Ever felt like you’re chasing someone else's version of success? Perhaps you're aiming for recognition, accolades, or achievements because you think they’ll validate your worth. If so, it might be time to pause and reflect: Are you fishing for joy, or merely seeking approval?

The Trap of Approval Seeking

In Heinrich Böll’s famous short story, a fisherman is confronted by a tourist urging him to scale his simple, joyful fishing practice into a bustling enterprise. The fisherman's poignant response reveals the absurdity of chasing grandiose success when he already enjoys precisely what he wants—a simple, fulfilling life. Similarly, many creatives find themselves ensnared by societal expectations, striving to succeed in ways defined by others, rather than authentically engaging with their true desires.

This tendency to pursue approval can lead us away from the genuine joy and meaning that our creative practice could provide. Instead of fueling inspiration and motivation, it often results in stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction.

Aligning with Your True Desires

Philosopher Alan Watts beautifully illustrated the pitfalls of chasing external validation, highlighting how we often seek goals based on what society deems successful rather than what genuinely resonates with us. According to Watts, true happiness and creativity arise from authentic living and spontaneous expression, free from societal expectations.

When you fish for joy, your creative energy aligns naturally with your authentic self. This alignment becomes the real catalyst for sustainable creativity and long-term satisfaction. Your work begins to resonate deeply—not only with you but also with your true audience, those who genuinely connect with your vision and values.

Exercise: Real Wants, Real Joy

Let's take a moment to uncover what truly brings you joy in your creative life:

1. Identify Misaligned Goals: Write down three goals you're currently pursuing or have recently considered. For each goal, ask yourself honestly: Am I chasing this for my own joy or someone else's approval?

2. Explore Origins: For each goal identified as approval-driven, reflect on its origin. Whose approval are you seeking, and why? What are you hoping this approval will bring you?

3. Reconnect to Joy: Now, write three creative goals that genuinely bring you excitement, fulfillment, or joy—independent of external validation.

4. Affirm Your Authentic Path: Beside each joy-driven goal, write a statement of affirmation such as, "I commit to this goal because it aligns with what genuinely fulfills me," or "My creative fulfillment matters more than external validation."

5. Immediate Action: Pick one joy-driven goal and decide on one simple, achievable step to take within the next 24 hours that moves you towards it.

Key Insights from Fishing for Joy:

• Authenticity Over Approval: True creativity flourishes when driven by intrinsic joy, not external validation.

• Sustainable Motivation: Pursuing what genuinely excites you creates sustainable motivation, freeing you from burnout and fatigue.

• Deeper Fulfillment: Goals aligned with joy provide profound satisfaction and clarity, enhancing your overall well-being and creative output.

Relevant MH Distinction: Careful What You Fish For!

"Success defined by external validation can lead you astray, away from genuine fulfillment. Fishing for joy rather than approval ensures that you are navigating toward authentic creative satisfaction."

Remember, when your creative practice aligns with genuine joy rather than external expectations, your journey becomes infinitely more rewarding.

Ready to cast your net into waters filled with true creative joy? Your authentic creative path awaits.

References:

Watts, A. (1951). The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety. Pantheon Books.