How to live well: invest in yourself

Take the time to listen

Finding out in which direction you want to move your life is a completely creative process in itself. How do you decide what you would like to do or what you do well? There are a variety of activities you can try that can spark your imagination. So take some time and do a little research on MS. Ask yourself questions. For instance:

• Do you remember what you wanted to be as a child?

• Did you have a skill at some point in your life that a loved one or well-meaning authority figure discouraged you from doing?

• Has there been something you always wanted to try?

• What was your favorite class in high school?

• Did you get a college degree in something you have never been able to find work for?

This process can be simple or complex, depending on how much you know about yourself. A great way to measure your progress and remember ideas is to keep a journal or notebook. Many believe that if you write down your goals, you will be more likely to meet them.

Once you begin to develop an idea of ​​which direction you are excited about, try to imagine yourself living in your new life. Write a full day, describe where it happens, indoors or out, or what your perfect environment looks like. If it’s easier, cut out pictures from magazines or take pictures of places where you would like to live and work. I give suggestions for specific creative activities to help you visualize and imagine the future you want in Make Art, Be Happy: How to Live Well Increasing Creativity and Improving Your Life.

Make room to make art

Now that you have discovered what it is that you would like to do, or what you love to do and do well, start making room in your life for it. Choose a closet, an empty room, the corner of the kitchen table, or whatever space you feel comfortable and safe in. Use that space consistently to pursue your dreams. This is where you sit down and start making lists of all the little activities that will accomplish your goals. This is where you work out all the details and imagine exactly what your new life will look and feel like. If you can imagine it in your head and / or describe it on paper, you can make it come true too.

Learning something new

What do you do if you have an idea of ​​what you want, but don’t know how to achieve it? You educate yourself by finding a mentor who already does what you want to do and / or researching everything you can about it on the Internet. Ask questions! There are no stupid questions, and generally most experts love to share their knowledge. Read trade or industry magazines or join a club associated with what you would like to learn. Find out what works and what doesn’t. Don’t let a lack of knowledge keep you from achieving your dreams!

From the information you collect, create a step-by-step roadmap of all the things you need to do to change your life and / or work on what you love. It may not be easy. I have chased my dreams my whole life and I have struggled at times. But guess that? I make a living from art and writing, the things I’ve always loved and done well.

Building a support network

If you’ve ever been put off by well-meaning or light-hearted comments from loved ones or respected ones, you know how overwhelming it can be. But more than that, these kinds of comments can make your own in-house editor exclaim, “See? I told you you weren’t good at this!”

Many of you struggle with an internal and / or external lack of self-confidence. This is, in part, the left side of the brain that insists that everything makes sense, is clearly and easily understood, and if not, causes fear. You must commit to thinking positively. If you have found someone else who is living your dream, then you may be living it too. And to contribute to this positive thinking, surround yourself with a network of people who admire your work, respect what you do and encourage you.

So don’t be afraid to change your life. You only have one!