Leap of Faith

 

“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” –Louis E. Boone

Fear of Change

Most of us fear change. We fear it so much that we stand in the way of our own success. In our current world where ideas, creativity, opportunities and innovative minds are so welcomed, we must have faith in ourselves and get out of our own way.

“Every adventure requires a first step.” –The Cheshire Cat, Lewis Carroll from Alice in Wonderland

Alice had faith when she took a drink from that mysterious bottle. She changes size, age, and maturity throughout the story because she is a growing girl, but growth is unpredictable… sometimes it can make you feel awkward.

 

Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

Sometimes we are diverted outside of our comfort zone, our three-mile radius. A moment occurs in our life where we have to make major choices of options presented to us. In these situations it’s best to see the glass as half-full. Ultimately stretching outside of the comfort zone is how we grow, and change into a new and improved version of ourselves . We are told that change is good, “eat change for breakfast” no matter how scary, or anxiety filled.

Anxiety comes from uncertainty, familiarity is comfortable like the couch. When we are forced to push through anxiety and get off the couch, we are often provided with a huge feeling of accomplishment and self confidence. Growth.

Growth is how we increase the number of new things we are comfortable with. Like Alice, it may be initially awkward, but in the end we are often changed for the good.

“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different.” –Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Faith

“Hope is faith holding out it’s hand in the dark.” –George Iles

Have faith in yourself. Have faith in the decisions you make, your choice to get off that couch. We never know what’s waiting for us in the dark. It can be scary, and awkward, but it also can be something wonderful.

A leap of faith, is the act of believing in or accepting something intangible or unprovable. Holding your hand out, maybe even finding it held.

 

These inspiring thoughts came to me this morning as I was power walking with my two small dogs. I was noticing the bright green hue that had come over the plants and trees recently here in Florida. Spring is the season of new life, and for some reason I could feel that today more than I did yesterday, and the day before.

 

Life is a journey and we are a sum of our experiences. Drought, excessive rain, fire, insect plagues and disease epidemics, injuries, thinning, air pollution, all leave their mark on a tree’s annual growth rings. Annual rings reveal the events that have occurred throughout the lifetime of the tree, much like our experiences (good and bad) play a part in the person we are and the leaps we are willing to take.

 

Artist Tania Kovat has created art with tree roundels that she says represent the full range of human experiences, symbolizing life and inevitable death. “Grain” is an installation composed of 15 large oak tree rings in the UK.

 

I have created many tree themed collages over the years, symbolizing family trees, growth, and sum of experiences. Currently I am getting ready to start a new commissioned piece called “TwinOaks”  which will be featured on my Studio Facebook Page in progress.

Thank You
for being a part of
My Art Journey,

Elizabeth

Connections

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