Interesting post. I think 'entitlement' is an uncomfortable way of framing it. I certainly agree that we all have expectations of our own creativity, which can be unhelpful in placing undue pressure on us to produce, and crushing us with guilt when we do not. Honest self-examination of those expectations is easier said than done but may be really important to our creative wellbeing.
I do often encounter a feeling (including in myself sometimes) that is one is entitled to an audience for their creative work just because of the work that went into it, which although understandable is sadly not the case. We need to be creating a lot more for ourselves and for its own sake, rather than what we can get from others which is outside of our control - especially if those others are strangers on the internet!
Simon, this is so good. I wrestle with this idea a lot, like, "Is my creativity actually any of my business? Something we can control?" Etc, etc. Thank you for sharing!
This is exactly the feeling I’m experiencing right now. I liken it to the effects of complex trauma: at some point in my life, there *were* people and systems that demanded my creativity, and as I’ve grown and freed myself from those systems, I’ve continued their work, just inflicting it on myself.
You kinda broke my brain with this, in a really good way. I can start to see a way out of what I’ve been calling a block, with tools I’ve learned in working through cPTSD. If you can find it, I think Pete Walker’s work on deconstructing the inner critic resonates here.
I’ll have to check that out! The inner critic is a whole other can of worms that definitely needs deconstructing for me 😅 Thanks for sharing! I’m glad this was useful. I’m always amazed by how much you can get out of just writing or talking through a feeling.
Very timely post! I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be creative/a creative person and posting about that on my substack. I've definitely contemplated how sharing one's work ties into that. The obligation to share isn't something I've really thought about before, and I appreciate the new light this post brings to that concept. At what point does desire turn into obligation? Do we push on or take a break? Interesting things to consider.
Interesting post. I think 'entitlement' is an uncomfortable way of framing it. I certainly agree that we all have expectations of our own creativity, which can be unhelpful in placing undue pressure on us to produce, and crushing us with guilt when we do not. Honest self-examination of those expectations is easier said than done but may be really important to our creative wellbeing.
I do often encounter a feeling (including in myself sometimes) that is one is entitled to an audience for their creative work just because of the work that went into it, which although understandable is sadly not the case. We need to be creating a lot more for ourselves and for its own sake, rather than what we can get from others which is outside of our control - especially if those others are strangers on the internet!
Simon, this is so good. I wrestle with this idea a lot, like, "Is my creativity actually any of my business? Something we can control?" Etc, etc. Thank you for sharing!
This is exactly the feeling I’m experiencing right now. I liken it to the effects of complex trauma: at some point in my life, there *were* people and systems that demanded my creativity, and as I’ve grown and freed myself from those systems, I’ve continued their work, just inflicting it on myself.
You kinda broke my brain with this, in a really good way. I can start to see a way out of what I’ve been calling a block, with tools I’ve learned in working through cPTSD. If you can find it, I think Pete Walker’s work on deconstructing the inner critic resonates here.
I’ll have to check that out! The inner critic is a whole other can of worms that definitely needs deconstructing for me 😅 Thanks for sharing! I’m glad this was useful. I’m always amazed by how much you can get out of just writing or talking through a feeling.
Very timely post! I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be creative/a creative person and posting about that on my substack. I've definitely contemplated how sharing one's work ties into that. The obligation to share isn't something I've really thought about before, and I appreciate the new light this post brings to that concept. At what point does desire turn into obligation? Do we push on or take a break? Interesting things to consider.