A couple of weeks ago a friend said something I keep thinking about. We were celebrating her little girl’s fifth birthday. While blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, her mum encouraged her to make a wish, out loud. “How are we going to make our dreams come true if we don’t even talk about them?”, she explained. My mind was blown.
For decades we have been told to silently make a wish when we’re throwing a coin in a fountain, on our birthday, or when we see a shooting star. Like it’s a secret. But a secret goal has little viability. Isn’t it only when we start speaking about our dream, asking other people’s opinions, brainstorming about the practicalities, that the dream can start to become a reality?
I spend a lot of time alone, in my happy place, my art studio. But whether I like it or not, being an artist entails more than creating. There’s admin, social media, a website, finding opportunities to get the art seen by the world. For all these things I need to come out of my shell. If I hadn’t reached out to people, spoken about my work, taken some risks, I would have had zero exhibitions under my belt. Now I have eight. And six publications.
Immediately while typing the previous sentence, I feel nauseous. My inner critic isn’t happy: it feels wrong to brag. Delete the whole paragraph. Be humble.
Breathe. And remember: being humble will not get your wishes granted. Be enthusiastic instead. Be loud. Be proud. So yes: I sold 44 paintings at my Gasthuisberg exhibit. And yes: I’m working on an amazing new collection, that I will show in the perfect location. I haven’t found the location yet, but I will, as long as I keep talking about my dream.