The Muse or Discipline?

Over the years I had heard people use The Muse in many different facets. Since the muse was used in so many different ways, carrying many different meanings, I paid it little to no mind. That was until Paul Giommanis character on the television series, “Lodge 49” had a muse. His character had an attractive young blonde following him around, teasing him, as he deprived himself from having sex with her, tormenting himself. This absurd practice was part of his creative process.This is how I now viewed as the muse.

Historically, Muse is the daughter/s of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Technically, there are 9 Muses. Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe (music), Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania. The Muse is said to preside over the arts and sciences. They choose who are artists and who deserves her inspiration. In modern definition, a muse is a person (the blonde that follows Giommanis character around) or personified force who is the source of inspiration for an artist. Stephen Pressfield, author of the book, “The War of Art’’ describes the muse as a force, not a person, that feeds us creatives inspiration only when we pay tribute to the Muse. No, not as in the manor of Pagans or ancient South American civilizations. More so along the lines of individuals who pay respect to the practice of creating or working. 

However, some individuals like Jocko Willink or David Goggins will argue that this is all about the art of discipline and that “Discipline equals freedom.” The metaphysical side of me embraces the idea of a force that sends me radio signals of inspiration. The logical side of me believes it is my disciplined nature. Like most ideals in life, I find myself to be in both camps.

As a musician, a moderately successful one (pending on your definition of success), in my later years and as I studied music on the college level, I found that I was a highly disciplined individual. Musicians and creative types are not commonly known for being disciplined. We are painted with the stigma of lazy, loafy, shiftless, sloppy, and careless. While I have met many creatives that fit  those descriptions, they typically do not fall under the stereotypical  definition of successful. 

Every creative that I know that has been successful is a hard working individual. Brian “Monk” Taylor, founder and owner of Infinite Art Tattoo Studio, worked his butt off tattooing, building a career and business, painting the tattoo industry in a healthy light. With his hard work and dedication to his craft, he earned the respect of tattoo artists across the globe. I would call that successful. My professors, they busted their butts for years on end, practicing, gigging, teaching. They are some of the most respected and successful people I know. Did any of these folks knowingly pay homage to the muse? Doubtful. I can tell you they were (still are) all very disciplined individuals. 

Jocko Willink, retired Navy SEAL Commander, echoes one of my favorite mantras, “Discipline equals freedom.” His idea and practice of discipline boils down to, my discipline for going to the gym every day gives me freedom to be a better and healthier individual. My discipline in practicing my instrument daily, with intent, gives me musical freedom. One's discipline to draw or paint everyday gives them the discipline to be better artists. The discipline to write every day gives the writer the freedom of being a better writer. 

Many of us, not just artists, struggle with staying motivated. It is hard to find motivation to go to the gym and reach the point where you want to vomit because you worked so hard. It is hard to find motivation to come home after a long day of work, just to paint for hours on end. Why wake up early when you could stay in your warm, comfortable bed? Why go outside and run or head to the gym? You have Netflix and a comfortable couch. There is no need to put in MORE work. Just go home, plop down on that couch and tune out the world. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Sadly, with that mindset, you won't get much of anything done. You won't grow as an individual. You most certainly won't get any better at your craft. 

David Goggins, retired Navy SEAL, Ultra Marathon Runner and author dislikes the term, motivation. “It's not about finding motivation! You are measured by the amount of responsibility and accountability you have for yourself. You and only you are responsible for what you do and what you don't do! Don't always count on being motivated to accomplish the mission.” That is where discipline comes into play. "It's a lot more than mind over matter. It takes relentless self-discipline to schedule suffering into your day, every day." Remember that comfy couch and Netflix? Or that warm bed? You are depriving yourself of the modern day comforts. For what? Your craft? Yes. Ultimately you are sacrificing these comforts to improve your craft. Bettering yourself. You are sacrificing comfort. Paying homage to the muse. Remember, discomfort is your friend. 

There is one thing I have noticed about individuals that are highly disciplined, we tend to do the disciplined action at the same time. 5 a.m. is gym time, so much so, that even if I forget to set my alarm, my body tells me it is time to wake up and workout. Or at 6 p.m. if I am not playing guitar, music starts to run through my head, more so than it regularly does. It is as if we have programmed ourselves that this time of day is the time to do something. Is it discipline? Or is it the muse calling to us? Or are we subconsciously paying tribute to the muse. Is the time we dedicate to our craft paying tribute, our sacrificial lamb to the muse? Is that what Steven Pressfield is talking about when we have to honor our muse? 

A few weeks ago, I was speaking with my friend, Ian. Over the last few years Ian has built a side hustle pinstriping reclaimed objects. Old glass bottles, rusty saws, old metal coolers, all sorts of stuff people would throw away, he has turned into works of art. Check out his work at Boardwalk Rod Shop. Ian was telling me how he goes about grinding away at his craft. Every day at a certain time, after a long shift at work, he comes home, does his husband and father thing, and then works on his craft. As he was telling me this, the first thing that came to mind was, the muse. We can't forget his discipline for not just his craft, but for being an employee, a husband, and a father. I attempted to explain the concept of the muse and discipline to him, however, we were at a local music venue and some adult beverages had been consumed. I was fairly successful at using an example of how I was gifted the day before, either by the muse or by discipline. 

The day before Ian and I enjoyed some adult beverages, I sat down to play guitar at my usual time, 6pm-8pm, schedule and life pending, I practice at that time of day, everyday. At that time, I was struggling to finish a song I was writing. That day I was tired, I didn't feel like playing. I wanted to watch a movie that was just released on one of the streaming platforms. Sadly, I didn't watch the movie, I forced myself to pick up my guitar. I sacrificed comfort. Shortly after I picked up my guitar, like a signal from the heavens, the rest of the song came to me. I wasn't even attempting to write, I was just improvising and playing my guitar. The muse had honored me for paying tribute to her. 

Keith Richards, long time guitarist for the band, The Rolling Stones says this about songwriting. “I'm an antenna, I just pick up an instrument and if there are any songs out there, I receive them.” Anyone who knows the creative process knows exactly what Keith is talking about. The idea for the painting just comes to you. The idea for the next chord or note, just comes to you. Some may say this is when you have paid tribute to the muse, when you have sacrificed. Or, some will argue that this is just discipline and eventually, it was going to come to you. Again, I am in both camps. This is for you to decide. 

Now that I have laid out my interpretation of the muse and discipline, I ask a few things of you. One, if you already haven't, take some time out of your day to practice your craft. A time where those close to you know when to leave you alone. If you are one that has already blocked out a time of day, take notice of this. Try to think about the muse and discipline. Two, Have a goal in mind. Fitness goal, project you're working on, anything. Don't just workout to workout. Don't just paint to paint. Don't just play to play. Tell yourself, “This is what I do.” Finally, acknowledge the work you are putting in. Pat yourself on the back. You work hard. You have sacrificed time, money, comfort, time with friends and family to hone your craft, to improve upon yourself. You have earned it. Once you have done that, get back at it! There is no rest for the disciplined. The muse is not going to continue to honor you if you slack off and no longer pay tribute. If you do this, I guarantee gems will blossom and you will continue to improve and grow. In the words of David Goggins, “Roger that! Stay Hard!”