Just Do It

Okay so I’m totally borrowing from Nike’s tag line, but it is too perfect not to use here.  

I’ve been thinking, writing, pondering, praying, contemplating, meditating, and writing some more.  All this as I am trying to figure out what creative thing to do next.  In all honesty, doing nothing just doesn’t feel like an option.  There are so very many ideas floating around inside my head.  There are things I want to share, a book to be published, classes I want to teach, ideas I feel I simply must write about, paintings that need to be painted.  You get the picture.  

Sometimes it is the overwhelm of creative ideas that keeps me from taking action – oh, the dilemma of being an artist.  But if I’m being completely honest, most of the time it’s a little voice in my head that says “what if…?”  As in; what if this plan doesn’t work out, what if no one will publish my book, what if the painting flops, what if no one likes my class, what if no one even reads this blog post?  I’m guessing I’m not the only creative person in the world to be mentally burdened by these voices.

In my late night pondering, I wondered what would happen if the “what if” questions became statements of possibility and excitement instead of fear and doubt.  What if my idea can really help?  What if my art can bring joy to another?  What if someone reading this right now is inspired, uplifted and moved to action?  WOW!  That kind of changes things doesn’t it?  

I’m taking my own advice to heart and I am taking action.  I’ve dumped all of the possibilities and ideas from my head onto a written page.  My plan is to keep moving forward by picking one thing at a time and just doing it!  No more questions, doubts or second guessing.  

Today’s big step, I have submitted query letters to literary agents regarding my book manuscript.  Over the last year, I have made some revisions to the book.  It is time for round two of query submissions.  I’ll never know the answer to “what if” if I don’t do anything.        

I’m always amazed at how my five year old son seems to intuitively know concepts like this.  Today, he shared with me his idea for a new restaurant – to be staffed by him and our four cats.  I asked him if he thought people would like his restaurant.  He replied, “There is only one way to find out.  That is to just do it!”

How about you, is there anything you’ve been putting off that you are ready to take action on?  With the new year right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to make a change and take a leap of faith.

Many blessings on your journey,

Jeniffer