The Most Powerful Tool in the Arts Costs Nothing

The Most Powerful Tool in the Arts Costs Nothing.

I'm not going to bury the lead.

It's self-regulation.

The most powerful, game changing, under utilized tool in the arts is self-regulation. It’s free and you don’t need anyone else to give it to you.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, so be forewarned. This is going to be a series.

I recently returned from the ID in-person intensive with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC). Before we ever stepped into the room together, our instructors spent a surprising amount of time talking about self-regulation and self-care.

I was surprised.

This was a room full of emerging and experienced professionals. Many people had multiple degrees, decades in the industry, and significant leadership experience. We had all chosen to pursue this work. I assumed self-regulation would simply be a given.

It wasn't.

Like so many creative spaces I've worked in over the years, I watched moments of activation pull people away from the work. Folks became defensive, withdrawn, frustrated, and overwhelmed.

And you know what? I saw myself.

I have certainly reacted defensively to a note, as previously discussed.

I have clapped back.

I have shut down.

I have behaved in ways that pulled everyone, myself included, away from the work.

There have been times when I was so caught up in my own activation that I failed to recognize what was happening around me. I was not seeing the room clearly. I missed signs that someone else was dysregulated and dangerous. Those experiences fundamentally changed how I think about professional practice.

That's why my hot take is that self-regulation is the most important professional skills an artist or creative can develop.

It keeps us focused on the work.

It allows us to stay connected to one another when conversations become difficult.

And ultimately, it helps keep our creative spaces safer.

More on this soon, but for now, an invitation:

Next time you notice yourself becoming activated (shoulders creeping up, face getting hot, chest tightening) see if you can pause.

Pause.

Take a breath.

Perhaps use an affirmation or a mantra.

Right now I’m digging: My work is not my worth.

It’s a practice.

Recs

If you are interested, this is what I’m taking a look at right now:

• The Nervous System Workbook, Deb Dana

• Atlas of the Heart, Brene Brown

• Insight, Tasha Eurich (she also has an excellent article about self awareness in the Harvard Business Review)

Creds