Get Stuck, Keep Going
The Shoulds
You know that nagging voice in the back of your head? The one that says you should do more of x? It’s the incessant pressure we place on ourselves to be efficient in every facet of our lives. It’s pervasive, slippery, and wedged into so many corners of our brains. Okay, now combine that with you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t do y because you should be doing x (and abcdefg…). The tension between should and shouldn’t is a sure fire way to get yourself stuck. It’s true in many areas of life, but I am not certified to give you therapeutic advice so I will stick to the creative realm.
Here’s a snippet - I should paint. I shouldn’t paint just for fun, I should paint a commission. I should paint from the energetic, creative place in my brain, I shouldn’t paint things other people won’t like. I should try something new, I shouldn’t waste money on materials if they’re not going to be perfect. I should practice painting trees, I shouldn’t focus on anything other than animals.
Can you feel the tension?
So what do you do?
You keep going. You override the shoulds, and the shouldnt’s. Think critically about what they are trying to tell you, and then focus on what your brain and body actually need. You get stuck, you keep going.
Recent and recurrent inspiration
Lately my inspiration has come from taking risks and exploring wild spaces.
Thank you so much for supporting me and my creative endeavour. I appreciate all of you.
As always, check out my website for more art and to see what’s available for purchase. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you want some art for your walls.
🩷🖌️ Meagan
www.meaganlauren.com