In 2017, Gustavo Dudamel became the youngest conductor of a major orchestra of his time. I remember an L.A. Times journalist urged us not to get too excited about our newest conductor, counseling us that he was still young and unproven, that we should not rush to anoint him genius quite yet.
Dudamel was not an ignorant man. He was aware of the dangers of leading with his heart. When a spirit rises up to express its true self, there is an aspect of our collective humanity that wants to test it. It takes courage to lay ourselves bare. There is nothing to hide behind, no cloak of cynicism to shroud our timidity. Dudamel was not impervious to criticism. And yet, he chose to make himself vulnerable, to let inspiration move him in spite of the potential public blowback.
What if Dudamel read the criticism and decided (unconsciously or not) to be more emotionally careful? What if he thought that the cost of public scrutiny was not worth his bruised ego? In a creative life, the fear of embarrassment can threaten you at every turn. You may feel the pull to lower your vision, to withdraw, to be reasonable, practical, sensible, and all those other words that masquerade as maturity but are really just euphemisms for fear.
As artists, it is important that we do not underestimate the antagonistic forces we face in the act of creation. Our fears are not unfounded, insofar as we have evidence to support them. And if we face them head on, the antagonistic forces will win. After all, they have libraries of proof . . . history is on their side. The desire to transform means risking everything you think you know for something beyond your imagining.
By taking the risk of allowing yourself to become a channel, every blocked artist, every cynic and naysayer for miles around marks you as a target. Wisdom comes from knowing this, and protecting your creation by not discussing it while it is being borne, so that you can get down into your story and really let it rip. You cannot wait for everyone to support your endeavor, because not everyone will approve of what you have to say. You cannot wait for your security to be guaranteed, or for victory to be certain. In spite of the voices in your head telling you otherwise, you alone know what the truth is. There is no time to settle a score. There is nothing to win. All of the reasons your antagonists can muster is no match for your open heart.
Learn more about marrying the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of structure in The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, or The 90-Day Screenplay workshops.
