Art Nurture

Reason #2 Why the World Needs You to be an Artist: The world needs to be greeted by people who have a spark in their eye and a bounce in their step.

11/13/2013

You may remember my original post that included this list:

The Top 17 Reasons Why The World Needs
You to be an Artist

Reason #2
The world needs to be greeted by people who have a spark in their eye
and a bounce in their step.

I'll be the first to say, it is impossible to always be happy, happy, happy.

Some days we are just tired.
Some days we are sick.
Some days we have been pushed way too hard at work.
Some days people ask a whole heck of a lot from us and we just don't know how much more we can give.

I am not saying we have to be Mary Poppins all of the time, with a twinkle in our eye and a "hop-to-it" kind of attitude.

When I reference that spark in your eye and that bounce in your step, those things are a result of something deeper.

In Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity, I talk about living life with the soul of an artist; with passion, intention, & purpose.

I go on to explain that passion is the fire inside of us.
Purpose is our reason or meaning.
Intention is where we put it into action.

These qualities come with a resilience or buoyancy to pick yourself back up after a bad day and to keep on with it all! These qualities bring you back to that place of spark!

I tell you, the last year for me has been a beautiful & wild one.

I have learned a lot about managing time & big projects, sickness and stress, the joys of living passionately and doing work you are proud of...these things are all rolled in together. Life ebbs and flows. So does our creative energy. So does our art.

You can't always rely on being in a good mood to get things done or feeling the highest levels of inspiration all the time.

But coming back to these deeper, more important qualities...
Where does my passion lie?
What is my deeper purpose behind it?
Where & how will I put these things into action with focused intention?

The spark is there.

The bounce will come back.

Don't beat yourself up (p.s. I am talking to myself!) for not "feeling it" all the time.

Embrace where you are.
Come back to the deeper reasons behind.
Trust that tomorrow may be more spark filled.

A short anecdote from my life yesterday....

I was stressed. I was not feeling my best. I was on a tight deadline.
The people at the shipping store where I was trying to package a piece of my artwork were busy. I had a list of specifications for how the work had to be packaged. I also had no time to wait. Ick!

Two of the employees there saw where I was at...once they saw me there, they shifted into spark and bounce mode. They quickly packaged my artwork, according to my weird artist list of specifications. They smiled at me. They seriously helped me out.

They made my day.

The beauty is, they did this all not knowing if I would be grateful or reply to them in kindness. They just did it. Truthfully, I really needed that right then.
So, it can't always be me with the spark and the bounce.

But if we are all moving towards being aware of this, we are in store for a more artful world filled with a great deal of beauty.

Today I brought them chocolate chip cookies.

This is why Reason #2 made my list of The Top 17 Reasons Why the World Needs You to be an Artist.

I would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below!

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As always, keep nurturing and cultivating,
Court

p.s. Order your copy of Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity here!

There will also be an Art Nurture BOOK CLUB beginning in January, FREE to sign up!
Included will be a weekly call and a private Facebook Group for all book club members. I will guide you through each of the 7 sections of Art Nurture: The Simple Guide to Cultivating Your Creativity and we will have the support of a lovely community!
Go ahead and get on the list to reserve your spot in the BOOK CLUB!

22 Comments

Nicola link

11/14/2013 09:53:01 am

Ooh... this is so true Court! Some days just aren't sparkin' and that so OK! When I paint, it feels like it's coming from somewhere else, like I am the observer of what is happening. If I try to force some sort of spark, I'm only getting in the way of the whole process! A humbling lesson. I love your blog and your courageous message Court! xxx

Court link

11/14/2013 12:42:14 pm

Nicola,
I love your description of what it feels like when you paint...beautiful! Thanks so much for hanging out here at Art Nurture : )

Erin Chumas link

11/14/2013 03:55:58 pm

Loved this! It's hard to always be looked to as the sparkly, optimistic person that's going to bring in the sunshine and fun… because as you beautifully wrote, some moments just aren't fun. Thanks for the wonderful reminder that it's all about ebb and flow, give and take. Sometimes we just gotta hand over the reigns to someone else and allow them to bring in the sunshine!

11/15/2013 08:12:38 am

Absolutely, Erin! The world needs each of us to have that deeper spark, because sometimes we can't bring it ourselves and we need to be met with that in others as well! Sometimes it can't be me, sometimes I need you, you know?!

Holly Sugrue link

11/15/2013 09:38:44 am

It's easy to lose that spark when you are caught up in the things in life that task us. I loved your story about how the employees helped you even thought they didn't know what was going to be in it for them. Thanks for sharing.

11/20/2013 07:19:05 am

I am so grateful we don't have to be perfect and that there are others in the world who fill in the gaps for us when we are struggling : ) Glad to know that if we each pitch in to add beauty to our lives, we can hold each other up.

Sabrina at MyMiBoSo link

11/15/2013 06:51:59 pm

Oh the spark is so important! And I love that you recognize our awareness of it actually brings MORE of it into our lives - even from other people when WE need it most :).

Excited for your upcoming book club launch, Court!

11/20/2013 07:20:53 am

Thanks so much, Sabrina! The book is now available on Amazon and I am hosting a free guided book club beginning in January to go with it! I love your writing on awareness and it adds so much to my practice on a regular basis.

Elise link

11/17/2013 10:54:09 am

Court,
I love this post, especially as a reminder on the days when the spark is not as obvious that the bounce needs to come back. We all have those moments, and I will remember your reminder not to beat myself up with the negative self-talk. So excited to read your book and tap into that side of me. Congratulations!

11/20/2013 07:22:59 am

Elise, thanks so much for stopping by Art Nurture : ) I am excited about the book too. I need to daily reminders not to be so hard on myself. It's amazing how sometimes others can reach out to us in that way when we need it most.

Susan Seale link

11/20/2013 02:34:01 am

Yes, yes and yes! Congrats on your new book:)! Amazing!

11/20/2013 07:23:29 am

Thank you so much, Susan : )

claire gillenson link

11/22/2013 01:57:51 am

Yes, the spark is so so important! Great reminder to reach out to others, sometimes I don't realize that! Congrats and much light ahead for your book launch.

11/25/2013 10:36:24 am

Yes, and the beauty of the spark is...when it comes from a deeper place, we don't have to worry about it being snuffed out so easily. We can have a bad day or two or three....It will come back : )

Desiree East link

11/24/2013 05:40:44 pm

Oh man, I definitely have those days where I feel in a slump - the ebb and flow of inspiration comes and goes, for sure. When that happens, I try my best to just listen to what my body needs, and sometimes I just simply need to chill out and rest. And when someone acknowledges my 'slumpy-ness' with a little cheer, it definitely makes my day!!

11/25/2013 10:39:05 am

Oh, Desiree...You just reminded me that I wanted to take a bath tonight and chill out and rest : ) It is funny, but on my journey to more self-care, I notice others don't seem to care that I am 'stepping back' a little to take care of myself. I really used to believe it was a bigger deal than it really is and that others don't have a problem with you needing help or care or just being human in general! What a relief!

Sarah McKenna link

11/26/2013 11:38:38 am

YES some days are the "I am blessed to have this great life" and others I have to remind myself that I love what I do!

12/1/2013 12:31:18 pm

Completely, Sarah. I always have to remind myself that just because I'm not feeling happy happy always, doesn't mean I have lost the spark at all. It is really a deeper thing than that and is there through the changing feelings. It always comes back.

Shana link

11/27/2013 09:34:54 am

I love how you describe that spark. For me it's about slowing down to enjoy the moment as it is, which is hard. I'm a go-go-go-go-go type person, but when I just slow down....ahhh the spark & bounce are there ready to light me up. Thank you for the reminder. So needed. :)

12/1/2013 12:33:42 pm

It's funny, Shana, sometimes I feel like I have to be busy (I am a go-go-go type of gal as well!) to truly get my passionate career going. Often times, being overly busy doesn't keep me connected to my spark over the long haul. You are right, slowing down is a really good way to reconnect with that deeper spark and bounce that is underlying your pursuit of the passion in the first place!

Melissa Burkheimer link

11/27/2013 10:11:00 am

Isn't it crazy how one person's kindness can make your day when you least expect it. (And I love how you brought them chocolate chip cookies!)

Great post!

12/1/2013 12:36:31 pm

Yes, one person's kindness can make a huge impact!

Chocolate chip cookies = awesome for any occasion : )

Thanks, Melissa

Reason #2 Why the World Needs You to be an Artist: The world needs to be greeted by people who have a spark in their eye and a bounce in their step.

The Top 17 Reasons Why The World Needs
You to be an Artist

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