guest post // the funny thing of it is

Hi, I'm Julie and I blog over at The Funny Thing Of It Is!

I have a little confession to make, nothing too exciting, most likely over the top ordinary & boring, yet I'm going to put it out there,well, for the sake of this post. ;) I constantly struggle with letting everyone and everything but me define my worth! Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Have you ever done that? I mean, I don't purposely tell myself, "Ok today, you are worth 17 cents, because this person didn't pay attention to you..." or "today you are worth $15 bucks because you got a great compliment!"but nevertheless, I do it in my own little way.

I let my circumstances, comparisons, and the way people treat me...(even if they don't even mean anything by it or realize they did it) define how I feel about myself. And I realize that is SO wrong for SO many reasons. But we all do it at times I think. We let the fact that we live paycheck to paycheck, or that our ex-boyfriend crushed us, or that we had an abusive childhood, or that some super famous blogger didn't respond to us...  suddenly make us feel sort of "unworthy." Unworthy of what? Unworthy of life? Because that's just silly, isn't it?

Yet, I struggle with this, I swear, daily!

I get this overwhelming feeling of "small." I'm just this small person, not worth someone else's precious time or I don't have the big bucks to do certain things I would love to do, so life must immediately be chalked up as boring or mundane.

That's not true.

There are only TWO things that can determine your value:

YOU and GOD!

Well, God created you with intent and purpose.  Have you ever created something you love... and were so proud of your work ....and then just trashed it?

  
No! You created it for a reason and you love your work. It's easy to see what God thinks of us and how much value he places on our lives if you just look...

"She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far Above Rubies or pearls."

(prov. 31:10)

Bur for some reason, we don't want to believe that. We are the ONLY other person that can determine our worth. We can believe what we want to about ourselves! And not only that, but every experience, sadness, rejection, hurt is only a jumping off point to help others and speak value & truth into THEIR lives!

Do you realise that?!

EVERY SINGLE hard time you have been through..

have you been through a miscarriage, have you been broken up with, have people talked bad about you, have you felt neglected or ignored, have you struggled with money, have you lost your job, have you not done as well in school as you would have liked, have your children got into trouble... whatever it is that has got you down...take those experiences... and instead of letting those things eat away at your worth, use them, grow from them, and encourage others who are going through the same things.

Personally I think the highest value is on those who've helped others. Those who have been through all kinds of crap in life, but refuse to let the "crap" define them... and instead they love others. They are an encouragement to others!

And if you use those hard experiences, those rejections as a jumping off point to be a HUGE blessing to another person, then YOUR VALUE is far above what you could ever dream! Especially in the eyes of the person whose life you spoke into. Trust me.

Even this post, is me, taking those bad thoughts about myself, those worthless thoughts, those down and out, guess I'm nobody type thoughts that try to bombard my mind...and I'm turning them around to encourage YOU to do the same thing. You get what I'm saying??

There is PRICELESS TREASURE right there, in You!

Even though I have struggled with this throughout my life, I refuse to let myself be valued in the eyes of another.. or in the eyes of what "I think" another is saying. My heart is to LOVE ON PEOPLE,and make sure they know how precious they are!!

I want to give a HUGE HUGE thanks to Polly, because I met this amazingly creative wife and mother from Wales (who knew I'd ever meet someone from Wales?).. through a re-tweet about an adspace giveaway! And I am so glad I did!

Don't forget to come visit me at The Funny Thing Of It Is, where I blog more encouragement, inspiration, fun and kid stories than I have time for!

Love you all, Julie

 thanks so much julie!! so glad that we met :) please make sure you stop by and say hi to julie - her blog is fantastic!

♥♥ stay in touch! ♥♥ follow this blog ♥♥ twitter ♥♥ facebook ♥♥ shop ♥♥

be who you want

♥

I think there are times that we all envy others. We look, as an outsider, at their life and feel jealous that we are not them. We think that if only we were prettier, smarter, funnier, richer, happier, then everything would be ok. We spend our lifes trying to be who other people want us to be, or at least who we think they want us to be. Seeking our parents approval, our partners, our friends, societies... we do what we think we should. We forget to listen to our own hearts, to seek out who we are and what we want to be.

Not accepting ourselves is harmful and wasteful. Ignoring who we are to focus on what we could be. 

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."

Kurt Cobain

Take some time out, go outside, run around barefoot in the grass. Lie down and watch the clouds float by. Clear your mind and let the real you break free. Remind yourself of you, of the things you love, of the wants you have, of the life you dream of.

And then be you. 100% you... not a watered down version. Forget about treading on someone's toes. Forget about upsetting someone for not following their dream for your life. 

Learn to love yourself unconditionally. Stop telling yourself " If only I were thinner" "If only I were smarter"...  Make a list of all the great things about yourself, all the skills you have, all the achievements you've made. If you're stuck rope in a good friend. Pin it up somewhere you can see it every single day.

Trust yourself... believe that your thoughts and beliefs are valid ~ and hold on to them. Don't change them to make someone else happy.

Don't try and be someone you are not... if you hate group situations, then that's ok. If you prefer staying in to going ok, that's fine. It is ok to be true to yourself, to please nobody buy you, to live the life you choose even if it is different to the 'norm'.

Above all else, remember:

♥

Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Sarah Stevens

 I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Sarah Stevens from {Vie Boheme}

Hi Sarah , tell us a little about yourself. Asides from your blog, what else do you do?

 
Thank you so much for having me beautiful Pixie Polly! I'm honored that you've invited me to your table to chat.

 

Let's see. Right now, I'm a non-traditional student at Portland State University and I'm working on my last year of school before getting my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Practices. I spend the bulk of my time these days researching and working on art projects in the painting studio. But I'm also a photographer & mama to a very special 4 year old named Skye. For the past year, I've been involved in the exciting process of starting my own business, {Vie Boheme} Photography.

Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?

You know--it's funny you should you ask. Eleven years ago I dreamed of attending school to get a degree in art; envisioned myself painting in a studio until late in the night and going to lectures by important contemporary artists. And a couple days ago, as I carried an awkwardly large drawing portfolio and two bags of art supplies across campus, a sudden wave of clarity overtook me.

Not only had I stayed in the studio until 12:30am the previous day, but I had also just recently participated in a lecture by an amazing activist artist! Something about stepping off the curb and looking down the busy Portland street that day was autumn magic. And I finally recognize the truth of my journey--that I am most certainly in the midst of living my dreams.
 

When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going? I adore discussing questions of the heart. My dearest inspirations are art, earth, music, family and friends. They are my soul mates. And, at one time or another, all of these loves and lovers have convinced me to keep fighting the good fight. In the dark times, they chorus my soul's mission of purpose. That I exist for a reason. And that I am here to spread light even in the darkness. Love is nuzzled at the core of everything I do. And I believe that peace will prevail over difficulty, even in my own heart. Most of all, it is my peaceful idealism, a vision of the best of all possible worlds, that keeps me afloat during difficult times.

Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?

When I was 15, I was diagnosed with manic depression. Recently, I was diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD as well. I know fear so intimately that sometimes getting out of bed feels like a battle. But, I refuse to let it rule my life! And, I've learned a host of tools and tricks for keeping my fears in their proper place. In fact, I don't believe fear is something that needs to be overcome at all. It just needs to be firmly guided.

For me, that means cultivating a healthy relationship with my fears. I do my best to stay grounded in practices that nourish my soul. Art. Yoga. Exercise. Organic foods. Time in nature. Time with family. Journaling. Meditation. Lots of water. Good music. Friends. Dancing. Travel. Exploration. Deep breathing. Education.

The more I lean into these practices in my life, the more the fear changes from a thundering loud voice, to just a restless whisper. Of course, she's always there. But, when I'm doing my soul's work, the things that are good for my body and mama earth, I am more inclined to look on my fears with love and patience than with anger or contempt. And, when I listen to my fears lovingly, my decisions regarding her advice are much healthier.
 

What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

Living a life of your dreams means putting everything you've got toward your vision. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Paper cuts. Late nights. All of it! It takes tenacity and the certitude that you are working toward something meaningful. Your inner demons are your worst critics and they will try to get the best of you. Don't let them. Take good care of yourself. The world needs you at your best.

We each only get this one chance at this one particular beautiful life to make it worthwhile. Once you commit to following your heart, you've got to hold onto your dream with everything you've got. Don't ever give up! And always remember that you are gorgeous, brave and as worthy as anyone on this planet to make your wildest dreams come true!  

What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

Definitely Love. Creativity. And connection with nature. If we treat mama earth with love and respect, she showers us with fruit and makes our lives infinitely rich. When we pursue the cosmic creative spark that animates us and all things, we find joys beyond our wildest dreams. And when our hearts are grounded in love, we can heal the world.

 

Where can we connect with you?

Fall quarter has been super busy for me. Unfortunately my online time is limited until December. But, I check my e-mail every day. And you can still connect with me at my blog, {Vie Boheme} and at Light Chasing. Or you can catch me on facebook, twitter, and flickr.

Thanks Sarah!

Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Angie Muldowney

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Angie Muldowney

*Hi Angie , tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, Polly! Well, I'm 41 (*breathe* it's just a number, just a number), I married Mark, a wonderfully geeky, musical man on 9.9.99.

We live (just the two of us) in Southampton; a curious little city on south coast of England and my #1 passion is photography!

I have the city, the sea and a forest on my doorstep and I utilise them all in my photography whenever I can. I am SO lucky as I have an amazing digital SLR and fantastic lenses at my disposal. Not only that but a big family of film cameras, ranging from a huge soviet 'Hasselblad-ski', lomo cameras, antique Brownies, my precious, precious Polaroids and even one I found in a skip (dumpster)!

All my camera gear has been paid for through me selling my photographs. This is good as it allays much of the guilt I would otherwise feel about adopting all these odd an archaic (honestly, I have LOTS). My work is for sale online and in galleries and it's amazing to think that in homes across the globe people have chosen one of MY photos to adorn their walls. Staggering. I love sharing all my photographic adventures on my blog and on flickr. Oh, I love the internet!

Have you always been self employed? And if not how did you make the change?
I have a day job as well as my lovely photography projects to keep me busy, so my days are jam-packed!
For a while I was rather resentful that I had to do a job that wasn't what I loved doing and that I had to give up all my precious time. Now though I've come to see the benefits of separating out what I love doing from what I need to do to pay the bills. I wonder if I might grow a little resentful of my ideas, projects and photos if they were the means to my income - and that maybe I wouldn't experiment as much and stick to safe and known ideas.

That's not to say I wouldn't relish the opportunity and adventure of self-employment but in these difficult financial times I am grateful for the stability I am lucky enough to have. One day!
  

Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?
Ever since I was a child right through to today I have woken each morning with a new idea; a new dream. (I think a person can have too many ideas!) So, in that respect it's probably not the life I dreamt of. Saying that I always knew I wanted to do something artistic so I am pleased that that's a reality. I also dreamt I'd be married to Simon Le Bon and living on a tropical island... these things did not happen.

When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?
The consequence of having lots and lots of ideas is that it doesn't leave too much time for sticking to just one of them and seeing it through to the end! This is what I find most difficult and something I really haven't found an answer for yet. I'm like a light-bulb that's switched on, burning bright with ideas and buzzing with exciting plans.

And then off.

I have no dimmer switch, there's nothing in between.

This is an analogy appropriate for lots of things in my life - all or nothing. When the switch is 'off', when it feels too impossible to write, create or even contemplate picking up a camera I allow myself a day or two off from these things and indulge in different creative worlds. Maybe I'll watch a film, go to an art gallery, listen to new music. Baking, knitting, gardening - things I'm not very good at but that use different bits of my brain. Soon enough though the switch is back on again. Thankfully!

Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?
Sometimes I think I am literally going crazy because of the whirlwind of thoughts and ideas swirling around my brain and I have to be careful that I don't dwell too closely on the reality of what little time I have to try and fulfil all of them. I have to force myself to focus on one thing at a time and visualise the satisfaction I'll get from completing something - and when I DO complete something this is the best thing of all for conquering fears. 

 

What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?
Be gentle with yourself, you'll be your own worst critic so start sharing your creative side with friends and/or online because I promise you the nurturing and loving endorsements you'll receive will become a great sounding board and reality check for you and help you on the road to realising how great you really are!
Oh, and don't hang around, give it a go NOW i.e. if you want to be a photographer be one now, use the camera on your phone, it's about you, not the equipment - same applies to anything creative, a journey starts with one small step,

What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?
I think you need... love. Whether of a person, a place, a hobby, these are all good and important but mainly you need love of yourself.

If you're like me you may find this quite a challenge, but striving towards it is at least is a positive and enriching thing. There are great websites and communities online to help you along this path - check out sites like White Hot Truth (I'm currently working my way through Danielle's wonderful e-book 'The White Hot Truth') and Susannah Conway (I can heartily recommend Susannah's 'Unravelling' e-course).

Where can we connect with you?
Come and check out my blog, I'd love to have you over for coffee and gossip! x
http://www.lemonlight.org

Living Life Your Way....Interview with Pixie Campbell

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Pixie Campbell

Photo by Denise Andrade

*Hi Pixie, tell us a  little about yourself.

 I'm a mama, as well as an artist and writer. I love unlearning about art and life, keeping my creative pot stirring, and surrounding myself with kindred souls to enhance my experience of this beautiful, sacred planet.

*Asides from your blog, what else keeps you busy?

I paint, teach my children, write, collaborate with other artists, garden and travel as much as possible 


*Is the life you lead now, the life you have always dreamt of?

 I didn't really ever have a prescription for a dream life. But I'm very pleased with what I have and what I'm able to do. Once I tearfully and truthfully declared that I wanted to make art all of the time, and began doing it, the rest was easy. 


*When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?

My children inspire me to gather my energy when I feel low on resources. I never feel I have to be perfect for them, but I do try to have energy for them. The same goes for my creative babies. I work with the animals and their teachings in my art, and so I typically run into the ones who want to help me in my personal life-in dreamtime, in nature, in my backyard. I like to study the medicine they bring by observing their habits and how they adapt. I also run about about 12 miles a week, which is just enough to keep negative energy at bay, and if I'm facing a very difficult challenge, I seek bodyworkers, and healers, as well as ask for help from connected souls. Too many years facing difficulty alone has taught me to reach out. There's always some-thing or some-force ready to aid- this I trust. I find that creating anything at all helps to shift stagnant states of being, as well.


*Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?

 I consider myself rather fearless about most things, somehow I have a covenant with trust when fear rears its ugly head. However, when I was pregnant with my first child about six years ago, I was terrified that he would imprint things from my family that would cause him to suffer (as I had). It was my own fear of making mistakes. So out of this terror, I ran in all directions to seek the teachings that would eventually bring me back to trust that I am not my mother, my father, or any of their mistakes. I also accepted, rather religiously, the idea that humans get to make mistakes. Even with our children. And that not allowing mistakes and enduring shame when they do happen (which of course they will) is a recipe for depression and a very conflicted inner life. So a No Mistakes Allowed Ethic is not allowed in our home! :) It's made life so much easier on all of us.

 

*What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

Find many ways to open up to your own intuitive guidance. In the ways of Native Americans, we use a practice called journeywork to meet our inner council and totems which in turn help lead me to the information I need to make choices. When ego learns how to step aside, out of the inner conversation, and we learn to distill the truth from all of the messages swirling within us, we can really do no wrong. I don't believe anything happens without imparting an important teaching just for the individual, so I'd encourage your faithful readers to enjoy life as one long continuum of lessons. And, of course, risk doing what you love instead of doing what you or others think you should do!! To me, its the difference between living life awake instead of asleep due to burying the soul's desires. 


*What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

I would say that's really up to the individual to discover. For me, I feel happiest and most radiant when I'm very comfortable in my own skin. Whatever it takes to be at home within, I try to do that first. I have to live with myself every day, so I may as well learn to like all of my quirky foibles and flaws, as well as my lovely bits. We are all so divine. I do wish every mama and woman could feel it in her bones. Oh, you know, one more thing: Make friends with with women much older than you! They know so much more than we and can be so nurturing when needed.

*Where can we connect with you? 

Blog: www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com
Shop: www.pixiecampbell.etsy.com
Teaching: www.squamartworkshops.com 

Sick and Tired

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I'm sick. Again. 10 days ago I had a nasty cold, and a chesty cough. It kinda went away but not entirely. Yesterday I woke up feeling pretty yucky. This morning I'm still feeling the same. I have no voice. I feel exhausted and run down. My body needs to rest and I need to learn to listen to it. I get sick but I have so much to do that I don't stop and rest. I keep going. Keep pushing myself until I collapse. In the last 2 years, the 3 times I've gotten sick, it's ended up with bad chest infections (twice) and pleurisy (once). I'm not good at admitting that I need rest. That I need help. With 3 children to look after, and home school, a house to run, cleaning, cooking, washing, a million and one activities to go to, blogging, painting etc... I don't have the time to just stop and rest. There isn't really anyone who can take over or step in for a day or two when I'm ill. 

I've been neglecting myself. So focused on all I 'have' to achieve everyday, that I don't have the time to take care of myself. Remember one of my 52 lists on self care? Well I have to admit I haven't been following it. I might have stopped drinking and smoking, I dont' starve myself or binge and purge anymore.... BUT I'm still abusing my body in other ways. I don't fuel it with nourishing foods, I don't give it time to rest or exercise it.

I stay up late working, but with a baby who gets me up around 6am everyday, I really need to get some early nights, as this lack of sleep is clearly making me ill. I need to exercise, and to eat healthily. That last one is the trickiest though. I'm an all or nothing girl. My brain seems to still be hot wired into old ways of thinking left over from my eating disorder days. I start off by just trying to eat healthily, no sugars etc but my brain doesn't stop there and before I know it I'm eating nothing. Zero. Zilch. I don't know how to eat healthily and sensibly. I don't know how to restrict the unhealthy foods without restricting everything. 

I need someway of finding a balance... of being able to cut out certain foods. To learn to nourish my body with the things that it needs.

For today, I am stopping and resting. My husband is home, so in theory there is someone else to keep an eye on the children. I'm going to snuggle on the sofa and do absolutely nothing!!!

Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Jenn Gibson

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Jenn Gibson from Kind Over Matter

*Hi Jenn, tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a photographer and writer, and one-half of the duo that created Kind Over Matter. I like to paint words on rocks and then tell stories of what those words mean to me. I'm a lacto-vegetarian with a healthy obsession for Mexican food and I will never give up cheese, quite possibly because of that. I steal snuggles from Bean the Boy Kitten. Daily parts of my life are paper journaling, talking to my dear sweet momma and sky-gazing. The beach owns me, lock-stock-and-barrel. I'm happier right now than I've ever been before and every day I give thanks for it all.

*What is the inspiration behind Kind Over Matter?

Amanda and I started Kind Over Matter almost two years ago, she had made some printable kind cards for her Etsy shop and sent me a few. We got to talking and decided to make a group on Flickr, to pool all of the photos, then we decided to make a blog. The rest, as they say, is history.

The core of Kind Over Matter is rooted deeply in celebrating the everyday type of kindness, the things that most people don’t actively notice but that make a difference – holding the door open for someone, offering a smile, engaging someone in a quiet kind of conversation, letting them be heard. So often that can make all the difference in someone’s day, I know it has in mine.

*Aside from Kind Over Matter what else do you do?

Mmm, lots of things! I love to make videos and take photos. I’m gathering ideas for my next video and so excited to share it with everyone. I dusted off my blog and have started writing again, sharing my thoughts and parts of my journey, I’ve missed writing so much, it feels amazing to get back to it. I love roadtripping – over the summer I went out to Tennessee and visited my Sister Sara -- so fun! But all of that aside, the main thing I’m doing right now is trying to find balance and I’ve been lucky enough to work with an awesome life coach, Danette has been such a blessing through this discovery period. She’s just the best.

*When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?

Sometimes the only thing that kept me going was the deep-seated belief that tomorrow would be better. Trusting in that and living inside each moment as best as I can, those help when things get tough.

*All of us have our fears, some rule stronger than others. What part has fear played in your life?

Fear has played a huge part in my life. I’ve lived with anxiety since I was 7 and for a very long time it controlled me, it designated where (and if) I went, how long I stayed, what I ate. My dad died when I was 21, for months after that I wouldn’t leave the house, with the sole exception of going to work, if that. I was terrified that something would happen to my family, I needed to be there to take care of them, I had to be there. Breaking out of that frame of mind was so hard and I’m so thankful that I was working with a grief counselor through that period, she was so gentle and careful with me. I was fragile, I was broken and had no idea how to fix things. Until one day, I wanted to drive up to this place outside Baltimore, there were waterfalls and I’d always gone there for a spot of peace. At that time I was living an hour away, so you can imagine how enormous even the thought of doing that was. But I got in my car, shaking and crying the whole way. I got there, stayed for a few minutes and then turned around and went home. I was terrified. I was proud of myself. My first victory, but not my last.

Each victory has been celebrated, each moment held dear.

And because I shared all of that, the beginning and middle, I want to share, not the end, but the present, where things are now. Two years ago I did cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. You see, I get the most wonderful cases of wanderlust and I sometimes need to drive places, far places, to see what’s out there, to experience life somewhere else, for a day or a week. That’s such a fundamental part of who I am. But, I wanted to go other places, overseas, and that required me getting on a plane. Which I’d never done. Which scared me to pieces. I would not get on a plane, even driving to an airport would cause really high levels of anxiety. I wanted this to change, though, I wanted to not live in fear anymore. So I did CBT and things were rolling along merrily, I made tentative plans to fly somewhere, but then I was told I was going to San Diego, for work. I’d have to fly across the country. I was terrified. I was thrilled. I was ready. The picture up at the top of this post, I took this when I was at the Pacific Ocean. This photo shows you how hard I’ve worked for the past 25 years on living with and overcoming anxiety. This photo is my triumph.

*What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

The same thing I tell myself : Be brave, be fearless. We’re only here for a short time, go all out, live without regrets. If you fail, try again, and then try again.

*What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

Oh wow, hard to whittle it down to just three. I’d have to say, for me, those three things are eating really amazing tasty food, honoring my Truths and Values and creating things, anything. Those are the most important.

*Where can we connect with you?

You can find me writing at This Messy Life and Kind Over Matter, on Twitter and Facebook, and Flickr and Vimeo.

Stop over and say hi, I’d love to meet you!

I am enough

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 For a long time, I have felt inadequate as a person. I've felt that nothing about me measures up to any one else. I've spent my life chasing after a version of me that just doesn't exist. I always thought that if I could just be more like 'X' then everything would be fine, or if I do exactly what 'Y' has done then things will work out.

I hated myself so much that I couldn't see any thing good in me, I couldn't see how any one else could like let alone love me. I had no faith in myself, I didn't trust myself to make the right decision, or the confidence to just be myself.

Trying to be someone else has done me no good. I've struggled and struggled through life, hating every inch of myself. Wishing to vanish. The one thing that has slowly started to make a difference in the last 6 months is to accept that I am enough. I don't need to be anyone else, I don't need to do what someone else does, or think what they think, or like what they like. I am on my own path, and I have to stop fighting and start accepting.

I am enough and I am doing my best.
I am enough and I am doing my best.

I am enough and I am doing my best.

Repeating in my head over and over, when I feel stressed or blue or inadequate.

The bad stuff is always easier to believe than the good, and easier to remember too. But I'm giving it up. I don't want to look back on my life with regret. All there is is the here and now. I am me and I am enough. I am not someone else and the path that I am taking is the right one.

The last couple of weeks, I've been feeling unsure about my art. I keep comparing myself to other artists, people who have been working on it for years and years (not months and months). I've been allowing myself to feel inadequate. I've been wondering why I'm even bothering as I'm never going to compete with all that they've achieved.

Then some wise words came in an email to me. A friend saying that as much is her love of creating it's only a PART if her life. That she has no desire to build a huge career out of it. Her words sat with me, and I began to realise that I love painting and creating. It fills my soul with joy, and makes me feel so good. I love my simple life, the fact that I can spend so much time with my 3 girls while they are little. I realised that I don't feel the need to create a huge career out of this. I paint because I love it... and if I can spread some of that love by sharing my art then even better. But I don't need or want to compete with others. They are on their path and I am on mine. And I am happy with where the road is leading....

I AM ENOUGH

Wishcasting Wednesday

I've decided to join in with Jamie Ridler and her 'Wishcasting Wednesdays'

This week she asked:

Where do you wish to grow your confidence?

 I wish to grow confidence in my soul..... to love myself, and to belief in myself. I wish to follow my heart wherever it may lead. 


I wish to go confidently along my path and the courage to take risks along the way.