"Moraine Park"
Oil on Birch Panel
16x20"
2007
When I was out yesterday I saw a sign that said, "What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?"
What a great question.
What would YOU attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?
I would attempt to make a living being an artist. And being as that's what I'm doing right now, I feel good about my answer to this question, and the direction I'm taking my life right now.
I like security, so I've spent a lot of years doing things I didn't want to do because I feared failing at what I really wanted to do. Now that I'm doing what I've always wanted to do, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
I feel free.
That's not to say that there haven't been scary moments in the past few months. Nate officially quit his job to work full-time at his house-building business, which means we're both self-employed, and that I have a bit of pressure to provide some income with my art. And between moving and traveling and Nate quitting his job, I've had a few moments where I've woken up at 3 am and wondered what the heck we're doing. But every morning I wake up and feel reassured that we're both doing what we're supposed to be doing right now, and that it will work out how it's supposed to work out.
It's nice to finally let go of that fear of failure, and jump right in!
Stacy, I know EXACTLY how you feel. But the pressure is good if you use it properly. I am pretty sure I wouldn't be quite so dedicated if my income didn't actually count each month.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on "jumping right in" and living a life of your own making.
ReplyDeleteDon't the greatest rewards in life (or our best paintings) come when we accept the risk of failure? The worst life I can imagine is one spent looking at a past filled with regrets.
It's amazing how many responses came back when I googled this question. I think you're right, though, that the answer always has to do with overcoming our fears, and often then the fears are money-based. Sad, isn't it, when we let money win over the joyful desires of our hearts? Yet, the pressure can be instrumental in our success of overcoming!
ReplyDelete