It’s only an excuse.

Self confidence is built upon the small successes that we have each day as well as the big successes of life.

So often we procrastinate on the small things of our Art practice that we know we should do but just don’t seem to get around to doing them.

Two obstacles to being a successful Artist are fear and procrastination.

Fear is what paralyses people and procrastination reinforces this so that we do nothing, we can recognise this in ourselves because we then make excuses why we cannot do it.

Excuses are giving yourself permission not to do what you know you should be doing.

This justification of your actions or non action using excuses is most often steeped in fear.

The excuse sounds true, but a deeper look reveals fear is at the root.

Do not let fear control your life, deal with fear by hearing what it says and then doing the opposite to what it says.

Fear says they will laugh at you if you do that, you say “I will do it and see if they laugh?”

Fear says do it tomorrow, then you say, “I will do it now.”

Make your list of all the things that you have been putting off doing in your Art practice from the easiest to complete to the hardest to complete.

Why? As you complete the easiest tasks and tick them off, so your confidence will grow and you will see that you can over rule the fear and you will be motivated to complete all the tasks on your list.

Taking action bolsters your self belief and belief in your ability to succeed and shows you that you can use the fear and not be immobilised by it.

Excuses are very revealing.

The next time you hear yourself making an excuse ask yourself why am I doing this?

The answer you get may be quite telling and will prompt you into action.