The difference between looking like an artist and making art

Beware of putting too much effort and energy into “looking” like an artist and too little into making art itself. ~Julia Cameron

Often times I find myself locked into patterns of solitude and busying myself at remaining invisible. These prove to be my most creative times; times that propel me into the direction of my dreams. Times when insights and secret messages are revealed, and seem to be revealing their syllables everywhere I look!

The difference between looking like an artist {or a mom, a writer, business owner} and being one: doing the work.

Do the work.

What is the work? Showing up. Every day. Noticing your patterns; sitting with stillness. Resisting the urge to strive and measure every single day with the ruler of progress. Embracing the concept that baby steps count. That is doing the work.

Putting yourself — wholeheartedly — into the moments of your day. To cease wishin’ and hopin’ … and comparing yourself with other people in your profession, in your circle of friends or family.

Be who you are.

Take control now. Forget about the negative thoughts which others have told you – that you are too old or too young. Stop letting the thoughts of others rule your life; stop being weak and cowardly, blaming your lack of progress on those negative programs. If you begin now and become a do-er, you will have earned your right to remain here. ~Thomas D. Willhite

Be who you are. Because you are amazing. And you have sparkle inside that only you can share with the whole wide world. Because {it} — your personal Next — begins within you.

A work-in-progress generates its own energy field. You, the artist or entrepreneur, are pouring love into the work; you are suffusing it with passion and intention and hope. ~Steven Pressfield

spar·kle/ˈspärkəl/

Acknowledge the sparkle. Allow yourself to sit with the process. Permit it {the process} to take as long as it takes.

Slow and Steady beats Stopped

Watch that inner sparkle multiply and provide you with more sparkle to share with those closest to you, so that they can share it, too … into the whole wide world.

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got. ~Steven Pressfield