Self.


21

Self


 A visit to any bookshop or library and you will discover that there are many books claiming to help you become a better artist or to make the first hesitant steps to your first piece of artwork. Books on knitting in abundance, wood turning, jewellery making, and of course step by step books to a masterpiece.

In this day and age, it is possible to go onto the world wide web and actually watch and learn from artists who are producing all sorts of saleable artwork. Paint-along videos are there in abundance. 

There can be such a confusion of help and advice that it is difficult to decide where to begin. There are many who will offer to teach either at a club consisting of many like-minded people or even on a one to one basis. Here you will not only be given advice, but you will come into contact with those always happy to offer encouragement and even applause.  To display your first faltering steps on social media you will again be given much in the way of positive feedback.

All of this is to be commended and are good and those who take the time to offer such positivity should be applauded and commended.

All of this is good, but the sage offers something equally if not more worthy. The sage tells us to be at one with the Tao, find that inner strength and peace. First, we need to find our own instincts and desires to be creative. All the help and guides are less than helpful if you have not grasped an inner will to give of yourself and your time.

You have to learn to become a very loyal fan; of whom?  Of yourself. You have to allow the inner self to be your first critic. Of all the teachers available the best teacher is yourself who allows you to learn from your mistakes and to accept those wonderful happy accidents.

Every person who steps onto the path of creativity has to be ready to experience defeat and mistakes. Being in the Tao and going with it you will not waver in the trust of your ability and you will never give in to doubt and decrease your effort and purpose to progress.

The very beginning has to begin with self, to feel good about yourself to perform to your own highest standards. Go with the flow and give of your best and at the end of each project allow yourself to smile and rest easy in preparation for the next beginning.

Word to taken out between you and bome on the second line.

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