Serenity at the Beach
"A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Love your calling with passion, it is the meaning of your life." --- Auguste Rodin
Building castles in the air is a positive thing which can lead to dreams becoming a reality. How does one begin to build those castles? A foundation is needed and I think that would be first of all, KNOWING WHO YOU ARE and what you are meant to do with your life. This is Important and a Blessing that cements you on the right path.
There is no need to take the path of least resistance or pigeonhole yourself. You can, with each passing moment, each new discovery, grow more sure of who you are.
Important questions to ask are - "What do I want out of my life?" "What kind of person do I want to be?" "What is my passion or what is the career I want to follow?" and "How do I do that?" "What makes you and your art different?" "What makes you stand out as an honest and credible person/artist?" Use a pad and pencil to write down each question then beneath it list the answers to those questions. This action makes it more real and out there. Take time to think about each question and answer. Research and analyze your thoughts and ideas for more clarity.
Know too that failures are O.K. and are also the steps that lead to success. If you start out with the insight of knowing there will be failures along the way, then you will be more prepared and accepting of them instead of burying your head and emotions in the sand with the idea of never trying again.
Oh, BTW, it's o.k. to cry also. It's a releasing that clears the way for you to begin anew. Tears were made for many things.
"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." -- Henry David Thoreau
Ask yourself what guiding principles are important to you as you live your life. From the time we are children, most of us are taught right from wrong. Knowing this leads to knowing our own strengths and assets, abilities and talents. . . and our weaknesses. When we know all of that, we can more easily move forward and get through obstacles that fall in our way. There can be that awakening so that we can fearlessly embrace the uncertainties just in knowing that we can.
I bring all of this up only because as an artist, in order to do work from our inner spirit, we must know who we are. Insight into who we are is worth a life time of experiences. Knowing who we are guides us through all those experiences. When we are able to identify those weaknesses, we then can manage them or especially eliminate them.
We can draw on an inner strength that we never knew we had, had we not come to know ourselves. You will begin to explore all the unique possibilities of being an artist or doing whatever you want to do in life. It will be easier to lay the ground work. Windows of opportunities will open wide for you allowing you to achieve the results that you desire.
As you learn more about yourself, there will be more favorable developments because you'll be able to make better decisions and most importantly be able to trust yourself. You'll know and understand your capabilities and will be ready for success. That establishes more confidence. You will make more progress because you will listen to, trust and follow your intuition and creativity.
Make that transitional move into more of a level of trust and confidence in yourself. Your clients will have more trust and confidence in you and your work. Share your accomplishments, awards, experiences, achievements, publications. Let your clients know and they will see that castle you have built and brought into a reality, and they will have that level of prestige in owning your art work.
It is about knowing yourself so others may know you too. When you know yourself, your art work translates and speaks well to the viewer of your work. Your spirit continues to blossom because you are following the direction that best fits your abilities and talents. Your best efforts will be more fully appreciated where you will find more opportunities falling at your doorstep.
And certainly, as well, throughout our lives, we evolve. "Do not fear going forward slowly, fear only to stand still." --- Chinese Proverb
If you have been sitting back full of doubts, now is the time to allow your art spirit to rebound and take you to new discoveries. Make this the year you dared to do . . . by knowing and accepting yourself, rather than restricting yourself. Let go of the fear and you will head toward that brighter future. Besides, it is all about HOW you handle those fears.
Thank you for reading.
Artfully yours,
Sandy
