Have you been trying to start a creative project, but just never had the guts to do so? Like painting a picture or writing a story that’s been in your head for a long time?
If yes, chances are, you’ve been approaching it the wrong way. You probably thought that this image or story needs to come out on the paper and be perfect right away, just like in your head. Beacuse, hey, it’s coming from Divine Inspiration, so it’d better be perfect!
But than you’d get stuck in fear and get paralyzed, because that seems absolutely impossible (hint: it most likely is…). So you keep dreaming about doing it, maybe even start it, but than the disappointment and the feeling of being incapable stops you from moving on.
I know that place way too well. I’ve been there so many times for so many years! Until I realized that I’ve been approaching it wrong all this time!
Think about it like this: if you like singing as a hobby, would you consider giving a concert and planning to sing a song that you kind of maybe know, maybe heard a couple of times but never actually practiced? Of course not! That’s scary like hell! And for the right reasons.
People who do improv, don’t just do improv for the first time ever on stage for a whole show. They practice how to improvise, until they know the routine and can slip into that space where they are in the flow and can give an amazing performance. It all takes practice. That effortless performance of your favourite artist? I promise you they’ve had tons of practice time.
So why would we need to “perform” a painting or writing a story perfectly for the first time around? Why can’t we just say “you know what?! I’ll draw it first in pencil, just for the fun of it, than I’ll paint it with watercolour impressionist-style, and than maybe get some oils to paint it on a canvas. Why? Because I can play like that. Because practice is fun!”.
Or just say “I’ll do five versions of it in watercolour. Not less. Maybe more”.
Or first I’ll draw that figure until I have it in my hand exactly how I want to have it on the painting. Than I’ll practice the woods in the background until I feel like I got it nailed. Than hey, let’s put it all together! BAMMM! Now that can become a painting that you’ll be happy with.
Just like the singer, who practices certain places of the song that feel not quite there yet. And than practices the whole song a gazillion times before she goes on stage to perform it the way she wants it to sound.
Small shift in perspective, big results! (I hope. )
Let’s do this!
Hugs,
PS: Join me for the upcoming free live meditation on Insight Timer.
When: October 18th 2021, 10AM CEST (Amsterdam time)
Where: Online here
Come and say hi and let’s meditate together! I hope to see you there.
Our True Nature 