Maybe you haven’t been able to make your art for 6 months and now feel disconnected from it. Maybe the last painting or sculpture you made wasn’t as good as you imagined. Maybe your last show wasn’t as successful as you had hoped.
Even though these slightly disappointing events occurred in the past, they do, sometimes, have a way of bogging down the present. And if the present is affected then, of course, so is the future. It is so easy to let the not so rosy past bring us down. Why? How can we shift this mindset?
First we have to recognize that something is probably missing. It is the secret sauce needed to not only survive but to prosper. Not just in our art but also in our life.
It is the one essential gift that only we can give to ourselves. It comes from ourselves to ourselves.
It is the gift of Forgiveness.
So your imagined painting didn’t turn out as well as you thought. Forgive yourself. You tried something new and it belly flopped. Forgive yourself. You didn’t sell as many paintings as you desired? Forgive yourself.
Art making – pursuing the creative life is neither simple nor easy. It is a noble pursuit. It is about paying attention. It is about showing yourself to the world even when you might not feel ready.
So practice giving yourself forgiveness. Let go of the notion that your past challenge or difficulty is a reflection or predictor of what can become in the future. In fact those setbacks, those disappointments give you the experience, the feedback to better aim and achieve success in the future. The setbacks are merely adjustments on the way to success.
Every day is new. And so are you.
How do you not let the past affect your future?
Nicholas
20 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
There’s also a positive way to let the past affect the future. In the spiritual practice I do, a core concept is what you can call in English: Being a Constant Learner. You could also call it non-judgmental compassion and curiosity. In other words, if I make a mistake, or things not in my control don’t go the way I want, how can I see it neutrally as an opportunity to learn? Self-forgiveness, yes very important as you say. And then knowing that there is a positive, and/or meaningful lesson in the experience. It has taken me years and I continue to cultivate this stance of learning and keeping an open mind. It’s not easy and– it does work.
I agree, Lisa. Difficult to remain neutral when our hearts are so tangled up in it – but it’s the best way.
I am practicing the same. Be your own best friend😘
It is the foundation of learning.
I agree – we should be tender with ourselves (and others), but I think the term “wabi sabi” sums it all up: Impermanence, imperfection, incompleteness. Art comes from our hearts and feelings are transient. One can’t expect all the art we’ll ever make to just keep getting better and better, ad infinitum. The failures and detours are built-ins and help keep us humble. Without humility, authentic art is impossible.
i love what you are saying here patricia. beautiful.. thankyou
Patricia, thank you. I needed that today!
I agree with Jai, perfectly said…thanks
All this is so true. One might not let this discouraging past affect the future by recalling a positive past experience or success, knowing you did it and can do it again by trying again.
Yes that helps me totally–I just need one success occasionally I can leverage.
I really needed that lesson today, not only for art but for living !! Thank you as always for sharing!
Yes absolutely Dharla
You wrote this article for me, Nick. We moved. It was a huge effort. I have not been painting in 2 months!!!😫 My art studio is not organized yet.!
Now I feel morivated to JUST DO IT.
Just paint, draw, anything to get started again.
Thank you for your spiritual support.
Love Lena
Hey Lena! perfect timing then…cheers! Nice to hear from you
Thank you for this today…..forgive yourself. That is the key to most things in life and most difficult to do. We just have to do it on a minute by minute basis. We forgive others, I guess we figure we are not worthy. Plus, if someone walks in and sees the painting and put in their 2 cents about how it looks, we internalize it and feel crushed…..OK,,,,,got the gesso out and will start painting over it and see what appears!
Or not–sometimes–often people just walking in are wrong..
Thank you. Sometimes they are. And sometimes our inner critic is also wrong.
Such a beautiful post, Nick! Thank you and Namaste.
Summer seems to derail me- social events, gardening, grandchildren off of school, travel- and three paintings sitting on my tables waiting for the next steps. I forgive myself for not being able to juggle everything at once. I am constantly learning.
Not sure I have words of wisdom but it’s definitely hit home. Been exhibiting very successfully for many years until recently , I realised too much if my self worth was getting tied up in that value … then things stopped selling so well, I wanted to change directions, I always do , I’m not a predictable artist .
Decided to return to do a post grad arts course for further stretching and now I’m even more con-fuddled .
I’m not sure whether it’s because I suddenly feel useless or hamstrung but my more recent experiences have definitely contributed . I am a single mum and relied on art sales for a long time to help get on my feet and now ( almost) back to square 1.
Probably not wise words, but perhaps a familiar story to some.