Camille DeAngelis, from Life Without Envy: Ego Management for Creative People (MacMillan, 2016)
How absurd, then, to think that one’s insight and ability have a sell-by date, as if we artists spoil like yogurt instead of maturing like wine. Art isn’t a sporting event. No one is standing before you with a stopwatch. Besides, there’s always going to be someone out there who’s achieved your goal at a younger age, who’s garnered more commercial success or critical accolades and awards. Wunderkind syndrome will siphon off your creative energy if you give in to it; don’t doubt it’s possible to be the vampire and the victim.
But the even more critical point is this: you are worthy of love and esteem regardless of what you paint or fail to paint, what you write or never get around to writing, what you share or what you keep to yourself. If you believe you need to earn love and esteem, you can strive and suffer for approval but what you receive will not actually be love. You have to trust in your own right to be here before anyone else can agree with you.
