Happy Thoughts – Advice for Your Average Creative
It’s only human to fantasise about standing on the Dolby Theatre stage collecting an Oscar or parking your bum on a late-night chat show sofa to promote your latest bestseller. And as we stride into another new year – gaping with creative possibility – our egos will be going ten to the dozen with imaginings of what this year might produce. Of what dazzling creations we could chisel out. The screenplay that’ll break the box office, the book to exert squeals from startled publishers, the ad campaign that’ll get Cannes Lions roaring.
And, of course, a lucky handful of us will. But you might want to take a seat for this revelation; thousands of fistfuls of us won’t. Another year will tick on by in which we haven’t unsheathed that canvas and made Cézanne shudder in his grave. Got The Guardian frothing out five stars. Or hell, even just had a mere mention in these here pages. And. That’s. OK. No, really.
For creative glory is vastly overvalued. And I’d like to offer up an alternative ambition, by preaching from another gospel. One that promotes the pursuit of creative contentment over creative greatness. That flies in the face of LinkedIn-peppered ‘win at all costs’ advice, instead focusing on self-help for living a happier and healthier creative existence. If Rick Rubin is coaching the next generation of creative disruptors, I’m offering support for those wrestling with the intimidating weight of creative ambition. Who’ve had enough of Imposter Syndrome gripping their pen or paintbrush and telling them they’re a fraud. Who hate waking up at 3am with creative anxiety bringing them out in ‘am I good enough’ sweats. Who fear burnout may be coming for them. Or for those questioning whether the creative industry welcomes ‘outsiders’ like them at all.
So, if you’re after inspiration or advice on how to reach your potential, achieve greatness, create work in 2025 that puts others in the shade… I’m afraid you won’t find it here.
‘Creative contentment’ is the aim of the following five columns. Five columns that go off in search of advice for your average creative. Putting to one side the pressures of award-winning, creatively extraordinary, mind-blowing (in every sense) ideas and focusing instead on Happy Thoughts.
For Happy Thoughts are what I’ve been obsessed with and collecting for the last few years in the form of quotes, mantras, creative approaches and insight that offer up less stressful ways of being and becoming creative practitioners.
But please don’t think I’ve got it wrapped up and have all the answers here. That I’m writing this perched atop Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, having finally reached its summit with self-actualisation conquered. Quite frankly, I’m still polishing my crampons at basecamp. But I’m on my way up, and after 21 years of being a creative director in advertising (eight at Mother and 13 at my own agency Modern Citizens (née: Creature)), I like to think I’ve learned a little. Most importantly and just for starters…
Creative Fame is Overrated.
Of all the things to get comfortable with this is perhaps key. Mentally switching off that perpetual state of envy and jealously for anyone seemingly achieving more than you and getting glory and adulation for it. And swapping it for commiserating the fact they must work in the world’s window. Constantly facing it’s scrutinous glare.
If you’re the kind of person who worries your WhatsApp hasn’t been received with enough laughing emoji love or your TikTok’s only had 23 views,God help you when your work is out there for all to see. Criticism is a bitch. Sure, it drives you on and pushes you to make work to blunt its barbs, but it still stings. In a world in which there’s an unwritten rule that you should broadcast-boast everything you’ve done on LinkedIn, it’s only naturally to be anxious about everything you create and how it’s going to be received – is it and am I good enough? Just how much love and adulation is coming my way packaged up in dopamine providing thumb emojis? Stop it. Forget it. Get off it. Whether aiming for fame within your own industries paddling pool or wanting to be become the biggest of fish in the world’s ocean, anxiety will always follow in your wake. You may think you want the flashbulbs, but they don’t half show up the wrinkles in your work.
So back to those world-conqueringNew Years resolutions. As we all stride forth into another unchartered year wielding our stylus, paintbrush or pens, let’s take a moment to consider just how important the next twelve months are filled with creative glory and success over creative contentment and satisfaction.
If the latter then read on. I’ll be back next week with more Happy Thoughts, but for now I leave the last words to Mr Roots Manuva;
“I see things clearer than most, I sit here contended with this cheese on toast.”
Article appeared in Creative Review
