Stop Waiting Until You’re ‘Done’

Imagine this: 

You’re out on a nature walk and you see an artist midway through painting the landscape. You stop and say “Wow, that's so beautiful!”

The artist says “Thank you! Just wait until you see it when I add this next part. It's not even finished yet!”

————-

As this story came to my mind in a recent journal session, I imagine the artist stepping back and smiling as she admires her work thusfar.

She can already see the beauty and she loves how it’s coming together. There’s an excitement knowing she has an even bigger vision for it. 

Here’s the moment that was pure magic for me. I realized I am the artist! And my life & identity are the artwork I’m creating. 

Even though I haven’t reached every goal and still have many things I want to grow into and create; I noticed that I am now able to admire my life and myself in this current phase. 

What if we all looked at our evolution and growth this way? If we saw ourselves and our lives as a beautiful masterpiece coming together more each day. 

How would your experience of life change if you stopped waiting until you’re done to love and approve of yourself?

I want you to know, this reflection is coming from the former queen of self-doubt and being hard on oneself. I know the pain of feeling like what you do is never enough….that you are never enough. That belief left me feeling unfulfilled, drained, and wanting to numb out the difficult emotions.  

My intention now is to reassure you that change is possible in this arena. No matter where you are now, you can begin to show yourself more love, care and approval. 

If deep down, you feel the fear of not being enough - until you get this promotion, or that house, or that car, or that relationship etc. - I want to offer you a new perspective.

What if you started to view yourself like the partially finished artwork? 

Why? Because it makes life so much more enjoyable.

And what else are we here for?

When we love ourselves first, we not only enjoy more, we also begin to create the deep, authentic connections that we crave with others. 

Takeaway Action:

Think of someone you love with all your heart and identify a simple thing you could do to brighten their day today. Now do that thing for them, AND for yourself.