Always Be Grateful
As we find ourselves beginning the month of November, the month of Thanksgiving for the US, I don’t take it for granted that I’m lucky to be an artist, have a studio and a business, and share my art in the world. I wouldn’t be here without the love and support of my family and friends. I also wouldn’t be here without a little bit of creativity built into my soul from the Creator above. And for all of this creative goodness, I am immensely grateful. And this is our next watercolor wisdom… lessons I’ve learned through watercolor that can be applied to life.
Always Be Grateful…
Watercolor itself didn’t teach me to be grateful. But the act of painting and creating a business to put my art into the world absolutely has. I’ve chosen to paint nature-inspired art because I want to represent the beauty that surrounds us, to acknowledge the animals and plants with whom we share this earth, and to glorify the One who created it all. And the act of painting these subjects is a way of showing gratitude for their existence. It’s a reminder every time I pick up a paint brush and dip it into paint that I need to be grateful for the blessings in my life. I’m grateful for this opportunity to travel this watercolor journey with my husband at my side, supporting and encouraging me along the way. I’m grateful for my amazing daughter and the opportunity to be her mom and even the challenging moments that come along with that responsibility. I’m grateful for this amazing world, filled with a diverse population of people and animals and plants. I’m grateful for my friends who make me laugh and encourage me in challenging times and for the opportunity to return the favor when they need it. I’m grateful for farmers who grow our food, for truckers who transport it, and for grocery workers who make it available to us. And the list goes on…
Studies have shown that gratitude can shift our perspective. If we tend to focus on the negative, that’s what we’ll see. Life will seem to be more challenging, difficult, unfair… My paintings will be full of flaws; I’ll interpret people’s responses or lack of responses as negative feedback; I’ll assume that my work isn’t good enough; and I’ll maybe even give up. But if we intentionally look for the good, the positive, that’s what we’ll see. My paintings will be beautiful (with maybe a few areas that could be a bit better); I’ll find my joy in painting and sharing my work rather than worrying about what people think or misinterpreting their feedback; I’ll keep painting and keep trying and hopefully add a little beauty to someone’s home with my art.
We can change a negative perspective into a positive one, simply by focusing on the blessings in our lives… being grateful. Creating a daily practice of gratitude can lead to that perspective transformation. At dinner every night, each member of my family shares three things for which they’re grateful. Some people are really good at keeping a gratitude journal in which they intentionally write those things for which they’re grateful every day. Art therapy can involve keeping a creative gratitude journal in which those things for which they’re grateful are drawn or collaged or painted rather than written. Therapists know that changing the perspective can transform lives.
A positive outlook often requires intentionality. Many of us don’t naturally look for the good; we tend to find the not-so-good. And that colors how we see the world around us. So taking time to find the good, to identify those things and people and feelings for which we’re grateful can transform how we see the world and thus how we interact with it.
So identify your blessings every day, my friends. The more you list, the more you’ll find. And a more grateful outlook just might transform your life. Always be grateful…