 This is the time of year when many of us look back at what we have accomplished and think about what the new year will bring.
Most of what happened for me in 2019 grew out of commitments made before the year began. I ended up writing a lot. In addition to this blog, I made progress on my book, Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People. I also created a number of long articles for the online newsletter CallforEntries.com, including a series on How to Approach a Gallery. So what will 2020 bring for you? Sometimes New Year’s resolutions are so specific that they set you up for failure. You really cannot control the activities of others, especially people in the random and chaotic Big Art World. So you might want to take a more fluid approach, where you commit to making gradual changes in areas that matter to you. Ask yourself these two questions:
In order to make progress as an artist, you need to change subtle patterns in how you use your time, what you pay attention to, even what you think about. Your creativity is embedded in the rest of your life, so think broadly about the two questions. Always start with the positive--what you want to do MORE OF. As you shift your energy, the LESS OF will become obvious. Then turn your intentions into a simple mantra, a word or phrase that will guide your behavior. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, your mantra might be “drink more water.” If you need to free your mind for your own creative work, a good mantra would be “take long walks.” If you’re trying to improve your presence on Instagram, try the mantra “take better pictures.” My own mantra for 2019 was “write every day.” Specific goals and measurement systems are useful, but a mantra stays with you because it’s easy to remember. It can speak to you in a whisper or a shout, but it’s always on your mind. What is your mantra for 2020? ~ Mary Mary Edwards, Ph.D Career & Life Coach for Artists “Left Brain Skills for Right Brained People” Instagram: coachingforartists.maryedwards |