When I began writing for a living, I used to think: How much easier it must be for a painter. After all, the patron looks at the art as a gestalt. Point and click in the mind’s eye. With writing, an editor must carefully read, a time-consuming effort that all too often falls on eyes that do not comprehend.

As fortune would have it, years later I would learn my presumption about writing and painting had been totally off. It wasn’t any easier for the fine artist than it was for the author with an original voice. Getting noticed and being understood had nothing to do with measuring time or paying attention. It had to do with awareness and seeing the alphabet of any true artist.

Taking it further over the years, I not only learned that getting attention as a fine artist wasn’t easier than the written word, it was, in many ways, more difficult. 

The Savannah is hot, and the lion pride is hungry. A herd of gazelle grazes nearby. The hunt begins. After the kill, the big cats feed until they are stuffed.

The lions find the shade of a tree and roll onto their backs to sleep off the meal. But, the lions are tormented by another bloodthirsty creature.

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I went to Starbucks for one of my cappuccino breaks the other day. The espresso machine had broken. Okay, I thought, I’ll sit down and work a bit on one of my color pencil pieces. One of the Baristas told me the caffeine machine repairman was on the way.

As I was drawing, one of the coffee house regulars came over to me.

“You’re addicted to art,” he said. “Why don’t you put it down and come talk with us.”

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In today’s world, as there is no universal agreement on what is art, can confusion in defining the artist be far behind? Since the true artist is fully aware of the misconceptions that abound about art, he must stake his claim, avoid getting trampled in the rush to judgment in the territory of taste, and show himself and the world that he does indeed have a nugget worthy of appreciation.

Lord Krishna, teacher of the world, says:

“Be equally poised in success and failure; this is called yoga.”

“Therefore, always perform actions which should be done, without attachments; for, by performing action without attachment, man attains the Supreme.”

—From the Bhagavad-gita

There are artists who become emotionally crippled by rejection—a noun that often carries with it clinging relatives—feelings of dejection, fear, isolation, ostracism, and even death. Then, there are artists who use “no” as the fuel to persevere by igniting the metaphysical plasma that transforms their dreams into physical reality. Why? Is the combustible group born with some unique rejection-proof gene?

The answer lies not in some predisposition, but in their passion, their dharma, or purpose in life—their soul work, which is eternal and never dies. While dharma takes on different meanings and nuances depending on its source, I’m using dharma in this sense: the reason for which you have come into this life.

Do you know why you are here?