Monday
Oct152012
Growing What You Love As a Daily Practice Grows Your Courage
Monday, October 15, 2012
I've been quietly working to become better at the things I love without rushing, without chastising myself when I am not already at my goal, and without losing my love for these things while I still occasionally fail at being good at them.
When Susannah Conway wrote about how she does one thing or commits one hour towards her dream every day, I realized that this is what I have been doing. It is easy to get caught up in jobs and laundry and emotional entanglements and so lose focus on the ideas, pursuits, and dreams that actually feed us most when we are so caught up. I realized some time ago that, over time, I had relegated what were once my dreams to the domain of mere hobbies, mentally shelving them with my unused yarn and dried up glitter glue, and that doing so had left me with a life full of tedium, tasks that kept me physically cared for but spiritually empty.
I have made a practice of spending, if not an hour, at least 20 minutes a day on one of my dreams outside of paid work projects. I don't have to make great headway, and some days I do little more than look at the thing I am working on, but I at least keep my eye trained on my dreams.
It's this type of daily practice that has grown this weblog, my writing, my design work, and the creative community that sustains me.
Lately, I have my eye trained on writing poetry. I've been a once-a-month poet for a long time, and this does nothing to further my ability or my goal to be published, so I have been chipping away at writing poetry as a daily practice for the last two months or more. I am not perfect, and I am not great yet, but I can feel myself training a new voice, and it is powerful. It's like learning how to turn a cartwheel. Every time I hit the landing without twisting anything, I have more confidence to carry me through the next turn.
Growing yourself beyond the daily pattern changes you. It doesn't just grow your skills; it grows your courage. It grows your ability to say I can or I will be able to.
If you are waiting for a burst of courage to start working toward a dream, stop waiting. You can actively grow your courage by putting one foot toward your goal, even if that foot is terrified and shaking in its boot. I'm not shitting you.
What would you grow if you carved out 20 minutes just for you every day? What are you growing right now?
When Susannah Conway wrote about how she does one thing or commits one hour towards her dream every day, I realized that this is what I have been doing. It is easy to get caught up in jobs and laundry and emotional entanglements and so lose focus on the ideas, pursuits, and dreams that actually feed us most when we are so caught up. I realized some time ago that, over time, I had relegated what were once my dreams to the domain of mere hobbies, mentally shelving them with my unused yarn and dried up glitter glue, and that doing so had left me with a life full of tedium, tasks that kept me physically cared for but spiritually empty.
I have made a practice of spending, if not an hour, at least 20 minutes a day on one of my dreams outside of paid work projects. I don't have to make great headway, and some days I do little more than look at the thing I am working on, but I at least keep my eye trained on my dreams.
It's this type of daily practice that has grown this weblog, my writing, my design work, and the creative community that sustains me.
Lately, I have my eye trained on writing poetry. I've been a once-a-month poet for a long time, and this does nothing to further my ability or my goal to be published, so I have been chipping away at writing poetry as a daily practice for the last two months or more. I am not perfect, and I am not great yet, but I can feel myself training a new voice, and it is powerful. It's like learning how to turn a cartwheel. Every time I hit the landing without twisting anything, I have more confidence to carry me through the next turn.
Growing yourself beyond the daily pattern changes you. It doesn't just grow your skills; it grows your courage. It grows your ability to say I can or I will be able to.
Growing what you love, growing yourself beyond the pattern of daily life, grows your courage.
If you are waiting for a burst of courage to start working toward a dream, stop waiting. You can actively grow your courage by putting one foot toward your goal, even if that foot is terrified and shaking in its boot. I'm not shitting you.
What would you grow if you carved out 20 minutes just for you every day? What are you growing right now?
categorized in general, how to and tagged in ambition, dreams, how-to, inspiration, inspirational, poetry
general, how to and tagged in ambition, dreams, how-to, inspiration, inspirational, poetry 
Reader Comments (27)
I'd like to be a better writer. I never take the time to do it, though. I just slog thru my days, happy to have not killed anyone or gotten fired. (Both are equal fears. My mind, she is weird.)
I'm going to attempt to implement this, though. I think I can carve out 20 minutes after the kids are in bed, to just not do anything but write.
An ulcer?
I need to make room in my life for this. Thanks for the reminder.
All of my trip pictures sit unedited. There are so many of them, they're driving me crazy. I love photography, but claiming it professionally beyond a hobby never makes sense in the way writing does. I guess I can find it 20 minutes a day.
A few days ago I took my first ever pottery wheel class. Before I knew it the two hours had passed and it was over. I was, of course, terrible at it, but I enjoyed myself immensely, and I made things. I realized that I never do art for art's sake, and I resolved then and there to change that. The act of creating for nobody else's benefit but my own - it's what I have been missing. It may not be pottery that I choose, but something. Something.
This is so inspiring, Elan. Thank you!
well. i just have to say: you're already a great poet. period. exceptional, in fact. so there's that.
my daily practice? coming out. 20 minutes a day, i'm more honest and clear and revealing than my comfort would like me to be. the form changes shape, but that's my practice these days. honest expression. it's...thrilling.
I needed this reminder to start off my week. I think sometimes we shy away from our dreams, so afraid of being bad at them, instead of growing them and our courage just like you said. Perfect.
Wow I needed to read this. My last few months have been, hands down, the most stressful months of my life. I stopped doing things I enjoy because surviving took so much effort. Now that things have eased, I need to get my joy back. I want to grow my photography beyond the hobby level, and have the courage to go pro. So that's what I'm committing my 20 minutes a day to. Thank you!
If I spent 20 minutes a day on something..it'd DEFINITELY be getting back to playing jazz piano. I used to carve out two hours a day and loved it. But family and work and life intruded, like with everyone, and that went by the wayside.
I've struggled with the 20 minutes rather than the hours and hours to spend on a creative pursuit - so much so that if I DON'T have that big block of time, then I do nothing.
This is a lovely post as usual - I adore your writing - and I WILL sit down today at my piano. Just for 20 minutes.
I'd need to spend 20 min a day dreaming first. I've never allowed myself time to think about what I want to do or be, I just try to survive. But 20 min seems doable and I love the idea of finally figuring that out.
I spent a couple of hours working at Starbucks today. Indeed, I was doing work, but I chose to do it there instead of the office because it made me feel free and more creative. Next time I go, it'll be just for me.
It's so easy to get wrapped up in the day, especially with small children, and lose sight of the fact that I've done nothing to further my dreams, and that's why I continually feel like I'm stagnant. Thanks for this.
LOVE this post Elan! This has been a new focus in my life as well and it's transforming. I've learned to say no and stop being a slave to others' needs and am spending more time cultivating my passions. I was dead inside; I am rising again!
"If you don't build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs." (Tony Gaskins)
or
"Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." (Earl Nightingale)
I found you on a random Sunday night when I happen to find a tweet with #blognow in it. I have been watching from a far getting to know you and reading your posts. Then you wrote this one. So concise, to the point. Also so inspiring and true!! I also live by those words. I love... I mean like I was born to do it love my job but I have to be careful not to let it consume me. Taking time daily to do the things I find creative and for myself are essential to my happiness and fulfill a deep creative side I didn't know I had two years ago. Thank you for sharing your words and reminding others of the importance of this. Thank you for sharing what I have also experienced lately. The more you do something you love the more courage you start to have.... so VERY VERY true!
No! I did not want to face reality this morning. *pouts and stamps feet*
But you're right. I need to spend at least 20 minutes a day on the learning, the growing. I mean, if I want to be a graphic designer I've got to do my homework. I need to be working on ideas every day and I'm not doing that. I keep saying that this quarter of school has been a wash but I'm really just leaning back on the excuse that the second and third week of class I was sick. I'm enjoying what I'm learning I just have so little motivation. I hate that. Overall it has been a rough few weeks (we just finished mid-terms and we have five more weeks to go). Lots of anxiety, illness, husband traveling, more anxiety, more illness...school has taken a very back seat to my emotional upheaval.
But again excuses. I need to work. I need to grow. I need that courage. I need to shut up the voices in my head telling me I can't do it.
I am just learning about dreaming this year. It was something that scared me, and baffled me for a long time. I love the idea of spending 20 minutes a day focusing on a dream - that is a goal that is doable. Thank you for this.
I'm growing something pretty formless right now. You know how they say that sculptors find the sculpture in the block of marble sometimes? It feels like that.
All I know is that I have felt like I was holding my breath all year, ever since I knew I would have to renovate my house and handle a move on my own. I kept saying that X would start to happen after I was settled down in my new place, that any strides forward would be wasted work. These days, I'm pretty sure that investments in myself are not wasted.
Oh how I love that photo! The post is pretty fantastic, too. But they always are.
This was so timely. I have recently decided that I will allow myself to start my blog and Etsy shop before "everything is perfect" that I can do a bit at a time. That it will improve as I improve. Instead of being paralyzed by the unfinished now I can focus on the 20 minutes or 1 hour a day and whatever and however much gets done.
Enjoy the journey.
Reading this inspired me, and by that I mean in the I actually have spent some time this week doing some of the things I love instead of replying to pointless corporate emails and stressing about my job. As a result I have a party of 4 of my best friends coming over this weekend, where having indulged in my love of cooking we shall share a Mexican feast a few Mojito's and some good conversation.
So thank you!!!
What a great post and endeavor!
This has me thinking about what my dream is. It's been in flux. I will give it much thought while I am Internet-less on my honeymoon.
My blog is definitely my 20 minutes a day of love and work. I adore it and always try to make it just a little better. I love that it's never quite there. It's never going to be a finished product. It will always need me to make it better and it makes me better in the process.
You live so deliberately, E.
I want this.
I am the only one that can do this change.
THANK YOU.
Finding my way to this post - your fantastic blog - was such a gift this morning. Thank you.
I read this post and loved it and then I read robinm's comment. Exactly what i need ! I have not started selling my kids capes out of fear of them not being perfect. That's it. 20 min a day here I come!
You are absolutely right. While you may have to shoehorn those minutes into your day, the refreshment you draw from them is worth it. And the series of footsteps you leave behind you is a great reminder of how far you've really come. Thanks for the encouragement.
i'd probably grow my book proposal. or one of those million projects I have in mind for my blog. I absolutely carve out time for my dreams each day. I'd be miserable if I didn't ... great to meet you. Found you via Bon Bon Break. I am also a contributor! Great post. I needed the inspiration today. : )