Letting go (plus a new painting!)

“All great changes are proceeded by chaos” – Deepak Chopra

I want you to think back to the last goal you worked towards. What was the experience like?

Did you feel motivated, energized, and able to move forward or did you feel intimidated, stuck, and overwhelmed? It’s so easy to slide from one category to the other, and then back again: excitement followed by fear followed by excitement.

Hello, chaos! 

I totally get it. When I have my chaotic moments, here are some of the main fear-based thoughts that pop up for me:

• My work is not as good as those other artists
• I don’t have enough time to build this business with everything going on in my life 
• I’m not naturally good with numbers or technology
• People will judge me 
• I’m already too old – I should have done this 10 years ago

It’s perfectly natural to initially push back against something new. For your resolve to be tested with every fear, concern, and risk that your comfort-zone-brain  can come up with.

 All great changes are proceeded by chaos.

My commitment to myself over the past two years has been progress, not perfection. More often that not, that commitment includes a major reminder to be compassionate, flexible, and kind to myself. One of my pep talks might sound something like this:

Remember: Today, in this moment, is all you have to work with. Use the time wisely
Remember: Everyone started somewhere, with their own fears, questions, and concerns
Remember: You can spend the next year learning new skills and testing your limits or you can spend the next year living your life as you have been. What will make you happier when the year has ended?
Remember: You are never too old to try something new
Remember: Change is not easy, and you will not always succeed the first time you try
Remember: It’s okay to not have all of the answers right now, as long as you commit to the search

My pep talks provide me enough courage to move forward in small ways each day: publishing the next blog post, experimenting with a new painting. Doing my first interview with a lovely artist named Sarah. See the interview here.

When you look back and see each of your tiny actions building on the next, each tiny act of courage making room for the next, space in your heart will appear. This is a special kind of letting go, gently putting aside the beliefs and actions that no longer serve you to make space for the beliefs and actions that do.

With all of this in mind, friends, here is my latest painting Let it go. If you recall from last week’s blog when I discussed feeling frustrated and stuck with a new painting, then allow me to present the result! I allowed the painting to sit for a few days, then worked in little bursts until I felt it was done. This painting, especially as it took hard work and patience to create, is currently making my heart shine a little brighter.

Let It Go: a reminder to let go of the thoughts, actions, and circumstances that no longer serve you. Available in my shop.

Now I’m ready to hear from you! Do you have a pep talk you give yourself when you’re afraid to move forward? What helps you keep going? Tell us one example in the comments below.

xo,