Taking Time to Listen
Figuring out what direction you want to move your life in is an entirely creative process of its own. How do you decide what you’d like to do or what you do well? There are a variety of activities you can try that may spark your imagination. So take some time and do a little ME research. Ask yourself questions. For instance:
• Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a child?
• Did you have a skill at some point in your life that you were discouraged from doing by a well-meaning loved one or authority figure?
• Has there been something you’ve always wanted to try?
• What was your favorite class in high school?
• Did you earn a college degree in something you’ve never been able to find a job in?
This process may be simple or complex, depending on how much you know about yourself. A great way to measure your progress and remember ideas is to keep a journal or a notebook. Many believe that if you write your goals down, you will be more likely to accomplish them.
Once you begin to develop an idea of what direction excites you, try to imagine living in your new life. Write out an entire day, describe where it happens, indoors or out, or what your perfect environment looks like. If it’s easier, cut photos out of magazines, or take photos of places where you’d like to live and work. I give suggestions for specific creative activities to help you visualize and imagine your desired future in Make Art, Be Happy – How to Live Well by Increasing Creativity & Improving Your Life.
Making Room for Making Art
Now that you’ve discovered what it is you’d like to do, or what you love to do and do well, begin to carve out a space in your life for it. Choose a closet, an empty room, the corner of the kitchen table, or any space in which you feel comfortable and secure. Use that space consistently to pursuit your dreams. This is where you sit and begin to make lists of all the tiny activities that will accomplish your goals. This is where you work out all the details and imagine exactly what your new life will look like and feel like. If you can imagine it in your head, and/or describe it on paper, you can also make it happen.
Learning Something New
What do you do if you have an idea of what you want, but don’t know how to accomplish it? You educate yourself by finding a mentor who already does what you want to do, and/or researching everything you can about it on the internet. Ask questions! There is no such thing as a stupid question, and typically most experts love to share their knowledge. Read industry or trade magazines or join a club associated with what you’d like to learn. Find out what works and what doesn’t work. Don’t allow a lack of knowledge to keep you from reaching your dreams!
From the information you gather, build a step-by-step roadmap of all the things you need to do to change your life and/or work at what you love. It might not be easy. I’ve been pursuing my dreams all of my life and have struggled at times. But guess what? I make my living with my art and writing, the things I’ve always loved and done well.
Building a Supportive Network
If you’ve ever been discouraged by well-meaning or off-hand comments from those you love and/or respect, you know how crushing it can be. But more than that, these types of comments can cause your own internal editor to exclaim, “See?! I told you you weren’t any good at this!”
Many of you struggle with an internal and/or external lack of self-confidence. This is partly your left-brain insisting that everything make sense, be clearly and easily understood, and if it isn’t, causes fear. You must commit yourself to thinking positively. If you’ve found someone else who is living your dream, then it is possible for you to live it too. And to contribute to this positive thinking, surround yourself with a network of people who admire your work, respect what you do, and encourage you.
So don’t be afraid to change your life. You only have one!
