Category: human development

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Goals…Discouragement or Motivation?

One of the most difficult things for me to deal with is to fail to meet a goal. Not particularly when I procrastinate and run out of time, or begin but never finish, but whenever I put all of my time and energy into a project, finish it, but fail to get the results I had expected and hoped for. Being a bit of a perfectionist in some things, I usually expect that if I work on something hard enough it will be a success, so when it doesn’t, I have a problem!

Many times in the studio I become discouraged for this reason. In working toward my artistic goals, I often must remind myself of the importance in finding a balance between the artistic expression of an idea and certain end goals, such as entering exhibits and selling pieces. While professional artists engage in many tasks related to running a business, the skills are not always taught in colleges and must be acquired after graduation on their own. So, at times discouragement and self-doubt creeps in and hinders creative and professional development.

Backing Lifeweaving #3
A Studio Goal: Lifeweavings #3, Quilt the Top, Finish Details and Photograph...Enter Into a Juried Exhibit.

As my week begins there are previous projects to finish and new tasks to begin. I plan to turn on music (instrumental, no vocals), focus, and quilt Lifeweaving #3. For awhile I need to push myself to create many art pieces of various sizes, experiment with techniques, and play around with ideas–with less concern about the end goals. Some research shows that this approach results in more creative outcomes than working very slowly on only a few pieces. Perhaps it frees the creative, right-brain processes or just allows for a break and new motivation to continue.

Though disappointing at times, I need to continue working and realize that perhaps not all goals are meant to be met…

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New Beginnings, Renewed Hope

Why is it the beginning of things, such as a new week, a new notebook, or a new school year, can serve to bring us renewed hope? Has life really changed or is it our expectations and attitudes that change? Instead of feeling hopeless and in a rut, do we think of possibilities and believe that new opportunities can occur?

Blog Post
Studio Goal #1: Posting a New Blog Article...

I actually believe it is some of both…while the differences in the new maybe small, the resulting new actions and activities can make a huge difference in our outcomes. For example, with the new week we may reassess our goals and schedules, organize our workspace, and proceed in a different manner, thus achieving different accomplishments. 

Layering Wall Hanging
Studio Goal #2: Layering and Quilting This Wall-hanging...

With a new notebook, looking at a clean, unmarked page of paper may provide an uncluttered space to write down our thinking, thus providing clarity to our confusion. With a new school semester, being around a new group of people, having a new teacher to guide our learning, and considering new subjects and activities may give us new experiences and, thus gaining new confidence that comes from testing our ability to learn new skills.

So beginning this new week with new goals and new expectations, there is renewed hope that the work I do will be of value and the time spent will have new possibilities, results and opportunities…

Backing Lifeweaving #3
Studio Goal #3: Adding the Backing Fabric to Lifeweavings #3, Quilt the Top, and Finish Details and Photographing...Hoping to Enter This Into a Juried Exhibit This Fall.


*What new beginnings help you in your work, life, and/or creative process?

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Family Fridays…Life Transitions or “Moving Our World”

Wednesday was move-in day at the local university, as well as the first day of class for the public schools.

Moving InWatching parents of college freshman sit in long lines of traffic to reach the dorms and overhearing parents of young children discuss taking their children to their first day of school were reminders of some of the transitions that families face during their lifecourse.

I often ponder the idea of transitions, or changes, required in our own individual, as well as our family’s, lifetime. Sometimes this involves an actual move from one location to another, though at other times it is a life change that moves our worlds–or life as we have known it. For example, going to college, getting married, starting a career, having a baby, children growing up and leaving home, or aging parents becoming ill. While some people change and adjust more easily, many seem to resist and have difficulty making the changes smoothly without first thinking, questioning, and finally resolving the challenges that are inherent even with changes we actually want!

According to Froma Walsh, flexibility and the ability to adapt are key factors in individual and family resilience. Resilience is the ability to meet challenges and stress in ways that not only allow us to cope but even gain something positive from the experience. Not that we tend to seek out these experiences but life just seems to naturally contain them!

So why the resistance? I believe it depends, at least in part, on the timing of the transitions. When we are rested, healthy, and ready to take on the world, it seems easier to be flexible and adapt. When we are in need of rest, recuperation, and renewal, the extra challenges require of us strengths we may feel we do not have at the moment.

Moving

While helping a friend move from their apartment, I was reminded of all of the times I have moved and how much energy it required to sort, pack, and change the organization of my daily life. Things I normally had in a specific place and knew automatically where they were was disrupted and everything took more time to accomplish. Things like, Where is the soap?, …the stamps to mail a letter?–or even, Where is the post office itself?!  Of course, with time we learn these things, reorganize our living spaces, and return to some sense of normalcy…                                                                                                                                                        but good or bad, some things remain different and a transition has been made…                                                                                                                   our worlds have been moved.

*What have you found is helpful in making transitions?

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