Continuing with Principle #1 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” about being 100% responsible for your own life, I set today’s intention to examine complaining and changing. He states: “the circumstances you complain about are, by their very nature, situations you can change—but you’ve chosen not to.” And it comes down to two reasons that I can glean: 1) it would require us to change and 2) it would involve risk.
For the longest time (a couple of years), I’ve been complaining to myself that I want to learn how to do digital painting. My complaints were I didn’t have enough time and that their is a learning curve. The funny thing is I bought at least 10 classes on Udemy.com on how to paint with procreate and I’ve dabbled maybe in 2 or 3 of them.
Today I painted “Responsible” using the painting app Procreate for iPad. I incorporated some of the techniques learned thus far. I’m pleased with the results and realize that if I want to get better at it, I’m going to have to practice more. So rather than complaining about not being good enough with this medium, I’m going to allow myself the time I need to improve.
I also find myself complaining about not being good at drawing. Sure I can easily draw mandalas but ask me to draw a dog or a cat, a 5-year-old could do better. I find myself in situations where I need to draw something, and I end up embarrassing myself. So as part of this coloring I’m know that it’s time to stop complaining about my abilities (or lack of) and do something about it. Only I can change that. Even if I practice 20 minutes a day, I know I can improve…I’ve proven that to myself many times before in other areas in my life…so why not here. (I can already feel my limiting beliefs gearing up to protest)
Where do you find yourself complaining and yet stopping yourself from changing the situation?
“If you find yourself
— Jack Canfield
in a situation you don’t like,
either work to make it better
or leave.
Do something to change it
or get the heck out.”
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”.
Mandala of the Day 