What do you have time for?

What do you make time for?

Where does your energy go?

How’s that working for you?

This past week, I have seen the opposite extremes in answers. I have seen the artists who are focused on their process, their personal journeys, their spaces. I have seen the artists who inhabit their lives and their moments with grace and awareness. I have shared space with these artists in and out of the studio, delighted to see them claiming their purpose and their craft and their lives.

This past week, I have also seen those who are worn down and bitter. Those who create toxicity and darkness. Those who complain, and bicker, and gossip and cause drama. Those who make decisions to blame (and yes, it IS a decision) someone else for something they don’t have.

Yes, it’s been a week of extremes.

Now, don’t get me wrong: the artists who are focused on their process and their journey aren’t all light and positivity all the time. There are valleys too. There is frustration. The journey isn’t easy. The self-awareness is crucial and overwhelm happens.

These artists, however, simply recognize that the journey is theirs. Outside influences are influences. They realize they are still able to steer their lives and discover what might come next. They often come out of situations and experiences that are not for the weak of heart. They have survived and chosen to thrive.

And then there is the other.

The toxicity of the other comes from tearing down, and not trying to build up. That is a decision. Whether that tearing down is the self, or someone else, that is a decision. There is a sabotage mentality that shadows and covers every possibility, relationship, endeavor.

I have seen one artist suggest another artist for a job because they honestly felt they weren’t the right choice. I have also seen someone berate an artist for making a personal decision of direction. I have also heard someone say that someone “stole their career”.

So, what do you have time for? What energy do you want to feed? What illuminates and gives energy to, and what exhausts and takes energy away?

This industry, and life in general, is hard enough. Why choose the lowest common denominator? Is it easier to make excuses? to take others down? to blame? to create toxicity? Are you fooling anybody except yourself? And no, it’s not the easy way.

I wonder…and then I release it. I don’t have time for that. I don’t. have energy for that and I refuse to feed energy into that, nor let it suck my energy away.

I have time for great conversations; for positive and creative interaction; for recognizing choices and making better ones, once it is clear what works and what doesn’t. I have time for creating safe spaces, for building up and supporting. I have energy for this energy and watching it grow.

The space between artists, performers and industry, singer and teacher, singer and coach - you fill in the blank - needs collaboration, honesty, professional attitude, and support. We don’t need to have it all figured out. We don’t need all the answers. We need safety to explore. We need affirmation that being here matters. We need structure to create and explore and get messy and discover!

If we have time to do this, there is no time and no space for toxicity, destruction, or manipulation.

Recognize toxicity for what it is, and then create a boundary around it. Leave it right there. Even if it is within yourself. Learning to lean away, walk away, dismiss it is absolutely crucial.

Discover how you want to spend your time. Do that. Fully and authentically. The rest is taking up space that didn’t ask for permission to be there.

with fondness & fierceness,