6 simple ways to be kind to your inner artist.

I am always looking outside the box to get to the root of being kind to your self. I think it starts with the thoughts that you have.

Positive thinking is such a huge part of what makes you happy! I feel like when we are positive the universe is sending good things your way! If you are not positive the universe will slowly make you more miserable. You get to choose! 

I have heard it say that for there are 10 negative thoughts about you to 1 positive thought about you! ouch! no wonder we are all a bit miserable! So for heaven sakes let's be kinder to our selves, we deserve it!

It's important to realize that creativity comes from the heart, nothing earthly or materials can change that. Most often than not, it' doesn't matter how much money you have to work with, It's showing up and doing the work.

When I am at my best, either when I am working creatively or being "a mom" I find that literally, It is a "well with my soul" or at peace with the world attitude. I am not thinking about the icky stuff going on in the world, it's an escape for me, and sometimes that is what artist's need, and escape to ground them.

the first painting I love!

I want to be able to share with you some of the things that I have found to help me be kind to my self. OF course, it starts with your thoughts.

Keep a book of affirmations to help you get out of that slump of not feeling like your a very good artist. (I am talking from the heart. I write affirmations a lot during the winter because I need lots of sunshine for my soul to be at peace. So positive thinking helps.

Write your affirmations out daily, post them somewhere you can see them so when you need a confidence boost you have it ready to go.

Do something good in your community. I had the chance to help out my daughter's teacher during Christmas and it was amazing how I felt, something about truly helping someone helps you feel better about yourself.

This painting came to me when I was serving in my church!

Create something daily, You can't get better if you don't practice right? Some of the best books helped me understand that it's not always the outcome, it's the process:  Art Before Breakfast, Steal like an Artist, Your Inner Critic is a big Jerk, Creative block : get unstuck, discover new ideas : advice and projects from 50 successful artists

Here is  Danielle Krysa talking about her book, You Inner Critic is a Big Jerk

Do something non "art" that you love. I call them Artist's dates, I got the idea from The Artist's way and it's a great way to get in touch with your artist.

Art Journal, I have to say I was a critic for a long time before I created an art journal, and I have found that Art journaling had helped my inner artist feel more confident. There is no right or wrong way to art journal. Here are some of the art journalists I love following: Dina Wakley, Dawn Sokol 

These simple acts to be kind to yourself really doesn't take much time, I know these are tried and true ways to help you be kind to yourself because I live with negative thoughts every day.

 I think: I am never going to be good enough for ____________. That isn't true, how do I know? I don't know because I haven't tried yet.

painting from memory always helps me feel at peace!

For the first 6 years of my daughter's life I completely shut out creativity, I did some odd end creative stuff if I "had" too, but never picked up a paintbrush in those 6 years, it was slowly killing my soul. I knew I was born to create more than just a "family" I needed a paintbrush in my hand every day!

bubble printing with my kids! 

loose watercolor flower that makes me happy!

While reading The Artist's way and learned that I had to find a way to release my creativity or I would be a miserable person that no one would want to be around, including my family. So I put my big girl pants on and decided to create every morning and every night when my kids were sleeping. That wasn't enough, I eventually started creating with my kids, we do art projects and have fun collaborating. Art really does wash away the dust of this world, in a way I never dreamed it would be.

So in essence, being kind to your inner artist is all about loving your self, and treating your artist with patience and love, as if you were treating it like a child that needs lots of love, nurturing and caring for.