With that past weekend being Valentine’s Day, I got to thinking about being alone. Not so much in the terms of being single, but how being a blogger, having a side hustle, or even dreaming of a freelance career can make us feel alone. We strive every day to curate our content, perfect our photography, and expand upon our education…the list goes on, and some days are just hard and leave us with seemingly no where to look and wondering if anyone else feels the struggle. There are many reasons we may feel alone. Below is a short list of things that have made me feel lonely along my creative journey.
1. I didn’t feel part of a creative community or part of the blogging community.
2. I felt like I had to figure it all out on my own but was too scared to ask for help.
3. I felt like a beginner when it seemed as though everyone else knew exactly what they were doing. And it looked like they were doing it perfectly to boot. (This is also known as the thief of joy – comparison).
4. I was way too concerned about following the rules
5. I didn’t have a mentor or some one with more experience and knowledge help me along with my passions and creative goals.
I am sure there are many other reasons we may feel alone during our creative journey, but I think it could be summed up to connection. When people aren’t connecting with us, it’s not hard to fall prey to feeling alone and we may tend to take that as a reflection of our work and its value. However, there’s something I’ve learned recently: We are not alone. We are all struggle. None of us have it all figured out. If you are feeling alone, remember this. Also try some of my tips for curing creative loneliness.
1. First up is so important: Remember why you started. If you don’t remember why, maybe your heart isn’t in it anymore and may be a sign to reevaluate where you are and make new goals. Maybe something needs to change. However, if you do remember why you started then, hold on to that and keep going. Use your passion to fuel your work.
2. Listen to a podcast. It’s so eye-opening to realize that all great artists, designers, photographers, creatives started out as a beginners. They all struggled, but they persevered. Nothing reminds me that I am not alone in my struggle like hearing an inspiring success story on a podcast. My new favorite is Creating Your Own Path by Jennifer E. Synder. Here are 4 other great podcasts as well!
3. Be yourself on social media. It’s so much easy to form relationships with others when you are being genuine. If you resonate with a tweet or a link someone tweeted, tell them why. Don’t be afraid to post; people will start to responde.
4. Along with with number three, Participate in Twitter Chats to ‘meet’ other creative individuals. (Hint: but don’t get down on yourself if you get overwhelmed. Twitter chats can be crazy. Try to reach out and start a conversation with one or two others during the chat).
5. Encourage others. I like to replace creativity with encourage in Maya Angelou’s famous quote: You can’t use up encouragement. The more you use the more you have. It’s true. Encouraging others encourages me.
6. Join a community. There are so many good ones out there, but here are the ones I’m in:
#fireworkpeople | “A community for creatives, dreamers and entrepreneurs who want to change the world. We are knee-deep in encouragement and high-fives.” It’s amazing. Join us and you well feel alone no more (no joke)!
The Blog Loft | I am still pretty new to this community, but this a community where bloggers support bloggers. I am excited to dive into The Blog Loft’s Facebook group!
The Creatives Club | Their site is down for maintenance right now, but they are “an organization to promote, inspire, and help creatives using the power of community.” #creativeschat was the first Twitter Chat I participated in and I’ve met so many talented creatives and bloggers through this community.
Nourished Artists – The Anti Starving Artist Movement | This group is still new, but I love everything it stands for. It’s a group for 2D artists, designers, photographers, painters, doodlers, where “we will share our current pieces for critique, ask art/business related questions, have discussions, and ENCOURAGE.”
7. Lastly, if all else fails, embrace it. Acknowledge that you are feeling alone, but know that this too will pass. Keep going, keep working, keep publishing. Take a short break, journal your emotions, or take a walk. Each time you take a step when you feel like you can’t go on, is one more step towards your dream. Don’t let feeling alone get in your way. There are so many people out there that are willing and ready to help you all you have to do is keep going and keep searching. Never give up.
What about you? What made you feel alone on your creative journey? What did you do about it? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.
I am so excited about #fireworkpeople! That group is beyond amazing!! I am glad to have found you through that group and hope to gain many friendships from that group!
Happy Monday!!!
Stephanie! I have so much love for #fireworkpeople! I’m so excited to get to know you!! Hugs!
This post is exactly what I needed today. You completely nailed it! I’m going to have to try those podcasts soon.
This makes me so happy, Brooks! I’m glad you found it useful! Here for you if you ever need another pep talk! 🙂 and let me know how you liked the podcasts!
I think this is something every creative experiences at some point or another, and something I’ve been fighting recently as well. Thanks for such an insightful and heartfelt post–just what I needed on this snowy Tuesday morning.
Yes! Being a creative has so many struggles and with so many talented people out there, it’s very easy to get down on ourselves. Always remember that your path is yours only and your dreams are worth it!
I’ve been there too Kercia! I love the resources you shared about creative communities… I need to check some of those out!
Do it, Jamie!! So many great encouragers! I’d totally do a happy dance if you joined 🙂
Such a true and honest post! I think the balance of wanting to appear that we don’t have the struggle vs. being authentic arises because you want to appear together and knowledgeable to potential clients, but at the same time be real to your fellow creatives. It can be hard to feel like you’re a part of a certain community when you’re new to the field and it seems all the people have already buddied up. In the end, I really think karma tells all – put out good work, be kind to others, put yourself out there, and the community will come. Thanks for sharing these great thoughts.
Laura, this is such an insightful comment; thank you so much! You are so right! It’s all about balance, working hard and being nice! 🙂
Love this post, Kercia! Especially list of communities! For whatever reason (aka I’m an awkward human being) I found it hard to connect with people on the internet lately, so these recommendations are very helpful, thanks! 🙂
You make me smile! I found it hard when I started as well. You were probably one of my first friends online and I love that! I am such an awkward person too, but I just try to embrace it and go with it. Come and join us in a community or all of them! I think you’d really love them! 🙂
love this post. It was very much needed and I appreciate you writing it <3
Aw, Clarissa! I’m so happy to be here for you! your going to do amazing things – keep going! 🙂
I found your blog through tonight’s #ellechat, and I love that this is the first post of yours that I read following that chat. Tonight’s chat was my first-ever Twitter chat (I have a post ready to go for tomorrow about it!), and it truly made me feel like I have the ability to find and be accepted by bloggers and communities. I am a new blogger and have no idea what I am doing, but participating in the chat and engaging with other bloggers of all experience levels really boosted my confidence. I can do this!
Hi Amanda! Aren’t Twitter chats fun? Entering the blogging community can be so fun, but there a certainly times when we all feel lonely, so finding a community you feel a part of is so important – it really helped me so much. You can SO do this! Blogging is a learning experience, so have fun with it! And keep that confidence up! 🙂
I cannot thank you enough for this post! I didn’t even realize I was feeling the same way until I read your words. Great tips too! =) <3
What a great post, Kercia! I’m so glad that you opened up to talk about this. There are times when all of us bloggers feel alone, but I love how you said to remember why you started and join other communities. That’s the best way to fight the loneliness.
Thanks, Kayla! Feeling lonely can be so detrimental, but joining a community changed everything for me. It gave me a chance to connect with others, which has significantly reduced feeling alone. It’s so great to know that there are likeminded people out there.
Just now getting the chance to read this. Great post! Sharing on Pinterest to hopefully help others. Blogging can definitely feel lonely at first.
Oh my, Sarah, thanks so much for the encouragement and sharing the post! It’s so helpful and important to feel part of a community and to be reminded that we truly aren’t alone. 🙂
Connecting with others is so important. I’m so glad you wrote this post Kercia! Hoping you don’t feel as alone as you did when you wrote this post. Nice connecting with you! x
Right? A community is so important for support and a place of being. Can’t wait to connect more in the future – it was wonderful chatting with you 🙂
Love this post Kercia! And I found it at the perfect time! I am just starting to own my creativity and artyness? <–New word. I've felt pretty alone because most of my friends aren't the creative types, and I've been wanting to get connected with other artists and creatives, so I just joined the groups you mentioned here! And I am excited to listen to the podcasts you mentioned. Glad that fireworkpeople brought me to you! 🙂
Thanks, Jessica! I’m so happy that you found this to be helpful! (and artyness can totally be a word 🙂 ) I can so relate to feeling creatively alone – that’s what I want this series – cultivating creativity – to be about; a place creatives can come to be inspired and feel connected. So happy that you are a #fireworkpeople! *hug*
I feel like you are living in my brain with this lol. What a fantastic post! And your helpful tips are something that I will definitely put into practice. I’m fairly new to this whole blog world. I’ve been writing for about 7-8 months now but am just starting to really learn how to get involved in the blogging community. This will be so incredibly helpful! Love your blog btw!
I’ve only been blogging for a little over a year now, but it’s so exciting to learn new things and discover more way to get involved! I’m really happy to hear that you found these tips helpful! Beginning blogging can totally feel like your alone, so you must find those people that will support you even on the hard days…there are so many people that ‘get you’ out there on social media 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, Danielle! Keep going strong with your blog!