{"id":19131,"date":"2021-12-25T12:58:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-25T20:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/?p=19131"},"modified":"2021-12-27T20:16:23","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T04:16:23","slug":"set-goals-make-your-art-happen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/2021\/12\/set-goals-make-your-art-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"Set Goals, Make Your Art Happen!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you set goals for your art practice? We were talking about goal setting and doing annual reviews as part of our Turning Up Art Camp in IGNITE!* this month. I know a lot of people struggle with getting to painting. They end up doing anything and everything to avoid the one thing that feels so important to do! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things that helps me to turn up is to set goals. But this alone isn\u2019t enough to make them happen. I need to make sure to block off studio time in my calendar. Yet even then, that precious block of time has a way of being eroded by things that seem more urgent. Because of this experience, I\u2019ve found I also need to understand why<\/em> these goals are important to me. Knowing this helps me stay motivated and keeps me on track and focused on taking action toward my goals. 
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My art practice goals ultimately stem from my deep desire to paint and what it will mean if I don\u2019t turn up. If I stay away from art-making too long, there\u2019s an ache that rises from deep within. I feel tormented by the not doing, by my not turning up. Everyday I don’t do this thing that is bursting to come forth, my soul withers. Yes, that may sound overly dramatic but it feels that way. On the other hand, when I paint, no matter the struggles in the actual doing, I find myself smiling with the joy of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, in the quiet between Christmas and New Year\u2019s Day, I take time to set goals and figure out how to make them happen. I review the past year and then dream for the next by asking myself a number of prompting questions. I find these questions helpful so thought they may be of use to you too. They can help to clarify what you want, to understand what drives you, and to decide what you want to accomplish in the new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reviewing The Year<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, let\u2019s look back at the past year. Here are some of the questions I dig into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. What did you accomplish\/achieve this past year that you\u2019re most happy about?<\/li>
  2. What did you do to make these accomplishments happen?<\/li>
  3. What new things did you discover about yourself either positive or negative?   <\/li>
  4. What was the biggest challenge you faced this year that prevented you from getting to your art-making?   <\/li>
  5. What would you do differently about approaching that challenge?<\/li>
  6. Which beliefs\/excuses\/fears\/doubts stopped you from pushing forward   <\/li>
  7. How do you feel about the art you made this year? (e.g. Are you proud? Disappointed? Ambivalent?) <\/li>
  8. What makes you feel that way? <\/li>
  9. Who and\/or what are you most grateful for this year?<\/li>
  10. If you had a word of the year – how did it influence your behaviour (or not) over the last year? 
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    Looking Forward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    When you\u2019ve answered those, it\u2019s time to dream about what you’d like to accomplish in the coming year. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. What are your BIG dream goals for your art and art practice? What do you want to achieve? Write down all your ideas! Don\u2019t hold back. Allow yourself to imagine and ignore any \u2018buts\u2019 that pop up.  (\u201cI\u2019d like to do x but<\/em>\u2026\u201d)<\/li>
    2. What will you need to do differently to make these happen?<\/li>
    3. What skills do you want to learn, improve, master?<\/li>
    4. Who can teach you these skills? (If you don\u2019t know, how can you find out?)<\/li>
    5. What mental blocks do you want to overcome? How might you do that?<\/li>
    6. Describe how you want to remember the coming year when you look back on it a few years from now. What are the milestones or fantastic things that happened? <\/li>
    7. How are you going to celebrate your goals when you achieve them? (I\u2019m really bad at celebrating my wins!)<\/li>
    8. What\u2019s your word, phrase, or theme for the coming year? It should inspire and motivate you! <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Take your time with these questions, ponder and chew them over. When you\u2019ve flushed out as much as you can, then it’s time to set your goals and make sure they happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Set Goals and Plan Them Out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Decide on your three big goals for the year and, as you do, consider making them SMARTER goals. (I took this idea from Michael Hyatt\u2019s book, Our Best Year Ever<\/a><\/em>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What are SMARTER Goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n