Are You Still Screaming?

by Dan Waldron

That is what I have been experiencing lately! Quite literally actually. Just five short weeks ago I witnessed life, my first-born. I realized, as we get yanked into this world the first action we take is to find our voice. A deafening roar announces our arrival!

As we go on in life we grow, collect experiences, and with hope, knowledge from those experiences. Do we continue to scream and announce our presence? Do we continue to find our voice? Some of us may. Some of us may also let that shrill turn to a mumble, a whisper, a sigh. Why?

We can lose our voice for many reasons: fear, laziness, boredom—or worst—our inability to muster up the courage to speak up. However timid that voice becomes it is important not to lose passion. Treat your passion like any relationship in your life. Keep things fresh, grow and evolve, trust and believe, and it’s always best to keep it honest.

Here are some tips I find keeps my head in the game when I need inspiration, if I am juggling too many assignments or when I am just feeling unoriginal and stale.

VISIT YOUR FRIENDS AND COMPETITION

Visit the blogs of artist that inspire you. I often feel most inspired when visiting an artist blog and get to see behind the curtain. Often seeing another artist’s process or work gets me inspired. For me it’s my morning coffee. I have a bag full of artist blogs I visit every morning to refresh me, inspire me and stoke my competitive fire.

‘AIM HIGH WILLIS!’

Goals. Man, setting goals can be fulfilling when attained and deflating when fumbled. Keep the goals honest and realistic. Just like working out don’t let the goal be too easy. Aim for a height that is just above that comfort level each time. Allow for breaks before you over exert yourself. Allow time for rest and to reset.

‘I PICK THIS UP, THEN I PUT THIS DOWN!’

Taking breaks! In these breaks its important to decompress, but be sure not to over indulge. I’m not saying that grabbing a few beers is a bad idea, but stay productive. I find it best to grab snack and do a few short sets of a workout. Get all of the blood that has pooled in my ass and legs from hours of designing moving back up to the other parts of my body. Getting some fresh air reawakens the artist in me and staring at a new environment is crucial for your health and sanity.

F*CK YOU, PAY ME!

Just like in business: pay yourself first. Keep a project on the side that is just for you. One that you can revisit weekly, daily whenever you need. I find that doing work that isn’t for yourself can sometimes be soul crushing. Its good to keep a project, journal, sketch book so that you can keep your own sanity. I personally like to keep a sketchbook of daily drawings that I do at lunch or at that seventh inning stretch in the day. Set aside time to pay yourself back.

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE … ER, ONCE

Don’t forget to live. Do something completely different. Don’t take yourself to seriously. Climb a tree, commit a few misdemeanors or invent a new position.

Go experience some LIFE.

Stay tuned.