I started reading the book ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron and only a few pages in. A concept stood out to me. The notion of the ‘suffering artist identity’ being linked to being ruthless or self-destructive. Through the adoption of broke-crazy-promiscuous and unreliable identity. It is then that Cameron also alluded to the concept that artists could also be ‘sane, sober and creative’.

A concept that terrified her and a concept that I believe applies to how artists are perceived in this day and age. For the longest time I was afraid to call myself an artist because I was rarely self-destructive or unreliable. In fact being the only child of an immigrant household meant that I was anything but unreliable. I was an over achiever on the way to burnout. A destination that I reached in my early 30s.

To my surprise that was when my creativity saved me. Gave me a purpose that felt larger than. During the day I locked into my 9-5 and during the pockets of silence I leaned into my creativity. Whether it meant completing my morning pages for the day or a morning yoga sequence. I made sure that I incorporated elements of creativity during the mornings and late evenings.

Those were the times when my soul felt enough at ease allowing me to enter a flow state of sorts. It was only at the ripe age of 31 that I have felt comfortable calling myself an artist.

Whether it be through the words on a blogging platform or the paint on a canvas. I believe that a lot of us are modern day artists without knowing it. So it is about time that we learn to lean into that part of our identity.