[Hint: there’s a surprise gifty thingy at the bottom of the box. Kinda like Cracker Jack, but without the calories.]
What do I want more than anything? To make a positive impact on other people by doing what I love, and to sustain myself in the process.
To change the world for the better, while at the same time feeding myself, emotionally and financially.
To be my fully-creative self and help others be their fully-creative selves, and make a living from it.
I’m definitely on the path, but I haven’t hit my stride yet.
My Newest Teacher
When you’re on the path, the Universe lets you know by sending the right teachers your way.
I met one of my teachers earlier today when I had a Skype interview for the Thriving Artists Project with the wonderful Goddess Leonie. I’d seen Leonie’s website a few weeks back, and immediately flagged it as one of my daily Genius Resources on 365 Days of Genius, so it was a delightful surprise when she contacted me, expressing great enthusiasm for what I was doing with TAP, and offering to be an interview guest.
My ex-boyfriend used to say “always interpret omens favorably,” and I took Leonie’s email as a definite message from the Universe that I was on the right path!
Not that this was the kind of omen that could be interpreted any other way. Leonie is modeling exactly the kind of life I’m in the process of creating for myself. (As soon as my self-imposed moratorium on buying new digital courses and e-books is lifted, I’m signing up for her Goddess Circle membership (affiliate link), which is filled with over $600 of goodies for the amazingly low price of $99 for a year. In fact, I may just make an exception to my moratorium…)
Teachers are everywhere
Leonie is actually just one in a long line of recent teachers. Every single interview I’ve done lately (or ever?) for the Thriving Artists Project has brought me rich gifts that I was right then needing to receive.
With artist Michele Théberge, I was reminded that it only takes 15 minutes a day to stay connected to your creative flow. I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it right then. I’ve made art every day this month, which makes me profoundly happy.
With illustrator and syndicated cartoonist Carlos Castellanos, I was reminded that you should charge most for that which comes easiest to you. I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it right then. I’m still integrating this one, but am becoming more and more aware of the many areas where I bring real value.
And with Goddess Leonie, I was reminded that on the one hand, making money from my gifts is so much more helpful for me and other people than giving it all away. And on the other hand, the best way to get my gifts out there is to use them to help people, to gift people with a journey. AND I was reminded that my art can be more than pieces I sell to hang on walls or put on shelves; it can be an integral part of what I put out into the world: on my blog, in my e-books and e-courses and anywhere else I share myself. Duh. Apparently I needed to hear this, and was ready to hear it today.
An exchange of energy
On her blog, Leonie tells a story of how she used to give her art away. Not as gifts to loved ones, given out of delight and generosity, but to anyone who asked, out of fear and avoidance of the hard act of putting a monetary value on her art.
Her teacher arrived in the form of a wise, older woman, who said:
You must charge for your art. In everything – everything – there needs to be an exchange of energy. An equal one. One that fills me up. One that fills you up. If I give you a massage that nourishes and sustains and relaxes you, I ask you for money to nourish and sustain my life too. We must both be involved in the exchange, otherwise it is one sided. We must both be invested, so we both receive value. If I do not allow you to pay money for my service, I do a disservice to myself, but also to you. You must contribute too, in order to be fulfilled. You will value the things you pay for more. And my life will be better because I have helped your life be better. And your life will be better, because you have helped my life be better too. Everything – everything – must be an equal exchange of energy. It is sacred. Money is the manifestation of energy. Money is sacred too.
This is something so many of us struggle with! Johnny B. Truant and Pace Smith even made a course about it – Profitable Idealism (affiliate link – doors closing at midnight tonight, so you only have a few hours to get in, but if you’re wanting to change the world, OR if you’re wanting to make money, this could be a great match for you, and I highly recommend you check it out).
An unsummary-ish summing-up, and a special gifty thingy
I don’t have a neat and tidy bow to wrap this post up with. Just to say that my chat with Leonie today made me rethink a lot of what I’ve been doing. I’m not sure how it’s all going to shake out, but as usual, I’ll share it with you here.
In the meantime, one thing I’ve been wanting to do for awhile now is to validate for myself the ways in which I can be directly helpful, right now. To that end, I’ll be offering a limited number of f.r.ee half-hour consulting/visioning/coaching sessions periodically over the coming weeks, starting now.
The first eight people who tungle me by clicking this link will get 30 minutes of my focused attention to work on whatever you want:
- Creative Consulting, to help you figure out some specific goals and how best to go after them
- “Master the Internet” technology mentoring
- a “Whip Your Website into Shape” critique
Heck, I’ll even read your aura if you want (seriously – I’m not even kidding about that!) All up to you.
What’s the catch?
There isn’t one. I just want to get to know my followers and do my best to help you. Period.
Again, click here to get to my Tungle Me calendar and set up your 30-minute session. First come, first served. (But if you don’t get into this group, you’ll have another opportunity down the road. Promise.)
That’s it for today. Now it’s time to get my art on. Catch you later!
