Thank you for this, Adam. The past month has been so heavy on me, and through the pain that it is causing me, I realized a fundamental truth about myself. I suppress what I want, actively, in order to please other people, because I tell myself I am never allowed to cause anyone any kind of hurt. Ever. But recently I've been torn between choosing narrators for my audiobook. I had to let my best friend go because part-way through I realized that she wasn't the right fit. She cried when I told her that, and I beat myself up for days afterwards and second guessed myself obsessively although I knew, somewhere deep down, what I really wanted was someone else for the role. And on top of it all, my cat became ill out of nowhere and is growing sicker and sicker everyday and I think she's doing to die. All that to say, I needed to hear this message today.. I'm trying to learn how to quiet all my fears of other people's opinions and feelings and reach down and find what I want, beneath it all.
Well, you’ve been through a hurricane of hardship haven’t you - wow. It sounds to me like this “fear of hurting others” comes from something that goes back far into your life, very likely your childhood. I’ve seen time and time again how that “fear or hurting others” often originates from a type of upbringing (that I can relate to) where there may have been some kind of imbalance in the way you were raised. This isn’t entirely a bad thing - some of the greatest empaths are products of that imbalance, but that doesn’t make it any easier of course (it’s not meant to be easy) As for your little friend who’s sick - that’s utterly heartbreaking. Know this however, as much as your heart will break, as hard as this will be - it IS nature being herself. Life is temporary and your little friend has no prejudice against that reality. You’ve spent your life taking care and worrying about your little friend, but when serious inevitable moments like this happen in their lives, you witness just how brave and calm and accepting they are about it. I’ve lost pets in the past as well, and what really amazes me is that cats never leave kicking and screaming - they welcome it, they accept it - and the best thing you can do is just continue to be that reliable person in their lives that has brought them comfort all these years - just knowing that you’re still there all the way to the finish line is all that matters. I’m sending you all my love my friend
@@AdamDuffArt Thank you Adam - I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful words. I was taught these things I'm struggling with; my therapist has been helping me to see that. And for the little friend, I am seeing what you mean. I spent three hours with her last night, and even though she might not live another day, she perked up in the night air, and started exploring farther around my house than she ever has before. I was so amazed and moved at her strength and sincerity.
Can relate quite a bit to suppressing who you are or what you want to avoid hurting anyone. I’ve made almost every facet of myself revolve around bringing absolutely no disappointment, or displeasure of any kind towards anyone in my life, even as far to become a mute for a majority of it. It’s brought many struggles on me, as you can imagine from your own experience, disappointment is apart of nature in some ways, you can’t always control it so it always seeps through eventually. I only started getting better about 4 years ago, while I have some ways to go still, the the past year I’d say I’ve made the most progress on this journey. Funny enough, for me it began with David Bowie, and I would say Alice Phoebe Lou also. Those two for me truly represent the embodiment of what it means to just live as who you are in this world, without a need to please anyone. I wouldn’t say their music gave me the exact answers I’ve needed, but it did light a fire in me, a rebellious and passionate desire to be who I am. And it’s other people in my life, other musicians, Artist and those like Adam who blow the wind; I like to imagine your fire eventually blooms into wings, which nothing’s holding you back from that point. Music is quite subjective in how it makes you feel, so this could just be unique to me, but ik however the fire is lit within you, it never goes out. “I Can’t Give Everything Away” by Bowie is my anthem currently, as a fellow author(it’s completely fair btw how you feel about your friend), your writing is who you are, you’ve spent years building it up, no one knows what’s best for it other than yourself; when it comes to the manuscript; the audiobook; the cover art, any part of it, make it what you believe it’s meant to be. Best wishes to you & your cat on the journey.
@@FesRJoseph Thank you so much for sharing your story; it's helped me. I've found so much comfort and strength in music as well, and I've circled around Bowie and Alice Phoebe already; I'll have to listen to them more. Yes, that is what I realized - I had to say no to fulfill what my audiobook needed, and make it into what it needed to be. And my friend was so understanding too, and forgave me. It just took a long time to forgive myself. I love your imagery of fire blooming into wings..I'll take that with me. Thank you again, and best of luck in your journey as well.
We never know how strong we are until we have no choice but to be. You've shown great strength with the challenges you've faced. It's good to hear you were able to clean up after the flood and find inspiration for renewal.
I have my friend and I will continue to moving forward. I’m focused on things I feel most insecure and vulnerable about right now - I’m focusing my energy towards overcoming those insecurities, because I feel they’re holding me back from my full potential - fingers crossed :)
I started to cry from my heart when you told about hopelessness. When they don’t heal you, but make it worse. I’ve been searching for an art mentor since I have 4 years old. I am so thankfull now at 23 I can listen to this. I just have to make the first move...
Adam, I think you're the first person I've ever heard talking about Pain as a way of discovering yourself. It's inspiring to know that those words come from experience & they're authentic. I've often shoved my own pain aside thinking, "I don't have time for this" until I had to go through it & learn to take better care of myself. Thank you for this PS: Welcome back! I missed your art talks & I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now ❤
There's a lot to think about this podcast, but most importantly, I want to extend my sympathy to the flooding you experienced. Same thing happened to my hometown recently, and the destruction is devastating.
Oh man, yeah - that's really life-altering, at least for a little while. I'll tell you what however, when tragedy like this hits (I also lived through the ice storm of 2001), it immediately brings the community together. In fact, natural disasters are one of the best remedies for the toxicity of social media - it immediately cuts off the electricity and internet while simultaneously forces you to get acquainted with your neighbours
I would have loved being able to learn art with you, I just love your way of approaching life and how you are giving us those valuable life/art lessons. Thanks you Adam.
I’m very fortunate to have learned this lesson early on in my life. I’m 18 soon turning 19 and I’ve had the opportunity to grow from challenge and learn to love going through hardship to become a better individual, to always be growing and never going backwards. Thank you for this video, I knew this lesson but it’s wonderful to see others adopting the same mindset and realization in life. Keep making content that expresses you because it’s beautiful!
I hear you Adam. I haven’t had a disk herniation, but chronic pain for many many years. It can get one incredibly down as there seems to never be any release of that pain. I have found it incredible how much pain the human body can go through and keep going. Take care Adam!
Aren’t we remarkable beings to be capable of enduring so much. It really makes you respect the human drive for growth. If we weren’t capable of overcoming unimaginable pain, we wouldn’t be equipped to feel such pain in the first place, it would be a waste of human evolution and adaptation to be delivered a level of pain that was unmanageable in some way. If you look at it through that perspective - thinking about how much pain a person can endure - perhaps buried deep in our DNA is a pain tolerance that we’ve lost touch with due to our far safer modern circumstances. Nature found it necessary for us to not lose that pain threshold and ability to emotionally endure it for some reason, we just need to be pushed to have to face it to truly discover how incredible our limits are.
Thank you Adam, Your videos always seem to appear in my feed when I need them most. As an artist (to music and art) who has battled with various chronic illnesses for most of my life (physical and mental) this one particularly resonated with me. There's also a link to the lower spine in my illness too (nervous system). I hope to one day, change my relationship with pain, so thank you for the inspiration to keep trying🌱 Best wishes to anyone else who reads this comment also, and to anyone creative, please keep doing your craft no matter what life throws at you 🎸🎨
You have my full support along your journey :) use this as an opportunity to learn about your condition, it’s a key into a whole gamut of subjects, medical, physical, emotional, social - it really is. It’s also a means to build one of your greatest skills, empathy. When you can feel pain and hardship, not just hear about it, your ability to feel others on a far deeper level grows. Even when the pain subsides, the lessons you’ve learned along the way hopefully won’t
I just went through my second spine surgery, the first one was an emergency to decompress a disc that had extruded and could have left me paralized for life. This one 5 days ago is the spinal fusion of those vertebrae 3 years later. I know the pain, the fear. Thank you for sharing, never stop creating, Adam.
You have no idea how much I needed to hear this exactly today. Thank you, stranger on the internet from somewhere far away on this planet for making me feel less alone.
Sorry for bad english. As i am hearing this i am doing a storyboard for my thesis project, and I am already in a lot of pain because I do have disc herniation as well as you. I Am almost crying because you inspire me that I can change, not just my art but also my situation in many ways. About to be 25 years old and enduring this pain for the last year since mid march that I even got semi paralized for around a month and half. Thank you mr adam. I'll keep on going.
there is a physiotherapist whos has a youtube channel and specializes in over 50's said same thing about back problems. it isn't always the back it is the glutes and core. he has great "old people" exercises
Wonderful video. It’s so strange that horrible things happen to us, and what we decide to do with and how to deal with it that determines how we can handle worse things down the line.
I normally respond really well to your deeper talks about struggle, but when listening and sketching to this video I started to realize that what you consider true pain and what I am experiencing on a daily basis are on completely different levels. Not to invalidate what you went through, of course. We all have pain and everyone's experiences are valid. But from the perspective of someone like me that has lived in the literal gutter of life since childhood, these issues you are using as a basis and illustration for this idea of pain being a teacher just do not resonate or hold weight compared to the kind of struggle I know. I don't have the luxury to even know what it is like to own enough things that I can come to a realization that everything is just clutter. I can't afford the headspace to consider that the terrible things I've experienced were actually beneficial to me. This kind of "pain as a teacher" mindset is the same that my mother used to justify and "come to terms" with years of marital abuse and I have never once agreed with it. I guess what I am saying is, your philosophy here is valid but not for everyone and not for all pain, not for all experiences. I feel like it has layers of privilege and/or copium that I could never really relate to. Can't really tell someone who's starving on the streets or who can't function due to cognitive/mental ailments that the pain they are experiencing is going to teach them how to live better, for example.
I get what you are saying, but I think Adam's words are not to be taken literally. He could be using the experience of his studio getting floaded and him having to throw away stuff, physical clutter he no longer needs, as a methaphor: during trying times getting rid of burdens can also be psychological. Letting go of toxic people or old values that no longer reperesent you or your life, biases, habits that are hurting you, social expectations that does not make any sense to you. Of course all of this seems overwelming. Pain alone is not going to teach you anything. Some things are just unfair. Researching and learning about it,reacting to it, that will teach you who you are as a person. And once you know that, you can decide what to do without judgement toward yourself, because everybody's different. I know sometimes it's not just that easy and some people will need more help than others, that's just my personal experience and the message that I took from this video.
Thanks for this Adam. Your videos always seem to materialize at the exact moment I need them - thanks for sharing this. Beautiful painting as always and just such an enjoyable watch. Awesome
Well Hardy, it means the world to me to hear you say that, especially from an artist who’s been a huge inspiration, both creatively and technically. I’ve learned more from watching your videos this last year than anything else.
Gosh, your talks always make me feel somewhat jealous but also inspired at the same time. You have this amazing art style, you have the confidence to put yourself out there…while I just don't. I’m honestly scared to make videos of what I create, I want to and listening to your talks makes me feel seen. I have learnt that I don't want to industrialise my art for mass consumption, all I want to do is to invoke a sense of wonder and curiosity in people.
Hmm, well it sounds like you most definitely have the drive to do just that. The fact that you crave and envy that ability tells me that it’s something you value in yourself. If you keep that up Astral, your curiosity and desire might just compel you to take the leap - I sure as heck wouldn’t stop you. :)
I am sencerly thankful to getting to know you and chatting with you at your mentorship. Your words are an inspiration of change and I am truly looking forward for the act of doing to get better. Love you back with all my heart aswell
Well look who it is! My dear Allan - it puts a particularly big smile on my face seeing that beautiful face and being able to say “I know that guy!”, lol. Rest assured Allan, you’ve been just as much of an inspiration to me as well, I greatly look forward to every chance we can get to hang out together.
Thanks man, I'm going through a lot of regret and tremendous emotional pain right now. It's easy to have thoughts about just ending it all sometimes, but I have to not allow myself to do something that stupid. This time will pass, and it will make me a better person, even if it's hard to see currently how it possibly could get better.
I’ve felt that “how will things ever get better” more times than I can count, for completely different reasons every time Sometimes it was up to me to resolve the problem, sometimes it was up to me to resolve myself, and start seeing the “problem” as something different, that I had control over I know it sounds like I might be speaking in abstract terms, because only you will know exactly how you feel, but you’ve shared so many of your thoughts with me for a long time. That to me feels like someone who’s deeply involved and proactive - the kind of personality that digs deeper and deeper until answers come out People like you solve some of life’s most elusive puzzles - making you wiser than most in the end
Thank you so much for the video adam. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us and thank you for sharing your thoughts and the different perspective as to we can look at pain. Aspire to someday be able to work in the gaming or film industry, however as of know am still working refining my skills and porftoflio I fill like am trying to climb up a mountain with one hand tied behind my back. To top it of am doing a course in teaching because I need some sort of stability and income which am not enjoying doing. But am trying to pull through cause I need to be able to have a back bone that I fall to incase it takes more the next 3 years of my life. it been difficult I have been unable to accept the this current stage in my life and I want to improve it.
Rest assured, as you gain experience and take thoughtful chances throughout your journey - you will gain the confidence to do all of these things that you aspire to you, so long as you care enough over time to see them through. The things that don’t matter so much will be easier to let slide, to make space in your life for more meaningful things.
Nice video! Hope you are recovering sir. I was a middle and high school art teacher for eleven years. I amassed a crazy amount of funny and interesting classroom rules over that time. One of them in particular ties into this: no growth occurs without pain. It was a hard lesson for the kids to learn, but over time, they all seemed to understand the reality there. Have a good one, hope you and the family are well!
It’s excellent timing that you’d bring that up in particular. This has been something I’ve been very concerned and involved in mentally as well - the healthy growth of my kids. the main challenge that kids deal with these days is non dopamine driving activities, as well as being able to work out hardships in front of others - as opposed to researching how to overcome challenges online or through texts. You’re in a particularly important position since you have a direct lens into their social lives, a perspective that I wished I had as well. As a patent, you do experience a certain side of their lives, but in social situations like school, it’s so much more intense and revealing.
i have several herniated discs in my neck and lumbar region and some of them have stabilized. in my neck, my body just overdid it a bit and now there are spinal canal stenoses due to bone growths. in between, however, things really got better for a while. but you have to pay a bit of attention to how the vertebral column actually does the healing, that it works properly. good luck!
Oof, you’ve had your fair share of challenge haven’t you MK - cervical and lumbar herniations - OY! Stenosis is also something that many of us will have to deal with at some point, either due to herniations, degeneration - just simple aging stuff! But it sounds like you’re wise and you’re a fighter - you’re on top of it, big respect for that.
I started to have to deal with wrist pain, finger pain, etc., and trying to improve in any way the pain since December of 2023. Thankfully after doing constant exercises, losing weight, and being consistent of my bad habits that I can tolerate the pain or some times I don’t even feel it. It’s estrange, the times when I don’t feel the pain now I feel more grateful than ever, but it hasn’t been an easy journey.
That is so relatable. I remember back when I was around my son’s age (around 11 years old), back in elementary school, I sprained 3 fingers on 3 different occasions, and kept having to return to the doctors office to have a splint put on for a few weeks to help it heal. (Later on I learned that NOT putting on a splint and keeping my finger moving worked FAR faster, but I digress). What I did learn during the time my finger was all bandaged up however, was how important every finger on your hand is, the unique function that each finger has - because the moment you don’t have access to it, there’s a whole series of things that that finger was responsible for, that you now struggle with. It was interesting to learn that fact 3 times in a row - and learning how my agility was impacted in different ways - every finger, every nerve, every gland, every function is important and has a significant contribution to everything else. Your entire system and all its parts all work together and fail without each other. Most of the time however, a lot of us only focus on the outermost layer - but that’s just 1% of the big picture. Alright, I’m going off on a bit of a tangent but I think you get my point - this little inconvenience is a window into the incredible complexity and masterpiece of Mother Nature called “you”. Enjoy :)
Lower back pain is normal for me now. I injured myself about 10 years ago when i started working out (didn't engage my core while squatting) & and ended up with multiple compressed discs at 19-20years old.
I'm halfway through the video and about to cry, because if my mother's boyfriend had heard the story of your back a year ago, he might not have given up. He had some kind of back-injury and was offered surgery, but declined due to trauma. He was then given excercises and stretches to do every day to slowly heal... but the pain was too much, and he took his own life. It all happened so fast, he gave up before half a year had passed. He had felt that he'd lost his usefullness and identity with his movement. I really hope that someone dealing with the same issues sees this video and takes it as a sign to keep on fighting. Even if you think you can give more to your loved ones if you're dead, you take so much more away from them.
Oh man, I can only imagine how much he struggled with his pain to reach such an upsetting end. My heart truly goes out to you and your family. I think the thing that I can relate to was his feeling of “uselessness”. I can empathize with that a lot, not being able to perform simple daily tasks, lifting water bottles, fixing my front steps, even doing laundry, cleaning the kitty litter, putting on shoes and socks, anything that required bending over, lifting etc.. was really worrying and hard. It took a hit to my ego, but I had to learn to not let my ego get the better of me and trust that my family were perfectly capable of handling these things. It was hard to say “I don’t feel safe doing that” and having my partner’s father take over and help out. But I did heal over time and I am now very capable, although still not foolish and careless. But for anyone reading this message who’s struggling with a similar issues, it does pass and you will be able to pay it forward to all of those who helped you through your tough times. You just need to be attentive to your health and healing - be proactive and if things seem complicated, it pays so much to learn things you never thought you’d need to learn - to empower you with knowledge and a clearer perspective.
What’s the music you use in the background? It’s so calming. …. as I looked back to the video I noticed the little card go up with the information 🙄 but hey 🤷🏻♀️ just gives me a reason to watch again 😊
If you fast forward to the last part of the video (when the talk ends and the music continues), you’ll see a player on the bottom left that shares the name of the song and the artist
No one seems to have the same problems as me, in my case pain is not the thing that makes me do things, it's the opposite, if not for the pain i would do plenty of things, but my brain is unable to bear this pain and runs away from it, avoiding it at any cost, and since i cannot have/get anything i want in this life nor can i survive, why should i hurt myself, what for? it will bring me nothing, it will not make me happy but will only cause more pain and suffering. No one will give me an answer to this problem, because there's no way to help me, it's a damn life, a harsh reality no one wants to admit and realize, everyone is coping with it through toxic optimism or brute force, but it will not do anything, or y'all just been lucky to be born with the desires that can be fulfilled.
Omg share your work-out routine coz I'm your age and every time I have to lift ANYTHING I have to repeat myself 'clench the butt' like a mantra 😂Seriously tho, pain, and back pain in particular, is so debilitating and the more I age the more I need to address my body aching and how it effects my mental health as well.
Hmm, I might just do that - heck, if I can offer anyone the tools to overcome back issues then I’m all for it. I’m just gonna have to figure out how to do that with the equipment that I have.
@@AdamDuffArt that would be so useful but no pressure!! 😄 I'm sure even a simple explanation could do, then one can have an idea what to look for (and honestly, you've already done so much, your video where you shared your back pain 'journey' and how strengthening the core and glutes could solve the issues have been life-changing for me!! So thank you!!)
Adam, I'm glad it worked out for you this time, but if something like that happens again please call some movers, or at least have someone there with you in the same room to look after you, this is no joke. It doesn't matter what gym you go to or how strong you think you are, there's no shame in calling for help to move heavy things, please don't try to be a hero
Are you saying you were affected by that terrible pipe burst or that you’re sorry that I was affected by it? If it was you then holy shit I’m sorry to hear that you had to deal with that. In my case however, it wasn’t the pipe burst that caused the flood in my studio, it was the insane wind/rain storm that hit southwestern Quebec due to the hurricane that hit further down south. Either way, I hope that you’re doing ok if you were also flooded. In my case it was an inconvenience but one that brought far more valuable lessons than troubles. We’re all doing great and I very much appreciate the concern :)
@@AdamDuffArt Hi Adam, no I wasn't affected by the pipe burst. I am happy to know that you and your family are doing great. The fact that you are seeing the silver lining and learning things about yourself is inspiring. A few years ago, I lost all my belongings in a fire. It was devastating at first. I lost 14 guitars and all the recording equipment you can think of. Fortunately, insurance alleviated the money stress, but I have learned many things about myself, my needs. I have since then taken the "minimalist" lifestyle. I have 1 guitar that I play everyday and I dont need more (this goes for the rest of my belongings) I dont have 5 pairs of leather boots anymore, just one 😄. I started drawing 6 months ago, I can afford a big ass Huion pen display, but I refuse. I am not ready for it. I am sticking to pencils and paper from dollorama. Adam, keep doing what you are doing, it's very inspiring. With all that said, I wish you a good weekend. From Verdun with love 🤟
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Thank you for this, Adam. The past month has been so heavy on me, and through the pain that it is causing me, I realized a fundamental truth about myself. I suppress what I want, actively, in order to please other people, because I tell myself I am never allowed to cause anyone any kind of hurt. Ever. But recently I've been torn between choosing narrators for my audiobook. I had to let my best friend go because part-way through I realized that she wasn't the right fit. She cried when I told her that, and I beat myself up for days afterwards and second guessed myself obsessively although I knew, somewhere deep down, what I really wanted was someone else for the role. And on top of it all, my cat became ill out of nowhere and is growing sicker and sicker everyday and I think she's doing to die. All that to say, I needed to hear this message today.. I'm trying to learn how to quiet all my fears of other people's opinions and feelings and reach down and find what I want, beneath it all.
Well, you’ve been through a hurricane of hardship haven’t you - wow. It sounds to me like this “fear of hurting others” comes from something that goes back far into your life, very likely your childhood. I’ve seen time and time again how that “fear or hurting others” often originates from a type of upbringing (that I can relate to) where there may have been some kind of imbalance in the way you were raised. This isn’t entirely a bad thing - some of the greatest empaths are products of that imbalance, but that doesn’t make it any easier of course (it’s not meant to be easy)
As for your little friend who’s sick - that’s utterly heartbreaking.
Know this however, as much as your heart will break, as hard as this will be - it IS nature being herself. Life is temporary and your little friend has no prejudice against that reality.
You’ve spent your life taking care and worrying about your little friend, but when serious inevitable moments like this happen in their lives, you witness just how brave and calm and accepting they are about it.
I’ve lost pets in the past as well, and what really amazes me is that cats never leave kicking and screaming - they welcome it, they accept it - and the best thing you can do is just continue to be that reliable person in their lives that has brought them comfort all these years - just knowing that you’re still there all the way to the finish line is all that matters.
I’m sending you all my love my friend
@@AdamDuffArt Thank you Adam - I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful words. I was taught these things I'm struggling with; my therapist has been helping me to see that. And for the little friend, I am seeing what you mean. I spent three hours with her last night, and even though she might not live another day, she perked up in the night air, and started exploring farther around my house than she ever has before. I was so amazed and moved at her strength and sincerity.
Can relate quite a bit to suppressing who you are or what you want to avoid hurting anyone. I’ve made almost every facet of myself revolve around bringing absolutely no disappointment, or displeasure of any kind towards anyone in my life, even as far to become a mute for a majority of it. It’s brought many struggles on me, as you can imagine from your own experience, disappointment is apart of nature in some ways, you can’t always control it so it always seeps through eventually. I only started getting better about 4 years ago, while I have some ways to go still, the the past year I’d say I’ve made the most progress on this journey. Funny enough, for me it began with David Bowie, and I would say Alice Phoebe Lou also. Those two for me truly represent the embodiment of what it means to just live as who you are in this world, without a need to please anyone. I wouldn’t say their music gave me the exact answers I’ve needed, but it did light a fire in me, a rebellious and passionate desire to be who I am. And it’s other people in my life, other musicians, Artist and those like Adam who blow the wind; I like to imagine your fire eventually blooms into wings, which nothing’s holding you back from that point. Music is quite subjective in how it makes you feel, so this could just be unique to me, but ik however the fire is lit within you, it never goes out. “I Can’t Give Everything Away” by Bowie is my anthem currently, as a fellow author(it’s completely fair btw how you feel about your friend), your writing is who you are, you’ve spent years building it up, no one knows what’s best for it other than yourself; when it comes to the manuscript; the audiobook; the cover art, any part of it, make it what you believe it’s meant to be. Best wishes to you & your cat on the journey.
I am so sorry about your cat. I hope she enjoys as many warm naps, interesting sounds and delicious smells as she possibly can. Hug
@@FesRJoseph Thank you so much for sharing your story; it's helped me. I've found so much comfort and strength in music as well, and I've circled around Bowie and Alice Phoebe already; I'll have to listen to them more. Yes, that is what I realized - I had to say no to fulfill what my audiobook needed, and make it into what it needed to be. And my friend was so understanding too, and forgave me. It just took a long time to forgive myself. I love your imagery of fire blooming into wings..I'll take that with me. Thank you again, and best of luck in your journey as well.
We never know how strong we are until we have no choice but to be.
You've shown great strength with the challenges you've faced. It's good to hear you were able to clean up after the flood and find inspiration for renewal.
I have my friend and I will continue to moving forward. I’m focused on things I feel most insecure and vulnerable about right now - I’m focusing my energy towards overcoming those insecurities, because I feel they’re holding me back from my full potential - fingers crossed :)
I started to cry from my heart when you told about hopelessness. When they don’t heal you, but make it worse. I’ve been searching for an art mentor since I have 4 years old. I am so thankfull now at 23 I can listen to this. I just have to make the first move...
Adam, I think you're the first person I've ever heard talking about Pain as a way of discovering yourself. It's inspiring to know that those words come from experience & they're authentic. I've often shoved my own pain aside thinking, "I don't have time for this" until I had to go through it & learn to take better care of myself. Thank you for this
PS: Welcome back! I missed your art talks & I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now ❤
aww, well I'm very happy to be here - rest assured I never went anywhere.
Always amazes me how this videos find me at the right time
There's a lot to think about this podcast, but most importantly, I want to extend my sympathy to the flooding you experienced. Same thing happened to my hometown recently, and the destruction is devastating.
Oh man, yeah - that's really life-altering, at least for a little while. I'll tell you what however, when tragedy like this hits (I also lived through the ice storm of 2001), it immediately brings the community together. In fact, natural disasters are one of the best remedies for the toxicity of social media - it immediately cuts off the electricity and internet while simultaneously forces you to get acquainted with your neighbours
I would have loved being able to learn art with you, I just love your way of approaching life and how you are giving us those valuable life/art lessons. Thanks you Adam.
I’m very fortunate to have learned this lesson early on in my life. I’m 18 soon turning 19 and I’ve had the opportunity to grow from challenge and learn to love going through hardship to become a better individual, to always be growing and never going backwards. Thank you for this video, I knew this lesson but it’s wonderful to see others adopting the same mindset and realization in life. Keep making content that expresses you because it’s beautiful!
You're very welcome Cody, thank you :)
I hear you Adam. I haven’t had a disk herniation, but chronic pain for many many years. It can get one incredibly down as there seems to never be any release of that pain. I have found it incredible how much pain the human body can go through and keep going. Take care Adam!
Aren’t we remarkable beings to be capable of enduring so much. It really makes you respect the human drive for growth.
If we weren’t capable of overcoming unimaginable pain, we wouldn’t be equipped to feel such pain in the first place, it would be a waste of human evolution and adaptation to be delivered a level of pain that was unmanageable in some way. If you look at it through that perspective - thinking about how much pain a person can endure - perhaps buried deep in our DNA is a pain tolerance that we’ve lost touch with due to our far safer modern circumstances. Nature found it necessary for us to not lose that pain threshold and ability to emotionally endure it for some reason, we just need to be pushed to have to face it to truly discover how incredible our limits are.
This is the one ill probably keep coming back to. Thanks for making this video.
You’re very welcome - it’ll be here whenever you need it :)
Thank you Adam,
Your videos always seem to appear in my feed when I need them most. As an artist (to music and art) who has battled with various chronic illnesses for most of my life (physical and mental) this one particularly resonated with me. There's also a link to the lower spine in my illness too (nervous system). I hope to one day, change my relationship with pain, so thank you for the inspiration to keep trying🌱
Best wishes to anyone else who reads this comment also, and to anyone creative, please keep doing your craft no matter what life throws at you 🎸🎨
You have my full support along your journey :) use this as an opportunity to learn about your condition, it’s a key into a whole gamut of subjects, medical, physical, emotional, social - it really is. It’s also a means to build one of your greatest skills, empathy.
When you can feel pain and hardship, not just hear about it, your ability to feel others on a far deeper level grows. Even when the pain subsides, the lessons you’ve learned along the way hopefully won’t
I just went through my second spine surgery, the first one was an emergency to decompress a disc that had extruded and could have left me paralized for life. This one 5 days ago is the spinal fusion of those vertebrae 3 years later. I know the pain, the fear. Thank you for sharing, never stop creating, Adam.
i love to draw as i listen to your videos. its so soothing😊
You have no idea how much I needed to hear this exactly today. Thank you, stranger on the internet from somewhere far away on this planet for making me feel less alone.
You are so very welcome Ollo, I’m very happy that I could be there for you in a time of need :)
Godlike algorithm pull.💎❤
Sorry for bad english. As i am hearing this i am doing a storyboard for my thesis project, and I am already in a lot of pain because I do have disc herniation as well as you. I Am almost crying because you inspire me that I can change, not just my art but also my situation in many ways. About to be 25 years old and enduring this pain for the last year since mid march that I even got semi paralized for around a month and half. Thank you mr adam. I'll keep on going.
there is a physiotherapist whos has a youtube channel and specializes in over 50's said same thing about back problems. it isn't always the back it is the glutes and core. he has great "old people" exercises
Oh I think I know who you're talking about - she's a young woman with dark hair and a tan? If we're thinking about the same person, she's amazing.
Wonderful video. It’s so strange that horrible things happen to us, and what we decide to do with and how to deal with it that determines how we can handle worse things down the line.
I love you man.
And I love you too Michael
I normally respond really well to your deeper talks about struggle, but when listening and sketching to this video I started to realize that what you consider true pain and what I am experiencing on a daily basis are on completely different levels. Not to invalidate what you went through, of course. We all have pain and everyone's experiences are valid. But from the perspective of someone like me that has lived in the literal gutter of life since childhood, these issues you are using as a basis and illustration for this idea of pain being a teacher just do not resonate or hold weight compared to the kind of struggle I know. I don't have the luxury to even know what it is like to own enough things that I can come to a realization that everything is just clutter. I can't afford the headspace to consider that the terrible things I've experienced were actually beneficial to me. This kind of "pain as a teacher" mindset is the same that my mother used to justify and "come to terms" with years of marital abuse and I have never once agreed with it. I guess what I am saying is, your philosophy here is valid but not for everyone and not for all pain, not for all experiences. I feel like it has layers of privilege and/or copium that I could never really relate to. Can't really tell someone who's starving on the streets or who can't function due to cognitive/mental ailments that the pain they are experiencing is going to teach them how to live better, for example.
I get what you are saying, but I think Adam's words are not to be taken literally. He could be using the experience of his studio getting floaded and him having to throw away stuff, physical clutter he no longer needs, as a methaphor: during trying times getting rid of burdens can also be psychological. Letting go of toxic people or old values that no longer reperesent you or your life, biases, habits that are hurting you, social expectations that does not make any sense to you. Of course all of this seems overwelming. Pain alone is not going to teach you anything. Some things are just unfair. Researching and learning about it,reacting to it, that will teach you who you are as a person. And once you know that, you can decide what to do without judgement toward yourself, because everybody's different.
I know sometimes it's not just that easy and some people will need more help than others, that's just my personal experience and the message that I took from this video.
Thanks for this Adam. Your videos always seem to materialize at the exact moment I need them - thanks for sharing this. Beautiful painting as always and just such an enjoyable watch. Awesome
Well Hardy, it means the world to me to hear you say that, especially from an artist who’s been a huge inspiration, both creatively and technically. I’ve learned more from watching your videos this last year than anything else.
Gosh, your talks always make me feel somewhat jealous but also inspired at the same time. You have this amazing art style, you have the confidence to put yourself out there…while I just don't. I’m honestly scared to make videos of what I create, I want to and listening to your talks makes me feel seen. I have learnt that I don't want to industrialise my art for mass consumption, all I want to do is to invoke a sense of wonder and curiosity in people.
Hmm, well it sounds like you most definitely have the drive to do just that. The fact that you crave and envy that ability tells me that it’s something you value in yourself.
If you keep that up Astral, your curiosity and desire might just compel you to take the leap - I sure as heck wouldn’t stop you. :)
So inspiring. Thank you ❤
I am sencerly thankful to getting to know you and chatting with you at your mentorship. Your words are an inspiration of change and I am truly looking forward for the act of doing to get better. Love you back with all my heart aswell
Well look who it is! My dear Allan - it puts a particularly big smile on my face seeing that beautiful face and being able to say “I know that guy!”, lol.
Rest assured Allan, you’ve been just as much of an inspiration to me as well, I greatly look forward to every chance we can get to hang out together.
Finally! Adam is back❤
I never left! Regardless - I’m happy you’re happy :)
Thanks man, I'm going through a lot of regret and tremendous emotional pain right now. It's easy to have thoughts about just ending it all sometimes, but I have to not allow myself to do something that stupid. This time will pass, and it will make me a better person, even if it's hard to see currently how it possibly could get better.
I’ve felt that “how will things ever get better” more times than I can count, for completely different reasons every time
Sometimes it was up to me to resolve the problem, sometimes it was up to me to resolve myself, and start seeing the “problem” as something different, that I had control over
I know it sounds like I might be speaking in abstract terms, because only you will know exactly how you feel, but you’ve shared so many of your thoughts with me for a long time. That to me feels like someone who’s deeply involved and proactive - the kind of personality that digs deeper and deeper until answers come out
People like you solve some of life’s most elusive puzzles - making you wiser than most in the end
@@AdamDuffArt I appreciate that so much, man. 💕Thank you.☺
Thank you
Thank you so much for the video adam. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us and thank you for sharing your thoughts and the different perspective as to we can look at pain. Aspire to someday be able to work in the gaming or film industry, however as of know am still working refining my skills and porftoflio I fill like am trying to climb up a mountain with one hand tied behind my back. To top it of am doing a course in teaching because I need some sort of stability and income which am not enjoying doing. But am trying to pull through cause I need to be able to have a back bone that I fall to incase it takes more the next 3 years of my life. it been difficult I have been unable to accept the this current stage in my life and I want to improve it.
Rest assured, as you gain experience and take thoughtful chances throughout your journey - you will gain the confidence to do all of these things that you aspire to you, so long as you care enough over time to see them through. The things that don’t matter so much will be easier to let slide, to make space in your life for more meaningful things.
@@AdamDuffArt thank you for your advice as always you always know the right words to say to a fellow kindred spirit. Will contiue to push through it.
Nice video! Hope you are recovering sir.
I was a middle and high school art teacher for eleven years. I amassed a crazy amount of funny and interesting classroom rules over that time. One of them in particular ties into this: no growth occurs without pain.
It was a hard lesson for the kids to learn, but over time, they all seemed to understand the reality there.
Have a good one, hope you and the family are well!
It’s excellent timing that you’d bring that up in particular. This has been something I’ve been very concerned and involved in mentally as well - the healthy growth of my kids.
the main challenge that kids deal with these days is non dopamine driving activities, as well as being able to work out hardships in front of others - as opposed to researching how to overcome challenges online or through texts.
You’re in a particularly important position since you have a direct lens into their social lives, a perspective that I wished I had as well. As a patent, you do experience a certain side of their lives, but in social situations like school, it’s so much more intense and revealing.
i have several herniated discs in my neck and lumbar region and some of them have stabilized. in my neck, my body just overdid it a bit and now there are spinal canal stenoses due to bone growths. in between, however, things really got better for a while. but you have to pay a bit of attention to how the vertebral column actually does the healing, that it works properly. good luck!
Oof, you’ve had your fair share of challenge haven’t you MK - cervical and lumbar herniations - OY! Stenosis is also something that many of us will have to deal with at some point, either due to herniations, degeneration - just simple aging stuff! But it sounds like you’re wise and you’re a fighter - you’re on top of it, big respect for that.
wow
I started to have to deal with wrist pain, finger pain, etc., and trying to improve in any way the pain since December of 2023. Thankfully after doing constant exercises, losing weight, and being consistent of my bad habits that I can tolerate the pain or some times I don’t even feel it. It’s estrange, the times when I don’t feel the pain now I feel more grateful than ever, but it hasn’t been an easy journey.
That is so relatable. I remember back when I was around my son’s age (around 11 years old), back in elementary school, I sprained 3 fingers on 3 different occasions, and kept having to return to the doctors office to have a splint put on for a few weeks to help it heal. (Later on I learned that NOT putting on a splint and keeping my finger moving worked FAR faster, but I digress).
What I did learn during the time my finger was all bandaged up however, was how important every finger on your hand is, the unique function that each finger has - because the moment you don’t have access to it, there’s a whole series of things that that finger was responsible for, that you now struggle with.
It was interesting to learn that fact 3 times in a row - and learning how my agility was impacted in different ways - every finger, every nerve, every gland, every function is important and has a significant contribution to everything else. Your entire system and all its parts all work together and fail without each other.
Most of the time however, a lot of us only focus on the outermost layer - but that’s just 1% of the big picture.
Alright, I’m going off on a bit of a tangent but I think you get my point - this little inconvenience is a window into the incredible complexity and masterpiece of Mother Nature called “you”.
Enjoy :)
Lower back pain is normal for me now. I injured myself about 10 years ago when i started working out (didn't engage my core while squatting) & and ended up with multiple compressed discs at 19-20years old.
the way I straightened my back after listening to first 5 mins of this video💀💀
lol - now you know the spine gods are always watching!
I'm halfway through the video and about to cry, because if my mother's boyfriend had heard the story of your back a year ago, he might not have given up. He had some kind of back-injury and was offered surgery, but declined due to trauma. He was then given excercises and stretches to do every day to slowly heal... but the pain was too much, and he took his own life. It all happened so fast, he gave up before half a year had passed. He had felt that he'd lost his usefullness and identity with his movement. I really hope that someone dealing with the same issues sees this video and takes it as a sign to keep on fighting. Even if you think you can give more to your loved ones if you're dead, you take so much more away from them.
Oh man, I can only imagine how much he struggled with his pain to reach such an upsetting end. My heart truly goes out to you and your family.
I think the thing that I can relate to was his feeling of “uselessness”. I can empathize with that a lot, not being able to perform simple daily tasks, lifting water bottles, fixing my front steps, even doing laundry, cleaning the kitty litter, putting on shoes and socks, anything that required bending over, lifting etc.. was really worrying and hard.
It took a hit to my ego, but I had to learn to not let my ego get the better of me and trust that my family were perfectly capable of handling these things. It was hard to say “I don’t feel safe doing that” and having my partner’s father take over and help out.
But I did heal over time and I am now very capable, although still not foolish and careless. But for anyone reading this message who’s struggling with a similar issues, it does pass and you will be able to pay it forward to all of those who helped you through your tough times. You just need to be attentive to your health and healing - be proactive and if things seem complicated, it pays so much to learn things you never thought you’d need to learn - to empower you with knowledge and a clearer perspective.
What’s the music you use in the background? It’s so calming. …. as I looked back to the video I noticed the little card go up with the information 🙄 but hey 🤷🏻♀️ just gives me a reason to watch again 😊
If you fast forward to the last part of the video (when the talk ends and the music continues), you’ll see a player on the bottom left that shares the name of the song and the artist
No one seems to have the same problems as me, in my case pain is not the thing that makes me do things, it's the opposite, if not for the pain i would do plenty of things, but my brain is unable to bear this pain and runs away from it, avoiding it at any cost, and since i cannot have/get anything i want in this life nor can i survive, why should i hurt myself, what for? it will bring me nothing, it will not make me happy but will only cause more pain and suffering. No one will give me an answer to this problem, because there's no way to help me, it's a damn life, a harsh reality no one wants to admit and realize, everyone is coping with it through toxic optimism or brute force, but it will not do anything, or y'all just been lucky to be born with the desires that can be fulfilled.
Omg share your work-out routine coz I'm your age and every time I have to lift ANYTHING I have to repeat myself 'clench the butt' like a mantra 😂Seriously tho, pain, and back pain in particular, is so debilitating and the more I age the more I need to address my body aching and how it effects my mental health as well.
Hmm, I might just do that - heck, if I can offer anyone the tools to overcome back issues then I’m all for it. I’m just gonna have to figure out how to do that with the equipment that I have.
@@AdamDuffArt that would be so useful but no pressure!! 😄 I'm sure even a simple explanation could do, then one can have an idea what to look for (and honestly, you've already done so much, your video where you shared your back pain 'journey' and how strengthening the core and glutes could solve the issues have been life-changing for me!! So thank you!!)
this is such a great video
but also a silly voice in my head
*Minimalistic studio tour letsgooooo*
Oh yes, it’s coming - just gotta wait for my floors to be redone.
@@AdamDuffArt sooooo worth the wait, I'm excited
been a while since ive been here
Adam, I'm glad it worked out for you this time, but if something like that happens again please call some movers, or at least have someone there with you in the same room to look after you, this is no joke. It doesn't matter what gym you go to or how strong you think you are, there's no shame in calling for help to move heavy things, please don't try to be a hero
I will divert the subject to something else. I hope you and your family are doing great (Montreal pipe burst, basement flooding).How are you doing?
Ok 15 mins in, you started taking about it. I guess I need to be more patient.
Are you saying you were affected by that terrible pipe burst or that you’re sorry that I was affected by it? If it was you then holy shit I’m sorry to hear that you had to deal with that.
In my case however, it wasn’t the pipe burst that caused the flood in my studio, it was the insane wind/rain storm that hit southwestern Quebec due to the hurricane that hit further down south.
Either way, I hope that you’re doing ok if you were also flooded. In my case it was an inconvenience but one that brought far more valuable lessons than troubles. We’re all doing great and I very much appreciate the concern :)
@@AdamDuffArt Hi Adam, no I wasn't affected by the pipe burst. I am happy to know that you and your family are doing great. The fact that you are seeing the silver lining and learning things about yourself is inspiring. A few years ago, I lost all my belongings in a fire. It was devastating at first. I lost 14 guitars and all the recording equipment you can think of. Fortunately, insurance alleviated the money stress, but I have learned many things about myself, my needs. I have since then taken the "minimalist" lifestyle. I have 1 guitar that I play everyday and I dont need more (this goes for the rest of my belongings) I dont have 5 pairs of leather boots anymore, just one 😄. I started drawing 6 months ago, I can afford a big ass Huion pen display, but I refuse. I am not ready for it. I am sticking to pencils and paper from dollorama. Adam, keep doing what you are doing, it's very inspiring. With all that said, I wish you a good weekend. From Verdun with love 🤟
thank you