many gems in this... "It took time to see a space for yourself and extend a limb into that space." This one particularly hit me hard. So many times, whatever the setting, it can feel like intense, controlled mechanisms are the answer, but actually taking the time to observe and sit in said space for a while shows a great deal of self love and self respect. Love this video. Half way through and i think this is the best storytelling you've done so far. Great to see the progress and thanks for doing your part here.

thank you for your creation, needed this at this time in my life. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart

I needed this video so much.

Found this video incredibly helpful after coming back from taking a step back due to constantly burning myself out from just the constant grind and hustle. A very fresh take from the usual advice I find on this platform. Thank you!

Beautifully Put together 🙏🏾

Thank you for making this video ❤

Great video! The pacing, flow, and editing are top-notch. I think the world is so complex that we process it primarily through stories. Stories, along with language, form the backbone of society. From myths, religion, philosophy, and politics, we distill the world into different narratives based on our teachings and experiences. These narratives evolve throughout our lives. The same holds true for our identities - they are stories we tell ourselves. These stories guide our actions and sometimes limit our potential, like the "boxing ourselves in" quote you mentioned. However, I believe they are perhaps the only way we can understand ourselves. Our memories are unreliable, and we can't process every experience we have. Creating a personal narrative gives our lives meaning and coherence. We do this with other people, too. Unable to comprehend another person fully, we tell ourselves stories about them: who they are, what they've experienced, and how those experiences shape them. This simplifies the incredible complexity of human beings. I think having an awareness of this is key to understanding ourselves and others. More precisely, it helps us recognize that our understanding is limited, that we are always changing, and that we have the power to change the narratives that govern our lives.

This is a really good analysis bro, keep doing it! Thanks

Thank you for this video man! Big fan of your work!

This is a beautiful page bro. Inspiring.

This was really good. I was hesitant because it was a little long but I’m glad I listened this was great

this is of extreme value to me and ive been taking so many notes thankyou for everything

Thank you again bro, this is my favourite youtube channel

Great content, man. I can relate so much with it

i feel so seen, i've been experiencing a heavy deep ego death when it comes to my relationship with control, this video means a lot to me.

I really appreciate the time you put into this video. I feel like it’s definitely a more current event happening, where this main character ideology is unconsciously altering our perception and open mindedness. I can say I sometimes get fought in that look of rendered space. Thanks man

that’s so funny, as u mentioned the Golden Gate Bridge I’m literally sitting at Lands End and staring at the bridge while listening 😂

I really think I could listen to you 24/7. Thank you :)

I seem to base my process around the flow state. The flow state of expression that I tap into during writing is the exact same as the one that happens while I'm floating and gliding, not running nor pushing, on the field. Trying actually makes things worse bc that's when it becomes forcing. It's more like getting out of my own way and having faith in this seemingly magical and automatic process of expression. I think self discipline comes in as a practice of humility, towards practice. Its a craft. skill. with an infinite ceiling. circling back to patience and humility ig

I’ve been trying my best in the past year to slow down, hone my focus, and give myself more grace and not feel so overwhelmed by all the things I want and need to do - it’s caused me to be way less stress and get so much more done

12:28 is a clip from Michael Sugrue's "Stoic Ideal" lecture, one of the best videos ive wver found on YT. Respect for including it, and RIP to Dr. Sugrue.

Discipline is great, and its necessary. But is it worth it to sacrifice everything else to be great at 1 thing? Balance is better than obsession.

I have so many work in progress projects I'm itching to get out into the world, but my life has been too unstable to dedicate the necessary time to see them through. Doing my best to delay gratification and still trust I'll go back to the projects as soon as my life allows it. Training myself to become more patient has been one of the biggest difficulties of my life. But also reevaluating my values and priorities has been essential.

YOU ARE AMAZING. You are pointing out some things i have always subconsciously pondered about.

Thanks, this is a very valuable and well-made video! I'm very passionate about music and definitely notice a lot of the points you mentioned in my own life. I'm going to rewatch this again and make some notes.

Man, oh man. This presentation was as deep as it was intelligent. Thank you.

I'm a full-time concept artist (currently 50+ hours a week with full time and contracts) a part-time indie game developer, and I also try to make content on the side. While I would not choose to be this busy (I would like to have full time, but no additional contracts for example) I find that my excitement for projects pulls me in, and responsibility keeps me there until I'm finished. I've struggled with depression since my early teens, and oftentimes that nihilistic, "nothing matters" version of myself will take over middle of the week leading to anxiety about whether or not I'll meet the myriad expectations of my various work. The excitement for the work fades, and I'm left with fear. Something I've been working towards for the past 5 years however is the "building a value system" that this video touches on. I am working through IFS therapy (internal family systems) to map out the different parts of myself that struggle and combat with one another (the depressed part, and the disciplining part that stresses out). Part of IFS is the development of the self, the part that's there to call the shots, show compassion, facilitate peace and balance, and lead action. I know you use Goggins and Stoic quotes as an example of the "grind" mindset, but the philosophy of letting action lead emotion from stoicism, and Goggin's "It's gonna suck but do it anyway" had been incredibly helpful in making this self more present. The result of this is being able to have action towards positive ends despite a negative-seeming situation, leading to a paradigm shift of the situation and various creative and personal developments. I'm still learning how to balance life (the work I say YES to for example), but for right now It's working. It's definitely been a long road, it's a different road for everyone, but thought I'd share my thoughts.

I was so shook when you said “in my early 30s” 😮 I thought you are about 25! 😅 Anyhow, I really love your analysis as always!❤

Fuhcking hell this was a phenomenal video.. This. This is so helpful and so deeply inspiring. I've learned so much about the creative practice, life and myself. Not just that, I am inspired to create. So many ideas just flowing through me.. Thank you.. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Thank you! Amazingly good!!!

I like the typography and the video edit. Quality.

Very well wirtten and put together!

I wanted to leave a comment that touched on some of what you have said; however, if I were to address one aspect of it including my own personal experiences, I could not stop without involving a great many things. Nothing exists in a vacuum. Everything is connected. Plus it's late & I have a long night of dream yoga ahead of me. I laud your efforts & I wish you well.

I've been learning illustration for a couple of years now, still learning the basics I don't feel anywhere near the skill level required to make something "commercially viable" but the one thing I have struggled with since day 1 is finding that end goal, or at least a temporary one, I'm just doing it it because its something that I wanted to do and since I have the time after life went upside down after 2020, I haven't thought so much about what I like and why I like it and can't seem to find that goal or reason to do what I do, its been a journey and a half just finding a reason for doing what I do I have some fleeting emothing about what I draw and I have like ideas for stories and all that but in terms of style and themes and all that I just don't know, I see thousands of drawings every month scrolling through social media, I look at stuff and I can think its nice and all but it just doesn't call out to me, I got close once but even then that idea didn't stick when I do find something I like trying to emulate it feels wrong somehow, maybe its a me prolem?

Self discipline is a bunch of lies from the positivity movement cults. It is done in a way that when things don’t work they will always lay the blame on you and it will never be the bad advice given by the coaches. I’ve had horrendous experiences with this where these same people that claim they want to make you better have damaged my mental and emotional wellbeing and have caused me trauma that I didn’t have before these people got involved in my life without my consent.

your videos are proof of concept. so honest, courageous, and fruitful. you're really doing it and we love to see it

i swear the timing of your posts is unreal

Amazing advice amazing video ty

Great videos! I invest a lot of free time composing and playing Neo-Classical piano. Many shared to streaming platforms like Spotify. Yet since this part of me lives outside of any time spent otherwise income producing..my thoughts swing back and forth between I'm using valued time wisely and/or I'm absolutely wasting my time...a bit of a mental struggle

You have no idea how much I appreciate these videos. So much value! Was surprised to hear Goggins describe himself as introverted. This is what I don't seem to understand. I love others company, but my actions take me away from that. I have other needs to fulfill; my life is dictated by the sounds I need to hear. Anything else is just a distraction from learning.

This is a great video

Thank you

This was a really great essay! Thank you for sharing this with us. Also, the guy who was talking about utilising his sleep time looks SO tired 🥺

Good video. Im a girl so the perspective on the recent self help stuff was interesting. Im also an artist so I like all the examples you used. Thought provoking for me.

fantastic.

I'm a great artist and I don't struggle with self-discipline. I struggle with social media and children. You are a great artist and say no to criticism, you will improve overtime without needing to have your dreams crushed (if u struggle). Love your shit and cry a lot! ~- Says Rock and the Avant Garde :)

I said I’m not the type of person to write in the comments so here I am 😅, This video was very informative and made me look at creativity and discipline through more than one perspective. Thank you for making this man 🙏

I force myself to go through discipline. Such as forcing myself to read difficult, online material about the history and nature of English. Forcing myself to read books about classical mechanics and physics in early adulthood, to the point of feeling that life is pointless for over a decade, then forcing myself to read and watch content made by well disciplined people who knew how to organise their lives better. Forcing myself to watch videos describing how to behave and actually be an adult - so you self - discipline. Forcing myself to abstain from alcohol and drugs, etc. And then it all becomes natural to you - once discipline becomes part of the very definition of who you are. Once people realise that horror is part of their personality and the main reason for them being alive, they finally accept that they have become disciplined and well behaved. Thanks for your video. Best wishes to you from Reykjavik, Iceland.

This man is so cinematically creative

Hey. Thank you for your trained ability to create something that can help other people alternate their attention in some way. It must have been a lot of effort to come to all of these conclusions and to learn all that was needed on your way. I perceive your videos as valuable because they helped me in my own creative endeavor. What is even more interesting, is that I have been thinking about pretty much this topic for the past days/weeks. So your creation arrived at the right time to aid mine. Your work will have an impact on the future. And we can see, that different angles of making a positive mental influence is highly needed nowadays. Technology offers so much now. You are a part of people that harness it in a good cause. What could happen if many people would do the same? We'll see what can we bring into the future. PEACE :D

I stopped in the middle of this vid to find out what “Lesley” by Dave was. I think it helped me regain my excitement for listening

“Forcing oneself is short-lived. As all things that are insincere are short-lived. If one is honest and sincere about his motivations, he will move with himself, instead of against himself.” ― Kapil Gupta, Direct Truth: Uncompromising

The separation of your ego for creating art is one of the hardest parts of the creative process ❤

I'm not lazy. I have ADHD. I'd put money down I am more active and do more than every other person in the room. There's no way to show it, but share my experience. Getting up with an equivalent of being roof'd every morning and with a heavy load placed on my body. To choose to be ethical and moral while nobody else in your job is not following rules, because the rules are law. Even if knowing that is not true, but the body resists breaking these laws and pressurizes self. To climb the ladder takes even more work. To force oneself to look around and grow as your own teacher. The exhaustion is so much in the 9-5 that Saturday is an all day sleep. I imagine others do this, but I argue that I do more and will always do more than others. When I find the competition, I'll acclimate faster than most and there is no quarter given on this ship. I suspect others that are starting businesses are along the same lines. Sharing a thought that came to me while listening.

Dude this guy rocks. Go guy go!!

I believe it is imperative that you understand how to love yourself first before you can enact any change in the form of self discipline. Conversely, self discipline may lead to that self love that you had trouble finding before.

Commenting before listening all the way through, I’ll probably come back and add to it afterwards. Self-discipline for me is no longer forcing myself to push myself past my limits. Self-discipline has become the actions I take to make myself better every day I get and set myself up for success the next day. Some days that looks like, DJing for 5 hours, other days it looks like sleeping or skipping a work out so I make sure to make dinner and hydrate. For me it’s listening to my body and believing that I know what’s best for myself in the moment, going with the ebb and flow instead of swimming against the tide. I’ve been healthier than ever physically and mentally, and my creative career has began to expand rapidly. Whatever you do, please make it a habit and a discipline to listen to yourself and what you need, work, work, work is a habit of destruction.

It’s the business of staying alert. David Lynnch

Thanks

Listening to this as i fall asleep with headphones in 💀

I love when a guy who is on the same side of the internet that I’m on. I knew from the title that I’d relate too much to this video

I agree with the importantness of quality over time. Humans are a part of nature, look how a tree grows. It takes years upon years till we have a tree we can sit under. People admire nature quite a bit, it’s beautiful…and very patient

I clicked on this video trying to proscrastinate the creative piece I am dreading. this contest of artists was supposed to be a chance to talk to people and share their vision gently. instead, I hamfisted an instrumental, and could never get a moment of their time. just some vocals to salvage. People feel suprised by my work that it's so different to one another. but my story or mind is never simple. I keep fight club in mind similarly. "self-improvement is masturbation" so I live with most of my work learning honesty and accepting my hypocrisy I didn't get to do that with them because they were busy. it disturbs where the good work takes place when there's no excitement for horror or happiness

Regarding Junot Diaz point about considering what it might be like to receive your work, I thought of the Rick Rubin point about never considering the audience in your creative endeavours. So when considering what it might be like to receive your work, to listen to it/read it/see it, perhaps we should consider what that feels like but only what it feels like to us, and not to try to assume what a broader audience might like?

Although I agree with the message of the video, it is too all over the place with choppy editing and vague script.

First I love the title of part 1 something so mellon collie about it

“The man who toils for toils sake does so only to satisfy himself that he has “toiled,” as the world as told him to do. And if he does not find Truth, he is content to say that he did the necessary toil and still did not find it, and thus it wasn’t meant to be.” ― Kapil Gupta, A Master's Secret Whispers:

Great artist clearly dont struggle with self discipline when it comes to art you can be disciplined in one aspect of life and lacking in another

The tragic death of Ed Piskor is the lens through which I’m watching this (and everything) right now.

David goggins seems like the kind of guy you see in the news for killing someone who jumped line at a publix

Dude I love you. I will make it because of you

I can't believe you shown Rey in the video regarding 'The Hero's Journey.' If anyone, show Luke Skywalker.

what is the piano music used near the start around 2 mins

Everything I genuinely want to do has nothing to do with school or ordinary jobs, but I “have” to do it

Artists and the bohemian life