4 steps to turn dreams into reality
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Are you challenged by doubt and overwhelm?
‘great things are not done by impulse but by a series of small things brought together and great things are not accidental but most certainly willed.’( Van Gough)
In February I was fortunate to see The Tanzetheater Wuppertal, Pina Bausch, Nelken, at Sadlers Wells. Walking back to the station I overheard a young girl ask her mum, in a loud, exasperated way ‘Where did she get the idea?’. The answer was there, in the programme the girl was holding: a field of pink carnations in Chile, guard dogs at the Berlin Wall and questions about love. All these notions fermented and at the right moment pulled together to create a complex and brilliant work for Bausch. I turned to my daughter, who had also heard the question and recalled ‘...a series of small things brought together…’
While studying choreography I was told that it would take a minimum of four hours to create one minute of dance. Four hours of improvisation, creative thought, trial and error for just one minute.
An artistic work may appear to be a full-blown vision. However, on analysis, the artist will recognise the vision came from assimilating ideas and notions, experiences and feelings.
Sometimes an artist moves along a creative path constructed from bits of paper, sound bites, collected objects, thoughts and emotions, curated and processed.
Either way, the trial and error begin and the artist moves consciously towards their ‘great thing’. As Van Gough wrote: there is no impulse, or accident but pure will.
What about you?
So you aren’t looking to choreograph, compose, carve or paint, you just want to turn your dreams into reality.
You are saying :
Next year I will be…
…but you are challenged by the how.
Next time I am going to…
…but you are challenged by the when.
I am going to change…
…but you are challenged by the what.
Cut overwhelm, cut anxiety, cut doubt and think of a ‘series of small things’
These small things are valuable, they become your plan which will allay anxiety and make a huge task manageable.
Step 1: Start to actively collect your small things :
Collect your thoughts. such as: ‘I could…’, ‘ I want…’, ‘What about ...’, ‘What if …’, ‘How can I …?’ Immediately record any thought as it hits you in notes or images.
Record your feelings. For example: ‘I want to feel empowered’, ‘I am frightened ', ‘ I am worried’, ‘ This is exciting’
Sort the notes or items into two groups by asking yourself, of each item: ‘Is this a practical life challenge or a personal belief challenge?’
Step 2: The Practical Life Challenges
For example, finances, taking up a course, identifying your skills, managing the household or putting in place processes or equipment.
Now separate these into
(1) I Can: I can do this by myself
or
(2) I Need Help: I need outside help and advice with this
Need Help (2), needs to be split again (a) I know who can help (b) I don’t know who can help me. Therefore this needs research. Make a time and date with yourself to do so.
All this time you are recalibrating the challenge. You’ve gained valuable insight into the tasks that you need help with, and that will cut anxiety.
Celebrate those you don’t need support with because you have cut overwhelm.
Step 3: The Personal Belief Challenges
You are going to create two groups again. This time don’t ask yourself a question, read out the note and state;
(3) This is helpful
or
(4) This is unhelpful
The helpful notes (3) need to be visible throughout your daily life: I am excited, I am empowered, I am doing this for me and it feels great…
The unhelpful feelings and emotions (4) are where doubt, anxiety, worry, indecision, and procrastination lie.
With each note ask yourself:
Do I feel the same about this since I completed the Practical Life Challenges?
Do I know this to be true?
If you are answering these questions negatively you have a choice:
Challenge your beliefs about yourself, what is on the other side of this thought?
or
Acknowledge these weaknesses but choose to focus on your strengths (1) and (3) and move on with positivity.
You are now getting a handle on your doubts and bringing about a change in your beliefs.
step 4: Place and Time: the will
Canvas, studio, clear floor, quiet room or fresh manuscript are all places for artists to commit to their creation. So where and when are you going to bring your small things together and ‘will’ the great change?
Your notes on your Practical Life Challenges may dictate exactly when this will be. Control overwhelm by spending 10 minutes a day reflecting on and categorising your notes, or block one morning a week or once a fortnight. You owe it to yourself to make a deadline.
Remember it won’t be an accident or impulse but ‘will’. One day someone may ask you ‘How did you do it?’
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, I hope you have found it helpful.
Coaching is a great tool for ringfencing time and space to overcome challenges. If you have identified that you need or would like support, drop me a message below.