Hi amigos!
Welcome back to another episode of The Journey of Pursuit Podcast. Today’s episode is going to be about cultivating a growth mindset as a creative which we know can be really difficult sometimes.
Whether you're an artist, writer, musician, or any other type of creator, you know that the creative process can be both exciting and really trying and frustrating. One of the keys to success, I believe, in any creative field is cultivating a growth mindset.
I was reminded of this during my trip to LA about 2 weeks ago. If you follow me on Instagram or know me personally then you know that I lived in LA for 4 years (from 2017-2021). At the end of 2021 I moved to Madrid and I hadn’t been back to LA in about 2 years. I gained so much from this trip (a few new songs, I got to see old friends, and I was able to see the city and my music from a new perspective). This new perspective is what inspired this podcast episode.
So I’m gonna paint you a little picture before we dive into the tips that helped me cultivate this mindset.
I hadn’t been in a studio recording my own music in about 3 years. In Mdrid, I mostly write by myself in my apartment. I’ve been disconnected for about a year with the music community I built in LA. I am really lucky and grateful that my community welcomed me back on this trip as if I never left. Everyone was open to doing sessions with me or catching up for coffee. I truly didn’t know what to expect from being there after so long. I was very excited to be back but I was also extremely nervous that maybe I didn’t have it in me anymore to record or write with others, collaborate etc. Would I be awkward? Would this even work anymore? Even though I haven’t been active in LA writing music, I have been working a lot on my own mindset, my own writing skills, my own music, and my own brand. Focusing on getting clear on what I really want from my music, my creativity (this podcast included) and my community. living in a new city makes you look at everything differently, and you basically start from scratch, which is what I did when I moved to Madrid.
A growth mindset is essential because it allows you to approach your work with a sense of curiosity and openness. You're willing to try new things, take risks, and embrace failure as an opportunity for growth. I was willing to go back to LA and not write anything at all. With this mindset though, you're not limited by your current abilities, but instead, you see them as a starting point for improvement. I didn’t know what would come of this trip but I knew that I had to take this first step back into LA to see how I felt not only how I felt but also how my music felt.
How can we cultivate a growth mindset as a creative?
Here are a few tips that helped me cultivate this mindset:
Embrace the process — As a creative, it’s easy to get caught up in the end result and forget about the journey. But the process is where the magic happens! Focus on the small steps you're taking every day to improve your skills and move closer to your goals. The fact that I left to Madrid for a year and a half was part of that process. Detaching from a city that had changed for me personally during the pandemic was essential to get back into writing.
Seek out feedback — Feedback can be tough to hear, but it's essential for growth. Find someone you trust, whether it's a mentor, friend, or colleague, and ask them for honest feedback on your work. Take their critiques as an opportunity to learn and improve. Leaving the sessions with songs immediately tested how much I wanted or didn’t want feedback from my peers and my trusted friends.
Practice self-compassion — Creativity can be a vulnerable process, and it's easy to be hard on yourself when things don't go as planned. But remember that failure is a natural part of the creative process. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that setbacks are just temporary roadblocks on the path to success. I personally got really emotional in one of my sessions with a good friend because it is vulnerable to be back in a studio, back to writing, after some time of not doing. And having self-compassion in those moments, allows for you to be more gentle towards yourself which in turn translates to your art.
Finally, stay curious. As a creative, you never stop learning. Stay curious about your craft and seek out new ways to grow and improve. Read books, attend workshops, and seek out opportunities to collaborate with other creatives. This was a trip where I was really curious to see if I felt good being back in LA. Good being back in a session and in a studio, and writing with others. Happy to report, I actually felt better than I used to feel.
Instagram: @drealopz / @thejourneyofpursuit
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