Why “ASPIRING” Should be Struck from Our Self-definition

 

I’ve blogged about this before, but the thorny matter of artists calling themselves “aspiring artist/musician/writer” continues to sting.

 

This post here reminded me, again, of the faux diminution of this word.

 

If you would like to do something but aren’t doing it (yet, or ever), then you “aspire” to do or be it.

 

If you are doing it, you are not an aspirant. If you write, you are a writer. If you paint, you are a painter. If you compose music, you are a composer. Perhaps you aspire to have commercial or financial success and haven’t (yet or ever) achieved it. But you are not aspiring to be what you are already.

 

Just do it. Once you do, you are.

*THE END*

STANDING IN ONE’S OWN WAY

 

Maybe it was fortuitous, but I happened upon this blog post one day after reflecting on the conduct of an artist who I’m close to. The post is a reflection on the various ways some of us sabotage ourselves without having the slightest clue we are doing it.

 

I think this applies to all human endeavors. The crux of it is that because it sounds an illogical thing to do, we refuse to see it. Competing with insufficient or no preparation, spending time in useless activities that do not so much as bring us joy, spewing unkind words born of frustrations at the people who love us most and could help— all examples of self-sabotage. All lend themselves to easy explanations to self that disguise the drive behind them: I do not deserve success.

 

In one way, no one deserves anything. But striving to do something that adds value and having it recognized is a worthwhile way to go through life. Thus, if we just remove the notion of “deserving,” maybe we’ll also withdraw our third invisible foot that somehow, against reason, we have placed right where we step. Maybe this will prevent the next tripping up. Maybe.