My Story With Creative & Life Goals

Back in 2012 I was a stay at home mum with a 2 and 7 year trying to survive off a living wage (some months it was certainly much less) Saying it was a constant struggle would be a understatement. So I decided on my birthday that year I had had enough, I did not want to simply ‘survive’. I started planning ahead to a time when my daughter would be in full time school and I could work almost full time hours. Although I had been a editorial illustrator and greetings card designer before I had kids, I had been dreadfully unhappy towards the end of that phase.

I set quite a lot of goals, large and small to gain and attract the career I really wanted. In my head I knew what success looked like : passive income to cover all my bills, a thriving illustration business, a holiday in Europe or further with my kids and good heath. Due to these specific objectives, I was able to focus all my mental forces to seeing these outcomes.

It was about setting myself up for success and then making the plans to get there. It’s still a ongoing process for me and I asses my goals every 6 -12 months though some could take another 10 years! Goals start with intention and gives you the chance the dream BIG (go HUGE if you dare!!)

Why It’s Important to Set Art Goals?

Goals are the first steps in every journey whether you want to start learning watercolours to building a pattern portfolio. Any planning you do for the future regardless of what it is, is a goal. I see goals as statements of our authentic wants and desires.

1. Direction

We ALL have the potential to be amazing successful artists, but having all the potential in the world without focus, and those abilities and talent will be unproductive. By setting goals for yourself you give yourself a target to shoot or aim towards. They are the first steps to every journey and this sense of direction is what allows your mind to focus on a desired result (filling a sketchbook/ teaching yourself knitting/ learning Photoshop…..inset yours) So rather than waste energy shooting aimlessly it allows you to have a better chance of hitting your target and reach your goal.

2. Motivation

When you have a goal, you feel that you are moving toward a destination that is important for you, and this makes you feel happier, stronger, and more confident. When things looked uncertain (getting divorced) my goals gave me a sense that there were at least some aspects that I had some control over. My goals have given me focus and priority in an increasingly confusing and overwhelming world.

3 Create hope and confidence

By making us think about what we want, goals can be affirming and confidence-building. Hope is “the feeling that something desired can be had or will happen.” Having positive goals will create the expectancy of positive and desired outcomes and this will often help you persevere to ensure their realization. As we move towards that, we can strengthen our belief that we are deserving and worthy of those wonderful outcomes (insert here…a certain income…working with a particular client…own fabric collection….)

4 Progress

Goals can also help you chart your progress on your life journey. Unless you see yourself slowly making progress, your dreams and aspirations are nothing more than vague plans. Your goals are a way of making your development visible: even if it’s starting your mailing list with just one contact, you can see progress and improvement as more sign up. Achieving gaols however small provides milestones and structure. Which will make you feel more satisfied with your life.

Goals are not wishes: it is something into which you will put all your efforts and energy, so you can achieve it. They are good reminders about what priorities you have chosen, and gives you a good way to check back and see how you are doing. When you take the time to set goals, you ensure that your life is geared towards getting the most out of your life or career. But many of the things we want to achieve and experience won’t be handed to us – we need to work for it.

In next weeks blog I will talk more about GOAL SETTING : the key to setting goals is to be realistic, flexible, and diligent. It’s helpful to remember that you won’t get everything done in a day, a month, or maybe even a year. Planning does not have to be overwhelming. Start small and work up to the big stuff. Get organized first, and things will fall into place more easily.