Creativity and Applause

I always painted what I wanted, what was inside me and wanted to come out. It used to be completely natural. But the more visible I became, the more the demand to be perfect crept in – and that’s where the trap begins. That’s exactly where I lose myself.

For me, growth has little to do with perfectionism. Growth happens unconsciously, in the doing.

As soon as the mind takes over completely, I lose my natural creativity. Then it’s no longer about expression, but about approval. Approval can quietly take the wheel without us noticing.

Why do we make ourselves dependent on the applause of others?

Maybe because applause feels like confirmation that what we’re doing is “right.” But it’s only a snapshot of a few current preferences.

Take Picasso: when he began dissolving forms, he didn’t exactly receive applause. Only later, when the general artistic direction shifted, was he celebrated. There are countless examples like this.

Anyone who makes themselves visible is exposed to opinions. But how deeply they affect me depends only on me. Once I began to understand that, I could return to myself. So what is perfection?