"The professional loves her work. She is invested in it
wholeheartedly. But she does not forget that the work is not
her. Her artistic self contains many works and many
performances. Already the next is percolating inside her. The
next will be better, and the one after that better still.
The professional self-validates. She is tough-minded. In the
face of indifference or adulation, she assesses her stuff coldly
and objectively. Where it fell short, she’ll improve it. Where it
triumphed, she’ll make it better still. She’ll work harder.
She’ll be back tomorrow."

i am slipping into a darker place of mind. should i open the doors to the monsters? let them take over? feel it to the last bit, get through, allow myself to fall so that i can push off the bottom?