The Busy Bee

To put it mildly, your to-do list is so long that it could make a trip to the moon and back... and still have a few lingering action-items. Do you sometimes long to just drop it all and spend hours painting the day away? Of course you do -- but that's not practical, and your schedule just won't allow it.

Sure, indulging in creative activities sounds nice, but does anyone really have time for that?

The results are in, and your inner critic is:

— unknown

"Once she stopped rushing through life, she was amazed how much more life she had time for."

Why do we have an inner critic?

That voice inside your head isn't actually a bully -- it's terrified of the very real possibility that you will fail, and it's doing whatever it can to keep you safe...

...but it doesn't have the whole story. Your inner critic literally believes that failure will lead to death and destruction, which is why its pull is so strong. It's not your job to cast it aside and push it down (that will only make it stronger). No, your job is to tell it a new story. Your fears are valid, but they're not all that matter in this adventure, and they don't get to dictate your choices. So, let's give your inner critic a few more insights that will help it feel secure.

Mantras can help anchor your thoughts in truth and light.

Consider the mantras below to help give
the busy bee
a new narrative.

Creativity is productive.

The number one reason people put creativity at the bottom of their list? They’re too busy. But here’s the thing about “busyness” -- you always have time for what you put first. If you’re someone who has a lot of responsibilities and a hefty schedule to match, I hear that. I get it. So consider this: what if making even a little bit of time for your creativity will actually help with your other responsibilities? What if creativity gives you even more strength and motivation to complete your tasks and tackle your to-do list? Creativity is a form of self-care, and if you prioritize it, it could help you bring your best self to the table.

1.

This moment is important.

2.

Busy Bees tend to put themselves last because they don’t value their own happiness as much as they value productivity. It’s a hard truth, but important to realize when you’re learning to prioritize creativity. Remember that the purpose of creative time isn’t to yield a life-changing result -- it’s to carve out little moments of wonder that build up over time. 10 minutes of creativity might not seem “worth it” when you have such a busy schedule, but I promise you, it is. This moment, right here, is worth slowing down and truly enjoying.

I will never run out of opportunities to create a beautiful life.

In a world that worships productivity and glorifies burnout, I know it can be hard to imagine a life of “success” that looks like saying no to seemingly “golden” opportunities. I’m all for jumping at amazing opportunities. But if the cost is your mental health, if it means you never have time for rest and creative play, then the cost is too high. Remember this when you’re running yourself ragged because this opportunity is “too good to pass up” (just like all the dozens that came before it): You will never run out of chances to build a beautiful life. You have time to take your time and be intentional with your choices, my friend. In fact, if you don’t, you may find that you burn out quickly and are unable to accomplish or enjoy much anyway.

3.

My name is Kolbie, and before discovering the magic of watercolor, I was a proud (and miserable) capital "P" Perfectionist.

In 2016, I was working in the White House (dream job, anyone?) and felt like a complete fraud -- the weight of my perfectionism was slowly crushing my confidence. Kind of on a whim, I picked up calligraphy and watercolor, and now, five years later, my life has turned upside-down in the best way. I went from insecure political writer to confident author, artist, and online educator. I've helped thousands of people worldwide unlock the power of their creativity, and I'm not stopping yet.

Meet your mindset guide and creative best friend.

BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR INTO THIS...

Hello there!

Start each day by crossing at least one thing off your list -- not because you’ve accomplished it, but because you decide it doesn’t need to be there in the first place. I promise you that despite what your brain is telling you, not everything on your list is priority #1. If you’re a chronic overachiever, you may need to start small, which is why I recommend just one thing. Just one thing that you decide at the beginning of your day doesn’t need to be on your radar quite yet (or at all). Trust yourself enough to know that you know what should be on your plate, and what shouldn’t.

Shorten your list.

a few action steps:

Maybe your schedule is so tight not because you pile it high, but because you genuinely have a lot of responsibilities. Between work, kids, pets, church, volunteering, family, friends, and everything else, you don’t feel like your schedule is your own. You don’t have to drop everything -- but you can make room in your schedule for 10 minutes a week to create something fun. You might wish for more, and maybe that will encourage you to adjust your schedule and give yourself more time, But until then, know that those 10 minutes are making a difference in your life.

Schedule creative time.

Inspiration immediately runs dry if there’s any amount of pressure to “succeed,” so if you’re going into your 10 minutes of creativity with expectations of a masterpiece, you’ll probably never make art again. This self-care session isn’t to boost your ego -- it is to nurture your soul. Start with easy activities, like tutorials or simple shapes, and remember that even if you didn’t create much of anything, time spent making any kind of art is never wasted. It adds up and brings light to your life, no matter what.

Make it easy.

Watercolor can help you slow down and discover a new story

I was a Perfectionist through and through until I discovered watercolor. Diving into a creative practice provided a gentle way to retrain my thoughts, create moments of wonder, and build a life-changing sense of confidence and self-compassion.

I can't do the work for you, but I can de-mystify the "how" behind watercolor so you can jump straight to using it to build a healthy creative mindset and more magical life.

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