Wednesday's Walk and WOYWW

                                        

                                             "Imperfection is a form of freedom"   Anh Ngo

When I saw this quote on Pinterest I immediately repinned it on my Creativity Coaching Board and much to my surprise it was one of my most popular pins.  Being a perfectionist is something many creative people struggle with and something that seems to pop up again and again as I blog or work with friends or clients.  It can truly block us from moving forward.  It can take the joy out of what we are doing.   It's hard to be perfect and it can be diffuclt to change if that is your natural tendency.  But just as with anything else change can happen if, (1) we are aware of what we need to change (2) we are changing for the right reason (3) we begin with tiny steps and (4) we celebrate each of the steps we take.

This month I have challenged myself to painting a picture of the sky and/or clouds each day.  The thing that is different about this self-imposed challenge is that there are no expectations.  I begin each painting just like a kid.  I pick a pastel and start to play.  Not only am I having fun but I am learning so much about myself, what works for me, and what I want to do differently next time.  I am not judging each painting (at least I am trying not to) and every day I am finding things that I really like about what I created.

So yes I do agree that imperfection can lead to freedom.  It can lead to the freedom to explore, the freedom to relax, and the freedom to have fun.  It can also lead to wonderful discoveries that can lead to new insights or to new adventures that we never would have thought possible.  If you have not done so before, give imperfection a try and see what happens.

                                             Linking to WOYWW and Creative Every Day

     When you share your talents and dreams with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.
                                                                    Ginny Lennox, Certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

Wednesday's Walk is a series of posts that discuss creative blocks and the strategies that can help you overcome them.  If you have any questions or topics that you would like me to discuss, I would love to hear from you.

Sunday's Quote and Reflection

       "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep."
                                                                                               Scott Adams

I think the above quote would be great for a discussion.  Some people think there are no mistakes.  They believe that we can learn from everything we do.  Others are paralzyed by just the thought of making a mistake. There are lots of mistakes in the above painting.  There was a time when I would have painted this picture, analzyed it for what I could do better next time, and then put it away.  Now, when I paint I am learning to look at what I have created with kind eyes.  The same type of eyes I use when looking at someone else's work.  I find the colors that I like, the stroke that is perfect, the one petal that is formed right.  I celebrate those parts of the painting. I hang the painting on the wall and look at it for several days.  I remember the experience of painting it and I celebrate the fun I now have when I  paint.  By recognizing that I will always make mistakes when I am trying something new and allowing myself the chance to grow as an artist, I have discovered the joy in painting.  And for me, that is what painting is all about - another way to find the joy in life.

When you share your dreams and talent with the world, magic happens!  Let the magic begin.

Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

I am really enjoying painting a picture of the clouds and the sky each day.  I try to vary what I paint a little in each picture but without thinking about it, the central theme in all that I paint tends to stay the same.  I realize that I am ok with that.

I am learning how important my touch is with the pastel.  Too hard and my pastel is going to crumble. Too soft and I won't get the rich color I want.  I also am beginning to feel the difference in paper and I now realize how using the right paper can really make a big difference.

I am anxious to see what will happen when I complete 30 sky paintings in a row. It is something new for me and something that I am enjoying. 

As I always  do on Friday, I want to share what I am most grateful for this week.  This week I have to admit I am grateful for something that may be considered superficial but I can't help it - I love convertible weather.  Today was the first day I was able to put my top down and I was ready. When I was a teenager many years ago my first car was a convertible.  I have always loved feeling both the sun and the wind on my face.  So today the sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and the top was down.  It was perfect!!

 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend with perfect convertible weather.  Rumor has it that it is going to rain here again all weekend but I had my perfect day and I am sure there will be more.  I am linking this post to Paint Party Friday. It is a perfect way to start the weekend, with or without rain 

 

 When you share your dreams and talents with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!

Wednesday's Walk - Just Show Up

 

 

 

 

Each week on my Wednesday's Walk I think about a creativity strategy that I have learned through my Kaizen-Muse training.  It's a great way to remember all the wonderful strategies that I learned that help me as I journey through life.

This month I decided I would paint a picture a day which featured or focused on the sky.  Today is day 8 and I am really learning a lot through this process.  One of the things I am reminded of how is how I can be a perfectionist and how this tendency can stand in my way of moving forward. So in true Kaizen-Muse fashion I have come up with a mantra to remind me to have fun with this self-designed challenge.  Each day I remind myself, "It doesn't have to be perfect - just show up and have fun!" And that is what I am doing.  I am also learning alot.  I know I prefer to use the smooth side of the pastel paper, not the bumpy side shown above.  I know that I really enjoy painting a traditonal sky using traditional colors.  I know that I love soft buttery pastels but have learned that the first time I use a new stick it will probably crumble all over the place.  I am learning that the softer the pastel the bigger the mess so I am prepared for that before I begin a painting.

Showing up each day to paint is making a difference.  Letting go of the perfectionism is making a difference.  Enjoying my own work is making a difference.  So if you are starting a new project maybe my mantra "It doesn't have to be perfect - just show up and have fun" would make a difference for you as well. I hope that you have a wonderful week fill with lots and lots of special moments that make a difference for you!

 

When you share your dreams and talents with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!

 

 

Sunday's Quote and Reflection - Setting an Intention

  

          "Let go of the expectations and just see what happens.  New things are born that way."
                                                                                                                Kat Sloma

On Friday's blog I wrote that I was going to do a study of the sky and paint at least one sky picture a day.  This is something that I have not done before so I was excited to begin.  One of the comments I received was from Kat Sloma of Kat Eye Studio.  I have taken several online photography classes from Kat and I have always loved each one.  She has a wonderful way of teaching and making you feel part of a terrific experience.  When I read her words, I was even more excited about doing the study.  Letting go is not always easy.  Not having expectations is hard.  But if I can just enjoy the experience and allow myself to be open to whatever happens, I might learn things I never knew existed. 

I am going to add one more part to this month's experience. At my yoga class on Friday, our teacher was explaining that one of the participants was an accomplished artist who not only created beautiful things but saw beauty all around her.  She saw color and shapes and design wherever she looked.  That is something I like to do but this month I want to do it with intention and attention.  I want to be more aware of the beauty that surrounds me and I want to take the time to appreciate it.  So my intention for this month is to paint a picture of the sky each day and to notice and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me no matter where I go.  I have never done this before but it sounds like the perfect way to enjoy the month of May.  Won't you join me? 

Remember:  When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin

Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

                               

                                         Clouds are the sky's imagination.  Terri Guillemets

I love to look at the sky.  I love to look at clouds.  So this week when I got to my art class and the lesson was on the sky and clouds I was one happy painter.  I've decided that for the month of May I will paint at least one picture a day of clouds.  It may be something very small and it definitely will not have to be perfect but I think it will be fun to see what happens after a month of concentrating on one subject.

Each Friday it is my practice to write something about what I am grateful for experiencing during the week.  This has been one of those weeks that would be easy to forget.  It's been very normal.  Things have gone just as they should - the weather has been nice, I've met with friends, I've had time to paint and life has been good.  It is just the type of week in times past that I might have taken for granted and never even though twice about. But since starting this gratitude practice, I've learned how important it is to notice the simple things - the hot cup of tea in the morning, the flower that continues to bloom against all odds. the one special stroke on a painting that turns ok into great.  The more I notice the simple things, the more I have to be grateful for.  The more I have to be grateful for, the more simple things I notice.  So this week I am very grateful for the simple things that make life special.  Is there something simple but special that you are grateful for this week?

Each Friday I link my post to Paint Party Friday and Creative Every Day.  Both are wonderful inspiring blogs to visit.

Remember:  When you share your dreams and talents with the world magic happens.  Let the magic begin.

Wednesday's Walk - Dreams Can Come True

Vision without action is merely a dream.  Action without vision just passes the time.  Vision with action can change the world."  Joel A. Barker

It's Wednesday once again.  It really is unbelievable how quickly time goes.  As I took my walks this week, I thought about the above quote.  I think we all have dreams.  I think our dreams are special and exciting and often frightening.  Once we begin to create a vision for our dream it becomes a little more concrete, a little more real.  When I first thought about coaching it was just an idea, a dream.  Then I began to see it in my mind.  I would work with women who like me loved to create, who had lots of dreams, and who were looking for  for support. I wanted to build a circle of powerful women who grew, and learned, and shared, one dreamer at a time.

I thought alot about my dream. This was an important step for me.  Nurturing my dream took time but it was time well spent.  I talked about my dream with people who would support it.  I researched it and looked at what opportunities were available to me so that I could make my dream come true.  When the time felt right, I took action.  I worked with a coach and then I studied to become a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach.  I took each step slowly, enjoying the process.  Not rushing, not hurrying but doing what felt right.  I had a dream, I had a vision, I took action.  Many people would have moved quicker.  At other times in my life, I would have moved quicker.  But at this time, for this dream, it felt right to truly enjoy the process.

The reality is that we all have dreams.  Many of those dreams will come true.  Some we will give up and some will lead us down new and unexpected paths.  Do you have a dream?  Can you picture what that dream would look like?  What would it sound like?  Who would it include?  Where would it happen?  Answering these questions can help you to begin the journey of turning your dream into a vision and your vision into reality.  One small step at a time is a wonderful way to make your dreams come true! 

Remember:  When you share your talents and dreams with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin today.

If you have ever thought of working with a life or creativity coach, I would love to talk to you!  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.  You can find out more about Special Moments In Time Creativity Coaching here.