Trust The Process

As an artist, trusting the process by slowly working through a challenge can be frustrating. It's hard to keep going if you're not sure how something will turn out. I use this phrase a lot. It keeps me going because you really do have to trust that the messy part will slowly turn into a finished piece.

The Unknown

I think it's natural for humans to be nervous about the unknown. Humans are often nervous about the unknown because of the natural tendency to seek safety and security. It's a survival thing that has been wired into our brains over time. Our brains recognize potential threats and respond to them in a way that helps us avoid danger. Humans also have a natural desire for control. The unknown represents a lack of control over a situation or outcome.

Personal Experience

I've always found being out of control gives me anxiety. I like to be fully in control of what I'm doing and saying. My husband and I were actually talking about this the other day. It's one of the reasons I don't like drinking alcohol, doing drugs or even drinking coffee. I like to be completely in charge of what I'm doing. This definitely comes out of fear of the unknown and what could happen if I lose control.

When it comes to those unhealthy habits I mentioned above, most would probably say it's a good thing. But when I'm talking about art and creativity it really slowed me down for a long time. I had so much built up fear of the unknown that I didn't want to create unless it was predictable. I wanted to do the easy things and never ventured out from what I felt comfortable with. I created a safe space. It's taken a long time and a lot of therapy but I can say now that trusting the process and letting go of that fear is the best thing I could have done.

What can trusting the process do for your creativity? While what I've learn is, being able to trust the process can create so much more space for creativity. You'll find yourself able to create more freely and openly. You'll even want to share your art and experiences with the world when you're able to just let go.

Here are 5 tips to help you "trust the process".

1. Embrace Imperfections: This is the first thing I have learned to do with my art practice. You need to embrace all the imperfections in your art. Your "imperfections" are what make your art special and you. I don't believe there's such a thing as bad art. Art comes from within and how you perceive the world around you. It's a glimpse into your mind and feelings. So embrace that imperfect nature of art.
2. Take Breaks: The next thing I would suggest is to take breaks. It's a good idea to let your mind step away if you're feeling frustrated. I remember reading once that the brain processes things even faster when you walk away from a task. It gives your mind the space to catch up to all the ideas going through your brain.
3. Seek Feedback: I have always been worried when sharing my art. So, this one might be challenging for some of you too but hear me out. When you reach out to people around you on social media or in personal circles for feedback, you might be surprised. I remember how much positive feedback I got when I first took the leap to sharing my art online a year and a half ago. Some of what I thought was my worst paintings made my family and friends so happy. They were so happy to see me creating and following a passion I've always had. It's worth a try.
4. Celebrate Your Progress: As an artist we are always learning new techniques. The process of learning can be slow and sometimes we have a hard time seeing how far we've come. I actually learned this from my physiotherapist. When I got a concussion a few years ago, she would always remind me about this exact thing when I was struggling. She would remind me how far I'd come from the first few weeks after my accident . In art it's the same thing. If you look back on some of your first art, I bet you'll see your style slowly forming: your techniques getting more refined and your eye for colour and shapes slowly changing. Every little thing you do over time adds up and that's why I always say to just keep creating.
5. Take Care Of Yourself: I'm not talking about the usual shitty messages about "self-care" and taking baths (Though I do love a good bath. Haha). I'm talking about eating healthy, managing your finances with a budget, exercising, going for a walk, seeing a therapist, and getting enough sleep. These things can play a big role in your mental state. When your mentally "foggy" it's challenging to create and see the positive in things. A positive mind is a healthy mind. I think we've all been there and struggled to see the positive in a situation. What I've noticed, is this normally comes from not taking care of myself. When we prioritize ourselves we leave more space for creativity.

Click to read my blog about using art therapy to process your emotions.

Using Art As A Way To Process Negative Emotions

Written by Megan ~ Art was there through it all. It was there to give me a space to process my feelings. I spend a lot of my spare time drawing my feelings.

Megan Josol ArtMegan Josol