February 17
Creating A Life Worth Living – Part 7
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I’m reading Creating A Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd. I picked this book because I’m trying to figure out the place I want painting to play in my life.
This week…Chapter 6, “The Drudge We Do for Dollars,†explores the paradigm of the day job. It describes the various kinds of jobs and how they can support or undermine your long-term creative goals.
As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t feel a horrible tension in my life with regards to my creative work and the work I do that pays a wage. If you do, this chapter has a lot of good information with questions and suggestions to help you align your life and work to better support your future goals.
This is interesting…The four basic types of day jobs most artists must consider when planning their lives.
In the Big Tent – These jobs may not require the actual skills of your art, but they do put you in contact with the people, organizations, and publications that produce your art.
No Contest – When it comes to decisions between No Contest day jobs and your art, there’s no hesitation, you know where your priorities lie. No Contest jobs never tempt you away from your dreams; you never worry about them when you are not punched in. Often they require little formal education and no long-term commitment.
Counter Balance – The Counter Balance job demands that the artist do something very different from his or her art form.
Wellspring – The Wellspring job directly feeds the source of your craft or art.
If you feel dissatisfied with the work you are doing on your way to the work you want to be doing, this chapter is very helpful.
This book is divided into four parts.
Part 1: The Dive (Chapters 1 & 2) – Engages you in the process of strengthening your relationship to your dreams with rigorous daily habits.
Part 2: The Dig (Chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6) – Engages you in a process of search and research–churning up all your ancient desires, present needs, and timeless inclinations.
So, this week I finished up Parts 1 & 2. Now on to Parts 3 & 4.
Part 3: The Design (Chapters 7, 8 & 9) – Guides you through an in-depth planning process, thereby developing your “eagle vision.” These chapters will lead you deep into your own ideas and dreams, compelling you to give them life through concrete detail.
Part 4: The Doing (Chapters 10, 11 & 12) – Lunges you back into the power of “squirrel work.” Through specific exercise and techniques, you will work toward making today a vehicle that can transport you into your chosen future.
I’m ready to go!
Sounds like some really helpful info! As someone who’s currently struggling with the very tension you were speaking of, I’m enjoying these posts.
Sounds like you are ready to go for it.
I thought I had a wellspring job but after 18 years, it turned out to be just a deep hole. Thank goodness I’m out of it 🙂
Sounds helpful!
Nola
Sounds like a great book…
This chapter will be pretty academic for me, when I get to it, because I don’t have a ‘day job’. But it will be very interesting to see how the various jobs I’ve had over the years have influenced my creative side for better or worse, and how I might have handled them better, I imagine.
Sounds like something you’re finding really helpful. Deccy x
I need this book!! We don’t have “regular jobs” and struggle to balance creating art, and making money from it. We can both create a ton of pieces, but then have to get to the making money part.
I SO need to get this book! Thanks for the reminder.
Kristin
That is such a great book with so many hints and tips to help you achieve your goals! Ha, I used to have one of those typewriters a million years ago 🙂
Lynne x
Woof! Woof! A book that my mom is interested to read too. Curious about the details on the 4 types of day jobs. Golden Thanks for sharing. Happy Reading. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Well I work as an actuary to pay the bills, then I work at my little design company that gives me joy. I don’t know that my mind could be creative all the time. Self help books get me upset I don’t feel like I fit the peg.
Thanks for stopping by my blog
Sweet William The Scot
I feel pretty blessed that my work involves my creative skills and is something that I love to do.