There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and it will be lost. The world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, now how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.
de Mille, Agnes (1991). Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham. NYC: Random Hous
Martha Graham gave this advice to Agnes de Mille at a time when de Mille was discouraged and confused about her work. They were talking over ice cream sodas at Schraft’s, and de Mille confessed she didn’t understand why Oklahoma was so successful, while her earlier, more serious works, had been ignored.
Keep the channel open has become a kind of personal mantra. I believe it applies not only to people pursuing artistic disciplines but to all who try to live an authentic, engaged life. Graham’s insistence that we refrain from comparing the value of our work against others’ work has also helped me keep the inner critic at bay!
Fire Lighting, Dan Wallace, Dreamstime.com