I think another way that you can really harm yourself as an artist is by buying into the mythology that it's really important.
Elizabeth GilbertYou may return here once you have fully come to understand that you are always here.
Elizabeth GilbertIt is completely acceptable to be tired because it means you're working hard. But it's not acceptable to be stressed because that means things are going wrong or your head is broken.
Elizabeth GilbertThat's just your ego, trying to make sure it stays in charge. This is what ego does. It keeps you feeling separate, keeps you with a sense of duality, tries to convince you that you're flawed and broken and alone instead of whole.
Elizabeth GilbertBeing a woman did not look enviable to me, even when it looked admirable. It looked like nonstop sacrifice and service. Because it was. Being a woman seemed vulnerable and sad. Even the strong women I knew - and they were all strong - had earned their strength through enduring huge disappointments and tremendous struggles.
Elizabeth Gilbert