Shame & Shamelessness in the Creative Life

One of the numerous reasons creative people often struggle to take their creative practice seriously and to share their work publicly is, I believe, because each instance of public art sharing can constitute a kind of ego death.

Each time artists or creators share their work, their ideas, their anything, it’s a form of public ego detonation, from mild to moderate to extreme. 

And, sorry to be the bearer of challenging news, but the ego is meant to die . . . over and over and over again, and this is part of the practice of a creative person. The ego might die in an ayahuasca ceremony, or in a natural life transition that pries your former sense of self loose . . . Or in the experience of giving a creative work of immense vulnerability to the world.

Public creative practice is an ongoing dance with shame and shamelessness.

But perhaps that word “shameless” does not really mean “without shame” in this instance (like “fearless” cannot really, usually mean “without fear”). Rather, it might more aptly refer to someone who has become adept at dancing with their shame, just like a courageous person has become adept at dancing with their fear and acting anyway . . .

Dancing with fear and shame is much easier said than done, and it requires community and support. That’s why I’m in love with supporting artists and creators in my practice who were born to continually dance with shame and shamelessness, and who were never meant to do it alone. Reach out if you’d like to book a free intro call to learn more. 🌹