Craig mod on living a creative life on your own terms and being your own initiator.
May 1, 2025
auto_awesome
In this conversation, Craig Mod, a seasoned writer and photographer based in Japan, shares insights from his nearly two-decade journey exploring creativity. He emphasizes the beauty found in daily rituals and how technology influences our spaces. Craig discusses the joy of creating beyond financial incentives, the importance of self-motivation, and embracing personal growth. He reflects on navigating identity and emotional resilience and highlights the role of supportive relationships in overcoming creative challenges.
The struggle of self-initiating as an artist highlights the importance of trusting oneself and embracing personal choice in creativity.
The complexities of adoption profoundly shape an individual's identity, affecting their sense of worth and creative journey.
Virtual mentoring provides invaluable guidance for artists, fostering resilience and creativity by connecting them with inspirational figures online.
Deep dives
Navigating Self-Initiation as an Artist
The conversation delves into the struggles of self-initiating as an artist, highlighting the importance of trust in oneself. The speaker shares insights on transitioning from being a supporting role to becoming a self-starter, emphasizing the internal conflict that arises when faced with uncertainty. This journey involves not only a change in mindset but also recognizing the power of choice in creative pursuits. Overcoming the fear of initiative is a recurring theme that underscores the speaker's desire to break free from relying solely on external validation.
The Impact of Adoption on Identity
The discussion explores how adoption shapes an individual’s identity and self-perception. It highlights the inherent struggles that adopted individuals may face, including feelings of guilt and detachment from their biological roots. By sharing personal experiences, including the outcomes of an emotional reunion with their birth mother, the speaker sheds light on the complexities associated with adoption. This connection is portrayed as a double-edged sword, impacting one’s sense of worth and ultimately influencing their career and creative journey.
The Role of Virtual Mentorship
The concept of virtual mentoring emerges as a powerful tool for creative individuals seeking guidance and inspiration. The speaker references the significant influence of online figures who provide creative insights and wisdom, acting as mentors without a personal connection. This reliance on virtual mentors allows artists to feel supported in their journeys, particularly during challenging phases. By following the paths of these mentors, individuals can obtain valuable lessons in resilience and creativity, reinforcing the idea that guidance can come from unexpected sources.
Managing the Scarcity Mindset
A pervasive theme of the conversation is the struggle with scarcity mindset, which can limit creative potential. The speaker discusses the impact of financial anxiety and the feelings of inadequacy that arise from creative rejections. Recognizing this mindset is the first step, followed by developing a toolkit of strategies to cope with it, including engaging with therapy. This process of identifying and addressing scarcity allows for a gradual shift towards abundance, fostering a healthier, more productive creative environment.
Embracing the Creative Process
The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of embracing the creative process, where joy often lies in the act of creation itself rather than the end results. The speaker recounts experiences of balancing multiple projects and the importance of confronting fears to achieve creative goals. This journey of creation is depicted as an ongoing, evolving process, where the experience of making art serves as a crucial remedy for anxiety. Encouraging the acceptance of the imperfections inherent in creativity leads to a more fulfilling artistic life.
Craig is a writer, a photographer, and a thinker who’s been living in Japan for nearly two decades. His work explores how we move through physical spaces, how technology shapes our lives, and how the small rituals of daily living can add up to something beautiful. He's written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Eater. He's published books like Koya Bound and his new book he’s just written, Things Become Other Things.
