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Feb 8, 2023Liked by Christopher Schrader

You always seem to say what’s in my head. I stumbled upon you by your old podcast “ hey, do you remember…? “ at a time in my life when I was dealing with a lot with health issues and needed a outlet to make me feel normal and part of a group. Because of my isolation due to my health that when the pandemic hit I was already primed with you guys to look forward to help me through. I’d listened to all your back logs until a new one came out. That in which inspired me to make my own project and fight my own insecurities and expose myself to the world, especially since the world has gone insane. I also am a musician but have multiple ways I like to express myself in art. If you are interested I would love to hear your feed back of this music project I’ve been working on as a musical view inside my head. I don’t know what do do with it now that is is complete as the initial point was to showcase my music but not sure what I even have. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated as I have not shared this with anyone as of yet. If not no biggie and thank you for all that you do.

Brandon

https://youtu.be/SfmL-s91q9U

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Thanks for the kind words, Brandon. And for sharing this project! I think it's a really cool idea and a really unique way of getting your music out there. You've already done the hardest part - just finishing something and releasing it. If you enjoyed the process, my only advice would be to just keep going and see how it evolves and where it takes you. I can totally relate to being at a point where you're not exactly sure what it is yet, but I also think that's such an exciting stage. The answers are in the act of making it. I really believe that the more you work on it, the clearer it'll become.

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Feb 6, 2023Liked by Christopher Schrader

'No one will ever be crueler to me than I've been to myself.' - I feel that - this was really impactful to read and feels so relatable, thank you so much for sharing.

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Feb 6, 2023Liked by Christopher Schrader

I can definitely relate to having a brutal inner critic who says things I’d never say to others, especially if they were already struggling and feeling bad about themselves.

Have you read “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert? It’s a great book that includes examples of how she deals with her fierce inner critic. She also addresses the destructive commonly accepted myth of suffering being a necessary catalyst for creativity.

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I listened to the podcast based on it, but I've never read the book! That sounds great, I'll add it to the list.

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Feb 5, 2023Liked by Christopher Schrader

I’ve often struggled with conflating the idea of being kind to myself with being pompous and egotistical. I don’t know why or where this comes from, but I have always carried guilt at even acknowledging that I was good at something. That I should be more humbling. More self-deprecating. More harsher to myself than I could ever be to another person. That somehow being proud of anything I did or created had to come from some external validation to be considered real. But you are so right that if anyone else came to me with these same feelings, my advice would be to love yourself more because you deserve it. So, self, let’s give it a try.

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I know exactly what you mean. I have to remind myself it's not an either/or situation. And that having compassion for myself DOES often mean making the more difficult choice, but without judging myself so harshly for the behavior or habits I'm trying to correct.

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The first time I heard someone shoot down the suffering artist schtick was when I saw David Lynch speak. He said the starving/suffering artist concept is bullshit. Who would not want to create art and be happy?

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