Really??? you two are the most beautiful, technically skilled artists and you still get all broken up about what people think and say? I want to send you both a big hug for being so lovely and human, and still being so inspirational.
I paint for a living now and I struggle every time I put my brush on the paper with other peoples expectations and whether I will fulfill what they want from me. Sometimes I get so tied up half way through I want to throw it away, yet when I push on through those are often the best paintings.
I cant imagine how aweful it must be to be famous and have half the world feel they have a right to say what they want about the gift you offer up from your heart, and which in the end is only an expression of your perspective on life.
I thought that if you struggled hard and got better and better at what you do that the criticism would lessen, but obviously when you get to the top lots of people want to shoot you down.
I am going to order this book now.

Wow and i thot *i* was the only one! This book sounds like it's just what i need to get my a$$ back in da game LOL! I took Rachel's DC workshop and i remember her talking about this. Let us know if this book helps you too and what suggestions really hit home... I too have practically given up - i get ill watching myself on video and i've put on alot of weight. It seems almost surreal that yes, even the Superstars have "paranoid heebeejeebees"!
Thank you Rachel and Samantha!

I enjoyed that list quite a bit, thanks. "You can fool the fans- but not the players." hehehehe. That's going on my bulletin board for sure.

Finally working on my own show (after years of proding by my husband and friends) has forced me to just jump into the abyss and trust in the art and myself that what is created in the process will be a wonderful experience (even if not totally successful). It's forced me to committ to my own art and my own voice. No more excuses. Show your stuff or get off the boat, kind of thing. Thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds like a wonderful resource and something to keep by the bed side. Miss ya, Rach!

This is a fantastic list! Thank you so much!

Also, if this hasn't been recommended before (and I find that hard to believe), I recommend Twyla Tharp's book called _The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life_.

Also _Art and Fear_ by David Bayles isn't bad. I remember loving the first half of the book and being less than thrilled with the second half.

www.amazon.com/Creative-H...145-9267058

"Rule 8: Do not try to create and analyze at the same time. They are different processes. "

This is unbelievably true when I'm dancing and also when I'm teaching English - I am most stressed when I try to do both at the same time and then I am dissatisfied with whatever I have done. When I separate the two not only do I accomplish more, but I also push myself more to try new things. Save the Analysis for after when you are improving, otherwise it can stifle you.

Really interesting thoughts in this thread - thanks everyone!

I totally believe in number 5 . Thanks for sharing!

thanks for those, I am printing the thread off to keep and read

Oooh---good recommendations! Thank you so much--- I am always perusing through my books of dance to find anecdotes and the necessary strength giving narratives to keep my head above the water. Thanks again for sharing.

what's Pilgrimage, if you don't mind me asking? it sounds interesting.

There's also "The Blank Canvas: Inviting the Muse" which has endless great quotes and food for thought.

Do you mean "Courage to Create" by Rollo May? I read an excerpt on Amazon, but it looked a bit dated.

Totally agree with you on the Artist's way. I am constantly referencing my copy : )

This is Book Number One on my list whenever someone asks me to recommend reading material. Whether or not they are an Artist, everyone can learn from the Artist's Way. It's one of the few "self-help" books I've ever come across that actually does explain how to SELF HELP. I first saw the book when my boyfriend had it, given to him by a friend who had found it useful. Unfortunately for my boyfriend, he wasn't ready to put to work the techniques and exercises, so in his opinion, it "wasn't a good book". Fortunately for me, he shelved it and I found it just when my life was going down the toilet and I really needed some inspiration and a good old fashioned bitch-slap of reality. I passed that copy onto another friend a year later, and have repurchased, then given away 3 other copies. Eventually, I got a copy that I reserve for myself, as I like to go through the exercises every now and then when I've lost commitment to my goals and need a tune-up.

Cameron really struck home with me when she talks about the Intelligent, Interactive Universe and how we tune out from it, desperately whining and crying for inspiration, while it is all the while trying to GIVE us what we need. For years, I had the most difficult time explaining to others my philosophy on life and "god", then come to find out here it is in self-help book!

K, Rachel, I just ordered 'The War of Art'... I'm looking forward to checkin it out...

I have come to trust your recommendations after reading Pema Chodron's 'When Things Fall Apart' and 'The Places That Scare You' , which are on the amazon booklist you posted once (both of those I HIGHLY recommend, especially in light of this thread)

I'm also reading 'Yoga For Wellness' by Gary Kraftsnow, too...
Lots of good stuff...

Oh, and I second the recommendation for 'The Artist's Way' That was a pretty profound book...

I just performed for the first time as a solo artist last weekend and I gotta tell ya I was battling some pretty crazy demons for several weeks (months?) prior and reading these books helped me tremendously...

Got it! Love it! Can't believe I ever went without it!

I am going to purchase these books after all the great recommendations.

I need 'something' right now as I am having my own crisis. I'm only a dance student and my main 'discipline' is not belly dance and I've always known that it is very unlikely I will ever perform (age, skill, opportunities), but lately the feeling is becoming more and more prevalent that (no matter how wrong or self serving it is) I need some kind of validation from someone or something, to let me know that all the physical and mental exhaustion is worth something, some kind of recognition of improvement (even if that something is not audience applause or acceptance from my peers). The more I gain in technique and experience, the more the doubt multiplies and the fear is taking over. It seems like the more I learn, the less I know - ie the more I realise I have to work on.

I love dance and I could never not dance, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to gain any kind of mental respite from it. the more I doubt, the more it consumes my attention. Its becoming unhealthy.

Thanks everyone, nice to know there is something to refer to!

I read this post last week, and returned to it today actually looking for the Bird story (which I find quite hilarious, and a good story for remembering balance)--when I realized that perhaps this book is SO germane to where I'm at that it was preferrable to ignore it. I will try to keep this short, and not too self-indulgent. . .I realized about a month ago that I have been depressed for a year, a "low grade" depression, like a low grade fever, that one plows through and ignores as long as possible. I finally put into words what is wrong: i have lost my passion for pretty much everything. A VERY scary place to be. I have always been in the arts: I started dancing at 4, and by 8 knew I wanted to pursue a career as a professional ballet dancer. Did the whole thing: moved away from my folks in Ohio to NYC at age 16 where I lived in an apartment and finished high school, got the scholarship, studied with the future stars, etc--and by 20 knew I'd never have the type of career I wanted. I cut my hair off, gained 25 lbs, and moved to NYC's east village. Started a band, Toured with a left-of-center honky tonk act, opening for Bill Monroe...pursued music, as I do everything, 1000% full steam ahead. . .played through the birth of the first child and pregnancy of the second, then realized it was too much. By then I'd started making old style western wear for the band to wear, and shortly after I decided I couldn't play with two babies I was contracted by the costumer of Broadway's ANnie Get Your Gun to make all the men's shirts for the Broadway show. Suddenly I'm a professional designer. I'm in several books on the history of western wear, I've been on radio, TV, museums, etc--made garments for REM, Steve Earle, two other B'way productions. . .sounds like great success there, too, right? I can't make a living, I'm working full time in a law office, I got screwed out of $1000 on custom garments made this summer here in Santa Fe. . .and realized I'm tired of working so hard not only with no recognition, but no pay. . .I feel permanently burned out, stressed out, and unfulfilled. Part of me wishes I could just be content working on my little casita, raising the two kids (as a single parent now) and going to a job. Part of me knows I cannot live without feeling passionate about creating something. Part of me wishes that part wasn't so important to me. I started bellydance in February, and that has helped. . .but I think it's also contributed to my confusion. The local school as a "company," and part of me now hopes to get asked to join the company. . .but I don't know if that is necessarily the answer. I don't know what the answer is. This is a very scary place to be for a 45 year old woman . . .
THanks for letting me vent.

I second that! I just got it recently; read part I already.

All the stuff on Resistance hit home, so at least I now have a fair idea of what I've been up against, and now I'm looking forward to getting over it. I'm going to have to face the fact that I've been using all kinds of excuses not to work harder at dance and let the creative juices flow ... "I'm too old, too many health issues interfering, don't have a decent costume, need so much more training I'll be 50 by the time I get anywhere with it," etc.

I get the feeling the author would throw all that back in my face with a big *B.S.* exclamation. ;)

So, yeah, thanx, RB!