I remember the words of a former mentor of mine warning on the insidious trap of others’ opinions, both the negative and especially the positive ones. He was advising not to fall in the trap of vanity.
That ever-present specter, shimmering allure of social media likes, the enticing glow of paid exhibitions, the hollow echo of vanity publications…Vanity has become an insidious currency, when we indulge in the outer validations, we drift further from the profound essence of our true selves.
Consider for example the expanding phenomenon of vanity galleries. These institutions prey upon the insecurities and aspirations of artists, inviting them to pay for the privilege of exhibiting their work. It is a Faustian bargain, where the artist’s creations are commodified, stripped of their genuine intent, and displayed not for the sake of art but for the artist's ego.
We make it as difficult as possible for our artists to work honestly while they are alive: either we refuse them money or we ruin them with money… J. Winterson
These galleries capitalize on the artist’s desire for recognition, exploiting their need for external validation. In doing so, they obscure the true purpose of art: to connect on a profound level.
Vanity publications operate on a similar principle. Authors are lured into paying for their works to be published. The written word, once a sacred vessel for the transmission of wisdom and truth, becomes a mere commodity, a mirror reflecting our vanity back at us.
Social media, perhaps the most pervasive manifestation of modern vanity, entices us with its promise of instant gratification. The dopamine rush of likes, shares, and comments creates an addictive cycle, pulling us deeper into a world where self-worth is measured in digital affirmations. We craft personas designed to attract admiration, but in doing so, we disconnect from the essence of who we truly are.
In this age of vanity, I remember the Swedish mystic and artist Hilma af Klint, who chose to have her groundbreaking works concealed for twenty years after her death. Her paintings, infused with spiritual depth and visionary insight, were not created for immediate acclaim but for the future, transcending the temporal desires of recognition. Af Klint’s legacy reminds us that the true value of our gifts lies not in the applause they receive but in their ability to touch, transform, and transcend.
You must be prepared to work always without applause. Ernest Hemingway
To escape the vanity trap, we must look inward. We must cultivate a sense of self that is not dependent on external validation but grounded in the inherent worth of our being. By tapping into the essence of our gifts, we can share them with the world in ways that are meaningful. In freeing ourselves from the allure of vanity, we reclaim our power, we become creators not of illusions, but of truth and beauty.
Vanity is the shimmering mirage in the desert of the soul, promising fulfillment but delivering only sand.
I am inviting you to reflect on some of the ways we fall in the trap of vanity, because we all do! What aspects of your life are driven by a desire for external validation? In what ways do you present a curated version of yourself to others? Why do you feel the need to do this? Think of a time when you created something purely for the joy of creating, without concern for others' opinions. How did you feel?
We can continue to be led by vanity, or we can rise above it and reconnect with our truest selves and desires, our true path to success. Choose to re-connect with your truest and more authentic desires here.
This is a little haiku to inspire you:
Illusions shimmer,
Echoes of hollow applause
Truth awaits, naked.
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