Each week in this space I give you an action that I hope will help boost your art career. I don’t expect you to do everything. Certain art marketing actions won’t be right for you. Or perhaps they’re just introduced at an inopportune time. I’m here to give you ideas. Your job is to collect the ideas, wade through them, and figure out what is best for you at that moment in time.

Indigene, Waiting for the Maestro. Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches. (c) The Artist http://www.indigeneart.com

I’m quite serious about this. You can’t possibly do it all. Forgive yourself.

Forgive yourself

--For not doing what other artists are doing
--For not having a blog
--For not updating your Web site
--For not following up with someone
--For not meeting your deadline
--For not being able to be in two places at once
--For sleeping late
--For not posting on your blog more often
--For being envious of another artist’s success
--For saying the wrong thing at the wrong time
--For getting your mailing out late

Forgiving yourself doesn’t mean that you are no longer responsible for these tasks. It just means that you move on to an action that is more productive than feeling bad about something that occurred in the past. Forgiving yourself allows you to get over the fact that you missed out on an opportunity because you didn’t write the deadline on the calendar. You shake off the disappointment and recommit to reviewing your calendar each day.

Most of the time, we’re hardest on ourselves. Of course you want to honor your obligations, but if others can forgive you, certainly you should forgive yourself.
 

Know This . . . Forgiving yourself allows you to move on. Think About This . . . What do you need to forgive yourself for? Do This . . . Forgive yourself. Has anything happened recently that you’ve beaten yourself up over? Isn’t it time to forgive yourself? And while you’re at it, forgive others. I show you how I do this and give you more resources on the Art Biz Blog. http://www.artbizblog.com