I think you would have to say that there are many things that go into the mix of an artist being successful. And of course, the first thing you need to establish is what your definition of success is?
However, of all of them I believe that probably the most important is MINDSET. - I can be in a beautiful space and absorbed in my own misery so I don't even perceive the healing beauty all around me.
First and foremost it is your attitude. The same holds true for anything really from being an entrepreneur to an Olympic athlete. If you don’t have the mind set you will never make it. So what do we mean by MINDSET? Well, there are a few factors involved.
There is a saying that goes something like this …. If you think you can – you can and if you think you can’t, well that’s true too. I have touched upon this idea in previous posts, but really it all comes down to a universal law – the Law of Attraction. How does this work? What you focus on and have an emotional connection to determines what manifests in your life. How then, might this work for you as an artist?
Well, I can give you a real-life example from many years ago. I had organized a group exhibition with some other women, who had been students of mine at one point. Anyway, I had a pretty negative mindset back in those days, and although I was trying to think positively, at some level I just ‘knew’ I wouldn’t sell any thing at that show. The other women, on the other hand, were all happily optimistic, it was their first group showing and they were happy and excited with no great expectations.
And guess what? Of course I didn’t sell anything! Not only that, all the other women sold at least one painting in the show! I was mortified, crushed, and disillusioned, to say the least. However, looking back I can see so clearly now, how I created that situation.
So if you want to achieve whatever your version of success for your art is, mindset is the first thing you need to work on. Part of this is having clarity around what that success means to you, how you will feel, what it looks like and so on.
You know these principles will work for anything – it sounds simple but lining up with it is entirely another matter because we always seem to get in our own way! Here are the steps…
Be very clear about what it is that you want ( i.e. to sell 3 paintings at the show)
You must believe, that this goal is possible for you to achieve.
Feel really good about the idea and then just forget about it. Yes you heard me right – Forget About It!
We don’t have to do the ‘How’ – the universe takes care of that – providing you with opportunities you could never have managed in a 100 years. Amazing coincidences can happen - you bump into someone who has a friend that knows so and so ....... and so on.
Oh, and then there’s one more very important thing, well two actually. Get Happy!! The happier you feel the quicker your desire will come about. And practice appreciation. The more you appreciate the things in your life, the more abundance comes back at you. That's the best way to attract success.
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