Five Negative Thoughts To Silence So You Can Get The Life You Want
Thoughts Don’t Have Power —But You Do
When I started doing art, I was always very uncomfortable. It took me a long time to get on social media, overcome anxiety, and share my artwork.
The funny thing is, I still have immense anxiety about sharing my work. Growing up, I was constantly told that my life was going to be very hard because of my health condition and that I wasn’t going to be able to achieve much.
Before I earned my BFA, a psychologist I saw advised me to consider working a low-stress job, like at a craft store (which I actually would love). I remember laughing and saying that working at a craft store or any retail outlet wouldn’t be low-stress.
I told this psychologist that I know what I’m capable of and want from life, but it took years to silence those thoughts. For at least a year, his words became the small voice in my head telling me to lead a smaller, more sheltered life.
But I refused to listen.
Doctors need to be careful of what they say to their patients.
Using the word “can’t” in conversation is discriminatory and presumptuous. And, aside from my personal experience, I’ve met many individuals who were advised the same way — to pursue a smaller life. He didn’t say those specific words, but that’s what he implied.
I’d successfully silenced those negative thoughts by doing the exact opposite of what that psychologist suggested. I learned how to design clothes, managed a sewing business, and stumbled into a health and wellness journalism career.
That psychologist was right about one thing: designing clothes was wildly stressful and chaotic, and I felt I wasn’t doing that for myself but for others.
In 2019, when a world I manicured fell apart, I was forced to confront the answer to this question: What do I want? Who am I?
I’m an artist and have been for thirty-plus years. That’s what I want to do, and it’s who I am.
So, these are the thoughts you must silence to get the life you want.
Thought One: “Doing What I Want Sounds Uncomfortable.”
I had that thought for too many years.
Posting to social media felt uncomfortable. It still does. Someone once told me that if you want to lead a comfortable life, don’t pursue art. Now, I don’t want to be too comfortable.
Nothing positive or good can happen in your comfort zone. It helps to take small steps to move yourself from a place of comfort to a place where you are thriving.
Thought Two: “The Things I Want To Do Sound Too Stressful.”
That thought nearly stopped me in my tracks.
What I wished someone had told me was: if something seems too stressful, do what you can to make it not stressful, although I’m not sure how realistic that sounds, either!
Recently, I changed my relationship with stress and the concept of it.
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By that, I mean, I view stress as a self-induced obstacle. After some reflection, I realized most of the issues in my life were caused by me and me alone.
Try taking baby steps each day until you get closer to a big goal.
Thought Three: “I’ll Never Be Able To Create X, Y, Or Z, Like So And So.”
In college, I learned about these fabulous artists dating back to the 1800s and got overwhelmed by how stunning their creations were.
I’ll watch other artists creating watercolor paintings or ink drawings on social media and think, “My art sucks!”
Admittedly, I still catch myself doing that from time to time, until I realized everyone has a unique background and set of skills that set them apart.
Now, I strive to create my own artistic style, and I stop looking to other artists for inspiration. Instead, I spend time in nature and with animals for inspiration and motivation.
Thought Four: “I Could Do What I Want, But It’s Not The Right Time.”
I spent a good chunk of my life stalling and waiting for the right time to do what I wanted. It was never the right time.
Stalling won’t get you anywhere but, well, stalled. Stuck. I’ve been there, too. There were projects I kept saying I wanted to do and had to force myself to make time for them.
For many of you, that’s what it might take. I know people who only have time to create art or pursue their hobbies on weekends. Whatever you need to do to make time for yourself, do that.
Thought Five: “What if Others Judge or Poke Fun of Me?”
Let them judge you and poke fun at you. Most of what prevented me from doing what I wanted was the fear of my siblings, friends, and people in my world poking fun of me or passing judgment on me for pursuing my creative goals.
As it turned out, when I started creating daily, nobody gave me grief. My family and friends were always supportive and continue to be.
If you’re worrying about what those closest to you will think, silence that thought and recognize it’s self-induced silliness. Most of our thoughts come from fear that isn’t even real.
Concluding Thoughts
You don’t need life to kick you in the teeth to ask yourself what you want from it. You also don’t need everyone else’s opinions or beliefs about you to stop you in your tracks.
I’m not sure this applies to everyone, but my brain actively tries to keep me comfortable and from changing. I notice that pull, so I do the opposite and focus my energy on creating art and doing the things that make me uncomfortable.
If that sounds like you as well, simply do small things each day to get you closer to living the life you want and deserve.
Remember that you are far more powerful than any negative thought.
Thank you for reading. If you are new to my blog or have been with me for a while, feel free to comment and introduce yourself. It always makes my day when I know people are reading my blog.
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