What if Nobody’s Watching?

What if Nobody’s Watching?

What if Nobody’s Listening?

What if Nobody Cares about the thing you are doing as much as you do?

Yeah… we are here again. You know the place… It’s “Oh so quiet.”

Because sometimes you put everything that is you into your art, photos, words, whatever it is. You share it. You wait. And nothing, crickets.

OK, maybe one cricket and you love that cricket’s enthusiasm.

You might get a few likes too, and someone always drops a fire emoji, heart, or those little pinched up fingers… I don’t even know what that means.

I probably think about it too long. Like, they’re gone, off doom scrolling and on a mission to drop the next emoji.

And you and me… we are sitting here wondering.

Has anyone actually seen this thing I made?

I mean, not just look at it, but feel it.

Did they hear the message?

Did they see what you see?

Did they feel how you feel?

Did they understand the hours you spent pouring your soul into this thing?

Did they see you?

And the worst part?

You start asking yourself, “If nobody’s paying attention, does it even matter?”

Why Your Creative Work Still Matters

Here’s what I’m starting to realize

If you’re only doing the thing for other people… you’re going to burn out fast! (See Fer Caggiano’s post on BurnOut)

But, if you’re doing it because you have to, because you need to, and would feel even worse if you didn’t, then yeah… that is what really matters.

It matters even if no one claps or gives you a pat on the back.

Even if no one says, “Wow, that is awesome.”

Even if nobody shares or reposts it.

Because to be honest, feeling invisible is all part of the artist’s journey.

Feeling Invisible Is Part of the Process

I think we all want to be seen. That’s a very human thing to want.

Especially when we are creators.

But when nobody notices we can start to feel invisible.

We start to doubt ourselves and the work we are creating.

But, if you stick with it and keep showing up when nobody’s watching you will improve.

Not only that, eventually, people will start to notice.

Maybe quietly at first. A slow trickle of attention.

And then “One Day” it all comes true.

You make it, whatever that looks like to you.

To outsiders it might look like it happened overnight, like damn, they are so lucky. They have all the luck.

But trust me, it didn’t happen like that. It never does.

Remember that song by Bjork?

One day
When you’re ready
One day, one day
When you’re up to it

The atmosphere
Will get lighter
And two suns ready
To shine just for you

I can feel it
I can feel it

One day
It’ll happen
One day, one day
It’ll all make sense

One day, you will blossom
One day, one day
When you’re ready (one day, one day)

An aeroplane
Will curve gracefully
Around the volcano
With the eruption that never lets you down

If you want to listen to the song, here is the YouTube link. 2:43 Mark, that’s for you! Trust me.

So, what do you do until that ONE DAY comes?

You keep showing up anyway.

You keep pressing publish.

You keep taking the photo.

You keep writing the weird blog post you’re not even sure makes sense or if anyone will read.

You keep minting your work, even if it sits unsold.

You keep sharing your story, even when the algorithm ignores it and nobody cares.

Because every time you do, you’re building something.

Even if nobody claps, you’re getting better. You’re growing. You’re putting something into the world that wasn’t there before.

And that’s kind of amazing right?

As for the people who “make it”?

They didn’t wait to be noticed before they started acting like they were worth noticing.

They acted as if.

As if their work mattered.

As if their voice deserved to be heard.

As if they belonged in the room, even when the room was empty.

The room is empty because you are expecting nobody to show up. The people who “make it” already see a full room.

They adopt a persistent belief that can and will change not just how one perceives themselves, but how others do too.

So yeah, maybe nobody’s watching right now.

Maybe nobody’s listening today.

Maybe nobody cares about what you’re doing as much as you do.

But do it anyway.

Because you’re watching.

You’re listening.

And you care.

And One Day…. when you’re ready

An aeroplane will curve gracefully around the volcano with the eruption that never lets you down

If that’s not enough reason to keep going…

I don’t know what is.

Feeling Invisible?

Do you feel invisible?

Does nobody notice you?

Are you just shouting into the void?

If so, I would love to hear how you keep going in spite of it all.

And, if you are feeling in a creative rut, check out this post: How to get Out of a Creative Rut

I SEE YOU! Drop a Comment and let’s connect with each other!

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