Yesterday, during my call with my business mentor we discussed the usefulness of pain.

I shared how I help artists examine the most painful times in their lives to help them discover their purpose.

Why? Because our most painful experiences stand in stark contrast to our most deeply held values.

And discovering one’s purpose is a break-though with powerfully positive life-changing implications.

My mentor is a very successful and wealthy creative entrepreneur.

Do you know how he views the pain he has suffered?

As an investment.

Yes. That’s right. An investment.

Each painful experience has informed or strengthened him.

These lessons tune him in to seeing opportunities more clearly and they help him avoid repeating hazards.

He also mentioned that during the post painful times in his life he was doing one or both of these two things.

1. He wasn’t present.
2. He was comparing himself to others.

Each is a powerless position.

The trick is to catch yourself when you drop into this mode of thinking.

The artists who I mentor will sometimes compare their success to other artists.

What happens when they do this? They are not present.

They will often compare themselves to me.

My response. “Don’t do that! Do better than me.”

In fact, “Do You”, as Russell Simons wisely tells us in his book.

Side note, “Do You” is one book on the required reading list of all the artists who I mentor.

You are where you are.

It is what it is.

If you are not selling as much art as you would like, then just tell the truth about where you are and why.

Get real about where you are now and where you would like to go.

• What do you need to do?
• What sacrifices do need to make?
• What kind of help do you need?
• What are you confused about?

Then take action.

Do you want to make art and make money?

Then move it!

Is it easy? No.

Is it possible? Yes! And it makes for an immensely rewarding life.

Please don’t injure yourself by comparing your success to others.

Start from where you are today.