Living a FearFULL Life

Yes, it's Halloween this week
 and I just had to get a little spooky. 

I admitted to you recently that I am a big ole coward. The truth is, I really can't stand anything Halloween-ish if it's even a teeny bit scary. I get scared pretty easily. 

But I do live a life full of fear on a regular basis. The Art Nurture Journey puts me face to face with my fears. In my last post I talked about why I love my art  (you can read the full post here). I love my art because it causes me to get real and become more authentic. 

Also, trying to make a thing is scary. Putting yourself out there and sharing that thing you just made is even scarier. You open yourself up to criticism. You open yourself up to failure.

Just like anyone else, I fear criticism & failure. 

That fear is powerful. It has the power to freeze you up and keep you from working and keep you from sharing that work. It can freeze you for days, weeks, months, even years!

So what do you do?

Many of us are familiar with the Eleanor Roosevelt quote of, "Do one thing every day that scares you."

In my FearFULL life, I have developed a policy that goes as follows: Feel the fear and then do it anyway. 

Thanks, Eleanor, I hope I am not letting you down.

This coward right here has cried and said the words, "I'm not sure I can do this. I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this"  within the last week. No joke. 

I reached out to a knowledgable friend who could help me through my creative problem (Yes, I utilize my community like HAH!) and then used the struggle as an opportunity to recommit to my learning process. 

I kept at it in the face of fear of failure.

Yeah, that's right...in it's face. 

Ok, admittedly sometimes I am tentative and shy in my facing of fear. But several days later, after recommitting to the particular creative process I had been struggling with and showing up to it daily, I am in a new place. 

I have learned more and with any creative process, knowledge is powerful. Perspective is powerful also. Knowing that you faced fear and lived to tell about it...that is personally empowering as well. 

So when fear pops up. I expect it. 

Yes, on my Art Nurture Journey, fear has become a companion. Fear jumps in the passenger side and I say, "Just so you know, we're going anyways."

Fear tries to tell me that no one cares about my work. 
Fear tells me that my Art will not make a difference. 
Fear tells me that someone else could do it better.
Fear tells me I am wasting my time. 
Fear tells me it will cost too much money and bring in none. 
Fear tells me I stink in comparison. 

I nod. 

Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Yep. That list sounds about right. 

And then I proceed.

I equip myself with knowledge.

I invest time. 

I show up daily.

I live FULLY and embrace the fact that most stuff worth doing ain't easy. Can I get an 'Amen'? 

This week I challenge you to do your thing. I challenge you to pursue your Art. I challenge you to commit to doing it in the face of fear. If you know those thoughts, call them out and tell them that they are welcome to be there, but that you are going anyway. 

After all, you get to decide. 

I want to hear from you! Please, let me know your thoughts on this in the comments below.

If you are loving this, please share it with those you believe would love it too.

Art Nurture is about being fully alive and living life with the soul of an artist. A life filled with passion, intention, and purpose. Thanks so much for your time and your presence.
 
Cultivate & Nurture, 
Court McCracken

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