by Linda | Apr 5, 2012 | my creative journal
Continuing my efforts to talk about money without shame… I was thinking about how every year, tax time forces me to really see the big picture of my finances. I’m actually pretty good about keeping records and we all should be paying attention to financials quarterly, if not more often. But with the numbers all there in black and white – final for the year – ready to be mailed out to the IRS, you just can’t gloss over the facts.
I realize that I truly dread tax time, not for the numbers or paperwork required. It’s not the work that scares me, I actually get satisfaction from filling out forms and finishing such tasks. What bothers me, is facing the reality of my financial situation. It’s scary, frustrating, and depressing.
Perhaps we can never be 100% satisfied with our financial situation – or is that exactly one of the limiting beliefs that is leading me astray?
I know that is takes hard work to earn money. I suppose I really need to tend my garden of money. It’s in a very sad state. I think there’s potential for abundance – to grow and flourish – but right now, it’s a not-so-inspiring barren landscape.
Lately, I’ve been in the mode of not spending a dime (well, expect for books). I keep thinking that the frugal state will help in some way. But in the big picture, no matter how little you might be spending – you’ll still run out at some point. Instead, the well needs to be filled. It’s like adding nutrients to your garden, so the plants can flourish. Otherwise, the land is just used up and no good.
I need to concentrate on getting more money to flow in, not just limiting or blocking the money that flows out. It’s not a balanced way to think about it and would not create a sustainable ecosystem. In thinking about it in this way, I understand more why some gurus seem to be telling you to spend money – or not be afraid to spend money. It’s a state of mind for the whole landscape to function in balance.
Have you thought about your money landscape? (I hope you have done your taxes!)
How can we make our financial gardens sustainable and flourishing through the seasons?
by Linda | Mar 29, 2012 | my creative journal
I’ve been diving into a variety of books these past few weeks, absorbing information the old fashioned way. I know that many of us think that surfing the internet might be researching to some effect – but there’s really nothing better than snuggling up to a good book. Truly.
Side note: I purchased a few audiobooks to listen to on my Kindle… but have realized that I dislike the format. I keep trying to envision the transcript, wanting to see the structure of the content. Kindle ebooks are better, but the old fashioned paper book is still the most useful to me. Enough said.
So, I’m trying to give myself solid ground to work upon. Learning not only about business, but about myself and my true desires in life. To revamp my lifestyle entirely, because it all goes together. You can’t expect great things without great change.
Been thinking about what am I truly working for and writing things down. Journaling by hand and posting on this blog, my thoughts and feelings.
If you are interested in the books on my shelf, here’s a short list that I have read or currently reading through. Links go to Amazon.com:
Otherwise, I have been working on a new set of girl illustrations while spreading the news about them through email introductions. It never hurts to simply tell people about what you are doing. I want to thank Indi from {KID} independent, Nicole from Elsa Bags, and Amy from Pikaland for posting about my Girls With A Message illustration series. I’m honored and thankful.
There hasn’t been a lot of external action in my creative business, it’s all happening inside of me instead. It does feel like the calm before the storm. Do you have these periods in your creative journey? How do you deal with them to make it a productive time?
by Linda | Mar 21, 2012 | my creative journal
It might seem like a completely duh! realization, but I was thinking about how often we know what we should be doing, but just can’t get ourselves to do it.
Whether in our creative businesses or everyday life, we aren’t always applying all the good knowledge we have at our disposal. We all know that we should exercise more and eat healthier for example. Why is it that we can all agree on things we should be doing, but can’t carry them out all the same?
We can all set intentions and goals, but we don’t always follow through. Those darn new years resolutions! I started to think about the lack of willpower and wondered if I was lacking that strength in my character. Was there something wrong with my pre-frontal cortex? I found myself wondering about the science of it all.
So I decided to read The Willpower Instinct (Amazon affiliate link) by Kelly McGonigal Ph.D. I’ve come across her articles before and wanted to learn more. I appreciate how she’s taken scientific studies and boiled them down to plain English, so that we can actually apply the learning to our lives. It turns out, we can strengthen our willpower by learning more and doing exercises to strengthen it, as with most things in life.
I’m going through the book by tackling a chapter a week, working through the exercises and challenges. It’s a bit like The Artist’s Way, discussing a topic/issue and providing exercises a chapter a week, simulating a workshop. Of course, the difference is that this willpower book is based on scientific studies in addition to real-life experiences and results of workshop participants. It also encourages the reader to make themselves a science experiment, so we can truly learn through our personal experiences and results.
In our creative businesses, we are often looking for help and motivation to take ourselves to the next level. I started to notice that the gurus and advisors out there, all offer pretty much the same advice. They might twist and turn the topic around, but it’s the same stuff in essence. I realize that different styles of teaching are necessary, because we all learn differently…
… but even before we get to the all the information, we need to get off our butts and take action. That’s really the most important thing and we all talk about it. Beating procrastination and motivating ourselves! There are a lot of tips and tricks out there, but I still didn’t feel like anything went to the core of the issue. Sure, there are many reasons – going down to the level of our inner most fears. But I really wanted to understand the why from a scientific perspective.
Of course, I probably sound like the very thing I’m talking about. Duh, we all know that we have to get our butt into gear. We all know that, but struggle with it and realize it’s a challenge… so how do we get out of that funk? I beat myself down all the time, for not having patience, willpower, the gumption… I dunno what’s wrong. As if I’m missing something and maybe I’m not meant to do these things that I want to do.
From just the introduction and first chapter of the book, I’m learning that it’s a natural human thing to succumb to our temptations. It’s not a judgement on our character. We might have known a bit about that, but it’s even better to hear the science behind it. It lifted a weight off my shoulders, to know that I’m not doomed! How silly, huh? I think when it comes to our personality or character habits… it seems like something we are stuck with, that we can never change who we are. But it’s just not the case. We think of these intangible aspects as separate from getting in physically in shape, for example… but we can change and train our brains. It’s certainly not easy! No pain, no gain!
This week, I’m trying to identify what blocks me from doing what I need to do. Awareness is the first step to change… you have to know where you are standing at this moment, in order to head in the right direction!
by Linda | Mar 15, 2012 | my creative journal
This week I’ve been going back to the basics, cleaning and clearing to make room for the new in my life. I know it’s all very zen. I think I need it… badly. Besides physical organization, I’m also going back to the foundations in creative play. Trying to simplify my outlook and decompress from deadlines and projects.
I’ve been spending time just playing with paint. Mixing colors and mixing even more. I’m not looking to create a final product. I’m just playing and observing the paint up close.
I love seeing all the colors laid out, the different values and intensities. If I keep mixing this with that, more hues are revealed. Going back to this simple creative process, led me to a big picture realization. There are limitless combinations possible and every little mix changes the original color. But the basic properties are still there, it’s a metamorphosis…
It made me think of people like you and me. Our color is made of our unique combination of experiences. And as we grow and learn, more is added to the mix, changing our color. Each of us is unique and beautiful to look at. Even the seemingly muddy colors, upon closer inspection revealed a beautiful range of tones in the light. Depending what you mix in, you can keep morphing the color. Lighten up, darken up, color up…
I suppose I’m really getting all zen now. Thinking about the basics helps to ground oneself. We can always use a bit of simplicity and build up from there. For now, I just need to play a bit.
How can you benefit from going back to the basics in your creative business? In your life? In your Art?
by Linda | Mar 8, 2012 | my creative journal
This past week, I’ve been following along the Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit and realizing I need more foundation. Although it’s not good to be stuck in the stage of forever planning or analysis paralysis – when diving into action we inevitably will reach a point of needing more direction, just the same.
I can be an impatient person, jumping into something to follow my inspiration and spark of energy. But we all know that those spurts can’t be sustained without a bigger plan. At least, that is how I feel right now. I go through cycles of high productivity mode to the slump, confusion, and crisis mode. It’s not a good cycle. I want more tranquility in my life and although it’s impossible to have complete balance, I would like to reach some kind of… equilibrium that I’m happy with.
I’ve realized that my left-brain ways of planning can only take me so far… why am I not using my right-brain skills, as well? I’m sure there’s something that can help me with building my business as an artist and illustrator – duh!? We usually think of business and marketing as left-brain skills, but maybe that is narrow minded. I can’t really explain it, but I just connected and felt that I needed to go down this path. I have heard of Jennifer Lee’s book, The Right-Brain Business Plan (Amazon link) before, but had the impression that it was the easy way out for those who didn’t want to do a real business plan. Now that I’ve learned more about it, I realize my error. It is a detailed book with a whole lot of information – simply presented differently. I finally ordered it and can’t wait to get started.
Realizing how my perspective changed for this specific thing, suddenly made me wonder if I’m blocking myself out of a whole lot of things in life and business. We all make assumptions and generalizations. Is it blinding us from seeing, accepting, or considering those things that might help us out? I truly mean no offense, but I used to think yoga and zen stuff was all hokey and weird. Oh, I’m not into that stuff, I thought. I’m practical and grounded. I suppose the only way to explain it… is that we fear the unknown.
Although I don’t run out with open arms to every single new thing out there, I do feel much more open-minded nowadays. In fact, I try really hard to remind myself, that whatever I feel, it is just the first impression. And we know how our impressions of things change dramatically over time.
So all this to say, this week, I’ve been in a soul searching type of mood. I’m making plans, organizing and cleaning up my space. I’m making room for the work I need to do.
If you want different results, then you have to change the way you are doing things, right? Do you have a business plan? Have you assessed your progress and adjusted your course along the way? Perhaps you need to open your mind to new things?
BTW, happy International Woman’s Day, festa della donna here in Italy. It’s our day. Let’s do something awesome!
