Passion For Your Craft – What is "Passion" Anyway?

"I just don't feel excited about it anymore"

"She doesn't like to practice"

"My daughter isn't passionate about anything"

Do these lines sound familiar to you? If so – DON'T WORRY! This abstract idea of "passion for your craft" is something that ebbs and flows constantly. Every artist "loses passion" at some points and experiences bursts of creativity at others. If you know you love dance, don't let the periods of boredom or creative block hold you back from pursuing what you love. As someone who has ridden this rollercoaster many times, here are some of my best tips for reigniting the spark and fueling your creative spirit!

Finding your passion is about creating some quiet time in your schedule, breathing, and making conscious choices. 

Create mental space

More often than not, a creative drain happens when there is too much on our plates. In today's world, with cell phones, social media, high-speed lifestyles, and multiple commitments, there is far too much demanding our attention at any given time. Take a breath, figure out what really matters to you, and pare down your schedule. This can be hard, but here is my tough-love advice on prioritizing and cutting back:

Adults: Start making conscious decisions every day to use your time in ways that fulfill you. Think about what makes you feel at peace. It may be reading, walking, painting, cooking, exploring the city, or cleaning your home. When you get home from a long day, or if you can wake up 1/2 an hour earlier, actively choose to do one of those things, instead of sinking back into a fleetingly satisfactory habit like ordering in, watching TV, or lounging around in bed. Make yourself a priority, because you are one! For a few minutes a day, everything and everyone else really CAN wait.

Kids: Cut down on the after-school activities. It's great to experience everything as a child, but trying skiing or learning chess doesn't have to mean registering for a 3-month weekly class. Think about what your child really enjoys or learns something from, and stick to those 1-3 things. Kids get initially excited about everything, so as parents you have to think ahead and make the tough call – will my child practice this outside of class? No matter what activities they do, they will have to be able to devote some time to it outside of classes to really do them well. It's also hard to develop a passion for something when you have no time to digest what you learned. Have the varied experiences at camps, birthday parties, and drop-in classes, and choose a few regular activities to soar in. It's much better to excel at one or two things than to be mediocre in many.

Actively choose positive ways in which to spend your limited time. Laughing with friends is always a great option!

Refresh and rejuvenate

Believe it or not, taking back more time in your day won't solve all your problems. You have to use that newfound time effectively. This means relaxing, repairing, and rejuvenating (like a face-mask for your skin!) Here are some of my favorite ways:

Listen to music: When is the last time you listened to music? I don't mean watching a music video or having music play in the background while you're in the car or doing some other task. I mean, just sit and listen. Any genre is fine, and it can be old favorites or a completely new style. Just let it soak in.

Read a book: Sit and read something for pleasure. Don't post about it. Don't check it off for your summer reading list. Give yourself dedicated time to read every day.

Meet your friends: Often times, we get so involved in our jam-packed schedules that we end up neglecting the relationships that nourish us. We only talk to family on the way to someplace else or only see our friends at work-related events or large gatherings. Here's a challenge: spend time with your friends and don't talk about work or school. See what else you enjoy together and what that does for your creative energy!

Spend time taking in and appreciating all the beautiful things around you

Consume art

As artists, we sometimes get so caught up in trying to make the next best thing that we don't take the time to take in what is out there. For dancers, watching live performances, listening to music, and taking workshops is hugely important. These experiences allow us to learn what other artists are thinking about, how the form is being pushed forward, and inspire us to think differently. Here is how I consume more art:

Streaming music: My service of choice is Apple Music, but many people like Spotify, SoundCloud, or even JioSaavn. Use it to explore genres outside of what you typically listen to. Back when I was in high school, I used to listen to Iranian folk music on iTunes radio while studying. Now I look for interesting contemporary Indian work and indie hip hop artists.

Go to museums: Experience visual art! Sometimes as performance artists, we forget about our visual artist cousins. Paintings, portraits, handicrafts, and sculptures can be incredibly inspiring. In fact, many aspects of Indian classical dance were borne out of gorgeous sculptures of dancing figures.

Check out local offerings: I'm in New York, which is probably the arts & culture capital of the world, but almost every city will have some sort of local art scene. Check out publications like Time Out to see what plays or small ensemble concerts are happening in your area. They're usually low-cost or free and can often be just as fulfilling as going to see a Broadway show.

Take workshops and attend festivals: Artists are traveling more than ever nowadays. Workshops are a brilliant way to explore a new style or get another artist's perspective on your own craft. Find out about events on social media and ask your peers and teachers for advice on what classes and shows to attend.

Don't stop creating

It doesn't have to be good. Once more, all together now – IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GOOD. Just breathe, take the pressure off, and work a little bit at your craft every day. Keep going to class, and try to discover something new in yourself, in the music, or in the dance. Talk to your teacher about what you're feeling. Maybe she can help shift the approach or help you change the way you practice. Sometimes I have to adjust my practice to focus on mastering just one skill at a time. Other times I need to let myself forget about the technical details and fall into the energy of the piece. Either way, it's staying connected with my art that always brings me back to embracing it, and it, me.

As an artist, how have you gotten past slumps in inspiration or motivation? Do you struggle with cutting back on activities or making time for yourself? If so, what is holding you back?