The term “starving artist” no longer serves us.
I remember what it was like when I chose to declare a major in dance, and a minor in technical theater. It was a very polarizing decision; on one hand, I had endless support from many people to chase my dreams and make it happen. But on the other hand, I heard a loud and clear warning: if I chose a profession in the arts, I wouldn’t find success, and could become a starving artist.
Hearing this many times made me curious as to why this phrase exists, but I eventually did take this belief on in some way- the belief that because I majored in arts, success would be difficult. As it turns out, this belief did create difficulty for me which I realized I needed to overcome, because it wasn’t necessary. I eventually realized this was just a limiting belief and didn’t serve me to think about it anymore.
I released this belief by changing my mindset from feeling disempowered, to owning everything that comes my way. I took a look at other people who have done, or are currently doing exactly what my goals were, and mirrored them. I also gave myself more credit for the accomplishments I have made, and took this as evidence that I could accomplish more than I ever dreamed of. Slowly my own faith began to grow, that I could reach my goals if I just stuck to them relentlessly.
Here are a few consequences of the term starving artist, and how to completely reverse this limiting belief:
- It causes people to take underpaying jobs, gigs, or commissions. This is because believing you won’t find success, creates a lack mindset. This means you might think there’s not enough to go around, or a lack of opportunities. Once you switch your mindset, you’ll realize how many opportunities are out there, and will become more discretionary by only taking jobs, gigs, or commissions that are paying what you’re truly worth.
- It puts blinders over you to only see the negatives, therefore attracting the negatives. This is also known as confirmation bias, the tendency to search for and favor new information in a way that strengthens prior beliefs. In other words, if you believe there are no jobs out there for you, your reality might reflect that. On the flip side, if you truly believe things work out in your favor, and find evidence to support that, you will find opportunities.
- It causes people to quit before they find success. People may think it’s safer not to take such a risk in starting a side business in photography, or taking a full time job entertaining on a cruise line. Here’s the thing: people want safety, and we’re wired to seek safety over fulfillment. Visualizing what it would be like to look back on your life is a powerful thing. Are you happy you tried, or disappointed you gave up?
The truth is, pursuing your passion and talents in an artistic field is different than what society is used to. This doesn’t mean it has to be hard, or a complete grid- it just means that in order to find success, you just have to think differently. Whether you want to begin selling those cozy scarves you knit on the side, join a touring show for the next year and live on the road, or get more commissions to sell your paintings, you’ll have to do things you aren’t used to.
Chances are, you might find people who won’t take you seriously, but what does it matter when you have unshakable faith in yourself? When it comes down to it, letting go of people pleasing, beginning to follow your intuition, and taking messy action are all key elements to success.
You don’t have to play it safe by subscribing to beliefs that don’t serve you. Instead, create your own abundance producing beliefs, and use them to do what it is you’ve always wanted to do. Give yourself credit, because you’re in it for the long game; the type of success you will achieve takes time. Now go and get those huge goals of yours.