Why don’t I paint?!

Hi,
I used to be very arty as a child and at school.. and it was part of my identity, I suppose, and what I was ‘successful’ in. But I haven’t painted for about a decade… and there was so much caught up in it with my relationship with my mum, who criticised my a lot and had high standards (she works in the arts).
I think it’s such a shame, as it really was a gift of mine. And also I find it very mindful – it could really help wiht my mind management and just doing it for the sheer joy of it.
Do you have any tips on reclaiming something like this? As I notice myself envying / resenting other people I know who do make art, especially those who are new to it and still doing it. And then myself for hiding my talents and burying this part of me away.
Many thanks

 

Answer:

 

Well, it sounds like you have some reasons for why you don’t paint these days – some of them deep seeded, some of them as simple as getting into a habit of not doing it.

If you were to reintroduce painting into your life as something fun and enjoyable, how can you see it fitting in? Literally create a written vision of how you could incorporate this practice into your life in all kinds of ways – including the lowest bar!

What obstacles are standing between you and that vision?