“Everything has been figured out, except how to live.” — Jean-Paul Sartre
You have one life. You are the artist. Don’t just make life work, you make it a masterpiece. When you are the artist of your life, it reminds you constantly that your life is your responsibility. Give it all you’ve got.
You can’t truly express yourself, until you’ve found your voice: the tone, style, tenor, pitch, personality you use to express yourself without fear or reservation. The greatest and most important adventure of our lives is discovering who we really are and spending time doing what brings out the best in us.
Experiment boldly
How we choose what we do, and how we approach it…will determine whether the sum of our days adds up to a formless blur, or to something resembling a work of art. — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Embrace experimentation. The world has come this far because a few people dared to try. Dared to dream. We thrive on change but hate change. The only way forward is change, but change it hard. You can’t make, create, do or start anything worthwhile if you are not willing to experiment. Find inspiration from the greats. Start exploring what’s possible and make every move in that direction.
The only way to succeed is to try. You can’t make, create, do or start anything worthwhile if you are not willing to experiment. Nobody gets it right the first time. Artists experiment different ideas until they find what works for them. Try and err.
The painter Willem de Kooning used to wrap his paintings in newspaper between sessions, which kept the paint from drying out. This had an inadvertent effect of transferring some of the print into the painting. He liked the effect, so he utilized it and produced great effect in subsequent paintings.
Clarity of purpose keeps creativity on track
I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream. — Vincent Van Gogh
Begin with the end in mind. Artists begin their most awesome work with purpose and a clear idea of what they expect. They have some kind of idea about what they want to create, whether it’s a song, a poem, a painting or a movie.
Artists start with a clear idea of what they wants to create, a brilliant image shining in their minds. One brush stroke or note at a time until the painting or music is complete. Once all the peices are put together, it comes alive for other people to see and experience.
Focus on developing your craft
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.”― Lao Tzu
Everything meaningful in life takes time and perseverance. One of the greatest impediments to living a fulfilling life is our impatience, the almost inevitable desire to hurry up the process, express something, and make a quick splash. Artists don’t work like that.
Leonardo began work on the Mona Lisa in 1503 and continued to make changes to it through 1506. He re-worked the painting until 1517.
If you want to be the best at anything, you need to value the process. The value of practice can have profound effects on your career.
When you practice something — anything — you improve, you grow, you advance, you gain a skill and heaps of confidence in the process, because you get better with time.
You’ll suck at most things in the beginning. And that’s okay. It takes time, persistence, and patience to create your most amazing work. Keep on trying.
Challenge your boundaries
‘Don’t limit your challenges; challenge your limits.’ — Jerry Dunn
Think of the mind as a muscle that naturally tightens up over time unless it is consciously worked upon. Your personal growth significantly depends on new challenges and activities. Tackle the fear that has kept you from living your best life. Your mind has a way of rising to the occasion. Challenge it, and it will reward you.
Challenge your mind — even making it a little uncomfortable by pushing yourself to learn tasks that may not come naturally. Most things seems impossible until they are done. Give yourself permission to think and act beyond the usual.
Great life, work or art, like a healthy financial portfolio, takes time to mature. Your best work and life is ahead of you and will emerge with patient attention, time, and strategic action. Go get it!
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