Leaping in Leap Year 2012!

Are you ready to leap in 2012?

I love that 2012 is Leap Year because it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way: “Leap and the net will appear.”

Sometimes we must take blind leaps of faith for our creative work. If we don’t believe in our work, who will?

If you treat your creative work as a hobby, it will remain a hobby. That’s fine, and there is nothing wrong with that. Hobbies can be very life enhancing.

But if you want your creative dreams to come true, you must respect them and reserve enough time and energy to make them reality.

We must honor our creative work with time, materials, space, adventure, and love.

Everyone wants a magical, fulfilling life. At times, it is easy to become discouraged and lose focus. Sometimes through the normal stresses of daily life, we can become so burdened by our mundane routines and daily tasks that we forget about our creative dreams.

It is your sole responsibility to take care of your dream, to let it be born through you, to allow your individual, beautiful soul shine through and inspire others.

Dreams can be scary, overwhelming. When I started my 12 Countries in 12 Months project, I was terrified. I had serious doubts, I had moments when I wondered what on earth I was getting myself into.

This weekend, I’m traveling to the eighth city on my tour: Budapest. It’s a place I’ve never been, I don’t speak the language, I have no idea what awaits me – and I am thrilled. Thank goodness I pushed through my fears of the unknown to get to the place I am now. I’ve found a place where I can enjoy my own creative projects, and excitement has replaced terror.

Believe and trust that the universe wants you to express your dreams. You are on this planet for a reason; now make, leap, create, do!

Stop waiting for the perfect time and the perfect space; jump in, get your feet wet, don’t worry about perfection, and start now with whatever it is that you want to do. Don’t make excuses about why you can’t anymore, decide that you can and go, go, go!

“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.”
- Simone de Beauvoir

Respect and honor your time, use it wisely, and don’t ever feel guilty about the time you are spending with your creative work. It is just as important as exercising, eating well – and much more important than your next Facebook update! See your creative work time as something you are going to build into your life. Every single day.

We are responsible for our own lives – for making our lives the most exciting, creative, interesting adventures as possible. Sometimes, it is bitter medicine to realize that we are the ones in command, but we are.

If you want an epic life, you must stretch your imagination, expand your possibilities, and move forward to build the life you want.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
- Helen Keller

In the end, if you really believe deep down that you can do something, you can do it. And if you believe that you can’t do something, then that’s usually true too.

I hope you will value your creative work and see your creative dreams as a garden. When you honor, respect, nurture, love, and spend time with this garden, the more it will grow. Plant the seeds of your creative dreams, water them, give them sunshine and love – you will watch them flourish!

Sending you hugs from Munich, Germany today!

xo

Stephanie

p.s.
If you’d like to join an international, supportive community of women who are working towards their creative dreams, I’d like to invite you to join us for the new Spring Session of Creative Courage here.