Start doing!
January 29th, 2020 by Morna
Take a look around your studio or home office.
How much fabric and paint are lining your studio shelves? Or packed away because you ran out of room?
How many books do you see? Do you house even more on your Kindle?
How much more do you think you need before you can start to create what your heart is calling you to create?
I know all about hunting and gathering all the information you can.
You think if you learn more, you will know more, and what you create will be even better.
You think you are missing that one fabric that will make the difference in what you create, when all along what you need is right in front of you.
If you take one more class, then you will have enough to really master that painting technique.
And on, and on.
Problem is you don’t need all that.
What you need is already right under your nose.
The answers to your questions, the missing fabric, the skills, the knowledge. It’s all right there for the taking.
You just need to put aside the desire for more and take advantage of what is right in front of you.
How do I know this?
Easy. I have been there. I would order a book thinking it might have something I needed, or more appropriately, some bit of knowledge I lacked. Or I put off starting a project because I needed that perfect color fabric or shade of paint. Obviously the exploding shelves weren’t enough.
I got in this mode last week when I was working on revamping one of our signature programs. Funny thing is I didn’t need anything. I just needed to make the decision to start.
Today
Stop the hunting and gathering.
Have a little bit of faith.
Sit down and start to create.
It’s your turn!
What is it you need to start doing? What’s stopping you?
Tags: business management, skills, technique
Heather said:
As both a professional organizer and artist/designer I know all too well the pitfalls of procrastinating the “making” of things usually brought on by a creative block that feels filled by the “hunting and gathering” of materials. I loved this approach to the subject. This is something I work on with clients and I try to remain aware of myself. Just the other day I almost ventured into a Barnes and Nobel and stopped myself because I realize I have “Enough” already; ideas, materials, inspiration…I just need to allow myself the time and space to “do” the practice:)
Morna said:
Heather, nice to know all of us get stuck in this from time to time!
Christine Scholz said:
Hi Morna! Oh you are so right! And then this leads into making the decision to purge some of that stuff that, in my case, is overflowing off the shelves and onto the floor…. This is so timely for me because just yesterday I was looking at the mess I have in my studio, and thinking that I really need to get organizing and purging just so I can have a clearer view of what I actually have. I think the less cluttered your studio looks will make you feel “lighter” and leaves you a clearer view of what you can create!!
Morna said:
Christine, yes, agree on the less cluttery. Of course, I have to watch that I don’t swap “not enough” for organizing. Both can lead to not starting.
Susan Knapp said:
It always takes me much longer to start than it does to finish. Thanks Morna, I’m off to start something. Have a good day.
Morna said:
Susan, love to know what you started and finished!
Susan Worsley said:
Morna, I am so happy to read “Start doing” pertaining to more, more, more. I am guilty of thinking that I’m not good enough until I find just the right magazine article, book, class, or even pin on Pinterest. You are telling me that I must give myself permission to CREATE the way that is authentic to me. Teaching children to quilt is my passion. They love me and tell me so. I could be designing and quilting, coming up with more classes…..even expanding and growing my business if I didn’t spend so much time looking for more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Morna said:
Susan, you’re welcome. Can’t wait to see what you create!
Tracy said:
Morna you are so right. I keep reminding myself of a quote (from somebody whose name I can’t remember at the moment) “there is power in the doing”, and any minute now I feel I’m going to actually start and listen :-)and even do something!
Morna said:
Tracy, yes, power in doing. Interesting that once we begin doing, we continue doing. It’s the getting started that holds us back.
Nancy said:
This reminds of the book “Untie the Nots”. It is a very similar premise in that it helps you remove the negativity of the way you speak and think. I read it years ago and still think of it every time I say something, especially to my employees or in emails responding to customers.
Morna said:
Nancy, Thanks. I’ll have to look for it. It’s really about being present, too, isn’t it?