GOALS

It’s that time of year again when many of us take stock of the year that was whilst considering the one ahead. It’s a great time to look at what you have achieved and reassess where you are going.

In this creative life I think its important to assess where we are going, what we are doing, and why … look at what needs improving and create goals toward that end.   Mine are art, photography and poetry.  This past year i achieved a few of my goals – a few (Haiga) pieces published in a photographic magazine over three months, a couple of trophies from the local camera club, a few photos accepted in national competitions and a couple of awards ….  plus I finally got to exploring Etsy more fully and got my FIRST sale !  ….  so many more that were not on my list but seem to fly from my original goals – such is the nature of focus ….

Once you have decided the area in which you wish to improve, what then ?  How do you proceed?

I find, that people with skills and knowledge or books and online material come to me at the right moment, just when I need them.  But in fact, they appear because I am focused on my goal, each day – it’s a conscious looking for answers whether you have camera in hand, or not.

Put your goals into action -
- first look at your own work and ask yourself what it is you wish to learn. What could you focus on that would improve your work, your way of seeing.
-  do you know someone whose skills are a few steps ahead of yours who will help you see more clearly where you can learn and grow ?
-  Google the subject matter and read about it or go to the library and borrow a book on photography.
-  when you have the area you want to improve in, set a  goal that will propel you forward with our work.
- when setting your goal, put aside regular time each week to work toward achieving it – say one day a week for 3 hours – if you do more, great !  But always set goals to stretch yourself a little more than what you do now.  This makes them do-able and THIS is what makes it possible to succeed.
- set yourself up for success and learning, NOT failure – make sure the goal is fun, challenging and achievable !

Happy New Year !