Yesterday I read an article on how the trick to reaching your goals is creating a self-identity around them. Like, if you want to get in shape, you start small and run/walk/exercise each day a tiny amount until you feel like you’re “a person who exercises” and then getting in shape seems much more plausible for a “person who exercises.” And as I thought about this, it made sense to me.
Especially on the opposite side. Like, I’ve wanted to learn how to do really beautiful lettering for a long while but each time I think about it, the first thing that comes to my mind is “my handwriting sucks, I am a person whose handwriting sucks.” I feel like having bad handwriting is just who I am so for this person with bad handwriting, being able to create beautiful lettering seems unfeasible. Not accomplishable.
I used to feel that way about drawing too. I remember I said to myself “I can’t draw. I wish I could draw.” It was who I was: “a person who can’t draw.” But then I started. I copied others, I worked at it every single day. I tried different things. I copied from photos. I experimented. And I found my style. After years of trying. I stil have a long, long way to go before I become the kind of talented sketcher I hope to be. But the point is that now my identity has shifted, I am no longer “the person who can’t draw.” I am “someone who can draw.” It changes how I see myself in the world. It makes everything possible. And it gives me the self-empowerment to accomplish any goals I set around drawing.
(I did the same with exercise by the way. I went from “someone who never exercises” to “someone who exercises every single day.” with tiny tiny steps, i changed my identity on exercise.)
So I’ve been thinking about how I can do this for the other things on my list that I haven’t been paying able to accomplish. Things like lettering, doodling, sketching figures. What I need to find is small steps that are achievable and create enough momentum for me to shift the self-identity I have around these. So I can move from “a person who can’t” do them to “a person who can.”
I think this idea of shifting the way you see yourself in the world (about this topic) is really spot on. It’s what leaves the doors closed vs creating the space for you to soar. And I know that I don’t want to ever feel like any doors are closed in my life.
At least not unless it’s by choice.
Great thoughts
Beautifully put!
It’s funny, because I was looking at your work and beautiful lettering and thought, “I can’t do that. My handwriting stinks.” Thank you for encouraging me!
that’s what we’re here for if u ask me 🙂 to encourage and lift each other up.
Sounds like part of it is being really hard on yourself. Your handwriting is beautiful, just the way it is on your current art. That being said, I would recommend taking some classes from Joanne Sharpe. She will show you some exercises to make your own handwriting “pretty”. It’s like everything else, you must try and practice and bit by bit you can get better at handwriting. Just do it. Seriously.
Aloha, Kate
This has really resonated with me. I definitely have some previously unnoticed ‘I’m a person who…’ and ‘I’m a person who doesn’t…’ self-identities. Some of them are great, positive identities and some are working against me. I’m seeing them now, and I’m not going to let them lurk in the background any longer. Thank you.
Thanks, this is exactly what I needed to read today…so glad I found your blog!