The Best Advice I've Ever Received
Want to know the best advice I’ve ever received? I was sitting on my stoop in Harlem one day when a friend of a friend passed by and stopped for a spliff and a brief chat—the magical NYC summer afternoons of fairytales. I no longer live there, but it was definitely a time… Regardless, this gentle human dropped the best knowledge for all creatives willing to hear it and process it to the fullest extent.
“Create a space,” he uttered. And I received that shit like a birthday gift.
I don’t fully remember what day this information came my way, but I know I was hyper-intentional about the spaces I created every day after it. Maybe it’s because I’m a Cancer sun, Venus, and Mercury, but the energy of my home and the spaces I create within is critical to my sanity and creativity. I can’t start cooking in a dirty kitchen, I can’t bartend behind a dirty bar, and I for sure can’t create in a messy environment.
For some, a pile of dirty clothes and a few misplaced toys may be a source of inspiration to create. For me, it’s a distraction. It’s as if the pile of clothes and the wayward toys are screaming, “Help!” (in the most obnoxious voice ever that I can’t ignore).
But what does it mean to create a space? It is a pretty broad statement, but I find that artists, in particular, should be very conscious of this concept. So, I’ve come up with a few bullet points to help you get started so you, too, can feel confident creating intentional spaces that help you reach your goals as a creative.
STEP 1: pick a physical space. Are you going to create at home? If so, what section of your home? Near a window? Because natural light is essential. If this is a space outside the home, make sure it is a place where you feel safe and comfortable.
STEP 2: list your expectations for this space, and thoroughly define your values and intentions. What will you do in this space? Do you have what you need to accomplish that goal?
STEP 3: execute. Create the space. Place things within that space that inspire the art you wish to create. Acquire the necessary tools for your success. Remove the things (or people) that could potentially hold you back.
STEP 4: Now that you have created a space, it’s time to make the art. No excuses…not even time—because at the end of the day, we make time for what we want to make time for.
When I say, “create a space,” this space can be a physical place or a mental one. That depends on the art you plan to create. For example, if you want to become a chef, make your home kitchen your first restaurant. If you want to fall in love, heal the parts of your mind that have been more resistant to companionship in the past. Grieve how you need to. Let go of what does not serve your new mindset. Adopt new ideas and use optimism, the power of manifestation, and a little delusion to help bring those ideas to fruition.
Let’s be real for a second, though. That shit is easier said than done, and if you are anything like me, you are stuck at step 4 and still using time as an excuse. But to my loves embarking on step 1, you have so many great ideas ahead of you! I look forward to being inspired by the art you will ultimately create and I wish you the best for your journey ahead. I hope it is made with hella love.
#ArtistsOnly