Looking Back to Move Forward

Do you ever look back at your old blog posts?  I do.  It's interesting to read where I was even a month ago in my thinking about creativity and to reflect upon what impact my new ideas or resolutions have made in my creative life.  A month ago I wrote that I was going to slow down and enjoy what I was painting.  In looking at my previous month's blog posts I realized that there was a lot of emphasis on getting better. There is nothing wrong with becoming a better painter or writer or singer or dancer. But for me when the goal is to get better, the joy seems less.  I am finding that when the intention is to enjoy what I am doing I don't even worry about getting better.  Instead of criticizing my work I find myself noticing what I like about the painting or the blog post.  I also know that when I feel positive about what I am creating I want to create more.  I am inspired to try something new just for fun or to learn a new technique not because I need to get better but because learning and growing are a part of who I am.  
The words that we speak to ourselves make a huge difference in the way we live our lives. Now when I paint I remind myself that I want to feel joy and to have fun. And if in the process I happen to get even a little bit better that will just be icing on the cake.

                   When you share your gifts and talents with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                                              Ginny