If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.

Chapter 44, Mitchell


III. REMAIN SELF-SUFFICIENT

The lifestyle I'm describing is based upon the belief that creative people can make enough money on their own to live life according to their own terms. Anyone who's been successful starting and operating their own business can tell you it's possible. Yes, it's hard work, but when the work is something you love to do, when it's something you'd do for free if you had the chance, it's no longer a struggle. It's a lifestyle.

Creativists are self-employed. They call the shots. They are solely responsibly for earning their own living. Creativists are freelancers.

More than that, creativists rely only on themselves. They know that other people are sometimes weak and fail to finish. They also know that much of the discord in human relations stems from having expectations of another. Knowing this, they don't make promises. They simply do things and offer what they have when it's available.

Likewise, they don't expect things of others. They may express their needs and wishes, but then they let go. They don't pester people. They don't blame. Creativists regard what they receive from others as gifts of chance, always unexpected, always appreciated. They don't seek contributions. Then never ask with the intention of receiving.

Keeping with this principle, creativists don't buy things on credit. They spend only what they have. They don't entangle themselves. As soon as someone "sells their soul to the company store," it affects their art. By remaining self-sufficient, creativists have freedom to be spontaneous.