From Starving Artist to Thriving Artist
Over a decade ago, I attempted to live exclusively as an artist. That mystical, romanticised life that has a reputation for being elusive, a struggle or only for the special few.
I’d been lucky enough to find my ‘calling’ young and dedicated myself to my craft. But as I graduated from music university, I recognised I had no understanding on how to support myself financially, in a way that felt authentic to me. I wanted to write and perform original music, but faced the reality of adulthood, so found reliable work to pay the bills.
Some saw it as naïve, others brave, but in my early twenties I left my first “serious” job and moved to Victoria to focus on song writing. My partner was going to support us for 6 months, repaying what I’d previously given to him. But as he went off to work and I stayed home, living the dream in a beautiful seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, I was faced with my scarcity mentality.
Scarcity is built upon three primary beliefs, as defined by Lynne Twist in her book, The Soul of Money:
1. More is better
2. There isn’t enough
3. That’s just the way it is
We were barely making ends meet, my debts were growing and I couldn’t stop obsessing about money for long enough to actually do any work. I had time, energy and inspiration, but my nervous system was in survival mode. It became a self- fulfilling prophecy; the more I worried, the more guilt and shame I felt around not earning money and the worse our financial situation became.
Eventually I conceded to full time work again, knowing it wouldn’t leave any space for my music and writing, but resigning myself to the belief that the artist’s life was an unrealistic fantasy. My relationship ended and I moved back to Sydney, working 6-7 days a week for 2 years to pay off my debts. This reinforced the idea that safety and security only came through hard work.
At the beginning of the covid lockdowns, like many people, I was forced to take stock of my life. The price of my secure pay cheque was high- I was burnt out, suffering from anxiety, using substances to escape and living a life of self-sabotage that I couldn’t ignore anymore. So I envisioned my ideal life and saw that money was the obstacle I kept blaming. I hired a financial coach and quickly my world opened up to all the opportunities I’d been ignorant to.
There are so many steps and learnings that empowered me to resign from my career earlier this year to live The Artist’s Life 2.0, which I’m very successfully maintaining.
Shifting from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance and faith was made possible by working with people who wholeheartedly believed in my vision and taught me how to trust in myself and life.
If I could speak to my younger self I’d tell her- the artist’s life is real, it’s sustainable, I’m living it every day. I’d tell her to practise gratitude, which channels our most powerful investment - our attention. Observe the beauty, the love, the support you receive- write it down, be thankful for it and be thankful for your future desires– as they are just around the corner.
Abundance Starts With Gratitude, an invitation:
Foundational-
At the beginning and end of each day, try listing 5 things you’re grateful for. Do it from bed. You can make a list in your head, but for a more potent outcome, write it down.
Notice the feeling it brings you in the morning compared to the evening and if you notice a difference if you miss a day.
Advanced-
Using the above practise, try listing things you desire but haven’t yet received and repeat until it becomes a reality. Visualise and feel into the emotions of having these things in your life.
Write in the present tense and be specific E.g. If you want to book a trip to Europe, you could write-
“I’m so grateful to have booked the flights to Europe”, or
“I’m so grateful and excited to be staying in the most stunning accommodation in Italy for 3 weeks”.
You might not be ‘ready’ to take these steps, but complete this practise regardless. Start taking small steps towards your desire, like researching accommodation and building an itinerary.
Would you like support in unpacking your money story and shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance?
Creative Discovery Sessions are a perfect way to become empowered in your relationship with money and channel your resources to create the life you desire.