--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a songwriter or a painter you're…" description: "\"Being a songwriter or a painter you're definitely facing your fears. You're facing your fears because you're speaking your truth; you're speaking from ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/brett-dennen-11865_criticism_being-a-songwriter-or-a-painter-you-re-d_874647.jpg" --- # Being a songwriter or a painter you're definitely facing… ![“Being a songwriter or a painter you're definitely facing your fears. You're facing your fears because you're speaking your truth; you're speaking from your heart. That's something that's not easy to do, you set yourself up for all sorts of criticism or vulnerability but that's why we do it.” quote by Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/brett-dennen-11865_criticism_being-a-songwriter-or-a-painter-you-re-d_874647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/brett-dennen-11865_criticism_being-a-songwriter-or-a-painter-you-re-d_874647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/020/brett-dennen-11865_criticism_being-a-songwriter-or-a-painter-you-re-d_874647.jpg) > “Being a songwriter or a painter you're definitely facing your fears. You're facing your fears because you're speaking your truth; you're speaking from your heart. That's something that's not easy to do, you set yourself up for all sorts of criticism or vulnerability but that's why we do it.” [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work demands confronting personal fears and expressing authentic truth, which invites criticism and vulnerability but is essential for artistic integrity. **In simple terms:** Artists must face fear to speak truthfully. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability to create genuine art. Themes creativity fear authenticity Mood courageous reflective Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - painting - public performance - artistic collaboration Key Concepts self‑expression vulnerability criticism Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from expressing your truth? - How can vulnerability become a strength? A Different Perspective Criticism can undermine confidence and stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Face your fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-your-fears/) [Facing Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-fears/) [Facing your fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-your-fears/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Songwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriters/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) ## Related quotes > [Trust that The Uni-verse knows your bills, knows you need to eat and knows your heart much better than even you do, so keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mastin-kipp/trust-that-the-uni-verse-knows-your-bills-knows-you-need-to-eat-and/) [Mastin Kipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mastin-kipp/) > [Facing your fears robs them of their power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-burnett/facing-your-fears-robs-them-of-their-power/) [Mark Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-burnett/) > [Life's not about your past and everything that went wrong...It's about facing your fears and learning to face the storms and dance in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-not-about-your-past-and-everything-that-went-wrong-it-s-about/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Life is like facing your fears sometimes you hide from them and other times you face them head on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-s/life-is-like-facing-your-fears-sometimes-you-hide-from-them-and-other/) Lesley S > [“Facing your fears and living a life that’s free is easy. Spending the rest of your days living half a life is hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-worre/facing-your-fears-and-living-a-life-that-s-free-is-easy-spending-the/) [Eric Worre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-worre/) > [Facing your fears isn't always easy, believe in yourself enough to take the first step, don't stop, keep going, and trust your gut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/facing-your-fears-isn-t-always-easy-believe-in-yourself-enough-to/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“Beyond that, living your dreams is often about facing your fears and rising to the challenge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/beyond-that-living-your-dreams-is-often-about-facing-your-fears-and/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/just-remember-you-can-do-anything-you-set-your-mind-to-but-it-takes/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [It's a matter of facing your fears. Going where you're not comfortable, after you do it so many times, and you have so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-mcnamara/it-s-a-matter-of-facing-your-fears-going-where-you-re-not-comfortable/) [Garrett McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-mcnamara/) > [Facing your fears requires moving out of your comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/facing-your-fears-requires-moving-out-of-your-comfort-zone/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Living is like riding a roller coaster. your afraid of it at first. once you experience the ride you'll realise its worth facing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medel-b-limbag/living-is-like-riding-a-roller-coaster-your-afraid-of-it-at-first/) MEDEL B LIMBAG > [I'm a big believer in living out your dreams and facing your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-lesnar/i-m-a-big-believer-in-living-out-your-dreams-and-facing-your-fears/) [Brock Lesnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-lesnar/) > [There are always risks when you chase after a dream because growth requires that you leave your comfort zone and enter unknown territory. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stedman-graham/there-are-always-risks-when-you-chase-after-a-dream-because-growth/) [Stedman Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stedman-graham/) > [The hardest part of life is having to let go of your fears, and facing the facts: you can't always get what you want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/the-hardest-part-of-life-is-having-to-let-go-of-your-fears-and-facing/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Being alone for a woman is probably much more scary than for a man. I'm all for getting over our fears by facing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-kates-shulman/being-alone-for-a-woman-is-probably-much-more-scary-than-for-a-man-i/) [Alix Kates Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alix-kates-shulman/) ## More by Brett Dennen > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [What I strive to do with songwriting is be really honest, authentic and try to be open and share that with people. I choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/what-i-strive-to-do-with-songwriting-is-be-really-honest-authentic/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I want to write songs with meaning. I have high standards for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-want-to-write-songs-with-meaning-i-have-high-standards-for-my-work/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [When you get to say something in a song you're not directing it necessarily at one person. When it's in a song it's easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/when-you-get-to-say-something-in-a-song-you-re-not-directing-it/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Paul Simon is my absolute hero. He's one of a kind. He wrote his own ticket in life by being himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/paul-simon-is-my-absolute-hero-he-s-one-of-a-kind-he-wrote-his-own/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I sing the best when I'm really in my voice. It's kind of like I'm meditating but I sort of imagine my voice as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-sing-the-best-when-i-m-really-in-my-voice-it-s-kind-of-like-i-m/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [“The wind blows wild and i may move, politicians lie and i am not fooled you don't need a razor or a three piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/the-wind-blows-wild-and-i-may-move-politicians-lie-and-i-am-not/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I know musicians who think that drumming and guitaring can be very meditative, but singing is different because when you think about things, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-know-musicians-who-think-that-drumming-and-guitaring-can-be-very/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Nothing has happened too fast, nothing has happened too slow. It has been a mellow rise, and I'm thankful for that. I haven't lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/nothing-has-happened-too-fast-nothing-has-happened-too-slow-it-has/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Songs don't really feel like me unless I somehow shed a little secret or open myself somehow or be vulnerable. When I'm singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/songs-don-t-really-feel-like-me-unless-i-somehow-shed-a-little-secret/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Blessed is this life and I'm going to celebrate being alive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/blessed-is-this-life-and-i-m-going-to-celebrate-being-alive/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I love being creative, and for me it doesn't matter what it is - whether it's art or music or just daydreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-love-being-creative-and-for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-it-is-whether/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [I can't really write unless I'm full of inspiration. And even then I can't write unless I have some alone time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-can-t-really-write-unless-i-m-full-of-inspiration-and-even-then-i/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [If I hear a really good song it's like, oh man, I want to write a song that good. But the urge to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/if-i-hear-a-really-good-song-it-s-like-oh-man-i-want-to-write-a-song/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [Everyone wants to know what kind of music their favorite artist listens to. It feels good to. I don't try to dwell on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/everyone-wants-to-know-what-kind-of-music-their-favorite-artist/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) [Explore all 57 Brett Dennen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a songwriter or a painter you're definitely facing your fears. You're facing your fears because you're speaking your truth; you're speaking from your heart. 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