Stepping Into The Unknown.

Sometimes the only way to discover what’s coming next is to step into the abyss.

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – NELSON MANDELA

Six years of studying Aikido finally paid off when I fell off a cliff in central Turkey.  The 25-foot drop should have sent me home in a Mesopotamian urn, but I ended up reflexively rolling out of it thanks to those years of practice like a third-year Shodan.  I screamed like a Caspian Tiger, but unlike the extinct tiger, I had survived.

There are times when we artists just don’t know what the next step forward will be.  We don’t know what we’re doing.  It’s moments like these that standing on a precipice… at night… blindfolded.  Or, like I’m reaching into a bag of fear, the contents of which can feel very real.

But the truth is, what I’m really doing is making art. There is no precipice, no bag, only that uncomfortable feeling that comes from staring into the unknown.  You know that old saying “you’ll never know unless you try“? Well, art is perfect for that.  Creating art is a perfect way of discovering what we are capable of. Don’t get me wrong, there can still be plenty of difficulty, anguish, and struggle, but you’re not going to fall off a cliff if you end up taking the leap.

Citrus can be acidic, but it’s also delicious.

Your leap could be something as simple as starting that new series of paintings you’ve been overthinking.  Leaping could mean organizing photos of your artwork into a couple of files and creating a website to share your work with people who might like to see it.  Leaping could mean hosting an open studio even though you don’t feel ready.  What it doesn’t mean, is waiting for the stars to align until everything is perfect and the world is ready for you.  The world is never ready for something it hasn’t seen before, and that’s where your creativity comes in. You get to be a walking surprise.

Rolling up our sleeves, stepping forward, and reaching into the bag of the unknown, isn’t for the timid.  Realizing that the only thing we’re going to find in that bag is a pile of paint and possibility helps to put the feelings of dread in perspective.  What you might also feel at the very bottom of that bag, is a feeling of vulnerability.  This might feel like fear but you’re actually showing up from a place of power.  When we put ourselves out there in a creative way, we never know how the world will respond. When we don’t, we miss out on the opportunity to know what we are capable of creating.

What have you been putting off because it feels too scary?  How will it feel if you skip out on it all together?

Art is dangerous, are you ready to brandish your brush?

What is one thing that you can start that feels risky?

I would love to hear some of your ideas, let me know in the comments!