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For the Love
…we come to the same crossroad of decision within whatever craft or work we’re engaged in. We can work for control and mastery over the “object”, thereby exploiting it for our own gain and recognition, or, we can enter into the love of the work for it’s own sake, exploring the mystery with open hands, thereby inviting others to enter into our joy. The latter is what makes good art: Art that’s not dependent on recognition, yet conversely art that proves to be the greatest service to mankind. ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’ writes Howard Thurman. These old mentors have somehow helped to renew my mind and focus in regards to my own relationship with music and how I approach it. - Josh Garrels
It’s interesting how much this applies to any craft or work you can think of. Design is the obvious example for me, but it can apply to teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. Anyone doing anything for domination or power or mastery for its own sake inevitably leaves everyone else out of the joy and wonder that would have otherwise come out of that work.
Work because you should and do it because you love it. Doing anything purely for the recognition doesn’t do anyone much good. It’s when we put our heart into something and do it with care and dedication that it has the power to change people.
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"I will solve your problem for you. And you will pay me. And you don’t have to use the solution. If you want options, go talk to other people. But I’ll solve the problem for you the best way I know how. And you can use it or not – that’s up to you. You are the client. But you pay me."
— Paul Rand - paraphrased by Steve Jobs (via ragnarfreyr)
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"In a media-saturated pop culture society where ‘stars’ are the royalty to be worshiped or fawned over, I believe the true role of artists is to serve others with their creations. That means to draw people to fullness of life through revelation, longing, breakthroughs, simple beauty, and unpretentious truths. Artists help people see the obvious, the heart of the matter, and from this regained perspective people become more fully human. So much art these days has people focusing on an unattainable fantasy, lusting over what they’ll never have unless they take it by force or by way of money or libido. This is all candy, and candy can’t make a man healthy."
