I met author Mary Pax several years ago on the internet. She made me feel welcome, and I consider her my friend. I've watched her career blossom, and have been amazed at her level of productivity... rain or shine, illness, sick kitties, weather, you name it.
I was listening to a podcast the other day (forget the name of it) about advice for artists. And I was struck with something they mentioned in passing: Leave your STUFF at the studio door.
I always thought my art was intricately tied to how I felt. I was convinced I couldn't work - with joy - if I was upset or having a tough time in my life. Obviously, my production level was insconsistent. Life has too many ups n' downs!
But that suggestion - Leave your Stuff at the studio door - wouldn't go away.
And I thought back to a waitress Jim and I were impressed with YEARS and years ago. She went to church with us, so we knew her backstory. Her life was NOT a bed of roses. Lots of struggle and pain. Yet she made amazing tips! She took care of her kids very well on what she earned as a waitress. She made her customers feel like they were king or queen for the day, and was cheerful and happy. So one day we asked her what her secret was??
She said: she left her troubles at the restaurant door.
!!
Why didn't I get it back then???!!! The memory of what that amazing waitress told us collided with the advice on that podcast, and a NEW BELIEF was birthed in my heart: that I could do that, too.
Well, I HOPED I could. And I soon had my chance to see if the idea had, indeed, taken root deep enough inside me to actually change me. I signed up to do a post for Mary Pax's new book series, The Rifters. Not only a post, but I got this idea to make a whole sketchbook based on the imaginary Oregon town of Settler, where her series is based. A huge project, with a looming deadline!! You can see that completed post here; yep, I made my deadline, and the drawing is still open there for a set of FREE e-books!
No time to wait til I "felt" like it. Time to sketch, NOW.
And lo and behold... it works. It really does.
I leave my "stuff" at the studio door... crank up My music, and enjoy myself.
Who knew?!!
So, if YOU, too, want to increase your productivity: Leave your Stuff at the studio door!
I'd love to hear if you already to this... and if you have any tips for me. Thanks!
Feel free to download a copy of my Cowgirl Up poster if you think it would be a good reminder for you. I have mine hanging in my studio where I can see it every day! :-)
(Be sure to click it open before you download, so you get the full sized file to print).
Happy productivity!
Retta
Sometimes it's hard and it can be tough to move a passion onto the 'job' schedule. But since it's doing what we love, it doesn't feel so much like work. And the joy creeps into our day and troubles.
ReplyDeleteYou go, Loretta! Conquer the universe!
I found that once started, the joy just creeps right up and pounces on me! And I used to think it had to be the other way around. So happy to have discovered this. :-)
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