A beginners mind

Following on from the last blog about being open in order to invite growth, today is about the beginners mind.

Approaching with a fresh and open mindset will transform the way in which you discover, learn and take to new things.

I have been academically talented since a very young age, and my teachers recognized this and steered me down an academic route, I also had creative talent from a young age but suppressed this as I was praised for being academic and was praised and encouraged to pursue that instead.

Looking back, I know that my soul would have much rather painted, and I had the talent to go to art college for sure. But my mind didn't even go there,  I followed what was expected of me and I neglected this creativity. It was easier for the ego to follow the academic route, so I ended up doing a law degree and a master’s degree in law, human rights and civil liberties.

At the grand old age of 47, I finally let myself paint and follow the creativity I have always had inside.

 At the age of 47, not having painted at school since I was 16! I have taken an art course, got myself some paintbrushes, canvases and paints, and am learning. I decided to play with it and take up the challenges in the course with tasks to expand our technique and allow us to experiment. I love painting, and It feels so aligned. I have even sold a few already on my website, which I never thought would be a possibility, especially in such a short time frame.

When I first began to paint, I went in with an open mind and released all expectations. I took the blank canvas and let myself flow freely, create without thought, and I produced abstract art. Since then, I haven’t stopped. It would have been a different story if I went in with the expectation of producing the next Mona Lisa, the expectations of a perfect attempt would crush the joy of painting. Going in openly with the ‘lets see what happens’ attitude, unafraid of ‘failure’ allowed for free expression, and now I am selling my art work and being asked for commissions! Let yourself flow, release any expectation of the outcome and watch the magic happen.

Letting go of expectations, going in with a fresh and open mind is the best way to approach a new task.

Art is the perfect example, you have a blank canvas, so you must release all expectations of the outcome, let go of fear and perfectionism. Allow yourself to flow, without the fear of so-called failure. And this applies to other areas of life too. In anything, you must release the fears and expectations you have going into something, enter with a fresh beginner’s mind. Let’s see how it goes, take some risks, take a step outside your comfort zone and let yourself grow.

F.A.I.L = First Attempt At Learning, nothing is perfect, and especially when you are a beginner who is new to the thing they are trying, you must remember that what we call failure is not failure. It is simply a learning curve, and a natural process of learning. The less afraid we are to make mistakes, the more free we are to grow. Like a child learning to walk, they will fall down many times. When they fall many times, we don’t think ‘oh my gosh they haven’t done it’, they try and try again until they can finally walk.

Without expectations, fears and perfectionism, we open flow, and it is magical. So be more like a two-year-old, don’t take it too seriously, you are learning as you go, laugh when you fall and then get back up. Try, try, and try again.

Lots of love,

Karen