"I do this for myself" can often be heard when artist is at work. There is no need to worry about anybody else, just you and your art.

It turns out that when you are creating your art, you have to remember that you do this not only for yourself but also for those around you. People who trust you, who care about what you have to say are waiting for you to set an example for them to follow.

We're waiting for you to change us.

Create or not tonight? Oh well, you're tired. Actually, you're exhausted. The more you think about it, the less likely you are to create tonight.

But somehow you know you're persevere. Somehow you know you will sit down and do the work. Even though it seems very unlikely, even though you don't believe you can.

Because no one else can create your art for you, no one else can dig this gem out of the ground, no one else can climb that mountain.

You will succeed. Because deep down you know - each step brings you closer to your goal.

This is what makes you a hero. This is what makes you an example for us all.

It's a strangest thing - you might be depressed, you might be tired, you might be angry or unhappy before but after you create something, even for 15 minutes, you feel different.

You feel much more relaxed, much less worried about unpleasant things, much less preoccupied about the past or future. You know you just did the right thing. You feel calm.

All of this is because you sat down and spent just 15 minutes with your canvas, music score, computer screen, or any other project you are working on.

Art changes people.

A wannabe artist must endure two kinds of pain:

1. A pain caused by the fear of facing a blank sheet of paper/canvas/computer screen.
2. A pain caused by not creating his art.

When the second kind is greater than the first, a person will begin to create.

Some artists when they work, they are very busy checking what the quality of their art currently is. Are the sentences any good? Are the colors mixed correctly? Does the melody consist of the right notes? Will it resonate with the listener/viewer/reader? Will it sell?

Other artists just do the work. They don't worry about such things. They sit down, do their thing and never think if it's good or bad. They own their work but they don't own the result. They let the readers/viewers/listeners decide.

Your art has a life of its own.

So, you've made a mistake. Written a wrong sentence, added a wrong color, used a wrong note in a melody.

Don't rush to erase it and to blame yourself. You have to realize that this "mistake" was also dictated to you by your Muse. It might have its meaning after all.

Repeat it several times. Repeat the same sentence several times in a story, repeat the same color several times in a painting, repeat the same excerpt of the melody several times in the score. Then the "mistake" will become intentional. In fact, it will no longer be a mistake.

It will become the point of departure which will lead you further.

...is a common excuse for people who are stalling.

You will never be ready so you might just as well start now.

Often when we think of a new creative idea, we recoil in fear.

"It's not for me. I'll never be able to master it. People will think I'm crazy." So you say "no" and return to your "normal" life.

It turns out that normal is boring. Boring is not remarkable. Not remarkable is not art.

Art supposed to be frightening. Art supposed to be risky. That's why so few people are doing it.

But we need your art today more than ever. We need you to show us the way by your example.

When you say yes to the idea of creating art, a new world opens up to you. A world full of possibilities and adventures.

Say yes more often.

That's a common excuse of any wannabe artist. They want to have a set plan for them, a path they can follow, a set of direction to pay attention to. Unless there is a clear point of departure, they feel stuck, they can't begin to create their art. They need guidance - a coach, a mentor, a teacher, a model, an example.

If you really want to start your creative process, if you truly want to go to the next level (from the dreamer to the action taker), you need to recognize this sentence for what it is. It's an excuse, nothing more and nothing less.

Once you begin, you will have a powerful ally on your side - the Muse. She literally will be dictating into your ear what you should do next. The only thing you should do is to start it.

If you are a writer or a poet, start with any word, expression or a sentence. If you are a painter - start with any color, any touch of brush. If you deal with music - start with any note, interval or chord. A miracle will happen after that. Adventure waits for you just around the corner.

Start anywhere.

When a person talks nicely about your art and you respond with a short "thanks", after a second you wish you would have said something more inspiring, something that would cause this person to connect with you, something that would cause him to feel that his generosity is spreading.

It's OK. You always get a second chance to be generous. Maybe not necessarily with the same person. Maybe with the next person you interact with today.

Generosity is contagious.