Quiet down my child
Quiet down my child
Listen
Listen to the whistles of the wind
Listen to the songs of the birds
Listen to the whispers of the moon
Listen to the words spoken by the person
In front of you
Listen
Listen to the chatter around you
Listen to the sweet melodies of music
Listen to the rhythm of your own body
Listen without speaking a word
You will find yourself learning so much more
Than you anticipated
Had you spoken
In The Studio
When I think back over what my previous episodes were in this season of the newsletter podcast, I think they speak a lot about the journey that was taken and where I was.
From the start of 2024, I’ve had to learn a lot of new things and get myself organised. That’s why naming this season the “Season of Climbing” felt so fitting. I’ve always had to work hard for the things I wanted in life and I knew that realising my dreams were not going to be easy.
There have been more days of being tired, doubting my abilities, learning publicly by making and putting out experimental videos or videos that felt like they didn’t match what was in my head, and having to get out of my own damn way. All of this has been closer to my journey along this path so far than feeling confident and secure in myself and my decision.
But I feel like I’ve reached a stage where I have levelled up in many ways. Whilst there is still so many more things to face along this journey of creating a viable creative career for myself, something changed in the past month.
In August 2024, I started to feel a sense of celebration. And now approaching 9 months into this path, I suddenly started to see improvements in my filming and editing skills, my ability to focus, my ability to organise myself - all of the things I think has been a requirement for me.
The thing myself and most people don’t realise is that artists throughout the many periods didn’t spend all of their time painting or writing or making music. Whatever their craft is, the other half of their role involved making sure people knew about what they were doing.
Just take a look at this post from Amie McNee, from Inspired to Write.
And I’m sorry to disappoint anyone who wanted to romanticise the artist. As much as I think artists are romantics and rebels and thought leaders, they are also entrepreneurs.
One thing I have realised is that who I become on the path towards my dreams is as important as the dream itself.
And one night, after a high feeling induced by a good strength training session, I allowed myself to drop this part of me who felt like she was still climbing. I imagined myself already there at the top of the mountain, having reached this dream.
I put my phone camera on and I started to record myself talking:
“What if….? What if….? What if….?”
One idea built on top of the other as I spoke out my dreams into reality. I made sure that they included people, things, results and feelings I could see, smell, touch to make it as realistic as possible.
And most importantly, I was honest. I didn’t allow myself to cheat. By lying to myself or feeling embarrassed about what I actually wanted.
You see, it’s important that we are honest about what we actually want within the big idea of a dream, which at first may rightly so be elusive. But that elusive quality of a dream might mean we let others drive us with their ideas of success.
I am defined by my own life experiences and so are you. So if you had it your way, what would that be? What does your life look like? How are you? How do you look? How is your work affecting people? These are the sorts of specifics that I allowed myself to bring into my current reality and consciousness.
And you know what? I suddenly cannot let go of this now very tangible dream. It does exist after all. In a time and space that I am currently travelling to.
I feel less tired. I don’t feel like I am losing track.
I feel even more energised now that in my imagination, my dream is in my sight and can be touched.
So if you ever feel like you are losing track of what exactly it is you are even doing anymore in your path, I recommend this exercise.
Is it more money? Is it more success? Is it acknowledgement of your skills and talents? What is it?
Your answers will be uniquely your own so don’t be afraid to accept and admit whatever comes up. I know that my heart is in the right place for the things that I am working towards in my life. And so is yours!
All the best and have fun with this one!
Love,
Win
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With love,
Win
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