The creative struggle is real.
Today, I had a coffee chat with someone who is just a few steps ahead of me on a journey I want to embark on this year: to sell my art and products with my art on them.
As I type this, the weight of the words behind this intention scares me. But to you who’s reading this, I wonder how it lands: Do you believe it’s possible? Do you believe in it more than I do?
I moved through December and January fearful that I wasn’t enough, and that this intention was too big for me. The self-doubt and fear had kicked in, and the reflex of wanting to do things the right way and wait until the time was right made me start to lose my momentum.
I started to let blank canvases sit for days, intimidated that what I put on there wouldn’t match my vision for it. I hesitated on how much I shared about my dream with others, or even my art, because of how it might not be good enough…that I might not be good enough. That maybe I’ll never be as good a painter as I aspire to be.
However, even during the days-that-became-weeks-that-eventually-became-a-month…I still made movement forward. While I may not have been as fast or as consistent at it as I would have liked, I still took small actions to stay connected to my dream. I let my kids play in the park while I read an inspiring book, coffee in hand, with soft sunlight on my face. A welcome change in scenery from working from home and coming back to nature. I became an artist member at our local art gallery. And somehow this week I was able to share my dream with a stranger who felt inspired to connect me to someone she knew and resulted in the coffee chat that reignited my spark.
At our coffee chat, this woman listened to my dreams for a good half hour, validating it all and never doubting any of it. Then, she walked me through the behind-the-scenes of her Shopify shop, shared how she started running ‘experiments’ with her friends to find out what sells, and prioritized a few things for me to get started on as I move towards this path. By her simply showing up for an hour and generously sharing what she’s learned in her journey, she made it feel possible for me again.
She reflected back the spark in me by sharing with me how her journey had lit her up.
She reminded me why starting will always be better than waiting.
She kicked down those mental blocks I had and reminded me that I am enough. What I create is enough. And evolving. The call for self-expression will always be worth it, and is what ultimately matters more than the sale. She made me believe in my intimidating ambitions and dreams again, and in a way that is kinder to myself — to remove the pressure of having to get it all right, right now.
If you’re feeling hesitant about your next step…here are my three takeaways:
Talk it out with someone who believes in you by default: Whether it’s a good friend or someone you find inspiring who can show you your dreams are possible, finding someone who can kick down those mental blocks for you in a genuine way will help you get out of your own head.
Consistency over perfection: Quantity is how you’ll get quality. If for every five paintings I only fall in love with one, that’s one more painting I can add to my portfolio that I didn’t have before. If you’re finding it hard to stay consistent every day, every few days is okay. If not every few days, then weekly. If not weekly, then monthly. But by all means, keep going.
Do it for you: It was reaffirming to share our whys during the coffee chat. Why invest time and resources on a side hustle that will most likely not be a main source of income, that competes with family time, and means more work? The best reasons we shared: It feels right to do it, it allows you to feel like you’re putting something out there that truly reflects you, and when your kids see you doing something you love, it’s giving them the belief that it’s possible and worth it to do fulfilling work.
In summary, a regular dose of conversations, change in scenery, and habit-building consistency will move you in the direction of your dreams and keep your spark lit up.
I’d love to hear your stories and experiences, so feel free to hit reply and share with me!
Cheers,
Lia
💬 Book a career coaching session: I’ve partnered with ExpertSession to connect with product designers figuring out the next step in their career journey. If you or someone you know would be interested, please share!
Still here? Nice! 🙌 Here’s something to reflect on…
✨ Find an opportunity to chat with someone new this month. Whether you’re helping to share some insights or expertise with someone in a shared Facebook group, stumble upon someone you find interested in chatting with, or receive an offer from a friend to connect you with someone with a similar journey, just do it. You’ll never know what you’ll discover…or rediscover. ✨
After talking to someone new, did the experience give you more clarity on how you view the world, or consider a perspective you hadn’t before? How so?
🎨 What’s on the canvas
The dreamer (2024), 22x30 mixed media painting on paper by Lia Fetterhoff
Finding inspiration to create meaning.