Day 246: You Are Not Ordinary

The definition of ordinary is “with no special or distinctive features; normal.” I believe all artists at some point in time have a fear that both themselves and their art is “ordinary.” I too have had these nagging doubts in the back of my mind as I scroll through Instagram and see art that appears to be so extraordinary.

As artists it can be horribly detrimental to believe the lie that we are ordinary. It can stop us from daring to go after our best work yet, it can cause us to be afraid of being too different, and it can leave us high and dry with a horribly low perception of our self worth.I am here to tell you that you are the farthest thing from ordinary. You are a beautiful, unique, and an insanely talented human being. There is no one in the world like you and that is your super power.

Ordinary is a word we enjoy pinning on something our own perception deems boring or lacks uniqueness. But who are we to say something is without, “special or distinctive features”? Do we have any right to call another persons art lacking or boring? We are not in that kind of position to judge another persons creation and call it normal. What might be normal for us could be extraordinary for someone else.

In the same way, we cannot allow another persons ordinary to be our ordinary. We are incredibly unique in our own ways. Those who call us ordinary and demolish our self-worth have no right to put labels on our work. We create extraordinary art for those who can see it, not for those who see it but do not understand.

Let this be a reminder to you today that you are an extraordinary person who creates extraordinary things. Nothing you do is every boring or normal, what you are doing is something only you can do and that is your superpower. 

You are you and you are the best you in existence. Embrace that today.

Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt