your ego evaporated ages ago
Every time you picked up a pen or a paint brush;
Every time you thought about a concept, attributed meaning, or invested way more than required from a productivity point of view.
The times you “wasted” capitalist resources, to your creativity.
All your pettiness, was burned at the stake.
—
I had already started following three gynecologists on Instagram when I came across her, and immediately sensed she was different.
Where the other three had felt like accounts that were aligned and even necessary, in understanding my midlife health risks and the utter fucked upness of women being pushed over the cliff of untreated menopause;
She, stood out.
And even now that I have already unfollowed the first accounts about menopause, I know hers will stay on long after my transformation into this new phase of life has been completed.
And after the menopause revolution has changed the world.
Her name is Karen Tang, and much like other gynecologists she has published a book (It’s Not Hysteria; The Truth About Pelvic Pain, Period Problems, and Your Gynaecologic Health) and she’s using social media to comment on viral content regarding women and women’s health.
Her latest were on “Tampon Tim” and the discussion around the gender of female athletes at the Olympic games.
Quite similar to other gynecologists fighting disinformation… and yet!
There is something about doctor Tang, that immediately stood out to me.
And I have tried to analyse what it was.
What is it that makes Dr. Karen Tang stand out within this very vocal group of professionals that consists exclusively of badass, outspoken, social-media crushing, pioneers?
The first video I remember seeing, is still the one where I think we should start.
I will share it with you in a minute, but want to preface it by saying that in marketing terms it is a straight up sales video;
Which is very controversial in almost any field, because there are very few business owners but in particular very few professionals in the public sector, who are comfortable selling!
Just going on camera, saying: “Hey! Wanna buy my stuff? Click the link!”
To most, this would feel like voluntarily tying themselves to the stake from the opening paragraph, and setting it on fire.
Sometimes I suspect the main drive of most professionals to engage on social media, is even because they’ll do anything to not have to ask directly for the sale. Or at least, nothing past the price of a hardcover.
Where I personally love seeing someone making a sales post.
Feeling someone sell what they got provides me with a rare and unexpected moment of feeling safe, warm and cared for.
As if everything is right in the world.
(When, obviously, that is far from the case!)
I understand Dr.Tang is a medical professional, and not a commercial airline!
She’s not on the far end of the business spectrum, and many of her patients will be compensated by their insurances for the health care her clinic provides.
But nevertheless, the video I encountered which made Dr.Tang my immediate favorite, was/is a sales video.
Something other people might not like or even find offensive.
Which is why I wanted to preface it by having said that this (a sales post) is a sweet spot of mine.
I love seeing a professional in their power, even when it is done poorly and quirky;
But especially, if it’s done the way Dr.Tang did it.
You know why?
Because Dr. Karen Tang’s “sales video” was all about her core message.
It was freeing, empowering and normalizing any medical question or procedure you might need.
You can watch this video on Instagram here.
And no, it is not a coincidence.
Because the core message of this video, the empowerment of women and for them to take agency over their own health, is the same as the dedication in her book:
To everyone whose health has suffered because of the patriarchy.
You are seen, you are believed, and you deserve change.
Dr. Karen Tang
So point taken that Dr. Karen Tang, who describes herself as “geriatric TikToker”, has a message and knows how to get it out there.
Which still did not give me anything to go on….
About why she is so entirely different. Why even within her peer group, she stands out and I know she’s the one I will stay with long after I have lost interest in the topic.
Until, for this daily story What Do Rock Stars Need To Hear Today
-which by the way will become a little bit more regulated as of tomorrow! With days off and everything! Don’t worry, I’ll let you know below every blogpost-
I was thinking about the topic I wanted to write about today.
Creativity.
How creativity changes us, so much more than we can possibly think. And that we (creative people) should have a better sense of that.
A better understanding about the sacrifice we have already made, but also about the new opportunities we have gained to move around much freer, than everybody else.
That the activity of being creative in whatever it is we do, liberates us from some pesky human limitations.
Just that we usually don’t notice…..
We don’t notice because we are very aware how much our creativity puts us behind!
How much valuable time and opportunities we lose, simply because we are CALLED to make our art or do other things in a creative way.
We don’t have the time to be that efficient, like other people do.
I was going to write about how hours of being creative has freed you from the judging eye of others. Freed you from a need for validation, liberated you from the crippling fear to fail.
Those things do not exist, in practicing creatives.
Creativity, art, is defined by the ability to fail.
There is a chance it can go wrong.
And on the other hand, there is the understanding that nothing can ever go wrong.
That it is the being in the process, that is the reward. It is what is called Karma Yoga, the yoga of doing.
And that we should never be attached to the fruits of our labor.
As someone who knows very little about the bible, I assume this could be linked to the fact that the bible states that you will get everything directly from God – not work for it.
“He would give you a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build, with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant”.
What creativity, art making, Indian wisdom, and the bible agree on, is that the outcome does not come from your work.
That work itself, is sacred.
And I was going to write this whole story, about how your creative work has burned away your social attachments.
How you no longer care about the validation of others, nor fear the judgement of them, because you had to let go of those things.
You could not carry them with you, into the fire of your creative calling.
And what was still clinging on you, was burned.
I was going to write about how your creative work, equals years or decades of spiritual practice.
That you have an ego, blank and pure like a child’s.
Your sense of self is no longer corrupted because all things artificial and superficial, were taken from you long ago.
Sacrificed, in the fire.
When you were doing your work.
And as I went about the first hours of my day, looking forward to sitting behind my desk and being able to write, it suddenly hit me;
That, is her secret!
That, is what sets Dr. Karen Tang apart!
She has gone so deeply through her creative fires, that she no longer cares what we think of her, or her work, her Tiktoks, or about her making a sales video for her new clinic.
She was liberated by going so deeply into her creative work, everything that was not pure, was stripped away from her.
As opposed to all the other professionals whom I have enjoyed, learned from, and whose work I have recommended;
Dr. Karen Tang, is liberated.
I would even say:
Enlightened.
.
~Suzanne
Rock Star Writer.
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What Do Rock Stars Need To Hear Today
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It is possible the above story has already given you an outline of what you want to discuss.
If you think you would benefit from a broader approach, my suggestion will be to sort your story into:
1. the earthly plane
Your possessions, worldly matters, income streams, worries and responsibilities you fear you can’t meet.
A helpful term could be how do things look from the perspective of financial freedom, or worldly freedom.
2. your purpose
What is the work you love doing, what are the moments big or small, that you know you are aligned. Has God told you, what you’re here for?
This is about creative freedom, or even karmic freedom.
Are you free to do the work, that is yours?
3. your Rock Star expansion
What is the fullest expression you are here to bring?
And what are the areas you’re playing small, as if cut off from your powers?
We investigate if in those areas, the rules you play by are yours, or society’s.
“3” is related to sexual freedom.
Like anything, it is up to you if that is part of our conversation or not.
Because all three points are just a suggestion, they offer a good framework providing one hour for every topic, to go deeper looking for answers.
But the setlist is not fixed.
I have merely built the stage for us, and we have three hours.
It is up for you to take it.
————-.
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A very long time ago, I became single. I was excited about the choice but also expected it would end up biting me in the ass. I expected a price to be paid.
your art does not share power
you’re a performer not a Swiss train conductor
build it to last
trust your art matters
there is an area where this does not intimidate you
only you know the depth you are avoiding
Catacombe 