Yesterday's Failures

We wake up each morning with a whole new day ahead, new possibilities, chances to meet new people, new moments to create the life we long to live, and new perspectives on the same problem we can still have. After all, that sausage arm was still waiting for me when I woke up.

When we've had a few challenging paintings in a row, or when we have a hard studio day where things don't go as planned, we tend to bring that energy into the next day, into the next painting, and into our ✨fresh✨ start. Even when we get that fresh start, sometimes that white canvas looks back at us with fear and nervousness in our eyes.

The beautiful, elegant 6ft portrait of a woman starts to look like a sore thumb of a problem to solve. The white canvas of excitement and ENDLESS possibilities becomes one of resistance, fear, and hurt, and we lose sight of the beauty in all of it.

Its important to remember that each painting IS a fresh start, just as each day is too. Each painting session is a new chance to explore, create, and lead with love, instead of fear and intimidation. Each day we get to explore something new, experiment, and test out that weird idea that we have. 

Even if we were to paint a landscape, in the same spot, over and over and over, and over again, it would be different each time, so why do we assume that just because our past paintings might have been difficult, these next few will be? Why do we torture ourselves with disbelief and distrust, and sometimes hurtful comments to ourselves when we get that fresh slate each day? We get to wake up each morning with newness and hope, and yet, we still spoil it sometimes! 

Remember the power that you have in each new day, with each new painting, and within each painting session. You can acknowledge that you learned something without dwelling on the past moments that weren't total successes. You hold the power to your own possibilities. 

Don't let yesterday's failures, determine your tomorrow's successes.

by Braighlee Rainey Milan Art Coach