I'm trying to START my poor art journal. So much I want to try, and then I can't find the courage to put brush to paper. Argh! I keep meaning to do it, but then I revert into "safer" creative pursuits, like drawing something, working on beads- anything that already has its process and doesn't feel foreign to me. I know I need to dive in, but I'm scared. Isn't that crazy? – Chel
Chel I know what you mean! I'm the same way! I am afraid to let go! Afraid of destroying what I've made instead of just letting go! How do you do it? How do you let go! – Mie
That's from the comments section of yesterday's post on art journaling.
Every success I've ever had has been full of failure.
Falling down is a part of learning to walk. Failure teaches us what not to do and the next time we try, we're better equipped to succeed.
It is not an easy thing to embrace failure.
But sometimes fear of failure is simply fear of the unknown.
If you've been fired and then managed to find a new job, you no longer fear being fired because you know you can still succeed.
It doesn't mean that it's not scary. But remember what FDR said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Don't let the fear of "messing up" or "ruining it" stop you. Those are mental handcuffs.
I still get scared when I look at something pretty and contemplate another layer. But when I start feeling those butterflies of "oh no," I force myself to cut it, cover it, and move on.
I truly believe that the only failure is failing to try.
And once you're willing to give it a try, there's just one more hurdle.
Perfection should never be a goal.
I think we're all taught to be "good" at some point. Whether it's direct instruction from our parents or teachers as to what "good" is or it's indirect instruction based on rewards (i.e. people ooo-and-aaah or we get an "A").
I do believe that successful people set goals, but I also believe that they set their own goals. No one else's reaction or expectations should determine your goals.
But that's really hard. Like really, really, really difficult.
We all crave the approval of others. But remember that Van Gogh sold only one painting in his life.
Try to make the goal of your art journaling page simply to do it. Just the act of doing it is enough.
Don't feel the need to go back and "fix" it. Let mistakes live right next to successes. They'll help you learn. You'll see your progress.
For me, art journaling is freedom.
Don't let the voice inside your head win.
Fail gloriously, my friends. Fail gloriously!
I so agree with you, Julie! Perfection should never be a goal!! But indeed…it is so difficult…Thanks for sharing these thoughts. It helps!
I so agree with you, Julie! Perfection should never be a goal!! But indeed…it is so difficult…Thanks for sharing these thoughts. It helps!
I so agree with you, Julie! Perfection should never be a goal!! But indeed…it is so difficult…Thanks for sharing these thoughts. It helps!
I so agree with you, Julie! Perfection should never be a goal!! But indeed…it is so difficult…Thanks for sharing these thoughts. It helps!
Definitely words of wisdom… thanks for sharing! We can’t be afraid to take that step…go for it!!!
Definitely words of wisdom… thanks for sharing! We can’t be afraid to take that step…go for it!!!
Definitely words of wisdom… thanks for sharing! We can’t be afraid to take that step…go for it!!!
Definitely words of wisdom… thanks for sharing! We can’t be afraid to take that step…go for it!!!
You’re so right, and I try to tell myself these things when I get stuck or am just afraid to go for it. You are so sweet to take the time to share this with us! Thank you!!!
You’re so right, and I try to tell myself these things when I get stuck or am just afraid to go for it. You are so sweet to take the time to share this with us! Thank you!!!
You’re so right, and I try to tell myself these things when I get stuck or am just afraid to go for it. You are so sweet to take the time to share this with us! Thank you!!!
You’re so right, and I try to tell myself these things when I get stuck or am just afraid to go for it. You are so sweet to take the time to share this with us! Thank you!!!
you are right….so right…forget the rules…one by one…step by step…thanks…
you are right….so right…forget the rules…one by one…step by step…thanks…
you are right….so right…forget the rules…one by one…step by step…thanks…
you are right….so right…forget the rules…one by one…step by step…thanks…
A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked Perfection.
Donald Kennedy
The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis’.
Winston Churchill
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Anna Quindlen
You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.
Barbara Sher
Quotes worth contemplating
Carina
A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked Perfection.
Donald Kennedy
The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis’.
Winston Churchill
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Anna Quindlen
You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.
Barbara Sher
Quotes worth contemplating
Carina
A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked Perfection.
Donald Kennedy
The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis’.
Winston Churchill
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Anna Quindlen
You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.
Barbara Sher
Quotes worth contemplating
Carina
A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked Perfection.
Donald Kennedy
The maxim ‘Nothing but perfection’ may be spelled ‘Paralysis’.
Winston Churchill
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Anna Quindlen
You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.
Barbara Sher
Quotes worth contemplating
Carina
TFS these thoughts Julie and wonderful quotes Carina.
TFS these thoughts Julie and wonderful quotes Carina.
TFS these thoughts Julie and wonderful quotes Carina.
TFS these thoughts Julie and wonderful quotes Carina.
Thank you so much for your respons! It makes a lot of sense.
Since I was a child my parents just wanted the best for me and of me. In the beginning I was like, who cares? But as I got older I wanted to be the best at everything I did, no matter what. I wanted to be the best soldier – did that and got injured. ( And yes I’m a girl). Then I had to finde something new and I got and education as “A cold chef” So I got to be creative in the kitchen, then I fell down mentally, because of a new injury and I was told 2 months ago I will never be able to go back into the business. Everytime I have tried to be perfect I got hurt, so now I need to learn to not be perfect and just go for it, but I’m afraid! Because I start to think, what if the things I make a ugly? What if it’s not good enough? I’m afraid of showing people things I make! I know it might not give any sense, but my brain is a bit weird at times! :o)
But this weekend I’m going on a trip with my family and I’ll take my notebook and just scribble down what’s in my head! I’ll get back to you on how it goes! :o)
Hugs Mie
Sorry if my english isn’t all that good, but I try
Thank you so much for your respons! It makes a lot of sense.
Since I was a child my parents just wanted the best for me and of me. In the beginning I was like, who cares? But as I got older I wanted to be the best at everything I did, no matter what. I wanted to be the best soldier – did that and got injured. ( And yes I’m a girl). Then I had to finde something new and I got and education as “A cold chef” So I got to be creative in the kitchen, then I fell down mentally, because of a new injury and I was told 2 months ago I will never be able to go back into the business. Everytime I have tried to be perfect I got hurt, so now I need to learn to not be perfect and just go for it, but I’m afraid! Because I start to think, what if the things I make a ugly? What if it’s not good enough? I’m afraid of showing people things I make! I know it might not give any sense, but my brain is a bit weird at times! :o)
But this weekend I’m going on a trip with my family and I’ll take my notebook and just scribble down what’s in my head! I’ll get back to you on how it goes! :o)
Hugs Mie
Sorry if my english isn’t all that good, but I try
Thank you so much for your respons! It makes a lot of sense.
Since I was a child my parents just wanted the best for me and of me. In the beginning I was like, who cares? But as I got older I wanted to be the best at everything I did, no matter what. I wanted to be the best soldier – did that and got injured. ( And yes I’m a girl). Then I had to finde something new and I got and education as “A cold chef” So I got to be creative in the kitchen, then I fell down mentally, because of a new injury and I was told 2 months ago I will never be able to go back into the business. Everytime I have tried to be perfect I got hurt, so now I need to learn to not be perfect and just go for it, but I’m afraid! Because I start to think, what if the things I make a ugly? What if it’s not good enough? I’m afraid of showing people things I make! I know it might not give any sense, but my brain is a bit weird at times! :o)
But this weekend I’m going on a trip with my family and I’ll take my notebook and just scribble down what’s in my head! I’ll get back to you on how it goes! :o)
Hugs Mie
Sorry if my english isn’t all that good, but I try
Thank you so much for your respons! It makes a lot of sense.
Since I was a child my parents just wanted the best for me and of me. In the beginning I was like, who cares? But as I got older I wanted to be the best at everything I did, no matter what. I wanted to be the best soldier – did that and got injured. ( And yes I’m a girl). Then I had to finde something new and I got and education as “A cold chef” So I got to be creative in the kitchen, then I fell down mentally, because of a new injury and I was told 2 months ago I will never be able to go back into the business. Everytime I have tried to be perfect I got hurt, so now I need to learn to not be perfect and just go for it, but I’m afraid! Because I start to think, what if the things I make a ugly? What if it’s not good enough? I’m afraid of showing people things I make! I know it might not give any sense, but my brain is a bit weird at times! :o)
But this weekend I’m going on a trip with my family and I’ll take my notebook and just scribble down what’s in my head! I’ll get back to you on how it goes! :o)
Hugs Mie
Sorry if my english isn’t all that good, but I try
Your last statement, to fail gloriously, made an image of a gallery of sorts pop into my mind. A safe place for us to post images of our own glorious ‘failures’ with a chance to say, “Well darn, that didn’t go like I’d planned. OOPS!”
Your last statement, to fail gloriously, made an image of a gallery of sorts pop into my mind. A safe place for us to post images of our own glorious ‘failures’ with a chance to say, “Well darn, that didn’t go like I’d planned. OOPS!”
Your last statement, to fail gloriously, made an image of a gallery of sorts pop into my mind. A safe place for us to post images of our own glorious ‘failures’ with a chance to say, “Well darn, that didn’t go like I’d planned. OOPS!”
Your last statement, to fail gloriously, made an image of a gallery of sorts pop into my mind. A safe place for us to post images of our own glorious ‘failures’ with a chance to say, “Well darn, that didn’t go like I’d planned. OOPS!”
Thank you…this post was very inspiring to me…I may print it out and add it the tack-board above my desk to remind me to just try…
Thank you…this post was very inspiring to me…I may print it out and add it the tack-board above my desk to remind me to just try…
Thank you…this post was very inspiring to me…I may print it out and add it the tack-board above my desk to remind me to just try…
Thank you…this post was very inspiring to me…I may print it out and add it the tack-board above my desk to remind me to just try…
So well said Julie! Living on the edge of failure is the only way to grow. But if we change our perspective to realize that every action is an opportunity to learn something new (even if it’s what NOT to do again) then there IS no failure – only opportunities. 🙂
We are always our worst critics and it’s not easy to remember that we are ALL artists and every artist has their own unique voice. Your work will never look like someone else’s because you are YOU not someone else. And that’s a great thing!
So well said Julie! Living on the edge of failure is the only way to grow. But if we change our perspective to realize that every action is an opportunity to learn something new (even if it’s what NOT to do again) then there IS no failure – only opportunities. 🙂
We are always our worst critics and it’s not easy to remember that we are ALL artists and every artist has their own unique voice. Your work will never look like someone else’s because you are YOU not someone else. And that’s a great thing!
So well said Julie! Living on the edge of failure is the only way to grow. But if we change our perspective to realize that every action is an opportunity to learn something new (even if it’s what NOT to do again) then there IS no failure – only opportunities. 🙂
We are always our worst critics and it’s not easy to remember that we are ALL artists and every artist has their own unique voice. Your work will never look like someone else’s because you are YOU not someone else. And that’s a great thing!
So well said Julie! Living on the edge of failure is the only way to grow. But if we change our perspective to realize that every action is an opportunity to learn something new (even if it’s what NOT to do again) then there IS no failure – only opportunities. 🙂
We are always our worst critics and it’s not easy to remember that we are ALL artists and every artist has their own unique voice. Your work will never look like someone else’s because you are YOU not someone else. And that’s a great thing!
Thank you. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
You know what? Because of this, I made my first art journal page. I have to admit, I relied a bit on processes and practices that I already had- layout techniques from my days of scrapbooking, and my need for blank space and organization. A grid. I even used chipboard letters (but I painted them!) But it was something- it was a start! And now I have nowhere to go but forward.
Thank you for helping me get that first page done. You have no idea what it means to me!
Thank you. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
You know what? Because of this, I made my first art journal page. I have to admit, I relied a bit on processes and practices that I already had- layout techniques from my days of scrapbooking, and my need for blank space and organization. A grid. I even used chipboard letters (but I painted them!) But it was something- it was a start! And now I have nowhere to go but forward.
Thank you for helping me get that first page done. You have no idea what it means to me!
Thank you. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
You know what? Because of this, I made my first art journal page. I have to admit, I relied a bit on processes and practices that I already had- layout techniques from my days of scrapbooking, and my need for blank space and organization. A grid. I even used chipboard letters (but I painted them!) But it was something- it was a start! And now I have nowhere to go but forward.
Thank you for helping me get that first page done. You have no idea what it means to me!
Thank you. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
You know what? Because of this, I made my first art journal page. I have to admit, I relied a bit on processes and practices that I already had- layout techniques from my days of scrapbooking, and my need for blank space and organization. A grid. I even used chipboard letters (but I painted them!) But it was something- it was a start! And now I have nowhere to go but forward.
Thank you for helping me get that first page done. You have no idea what it means to me!
Chel
Good for you!
Chel
Good for you!
Chel
Good for you!
Chel
Good for you!
Thank you for this post! I needed to read this about now – so it was perfect timing
Thank you for this post! I needed to read this about now – so it was perfect timing
Thank you for this post! I needed to read this about now – so it was perfect timing
Thank you for this post! I needed to read this about now – so it was perfect timing
Wow, so inspiring! I even read it to my husband! it’s just what we need!
Not only for journaling but for life itself!
Thank you so much!!!
Wow, so inspiring! I even read it to my husband! it’s just what we need!
Not only for journaling but for life itself!
Thank you so much!!!
Wow, so inspiring! I even read it to my husband! it’s just what we need!
Not only for journaling but for life itself!
Thank you so much!!!
Wow, so inspiring! I even read it to my husband! it’s just what we need!
Not only for journaling but for life itself!
Thank you so much!!!
Awesome post, Julie. I’m printing it out to paste into my journal. 😀
Awesome post, Julie. I’m printing it out to paste into my journal. 😀
Awesome post, Julie. I’m printing it out to paste into my journal. 😀
Awesome post, Julie. I’m printing it out to paste into my journal. 😀