“Writing is a series of permissions you give yourself to be expressive in certain ways, to invent, to leap, to fly, to fall.”
Susan Sontag, American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher and political activist

Willing Is Not Waiting

Inaction is waiting.

Procrastinating is waiting.

Not getting out in the studio is waiting.

Getting in the studio, but tidying and organizing, instead of painting, is waiting.

Not consciously doing the thing we are afraid of doing is waiting.

Waiting is fear-based.

Waiting is like saying no.

Being willing to try is not waiting.

Being willing is like saying yes.

Saying yes to action.

Saying yes to doing the thing you are afraid to try.

Regardless of the outcome.

Willingness encourages bravery. Willingness nudges action. Willingness coaxes courage.

Being “willing to try” sounds a lot more empowering than “being afraid to try”. Doesn’t it? You can still be afraid, but if you are willing to try, despite your fear, then you’ve got something to work with. You increase your chances to learn, and you increase your chances for success.

Sometimes, in order for me to be willing to attempt something I am afraid to try, I pretend like I know what I’m doing. I tell myself that I know exactly what to do next. I step up to the easel and say, “I’ve got this!” and then I do what I think is the next step.

And before long, I am into the process of painting, and fear is no longer in sight.

Sometimes I am not able to create what I want to create. But, at least, I am willing to try. As long as I am willing to try, I will take action.

Best,

David