When you reach a creative fork in the road, follow your enthusiasm.
All other roads are dead ends.
They will either take you somewhere you don’t want to be, somewhere others have already been, or both.
But your enthusiasm is uniquely your own.
It is your internal compass and, as such, it will guide you to your own personal true north.
Let your enthusiasm guide you to your creative destiny.
By following that which excites you, you will inevitably find your own way.
Your character is determined by your associations.
Who you are around is who you become.
Choose your associations carefully.
And your associations are not merely the people you are in direct contact with.
What you read, watch, and listen to shapes your character as well.
You become who and what you interact with.
Decide who you want to be and associate accordingly.
The best creative work creates tension.
It creates tension for you and for your audience.
Tension is a sign that change is occurring, and change is uncomfortable.
When you feel the most compelled to run away or to seek distraction, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
In this moment, you have a choice to either lean in or to look away.
The role of the creative is to lean in.
It is your job to seek out tension, to become comfortable in discomfort, and to transform that discomfort into something meaningful and generous.
When someone criticizes you, take time to reflect on how they may be right.
If not, you will have missed an opportunity to grow.
Even if they are wrong, consider the fact that they may not be.
Imagine what they see and think that makes them feel this way.
Treat it like an exercise in compassion.
There is no point in trying to change their mind.
Simply consider how you can be better than you were prior to this moment.
As you move toward your goals, obstacles will arise in your path.
These obstacles exist to challenge you.
They will force you to confront your dedication.
If you are looking for a reason to turn back, you will have many such opportunities along the way.
A worthwhile pursuit is never convenient.
You must decide before you begin that your purpose is more important than your comfort.
The obstacles that arise in front of you become your teachers.
Meditations on God 