Hello friend, it’s time for my April update!

Last month I spoke about the importance of going on adventures. What adventures did you go on? You didn’t think I’d check up on you, did you? Jess never forgets. If you haven’t scheduled an adventure (even if it’s small) GO NOW. Or at least, book one in.

Also, Happy Easter! 🐇

My April gift for you: this video about domino builders: sounds weird, isn’t (6 mins).

Today’s topic: why you need to define your own success in art and life

Now the subject of this email sounds very self-help: stay with me. It’s not supposed to be a ‘LiVe YoUr BeSt LiFe’ kind of vibe. But genuine question: in your art or life, what would success look like? If you had managed to achieve the ultimate goal, what is that goal?

On my podcast last month I went a bit feral and punched imposter syndrome in the nose. Unpacking it I realised that for me, and probably for many, imposter syndrome exists when we aim for someone else’s definition of success. As creatives of course we look up to the big wigs in our fields or industries who become millionaires, sell millions of copies, hit the bestseller lists, create a huge following, get a movie deal, win awards, feature in a famous space, or take over the internet.

But even if you achieved those things, would you feel satisfied?

Thus begins the quest of finding what your goals actually are in life and art.

I’m sure you’ve been smacked in the eyeballs by a very successful musician and rapper, Doechii, recently. On the topic of success she just won a Grammy (Best New Artist) for her mixtape, ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’. By all accounts from the outside this is huge! I don’t see any of us winning a Grammy.

But I stumbled upon an interview with her which blew me away (as if I wasn’t already blown away by her artistry!!). But here are some quotes from her interview that literally all of us can embrace and adapt to our own lives:

“I woke up one day and I felt very ready to stop being codependent on my label.”

“Once I detached from codependency, I was able to be like, I don’t think I want to even do an album. I don’t think I’m actually even ready for that.”

“I was just fed up with doubting myself. And you doubt yourself when you have convinced yourself that something outside of you is gonna get you somewhere.”

“I denounce all formula right now. Let’s do what feels good.”

“I have to make music for therapy and for me. That’s my formula.”

“I want to just be able to cry and scream and color and scribble all over it and not have to worry about perfection and just be able to detach myself from this idea of the perfect project.”

These quotes give me hope: we don’t have to carry the weight of other peoples expectations, or the expectations our field or industry or peers dictate should be the goal. We set our own goals, in whatever we’re doing. Success can be achieved in getting an afternoon off work to relax. Success can be achieved in crotcheting your very first scarf. Success can be achieved in finally learning how to make a great coffee. It can be finishing a painting. It can be going to Pilates once a week. Success can be more time with your kids, or painting your nails your favourite colours.

Define life and art the way YOU want.

Novel update (72k words)

I’ve just finished editing part 3 of the book which means part 4, the final part of the book, is up next!!! I’ve been writing some intense battle scenes which is genuinly very fun. I love picturing how bodies move in fight scenes and assessing how each character would respond to the activities happening in front of them.

What I’m reading/finishing reading 
An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7) by Diana Gabaldon 🎧
Psykhe by Kate Forsyth
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

---