Yesterday as I reflected on the past year and thought about the year ahead I wondered if I had achieved my goals, so I opened my diary. As I read, I began to feel despondent.
Then I realised that I had made the mistake of setting some goals that I had little-to-no control over achieving that had compelled me to constantly be driving myself to seek out opportunities and focus on tasks, with little hope of success.
I wonder if you can relate?
So, today I decided to create new goals that I can determine the outcome of through my own efforts, ones that encourage healthy striving and more importantly enable me to better explore the magic of creativity.
When I paint with my whole heart I know who I really am. I feel curious, playful, confident and willing to take risks.
Therefore the first goal I have set is to simply create – free of goals and in particular regardless of sales or the opinions of others. This sounds straightforward, but I find it extremely challenging to live out. After all, how do I measure the value of my work if it doesn’t sell and literally, how do I feed my kids?
The second goal I have set is to give myself permission to fail along the way. I want to be gracious with myself as I make mistakes, so that I can continue learning and growing as an artist.
These seem almost like anti-goals – to work without goals and to make mistakes!
Do you also need to rethink some of your goals for next year, so that you prioritise the pursuits or people that give you most joy?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog and taking an interest in my painting. It means a great deal to me.
Wishing you deep peace this Christmas and New Year.
PS Check out photos from my trampings in NZ after Christmas
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