Maybe it's because my 2012 computer finally decided to die, or maybe it's the general effed-up vibes of the globe, but shit is feeling dark out there. And I'm not against darkness, I think darkness can lead to some great creativity. But it has felt like a particularly weird start to a new decade.
Usually when I feel a little stuck, I seek out my favorite creative sensai: Krista Tippet. If you don't know NPR's Krista Tippet you're in for a real treat, my friend.
In reading some KT, something clicked. She identified something that I think many of us are feeling in 2020: We've forgotten how to prioritize guilt-free joy. And when I say joy, I don't mean 'joy'that you have turned into work. Or 'joy' that also makes you feel productive. And definitely not 'joy' that is really obligation in disguise...
I mean joy that is pure, stupid, unburdened fun.
For some reason, this is extra hard for us to do these days. And If you struggle with your mental health, experiencing care-free joy is a little more complicated than just making a list and getting started. It will likely involve some external support and a lot of self-compassion.
But as basic bitch as this advice sounds, I think it's kind of radical. From Krista:
'I’ve been in rooms full of very well-meaning, good people, who are doing good work in the world for whom, I think, the idea that you should have joy, any joy, in a moment like this, would be a betrayal of what is right and just and good; would perhaps be a denial or even a diminishment of people who are in pain right now.
There’s a sensibility behind that stance that says that joy is a privilege. And I don’t think joy is a privilege. I think freedom can be a privilege; I think luxury and comfort can be a privilege. But joy is a piece of basic human resilience. It’s a human birthright.'
Yes.
So if you're feeling despair - about the environment, about Iran, about everything happening at our borders, or about your own life - don't diminish the importance of letting yourself experience something joyful. Paint a silly picture, go ice-skating, dance to Usher in your kitchen (personal favorite). Do this on the reg. And do not for a second feel guilty. Because to be more resilient, whether that's in our creative lives or elsewhere, joy is the key. Joy will help you persist.
