Do more of what you love

It's so easy to read positive quotes and nod at their wisdom, but a lot harder to incorporate into your daily life.

I think it's interesting that hard work is supposed to be the key to success and happiness, but I am beginning to wonder if that is really true.

To begin with, success and happiness are two very different things and while they can influence each other they aren't necessarily co dependent. That is, you can be successful and miserable, or happy with no visible signs of success.

​My happiness as an artist however can take serious nose dive when I feel as though I am making little progress. Sometimes this manifests as losing followers on social media, sometimes a lack of interaction and sometimes rejection emails from agents and publishers.

To be successful as an artist, you need to make money, you need to be liked...

But then I think it's all a matter of degrees. Making a living in a creative industry is notoriously difficult. To load your happiness and self worth on being successful as an artist is surely a path of torment? Okay, so that sounds heavy and that's not exactly me, but it does express something of my current state of mind.

The thing is though that although making art makes me happy and I work as hard as I can at it - sometimes I think I need a break! And that is kind of hard for me to get my head round.

Maybe winter has has something to do with it and being a mum to a will full conscious 3 year old. My time is squished into these little segments of opportunity and I feel as though I have to fill that time with illustration and research.

For pretty much three years now I haven't thought about much else than my daughter, my husband and making art. It's pretty intense and I'm beginning to realise that I need another outlet to fill my soul with joy and hope.

I listen to Abraham Hicks when my head starts to get a little unruly and negative and I find a lot of freedom in the knowledge that is imparted through Esther. I'd really recommend listening to her on You Tube, but what is really relevant to me right now is this idea of not being so effortful. That actually by letting go I will find myself where I need to go and that by enjoying the journey I will not only have more fun, but I will also attract the things that I want into my life.

In this respect my happiness will affect my success! By following my joy I will generate the energy and the opportunities that I am looking for in my career.

I am beginning to appreciate that it's about balance. It's all very well to keep drawing and thinking that I am doing all I can, when actually I need to research companies, contact relevant people, develop my ideas, my products, promote, upload, take photos and write!

Perhaps my happiness needs a little discipline too! I have a tendency to get totally immersed in one thing. As a kid I could only read one book at a time. To me it was a loyalty to the world of the author - I was 100% invested and to read anything else would somehow water down that world.

I still feel this need, but I'm beginning to think that it is too heavy a burden, that actually diversifying my interests, like the tributaries of a stream would actually be more beneficial to finding my path.

I shall let you know how it goes. I'm in search of my joy again - even though I know it's right here inside me!.

I'd love to know what makes you happy. Please share in the comments below and thank you for reading. 💕✨😀