Deciding step Ordinary friends are making extraordinary work. Wonder which one to copy. Sort out something or other, enjoy anticipation of future book launch or exhibition.
Avoidance step Get side tracked, feel lazy, then guilty, wonder where the time’s gone.
Imposter step Sweat blood, create a thing, and feel proud. Rush to show it to a friend but stop. Realise they will see it for the crap that it actually is.
Angry step Low mood, or technical hitch, stops work. Hours have been ‘completely wasted’ and innate objects need to learn lessons. The computer that freezes will be sorry when it gets a smack. A sketch that went wonky, won’t enjoy being torn up. Avoid actually cutting off your own ear as that never ends well.
Flow Step Do the thing for hours without realising you are even doing it. That does happen and is the bit where your soul stops yearning. Life is too short for souls to hang around yearning themselves senseless.
Giving up step That is not one of them. Read the quote below and then move over to the carry on for now step.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”
― William Hutchison Murray