C. S. Lewis said, “We are what we believe we are.” What we believe is based on our experiences…the events that shape our lives. For example, if we succeeded at something in the past, we can develop the mindset that we are successful human beings. If we failed, we could grow up believing we are failures.
Last time we talked about creating a new future. As we march toward that new future we are going to need some tools…some resources to help us along that journey. Just as you don’t take everything you own on a vacation, there are only a few things you need to bring along on this journey to your new future. Of all the experiences that have brought you to this point in your life, which will help you and which will get left behind?
Commitments
We turn, again, to Dan Sullivan for guidance. He suggests that the first resource you tuck into your suitcase is the past commitment you made to grow in your art. These commitments were the courses you took, the teachers you sought out, and the endless practice sessions, at the canvas, that helped you become a better artist. The decisions you made to improve were your first steps to realizing you could grow as an artist. It is not until you realize you can be better, that you begin to improve.
Courage
Being an artist requires courage. Your art is an expression of your beliefs and feelings. You are displaying a part of yourself for everyone to see. This is a scary (and brave) thing to do because it is risky. What if people don’t like what you do? What if they criticize you? Humiliate you?
It will help, to get you through these times, if you remember those past experiences when you took a risk and won! It might have been the simple, yet courageous, act of dragging your fan brush down the center of your painting to create a tree. It could have been tackling a painting that was above your skill level. That experience forced you to get better. You took a leap of faith…believed in yourself…and won! You definitely want to bring those experiences along!
Capability
The dictionary defines “capable” as “having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing.” Past learning experiences, that helped you discover a new, or better way, of doing things, made you more capable as an artist and as a human being. Perhaps it was the time you figured out why your paint was slipping on the canvas…and fixed it. Maybe it was when you discovered how to use your foliage brush to create that perfect tree…or when you created your first water reflection and thought, “Gee, that looks pretty good!”. As you become more capable, you open yourself up to new opportunities, new experiences, and new ways of doing things.
Confidence
As you become more capable, you become more confident. Compliments from others builds confidence. (We’ll talk in a future article about how to accept compliments.) If you have helped others succeed, your own confidence grows. That’s why it is important to share with other artists, so that you both can grow together.
Remember the wins you had in the past…those triumphs that made you feel better about yourself…those breakthroughs that helped you jump to your next level of skill. Experiences, like these, build confidence that helps you power through present and future obstacles. If you succeeded in the past…you have the ability to succeed in the future!
Worth bringing
We humans are made up of past memories, present circumstances, and thoughts of what our future will hold. We want to retain the good stuff and allow the negative to fade out of our lives. Negativity can only succeed if we give it power. Think about where your power is best used.
You think less about the unnecessary baggage that will drag you down when you focus on these four powerful resources. You are lightweight…streamlined…and ready to accept the challenges and opportunities ahead. You experience your future at a higher level because you’ve started from a higher place.
Bill talked about creative power in almost every one of his videos. Bill believed creative power was that pool of resources inside you that, when released, would help you become not just a better artist, but a great human being. Bill knew that you had all the resources and tools you needed for success. All you need to do is use them. Are you ready to use your creative power to create your new future?
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