The Diagnosis Of An Artist - What's the Mental Health Of Your Musical Mind?

You know you’ve felt it…

Harnessing an insatiable desire to create and express yourself. The constant presence of a melody, a drum beat, a lyrical metaphor or even a whole symphony orchestra singing in your mind’s eye.

You think deeper. You see different. You feel… passionately.

Behold, the diagnosis of an artistic mind.

The Artists Struggle

Most definitions that are made about being a musical artist are those who write songs, create sonic expressions, sing, play an instrument, entertain, experiment, and are a free spirit. All can be very true!

What’s often overlooked is the internal conflict of being an artist. It's difficult in general to process intense emotions, and an even bigger struggle to express them in your craft.

Getting caught in a spiral of writing music seamlessly void of meaning, writer’s block, life on the road, fruitless efforts, hesitation, self-doubt and feeling isolated are all common symptoms of the artist.

The struggle to create, relate and communicate with others can even escalate to deep depression.

Vice Magazine says “ they (Help MusiciansUK) published one of the first detailed surveys of mental health in the music industry, leading to the eye-opening discovery that 60 percent of musicians have struggled with their mental health, compared with [25 percent of people] overall.”

If you’ve experienced psychological or creative obstacles as an artist, you are not alone. I would love to share some of my own practical tips on how I’ve developed some habits that support creativity.

I believe most musicians have faced common struggles. A sort of ‘hero’s journey” for an artist. We collectively face a similar, relatable journey.

My musical journey has greatly helped me grow as a person.

My Personal Journey

Having an overactive analytical mind coupled with a vastly different view-set than the norm lead me to live mostly in my head. I was social, I had great friends and was a huge nerd, but I was still missing that deeper connection.

Listening and playing music allowed me to process deep internal conflicts, allowing me to relate to something as I was discovering myself. Depression, heartbreak, self-hatred we’re all constant struggles I faced.

While exploring and learning guitar it guided me to embrace the joy in overcoming obstacles. As hard as it was, I finally understood that I had to change my destructive thinking habits and behaviors.

Sort of like building finger strength, developing muscle memory or learning a new chord, I started to focus on supporting and developing my positive personal attributes.

It was a HUGE breakthrough to accept myself, as I was, and my limitations.

As I broke new ground as a player I echoed the same progress in other areas of my personal life. Driven to face my fears and grow as a person I started to transform heartache and express it into music.

Now you might not play guitar, but as a music creator, you most definitely have a similar craft for your artistic expression. In that expression, lies your medicine.

In you being a creator of sonic worlds, the most valuable advice I can offer is to develop a lifestyle approach that supports your health and your creativity. You have to make your creative expression and your overall health your top priorities.

You have to learn how to be kind to yourself and to express your creativity in a productive manner. A healthy mindset and work ethic will sustain you and make you feel good about yourself and your art.

In today’s music industry it’s never been more important to be careful about where you give your energy and how you spend your time.

This type of self-awareness is the key to sustainably function in the music industry, for the long term.

A Holistic Approach

I personally like to look at health as an interwoven web with 4 main pillars. Being the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Physical

1. Exercise

A key habit to develop is to do a regular form of exercise. I know you’ve heard it a million times but the results are amazing and often overlooked.

Getting sweaty eliminates stored up toxins and releases endorphins. That natural high will help you feel confident and help streamline your mental focus.

Think of it as a physical catalyst to solve any type of stagnation. Feeling stuck? Get up and move!

Choose something that’s fun for you! A walk, bike ride, sport, workout or even death metal drumming.

2. Nutrition

Next is to be aware of what you’re actually putting into your microbiological inner universe. Without a doubt what you put in will parallel how you feel and what you create.

Make sure you drink plenty of water. Usually, the first signs of fatigue or hunger are actually dehydration.

Avoid too much junk food, if you abstain long enough you’re body will adjust to clean eating. You’ll eventually stop craving it because of how shitty it makes you feel.

Though I’m sure some songs were created off sugar highs, a more balanced nutritional foundation will surely help you succeed long term.

Eat some broccoli yo!

3. Sleep

Finally, you want to make sure you’re getting the proper amount of rest. Creative work can often be very energetically taxing. Good quality and quantity of sleep will assure that your mind and body are functioning optimally.

You’ll want to be in tip-top shape to produce your best work and make most of your efforts.

Emotional

1. Purpose

What’s the meaning? That’s right I said it. Before we get into a philosophical debate on the nature of meaning, I’m sure we can agree, it’s impactful.

Everything has an intention behind it.

Your hopes, dreams, and desires (which are highly emotional) relate directly to creating music. They inspire, drive and motivate you.

Aligning with them will undoubtedly spark your passion. To discover them you’ll have to ask yourself some questions. What are my goals, hopes, desires? What’s my dream? Why?

What makes me want to get out of bed in the morning?

The purpose behind what you’re doing is more important than what you’re actually doing.

2. Listen

Be honest with how you’re feeling. Although it’s not always easy to explain an emotion with the mind, try to serve the expression of the sentiment.

The closer you can pinpoint and “listen” to emotion the easier it will be to vibe off when you’re creating.

Create what you feel, not what you think.

“Truly fertile Music, the only kind that will move us, that we shall truly appreciate, will be a Music conducive to Dream, which banishes all reason and analysis. One must not wish first to understand and then to feel. Art does not tolerate Reason.” — Albert Camus

Mental

1. Growth Mindset

Embrace the mental concept of “a constant state of learning”. Re-igniting the childlike curiosity within music and its creation. A new skill, concept or technique can do wonders to birth new ideas when applied to your music.

Learning is a receptive state which invites inspiration. It embraces the limitless potential you can fulfill.

Find the joy in learning.

2. Systems

Cultivating creative habits is the ever-important precursor to keeping positive thought patterns. Creativity is not a talent. It’s a work ethic and a process. Creative people are able to tolerate that uncomfortable feeling of having not solved a problem for longer.

They are able to persevere through that stage and get to a meaningful solution. This can be achieved by having a process you follow in your creative craft. Something to keep you in the “zone”.

Workflow systems the foundation of creative breakthroughs.

3. Belief — Confidence

Let’s talk about headspace.

Doubt and insecurity are the antitheses of progress. You have to develop a positive mindset, otherwise, you’ll constantly be fighting yourself as an obstacle.

You need a belief system that allows you to feel love for yourself and others. A mental architecture that supports an uplifting stream of consciousness. Something that ignites the creative confidence within you.

If you don’t have a mental system that makes sense, one that magnifies the positive, something that you believe in, you’re going to struggle to maintain a productive and healthy state of mind.

Spiritual

1. Connection

What makes music beautiful is that it connects us. It communicates in a language beyond our comprehension.

Sharing with others is one of the deepest sense of fulfillment we can experience. It’s truly beautiful.

Whether its sharing your music and a story, collaborating with others or teaching, try to embrace the unifying spirit of music.

2. Art Is A Way

Draw inspiration from your life outside of music production. Being locked in a studio 24/7 will eventually eat away at your creativity. Learn to take breaks from music and enjoy the other things in life.

You might find that your other life experiences outside of music bring the most profound inspiration; a new level of meaning to musical expression.

See it as a holistic part of the creative process.

Your loved ones, your relationships, your friends, your gains, your losses, hopes, fears, all interweave together into the story of your unique human experience.

Your life’s expression is your greatest creative masterpiece.

If you can capture a glimpse of the creative spark that is YOU in your music, it’s beauty will know no bounds.

Interested in learning more? Click here to download your Mindset Map and discover your next steps in your musical journey.

My name is Alexandre Joyal. I help music creators achieve success with their music by teaching them how to produce themselves and adopt a creative mindset.