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My favourite thing to do is share my experience. Maybe it’s narcissism, maybe it’s a polymath thing, or maybe it just works for me.
I find a lot of clarity in drawing, writing, speaking, videoing, and podcasting my experience. It helps me understand the world, and more importantly my place in it.
When I think of where this tendency comes from, I can’t help but wonder if it’s from my childhood. My mum asked me the other day: why do you share the things you do? Who is it helping? And like a true artist, I no longer think about my audience, I think about what I need to express.
Having transitioned from designer to artist, I lived in the conditioning and excellence of communicating with the audience in mind. In all honesty, when I think about how I came to achieve what I did – I’m not sure if I ever really did create for demographics – I was so convicted in my own experience of knowing what I believed needed to exist in the world, I was successful.
It’s like hashtag #taylorswift when people try to make sense of her success. She is a mastermind because she is so deeply and honestly involved in her own experience that her process of internal reflection is captivating. You can’t help but be drawn in and feel like you are part of it.
Maybe this is why storytelling will be the thing that we never lose. It can’t be replaced by AI unless it is lived. Unless there is a heartbeat behind it, reaching out and finding another.
I don’t often know where to put my talents, what job title I should take, or what I should list as my services – but I do know that magic happens when I am out in the world. Feeling my feelings and unpacking them one word (or stroke) at a time.
Article FAQs
1. How can one's childhood experiences shape their inclination towards expressing their own experiences through various mediums?
Childhood experiences have a significant influence. Positive reinforcement and encouragement during childhood can foster confidence and openness in self-expression, while exposure to storytelling and creative activities can inspire a lifelong passion for creative expression. Conversely, negative experiences or suppression of self-expression during childhood may lead to feelings of insecurity or hesitation in sharing one's experiences creatively later in life.
2. How does one navigate the balance between expressing their own experiences authentically and considering the potential impact or relevance to their audience? Are there times when prioritizing self-expression over audience reception is more beneficial, and if so, in what contexts?
Navigating the balance between authentic self-expression and audience reception is an ongoing debate. While it’s important to value connecting with others through the work, it is also crucial to remain true to one’s own voice and experiences. There are certainly times when prioritizing one’s truth over catering to the audience is preferred, particularly when one feels strongly about a particular message or theme. Authenticity achieves the greatest resonance, but it often requires one to take creative risks or challenge conventional norms.
3. How do you believe individuals can cultivate and convey authenticity in their own storytelling, especially in an age where technology and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly prevalent in content creation?
Cultivating authenticity in storytelling requires a genuine connection to one's own emotions and experiences. This involves embracing vulnerability and allowing oneself to be fully present in the creative process. Whether it’s writing, drawing, or speaking, strive to infuse each piece with sincerity and humanity, drawing from lived experiences and emotions. While technology and artificial intelligence can certainly enhance the technical aspects of storytelling, they cannot replicate the depth of human emotion and connection that comes from genuine lived experience. Therefore, I believe that storytelling will always remain a uniquely human endeavor, grounded in the richness of our own individual narratives.