If you get tired...

One of my personal and biggest struggles as a creative is giving up too soon on my ideas and projects.
My new mantra is, "If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit."

Maybe you can relate?
You have that spark of an idea!
You get super excited and inspired.
You start gathering information, supplies, and setting up your work space. You may even start creating or working on your idea.

Then, you get tired, frustrated, or stuck.

Things aren't working out like you had thought.
It doesn't look like what you had imagined.
It feels like work and not fun or inspiring.
You've gotten no response from sharing your new idea or work with others.
This can wear on a person, bring you down and make you want to stop and give up.

What if, instead of giving up, you stopped and just rested for awhile?
From my experience creativity, ideas and inspiration tends to blossom after I take a nap, take a walk, or do something completely unrelated, like read a book or dig in the garden.

I recently started carving my own stamps and making handprinted scarves and other things. Some days I am super inspired to sketch ideas, or carve stamps or print my designs. 
I have all sorts of grand ideas and plans for my hand printed creations and my slowly evolving library of online painting classes.
But, my ideas seem to grow exponentially and my energy doesn't. 
At times I want to just quit and give up and I realize I need to rest. 
I also have learned I need to take my ideas one at a time. 
I know what my big dreams and plans are for my art and art biz so I make mini goals for myself.
Mini goals are key to controlling the overwhelm of so many awesome ideas. And rest. Rest is the key to keeping going and not giving up.

What are your BIG, exciting ideas that you are working on?
Make a list. I love lists. I have notebooks filled with ideas lists.

What are some mini goals you can set for yourself?
I have a couple mini goals for this week:
1. Stamp a scarf, yep just 1. 
2. Carve a new stamp design for a notecard.
3. .Do a practice painting for my next online class idea.

These seem doable. But, at the same time I am also giving myself permission to rest if and when I need to. And, It is ok if I do not get these done this week. Really, it is Ok.

Why is rest so important?
In my case I have chronic pain. There are times when I simply have to rest. As frustrating as this can be for me, I know that if I rest I can actually accomplish more.
Rest helps us relax and opens our minds to new ideas. 
Rest forces us to walk away from what is frustrating so we can relax and come back to it with fresh eyes.
When our mind is relaxed solutions tend to come easily.

So, do not give up. Whatever you are working on, or excited about, it is still worth it. Just take a rest and come back to it tomorrow or next week. It will still be there but you will have a new perspective, and sometimes that's all you really need.
If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.
Happy Resting Friends,
Cecelia