Wednesday, May 20, 2026
A true, masterful artist knows at a deep level that they bring it upon themselves. Put it “out there” for the world to see and enjoy, and someone will find it utterly distasteful.
This is the great truth of expression. Whatever you say and do is subject to criticism. Just by being, you are subject to criticism. Each human is an expression that we slice and dice. I like criticizing. I do it quite a bit on my blog. But I also realize I’m a hypocrite. No matter how much I point to the pot’s blackness, I’m a blight myself—a kettle just as black.
The finger cannot point to itself, the teeth cannot bite themselves, and the teacher cannot exonerate themselves. I know this about teaching, especially in the performing arts. It’s hard to say, “Do as I say, not as I do!” It’s hard to be the archetype. But this is what we do to great teachers: we hold them in high esteem and in many ways forget that they poop, they cry, they fail, they doubt themselves, and they bring it upon themselves, too.
We’re all subject to criticism and change. You bring it upon yourself, but fret not. The universe comes with a critic. Would you rather face a critic or repress your gift? What hurts more: keeping your expression hidden and bottled up, or putting yourself “out there”?
Well, guess what? You are out there. The moment you were born, the masterpiece that you are was subject to criticism. Mine was that I was a fat baby—9 lbs. I was a “husky child.” Already labeled before I could defend myself.
I entered the world subject to this shadowy critic. How could I possibly shake it? The only thing I can do is never allow it to get under my skin.
I bring it upon myself, so bring it on.