May you always keep an open mind and an open heart so there's no room for "I Can't" to stay too long

How often does "I Can't" come into your thoughts like an unwelcome guest? And what do you when your unwelcome guest arrives? I hope you greet them and then kindly explain that you're too busy today.

Sometimes the unwelcome guest doesn't seem so bad. Beliefs like, "I can't paint" or "I can't cook" don't seem that awful. We don't think that thoughts like these really hurt us, but what we don't realize is that we are limiting ourselves. Perhaps limiting our ability to enjoy an art class with friends. Maybe limiting our ability to enjoy cooking with our family. A sneaky little kill joy that phrase can be!

"I can't" shows up not as an unwelcome guest, but as a late at night boogie man for me. My experience of anxiety is my brain literally screaming "I can't" at whatever is triggering my fight or flight response at the moment. For example, "I'm terrified of airplanes, I can't fly. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. " And my spiral begins.

So, to counter my boogie man, I'm mindful of when I use those words and also when others use them. What I've noticed is how in all instances, they keep us from being truly present, from enjoying ourselves, and sometimes from realizing our full potentials.

This series was created from a painting that my friend created and I titled "I Can't". While vacationing together and having a painting session, my best friend exclaimed "I don't know what I'm doing, I can't paint." What surprised me, and really interested me, was an executive level tough as nails woman, who would never think or say those words to herself or her clients, saying it to painting.

We finished playing with paints and I made sure to scoop up her painting to make some beautiful art with. This series is one of my most interesting, creative, and surprising. I hope you enjoy exploring it. And I hope that you pay attention to the next time that you or someone you know says "I can't." May this art be a reminder that others see beauty in you and in what you do, even when you might not.

What's something that you've thought "I can't" about recently? My challenge to you, go out and give it a try with an open heart and an open mind.

With much love,

Erica

Collect

This title piece, I Can’t #1, is available for purchase as limited edition metal prints and fine art prints in the gallery store.

The title piece “I Can’t #1” is available in the wearable art store.

Flower Dahlia

Source Kindred Flower Farm, Washington, PA