Appreciate the Developmental Stages of Your Creative Dreams
By Chris Dunmire
Too often, we look at accomplished artists and writers only to see the
end result of years of hard work: Monet's paintings,
J.
K. Rowling's books, Steven Spielberg's movies. Sometimes we
get discouraged because these successful people seem(ed) to be so
put together, so professional, and so perfect in their talents and accomplishments.
But we don't see the whole picture.
To begin with, we didn't get a glimpse
into the journey that brought them to that ultimate
place of
acclaim.
For many it included years
of growing and making mistakes. Years of
learning and developing their skills. And years of living ordinary lives
just like you and me, perhaps envying other accomplished people.
We can bypass the feelings of discouragement by appreciating that
our creative dreams will take time to arrive, and that there is an exciting
journey along the
way. Yes, the developmental stages can be a satisfying
process
of
personal
growth and discovery for us.
 Here's an example of how this can happen: I know that many of
you involve yourselves in creative activities for personal, soulful reasons,
with aspirations of turning your
passions into something bigger for yourself. I, for one, have recently developed
an interest in painting
and collage, and would love to combine them with my other creative skills to
illustrate my own greeting cards.
If you ask me if I'm good at art, I'll answer that it depends on who
you ask. But that's not the most important thing
to
me during
my developmental
stages.
What
matters
to
me
is that I'm indulging my artistic side and allowing a free flow of creativity
to guide
me as I learn how to become a better artist. I know that I need this time
to experiment and explore with these new mediums, hoping that one day my efforts
will
pay off and my skills
will
shine.
And guess what? With this attitude, I find my evolving snoopyesque art
skills a source of encouragement and refreshment rather than discouragement
and frustration.
That's what I mean about appreciating the developmental stages. Enjoying what
is wherever you are — with the confidence that "what is" will
evolve through time. Your skills will improve, and your talents
will grow.
I'll admit that I don't expect to become another Monet in my
lifetime. But that won't stop me from trying and enjoying my creative
journey — including the developmental
stages of my art skills — to wherever it takes me.
What about
you? •
© Chris Dunmire 2004. All rights reserved.
Please respect the creator's copyright by not duplicating this material on your Web site, blog, or print publication without the author's permission.
 About the Author | More by Chris Dunmire
Chris Dunmire is an artist, humorist, workshop facilitator, and the driving force behind the Creativity Portal Web site. Chris trained as a creativity coach with Eric Maisel, Ph.D. and inspires people of all ages with her Web sites and printable playbooks — including the world-famous Dollar Bill Origami Money Plant.
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