Let’s say someone else tells their version of your story first. Will you seethe with envy? That’s a sign that it may be the right project for you.

If you’re frustrated or bored, or your apartment is full of junk, have some adventures. Set your baggage on fire. Or start small. Tend to the little adventures you’re already having.

Nothing good happens in a vacuum — you just suffocate. We are who we are in relation to others. Find something to show up for and commit to delivering, especially if you don't feel ready.

Practice should be practical. It’s not an affront to the muse when you choose to work on ideas you have reason to believe you can sell. Accept the realities of your business, focus your efforts with remunerative rewards in mind, and then be as weird as you want within those parameters. Your voice will come through, and someone might hear it.

Success is a healthy thing for an adult to want. Now more than ever, the world needs honest artists. Speak up and get a nice enough megaphone that your voice can be heard. Your self-righteous self-starvation is a luxury you  (and we) can ill afford.

When you free yourself to feel the music, the magic, and the flow of the way things go, life starts working out for you in ways you would never have premeditated.

Finding your people requires an open heart and a discerning, realistic frame of mind. Do not show your work to people just because you want them to like you. Some people secretly, or not-so-secretly, want you to fail. Others won’t get it. You must be picky as you create the conditions for the right people to adore what you do and come into your life.

By taking my work more seriously, I’ve learned to take myself more lightly. To notice more is to fret less. The best commitments are the ones that set us free.