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How to Live Well: Invest in Yourself

taking time to listen

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

• Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a child?

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

• Has there been something you’ve always wanted to try?

• What was your favorite class in high school?

• Did you get a college degree in something you’ve never been able to find a job in?

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 achieve them.

Once you start 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, inside or outside, or what your perfect environment is like. If it’s easier, cut out pictures from magazines or take photos of places where you’d like to live and work. I give suggestions for specific creative activities to help you visualize and imagine your desired future in Make Art, Be Happy – How to Live Well by increasing creativity and improving your life.

Make space to make art

Now that you’ve figured out what you’d like to do, or what you like to do and do well, start creating space in your life for it. Choose a closet, an empty room, the corner of the kitchen table, or any space where you feel comfortable and safe. Use that space constantly 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 also make it happen.

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 by researching everything you can about it on the internet. Ask questions! There are no such things as dumb questions, and most experts generally 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 stop you from achieving your dreams!

From the information you collect, build 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 been chasing my dreams all my life and I have struggled at times. But guess that? I make my living with my art and writing, the things I have always loved and done well.

Building a support network

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

Many of you struggle with a lack of internal and/or external self-confidence. This is partly your left brain insisting that everything make sense, be clear and easy to understand, and if it doesn’t, it’s scary. You must commit to thinking positively. If you have found someone else who is living your dream, then chances are you are 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!

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