When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

When I think about risk taking, I immediately think about the bold moves. Jumping out of planes, something in-front of an audience, daredevil type stuff.

Then I zoom in to everyday moments where I choose risk over comfort. Where I need to override the dialogue that whispers and screams, “girl, you are not good enough”.

Part 1: dreams of an art studio

Since forever, I’ve wanted an art studio. T’was to be a place in my home that I could be messy and free to paint. I recognise I could paint anywhere, in any room of my dwelling, but I wanted to have my own dedicated space to immerse myself in art, sculpt and cover the walls in my creations.

I’ve always lived in rentals and small apartments – not much space for art making and not very practical, albeit not impossible.

When I moved to Melbourne I explored renting a studio space, but decided I wasn’t cool enough for that scene. Not only was I not cool enough, I felt my art wasn’t good enough, original enough.. I just wasn’t enough.

So, hid my creative arts in a box. Blamed it away on work “I’m too busy” or “I’m in a leadership role, I work long hours”.

Then as fate (aka manifestation and savings) would have it, I have my own absolutely perfect art studio space. I can’t believe it, it’s a dream! But I don’t use it nearly as much as I want to. All the tools, all the space, all the possibility, but here I am thinking … I’m not good enough.

Part 2: now what

I’ve had this big white canvas just haunting me. I was afraid of putting anything on it. I didn’t have a big idea, I didn’t know how to make it good.

So, last week I went out there and made a deal with myself.

Just start.

Choose a colour that I’m drawn to and just got for it. Paint lines and swirls and then toss it in the bin. Or paint over it. Nobody has to see it. I’m not failing myself (or my life) by creating something that might not be award winning. I’m creating. Creating is risky. But let’s do it anyway.

Magic was made

Here’s where I am so far, some kind of abstract forest. Work in progress. I feel amazing, I can’t wait to get back home and work on it. I have more ideas to build on!

So, the answer the question in the title… it turned out pretty well.

I gotta keep taking the little risks, the build me, the shape me, they create the tangible out of potential.

Get out there, take a lil’ risk.