DON’T MESS UP!

How do you feel about messes? How do you feel about getting messy? 😧

As I guide people into doodling, I often tell them to simply start with whatever pops up in their minds first.

Don't question it. Don't try to figure it all out ahead of time. Don't feel like you need a huge vision of what to make before you begin.

Rather, embrace the Spirit of a Doodle which says things like:

🖍 "Let's see what happens!"

🖍"Mess up!"

🖍"Leave room for surprise!"

🖍"Let go!"

These are things we don't just do, though. ➡ These are things we have to practice. ⬅

Yesterday, I wanted to practice "Mess up" as I doodled alongside my students in my Mindful Doodling class. This situation felt like the perfect place to practice because a part of me wants to do something I know so I won't mess up and make something ugly in front of them which might make them question my ability to teach this class and blah, blah, blah....

You know those kinds of voices... 😒

Despite them, I took a deep breath and began. The first thing that popped into my imagination was a square.

"A square. Really?! Ugh. I should think of something so much more interesting and impressive than a square. I mean, who wants to be square when we are talking about creativity??!! They are really NOT going to be impressed with you...." 😩

I took another deep breath to quiet the voices and drew a square. This led to another square, which lead to a person diving out of a square, which led to colorful swirls and mixed media additions and me having a blast and making a really meaningful doodle-y piece! (I laughed afterward thinking about how absurd it is to think I could mess up a doodle about messing up...)

The fear of messing up is the fear of the unknown. Our brains hate that. They want to know to keep you safe and fire all kinds of loud warnings to you to get you to STOP! 🛑

But we all know we must venture into the unknown for depth, dimension, color, possibility, breakthrough, adventure, and fulfillment in life. 🌈 🏔 🌞

Perhaps one way to harness your bravery is to practice regularly for the big game.

It could look like a doodle. What else could it look like?

CREATIVE CHALLENGE: Try to mess up a doodle and let me know what happens when you try it!