What I want for us (some of my favorite affirmations)
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for” John Lubbock
Here’s what I want us to see this week, through some of my favorite affirmations. Take in what speaks to you and leave the rest:
I grow more capable every day
Bravery lives inside me, waiting to be called
I always have the tools I need to change (I simply need to use them)
My sensitivity is a gift to be honored
Worry never moves me like action
I am surrounded by love
I need to respond to the tugs on my heart (the desire that returns again and again)
I can ask for what I need (help, love, support, change)
♥ ♥ ♥
I'd like to read more, please»When fear meets clarity
“Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon; How much it can fill your room depends on its windows” – Rumi
I love this Rumi quote for its simplicity.
How much light do we let into our lives? How much beauty, how much focus?
Lately I’ve been feeling the pull to draw inwards, stay super focused, and just finish projects that have been lingering.
When we focus on just one project at a time, there’s much less space for the usual excuses to crop up. Have you ever said the following? I have!
I'd like to read more, please»Are you a creative person?
“Each star is a mirror reflecting the truth inside you” Aberjhani
The more time I spend in this art world, the more stories I hear about creativity.
I was listening to another of Tiffany Han’s podcasts over the weekend, and this episode discussed how when we hear the word creativity, many of us apply the meaning solely to artists.
As in: if you’re not a dedicated artist, you’re not a creative person. As in: you aren’t creative if you can’t draw, paint, dance, sing, or play an instrument (among other things!)
I was glad to hear the podcast dispelling this myth, saying that there are so many different ways to be creative. I couldn’t agree more.
We are all creative people, whether that creativity is displayed through our hobbies or through our most personal thoughts. For some of us, being creative means writing thoughtful emails or letters. For others, creativity means cooking a new recipe for dinner or planting a garden.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a confident cook and that I don’t know the first thing about planting a garden (I want to learn!). Thankfully I have family and friends who are fabulous at cooking and gardening.
Thankfully I found my own outlet, after so many years of uncertainty.
I'd like to read more, please»Let’s get outside (plus, new art prints in the shop!)
“The earth has music for those who listen” George Santayana
The weather in Philadelphia has been beautiful over the past few days – warmer, sunnier. I’ve been working with the windows open and feeling unbelievably grateful for each little moment when the breeze blows in (I couldn’t open windows at my old job).
I don’t want to take these moments for granted, or forget how hard I’ve worked to simply feel fresh air on my face throughout the day.
I’ve also been getting outside more lately, whenever possible – Eric and I have started going on more walks in the neighborhood and through the woods nearby. Sometimes the simple act of taking a walk outside feels like everything I need.
I'd like to read more, please»We have to start with love
“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts” Marcus Aurelius
I recently discovered the Raise your hand. Say yes podcast with Tiffany Han. She has a series of interviews with super inspiring and creative women, so if you’re like me and enjoy listening to podcasts while making dinner, cleaning, or creating something new, give these a try!
There are so many topics covered in these interviews – focus, fear, community, confidence, boundaries, etc.
I listened to a few episodes this past weekend when I was painting, and a common thread that emerged was how we can get in our way (often by accident!), and slow down our progress towards our goals.
This concept is really interesting to me, since I work really hard towards my goals but can also have a tendency towards negative self-talk. Some examples include:
- Not being able to appreciate how far I’ve come (with business or health or relationships), focusing instead on how far I still have to go.
- Scrutinizing myself in the mirror and looking for flaws instead of celebrating the incredible health journey I’ve been on for the past 4 years.
- Immediately saying “This might not work out” in regards to everything from a new project to a new brand of moisturizer.
Exactly where we need to be
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit” – e. e. cummings
Today I’m thinking about curiosity and patience.
First, the little spark that tugs at our minds until we follow, leading us down that new path in the woods or towards a new recipe or book on the shelf. Second, the gentle compassion and focus that keep us moving until we’ve discovered what we’re meant to discover.
I have always been a curious person, interested in what will happen if I experiment with my diet or behaviors or routine. I do a LOT of testing (just ask Eric!), and probably my most common phrase is “so, I’m going to try this new thing and see how it goes.”
I LOVE that discovery is available for each of us, and available in so many forms.
However it’s not surprising that I’ve been receiving the same message everywhere I turn lately – in blogs, conversations, angel cards, dreams – that patience is the key to powerful change.
There’s simply no way around putting in the effort to practice something (painting, cooking, exercising, loving, communicating). As we practice, layers of our experience build and build until they simply merge and become part of us.
Each layer is a gift that unlocks the path to the next.
Patience has been on my mind a lot lately as I continue to do my weekly paintings. I paint rather intuitively, letting my heart guide my brush, and I’m still exploring what abstract painting has to offer.
I'd like to read more, please»Morning intentions (plus, my newest painting)
“You can only come to the morning through the shadows” J. R. R. Tolkien
I love the idea that there is a time of day when all of us feel most at home in our own bodies. That time will likely be different for each of us, but the concept remains: what time of day do you feel most alive?
My favorite time of the day is early morning, just as the sun streaks gorgeous lines of color across the horizon. I can see hints of the sunrise from my bed, which is just the best reminder to treat each new day as a possibility and a beginning.
I’ve never been a good sleeper, and I was always relieved as a kid when the night ended and I could get up. I was the 10 year old awake at 8am in the summer and reading a novel in bed before anyone else was up. I was the 25 year old doing grad school homework at 7am on a Saturday morning because I wanted to have the rest of the weekend free. I am now the 31 year old who loves the idea of morning routines and the impact they can have on the rest of the day.
I want to feel focused and excited when I start my day, a commitment that I make to myself daily. Now of course this isn’t always possible (hello, stress!). None of us are immune to having too much to do.
Even still, I like to remind myself that morning safely holds my intention to set the tone for the day, and that this intention refreshes every morning regardless of what happened the day before.
The fresh slate can be beautiful in all areas of life, yes?
I’ve also found that making time for a short meditation works wonders (seriously). I love the meditations by the wonderful Erin-Ashley Kerti.
Now on to this week’s painting, Dawn.
I'd like to read more, please»Let’s celebrate the journey
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh” Maya Angelou
Sometimes I like to take a step back from the busy schedule and focus on the journey itself.
The journey is what we have, after all.
We have the daily ideas and tears and laughter and new directions that surprise us day after day.
We have the hard work that builds over time, leading us towards a dream.
We have the skills we struggle every day to learn until they finally click.
We have each other, and of course we have ourselves.
With my husband Eric, Easter 2015
Live like a river flows
“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding” – John O’Donohue
A lot has been happening behind the scenes here this week, and I’m loving how so much right now feels like an unfolding.
I’m feeling in tune with the changing weather, the tiny flowers and new blades of grass I saw on a recent walk, and the light that stretches farther and farther into the evening with each passing day.
I’m feeling in tune with the journey my art is taking, as new colors and themes emerge and pull me further into exploration and growth.
I’m feeling in tune with my body (did I tell you I’m on a super restricted diet right now?), as I learn what foods make me feel sick and what foods make me feel alive.
Lastly, I’m feeling in tune with my purpose. More than anything else, this feeling of connectedness lightens the demands of every day life.
Here is this week’s painting:
Be bold and do the work
“The most important possible thing you could do is do a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work.” – Ira Glass
I was recently reminded of this great Ira Glass video where he gives advice on doing creative work. The video is short (2 minutes), so definitely watch if you’ve never seen it.
One of his main points is that every creative person goes through a phase where their work is just not as good as they want it to be, but the only way out of that phase is to keep creating. He reminds us that most people quit when their work and process do not meet their ambitions, but if we just keep going and keep creating and keep learning, we’ll get there.
I don’t see this video as specific to visual artists, so it can apply to all of us who are creating or learning or developing new skills. I’m also certainly not here to hint that our work isn’t good (I would never!). I am here to say that exploring, creating, and experimenting will take us to new levels and help us to figure out what truly makes us happy. Keep stretching that comfort zone!
Here’s my latest painting experiment (on a 6×6 wood panel):
