Abundalance: Abundance Through Balance

– Ariel Gore, from Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness

I felt it would be fitting, in my first post as an official blogger for The Abundant Artist, to address something very personal and topical in my life: My quest to lead a balanced lifestyle as an artist, a partner, a puppy mom, and a community leader. I’d like to share my journey, in the hopes that maybe it will ring familiar to some of you.

Part of Cory’s goal with this website and collection of resources is to dispel the myth of the starving artist, and I’d like to do the same with the chain smoking, booze swilling, sleep-deprived “tortured artist”. I’m not saying this archetype doesn’t exist, because I know better. I’ve known some, and I’ve been one. Through all eight years of art school, my health and wellness came last. I eventually even stopped allowing myself social time, because I felt like if I wasn’t working on artwork, I was wasting my time. There were people around me, just like me, who survived on coffee and cigarettes, napping on studio couches and sporting “lived-in” outfits that matched the bags under their eyes. Our addictions were crutches to help us deal with this punishing lifestyle, and I thought we were some kind of elite cadre of art martyrs, if you can believe that!

It’s not that I wasn’t productive, mind you- I was incredibly productive! But as I learned the hard way, it wasn’t a sustainable productivity. All the things I denied myself would eventually fight their way back into my life in binges: sleep, food, relaxation, recreation, all of it. It was like I was riding a pendulum, swinging back and forth! Once graduated and cast out into reality, I had no idea how to keep making work. I was tapped out. I was BURNED out. It was not a happy scene, to say the least.

So, I started thinking back to some of my other peers, especially in graduate school- people who had been at this art racket far longer than I, who had careers and families and fitness regimens. They somehow made it all fit together and work, despite having the exact same pressures and time commitments that I did. I decided that I would use their example to cultivate a lifestyle, like the potato Ariel Gore describes in my epigraph. Just like a potato needs equal parts sunlight, water, and other nutrients, an abundant lifestyle requires a balance of ingredients. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned on my path to Abundalance:

Think Quality, not Quantity.

If you’re selling your work to feed yourself, it’s hard to think of anything more important than supplying your market. But diversifying your pursuits not only allows for a more enriched supply of inspiration, it saves you from slowly starting to resent your craft. Trust me on this one.

Exercise is Nature’s Prozac.

Unless you were raised by wolves, you probably know all about endorphins already, but do not underestimate their impact. Ever since I started exercising regularly, I have seen a remarkable stability emerge in my inner life. This in turn helps me feel much more capable of juggling my four jobs, my domestic commitments, my volunteer work, and my art practice. I’m not saying you need to start training for the Ironman, but you’d be surprised how much a little physical exertion can help with the mental and emotional exertion of daily life. Not to mention that stretching and strengthening your muscles, specifically your core, can do wonders to counteract the physical impact of an artist’s lifestyle: the hours spent in front of a computer or easel or sculpting table, hunched over a guitar or sewing machine, or whatever your work entails.

A Routine is Everything

I don’t even care what it IS, just get into one!  If you’re having trouble integrating something into your life, set aside specific segments of your day, week, or month devoted to just that element. I’ve done that with my studio work and the results are astounding. I’m not going to lie, every once in a while a good cram session can really be just the ticket, but I try to think of those bursts as the salt enhancing my practice, rather than the meat (or textured vegetable protein) of it. This approach works wonders with the non-artistic aspects of life, as well: spiritual, romantic, you name it.

Consider a Balanced Lifestyle your First Line of Defense

If you’re a hustling, bustling arts professional, you might not have health insurance. Just throwing that out there. Life is unpredictable, but eating well, hydrating, getting your eight hours (or six! Let’s face it, something’s got to give sometimes) all go a long way towards keeping your immune system ready for the slings and arrows of life. I can’t even count the number of times that neglecting these basic things has caused my health to fall apart. I’m sick of it. See what I did there?

At the End of the Day Your Balance is Your Business

Perhaps most importantly, everyone has a different way of making Abundalance work for them. Never let anyone, least of all yourself, make you feel guilty for choosing to take care of yourself, your body, or your loved ones. Success is subjective, and can be measured in a myriad of ways that have nothing to do with money or fame.

Speaking of which, I didn’t bring up this topic just to preach. I want to hear from you! What have you done to cultivate Abundalance in your life? Share, my fellow potatoes! How do you make sure you get enough water, sunlight, and other nourishment?