Jan 24, 2011

Inspiration and Dreams: Distractions are Part of the Journey




I admit it. I am stuck.


Stuck fast, frozen solid, rooted down and paralyzed by my own silly fears of the unknown, of failure and even, of success. Do you all know this feeling? It sounds so very silly and childish but, nonetheless, is supremely powerful. I mean really! Creating ‘denise balyoz photography’, launching a blog, and offering my images for sale, are all part of MY dream. What is taking me so long??


For five months, I have been writing to you about the nature of inspiration, and the living of our dreams. I’ve encouraged, commented, mused and hoorayed for the dreams that make us special. And you all have encouraged, commented, mused and hoorayed for me as I have developed mine.


Ever so slowly, I have been chug, chug, chugging along, building a blog template, finding a logo, signing up for a hosting platform, registering on Etsy, researching pricing, and shipping, calibrating monitors, heck, buying an iMac!, printing cards, taking photos, and even speaking to an accountant about the tax implications of selling my work. (yuck!)


But the closer I got to making this real, the chug, chug, chugging turned into a squealing creak, a dry cough and a dying splutter until here I sit, in January, stuck in the muck.




As dire as it sounds, this stuck-edness isn’t all that bad. I’ve gotten so much done: My home office is clean and reorganized. My wardrobe has been culled. Bags of clothes have gone to charity. My kitchen spice drawer is sorted and arranged alphabetically. (No, I’m not anal, I just love to cook and have more than the usual amount of spice jars.) Finally, my work is framed and up on my walls. Christmas cards went out BEFORE the relevant holiday for the first time in a decade. And, delightfully, a new puppy has joined our little clan.


Procrastination? Excuses? Unnecessary busy-ness? Perhaps, yes, of the most consummate type.


But perhaps, also, no.



This is LIFE LIVING. Our dreams are responsible for feeding our lives. And our lives are core to nourishing our dreams. My dream has just served to help my life get a little more straightened, organized, sorted and housebroken. Now it is time for my life to start the creative, artistic part of my dream. It is time to START. (Do check out Kim’s ‘Get Out of Your Own Way’ post on her Cafe...it is fabulously inspiring and going up on my new dream board now!)


A few days ago, a good friend said to me, ‘Whatever it is you want, book it in your diary. The act of writing things down is essential to manifesting for your goals. If you want clients to book, put your appointment times down in ink.’ She does this and rarely have I seen her fazed by an empty appointment book or without the clients she needs...


In that light, and even though my blog is not yet ready, it will launch on 7 February. I’m scared and overwhelmed and a bit lost, but here goes...Let’s get started.


18 comments:

Kim Klassen said...

oh wow... truly.... LOVE this...from the sorting to the setting your date... goosebumps... my friend... goosebumps!!
i find setting a date to be beyond powerful....
and your friends advice... BRILLIANT....

Oh and today's photos.... LOVE...

here's to you....and you ...and Dreams coming true. :)

xxo, Kim

Jamie said...

What an inspiring post! I think we've all been in that stalled place before, but you show how it can be a good place to be, and that when you are ready how to push forward. I can't wait to see your new site.

Lisa said...

You inspire me deeply. Im in aww and thankyou for posting this.
I love the photos.

Bonita Rose said...

I think taking time to be still is so important.. it can be too easy to follow the crowd. It's best to be still and listen. Just listen. xo
lovely post.
xo bonnierose in Fargo

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

What a wonderful and timely post! Thanks so much. I do tend to be easily distracted! Great photos too :)

Anna said...

"Cleaning up" our lives and minds is often an important part of the process of moving forward toward new dreams and goals. Great post and photos! I wish you the best in all your new ventures!

Jill said...

Here's to you! "life" does have to happen. I struggle with this all the time. The balance between life and the dream and why is the dream not part of the life does it have to take a backseat of course it does i should do this i need to do that.....the run on was intended. That is my brain some days! I am saying a prayer for your success right now!

Rosie Grey said...

What a wonderful and inspiring post! All the best for you - and I'm looking forward to visiting your blog!

Debbie P said...

Wonderful post. I am sure we have all felt this at one time or another. Me?? Yes, for sure..in fact I could have been writing this post, it sounds so much like my life right now. What holds us back...fear.
It took me a lot to answer peoples question, "what do you do for a living?". I am a photographer! That may sound easy, but I would break out in a sweat just answering that. My mind would run! Crazy thoughts, like, how dare she call herself a photographer, she doesn't own a business studio in town!
Self doubt, it can really hurt. I for one am VERY proud of the steps you have taken. Find the courage to carry on. For me is asking myself, "if I don't do this will I regret it one day?". My answer is yes,,,then go do it!

Marcie said...

Oh..I can so relate to this 'fear'...this procrastination..this need to simply jump in and get started. Feel the fear..and do it anyway!!!
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank-you for this today!!!

kelly@thebluemuse said...

I have been there so much myself lately... finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I think.
Maybe you needed that time to get everything else in order, so that now you can focus...

K8 said...

Denise - I was totally called to this post. I feel like we are at similar points on our creative paths. Sometimes I feel like I am just going in circles, planning, organizing, thinking, dreaming...and never quite getting to the "doing." But when I really stop and look at it, I've made so many (although somewhat tiny!) baby steps...and am moving in the right direction..so how could I not be proud? I recently dove into the blog world as well. Being the perfectionist that I am, it was scary to take that step...cause I want to do it "right." But I figured that I better just begin...and I'll learn as I go... Cheering you on. :)

Unknown said...

Excellent post! It's so easy to be overly critical of ourselves and not appreciate all we have done. Thanks for sharing yourself with us.

Amy said...

Oh, I am totally stalled. Everything I have to do is buzzing around in my mind making me crazy, causing me to shut down. And not do anything. Ugh. Thanks for the great words today!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the images and I can completely relate. Great advice all around. You have come to the right place for support and understanding. Looking forward to the 7th :-)

Suki said...

I am here, cheering for you. You will rock this, lady!

Lori said...

I love this! Distractions are part of the journey. That's fantastic and soooooo good for me to hear today. Thank you for this post.

Prairie Girl Studio said...

oh oh oh ... can i relate, denise ... can i ever.
i have been nodding as i have been reading your words ... so perfectly put ...

yes, distractions are a part of the journey ... thank you for sharing with us ...

know what? your blog will be awesome because it will be yours ... and i can't wait to see it!

you go girl ~
xo
prairiegirl