For some, their lifelong artistic endeavor took them on a path of self-discovery and self-creating. They have been an active participant of their own artistic path, supported and encouraged to be their own person and artist. For others, self-discovery and being an active participant in their artistic life was not an option….
Are you the artist who’s self-discovery and active participation in your artistic pursuit was not an option?
You’ve lived just about your entire life as a performer. Somehow, somewhere in your childhood it was very apparent that you had an innate talent and that it could be channeled into a widely recognized success.
This is how it all started… You were taken away from your childhood life and began performing and training for hours and hours a day. Your time with friends? Gone. Your time to play with your toys? Gone. Your time to run freely in the park? Gone.
Your choices gone… Your needs gone… Your wishes and fears unseen… Everyone around you was dedicated to what it would take for you to become an “image,” the influential performer. They took you to every practice and made sure you aligned with all the demands.
And things seemed to work well because all the efforts and sacrifices turned you into a success.
But here you are after so many years of lost childhood, being told how to act, what to wear, and what to be, and you don’t know who you are anymore. You were trained, groomed, and made into what you are supposed to be for to “your” audience. Discovering who you really are was never an option.
Despite your talent and success, you now live in a emotional prison. And, when you get in touch with a little freedom, you feel confused, lost, and alone. You don’t know what you want, need, feel, or even how to make small decisions for yourself and you’re scared of the very freedom you crave.
You are now asking yourself: can I escape this emotional prison and still be successful? Perhaps a part of you wants out of this cage while another part of you finds comfort in how things are. A part of you is scared to continue this way and another part of you is scared to change. You simply feel trapped.
You are wondering: “will I always be trapped? Who do I really want to be? What makes me happy?” All these are valid questions! And they’re so hard to answer… In truth, the people who turned you into who you are will not help you become your own person. They are there to make sure you continue to be what “your” audience needs, not to help you be the real you.
Deep down inside, you want to start a journey of self-discovery, but, you don’t even know where to start and you can’t see any options. You do have options, however. You may not be able to see them, yet. As you embark on your journey of self-discovery, you will see new opportunities with new ways of expressing your creativity.
You need people who can see you. You need people who can give you the space to be yourself. You deserve to be surrounded by people who appreciate you and who can support you on this quest for both success and emotional freedom.
And yes, it may be challenging to let go of just about everything you have known and start a new journey, but think about it: is it really worth living your life in an emotional prison?
Only you can decide to make this change, the change from being successful in an emotional prison to being successful with emotional freedom. I invite you to think
about what it would mean to live from an internal space where you know who you are and you have a voice. Can you imagine what it would be like to be you, the artist that speaks to the world?
Contact me to set up a free 15-20 minute consultation to see if psychotherapy can help you further your career and your personal life.
I am Mihaela Ivan Holtz, Doctor in Clinical Psychology. I help creatives and performers with emotional trauma, depression, anxiety, performance anxiety, creative blocks / creative issues, relationships, and addictions – to be and live their own best version. You can read more about Therapy for Creatives and Performers here.
