Go Make The Thing That Will Make You
A love letter to your works — even now.
Yesterday, in my morning scroll through
I stumbled on - and clicked through to
A Guardian article about hypernormalization.
Wait what?
I really try not to let my idle curiosity derail me.
But I often watch a decluttering reel
And then immediately afterwards a thrifter.
And those competing minor fantasies
Are part of hypernormalization.
A useful new term for a not exactly new
But very now feeling.
As it turns out hypernormalization
It’s a very slight variation of therapy’s cognitive dissonance.
And That Funny Feeling Bo Burnham sings about.
It’s the wave of nausea Jean Paul Sartre caught decades ago.
It’s a smarty pants way of saying it’s a lot.
It’s sitting in the car listening to your Phoebe Bridgers station
For no reason except
You know the world is a dumpster fire
But you spent the hot day
Doing errands
And now somehow you are so flooded with emotions
You can’t move.
And this is true for everyone.
But I want to specifically address
What this means to us as creatives.
You and your poems.
Yes you and your stand up act.
And in the back there:
You and your memoir.
Here’s the thing.
You feel like the world is melting.
Dissolving.
And you know you are part of this world
It is not outside of you.
But you are trying to stay solid.
To stay whole.
To stay.
Sometimes just trying to stay
Is all you can do.
I know.
Because life. And also.
There is this spark in you.
The thing you want to create.
And besides all the doubts
That artists have always had (imposter syndrome etc)
You are having to wonder what is the point?
Is it going to stop the world from - fill in your word - ending, burning etc?
And so you falter.
But know this.
Your work may not stop the world from burning.
But it may. The creative spark is mysterious.
And also. Huge point.
Not doing your work will throw fuel on the fire.
Your frustration.
Your bad mood.
Your despair.
Because inside you - despite it all
There is beauty that is
Waiting to be released.
There are truths, seeds that need to be planted.
They might change the eco system.
Or shift the vibe.
There is joy and laughter, disruption and catharsis.
There are collaborations which can build communities.
And quietness that opens hearts.
All of this is possible.
But only if you let go of the one question.
The one question that hypernormalization almost forces you to ask.
Should I quit, because what’s the point?
It’s not easy.
I mean I’m super committed to this idea.
And yet yesterday I was in a heap
And called my dear friend Mary Stancavage in despair.
She’s a meditation teacher and activist.
What else am I to do?
Do your work
She reminded me gently.
Sometimes we need someone on the outside.
Someone who is not in our heads.
Will your painting stop the worst of it?
Will your song change the course of history?
Will your book tip the balance?
These are questions with no answer.
The real question is
What if you don’t do your work?
What is the emotional, spiritual, political,
Financial, metaphysical cost
Of not doing your work?
Do it despite hypernormalization.
Despite cognitive dissonance.
Despite doubts.
Despite that funny feeling.
Do it because everything is contagious.
Do it to help build a world of creative solutions.
Go make the thing that will make you.
Here’s to freedom.
Infinitely Yours
xx
B
Interested in what it would be like to be part of our inner circle of Infinite Creators? Hop on my calendar for a free mini strategy call, we have a few spots open in our groups and my one to one coaching.
🙏💝
Needed this today, thank you B!