While visiting the Casa Malpais Museum in Springerville, Arizona I had the opportunity to give an impromptu concert on a 100-year-old Steinway piano. The small audience was thrilled and gushed with appreciation as I shared a few of my favorite compositions. It had been years since I'd performed my own work in public. The zealous applause gave me a glow that lasted all day, an affirmation that my music could still give others pleasure.
From New Oxford American Dictionary:
affirmation |ˌafərˈmāSHən|
noun
1 the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed
2 emotional support or encouragement
When it comes to our creative endeavors, it seems most of us have an inherent need for affirmation. We want to share our work and we thrive when our audience offers emotional support and encouragement. It energizes us, helps keep the creativity flowing, right?
What about when the external affirmations aren't there? When we're all alone with our work, playing for an empty room, and it doesn't seem to be going well. No one's applauding our efforts. How do we keep going?
I like to create an imaginary audience in my head. The people who are gonna LOVE this book. I write to entertain myself, but I also write for them. I listen for their applause.
How about you? Do you need affirmation? What do you do when it's not there?
When it comes to our creative endeavors, it seems most of us have an inherent need for affirmation. We want to share our work and we thrive when our audience offers emotional support and encouragement. It energizes us, helps keep the creativity flowing, right?
What about when the external affirmations aren't there? When we're all alone with our work, playing for an empty room, and it doesn't seem to be going well. No one's applauding our efforts. How do we keep going?
I like to create an imaginary audience in my head. The people who are gonna LOVE this book. I write to entertain myself, but I also write for them. I listen for their applause.
How about you? Do you need affirmation? What do you do when it's not there?
I'm pretty much an affirmation hussy. I love gold stars. Sometimes I think it's a flaw, and sometimes I worry I share too much when I'm excited about being affirmed (aka: bragging) - but as a creative person, those atta girls are sure nice. I like my creativity for myself, and it is enough to sustain me, but those little sparkles of kindness received from a friend or stranger tend to be like mental rocket fuel.
ReplyDeleteAnd the museum lets vistors play? How neat is that! And we get a glimpse of grown-up Angelina (not that I don't love your teen profile pic :0))
I also think of affirmation in relationships. Close friends told me and my partner when we first met, remember to affirm each other. 17 yrs later, I still try and practice this lesson.
Giving and receiving affirmation makes us more beautiful humans. ^_^
DeleteSometimes I do, only to acknowledge that I'm on the right path. My writing partners helps me out there when I need it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful opportunity to play.
Writing partners are worth their weight in gold. And playing antique pianos is pretty cool, too. ^_^
DeleteImpromptu concert? I'm in awe. :) And yes - I have an incredible need for affirmation, and usually I take mine in the form of praise. I like the idea of creating an imaginary audience in my head for those times I really need a cheerleader and there's no one around.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Thanks, Alison. I'm cheering for you!
DeleteWow! So impressed that you could do that, Angelina...already knew you were kind of amazing. This makes you even amazinger (yes, yes this is a word, not in the OED but a work none the less).
ReplyDeleteI think I have learned to just keep plugging along-especially with the writing. And I think that seeing fellow writers receive that affirmation makes me feel great enough for them that it's like affirmation by proxy--or something, lol. Or is that by osmosis? Totally cannot think of the word.
Sometimes I will remember those times I have been affirmed or felt that affirmation. It reminds me to keep it going. Of course, I will confess to wondering, sometimes, if they really really meant it or were they just being nice. BUT, that is a whole 'nother post.
Thanks, Deb. Why is it so hard for us to believe the affirmation?
DeleteWell, now that I actually have a few fans, I write for them. But I do keep in mind who my audience is when writing.
ReplyDeleteAnd hopefully they're yelling and clapping and urging you on!
Delete