You could say this sentiment has been on my mind a lot these days.

Have you heard of the blog Creative Therapy yet? This is a blog that is home to a community of artists that pose thoughtful questions and then interpret their response through their art. They also invite guest artists to participate and this week that artist is me.  And the catalyst is:

I chose to answer the second part of the question with my advice being "Just Be Yourself" and my creation is the painting above, featuring Mabel the newest member of the Creative Thursday family.

The reason I say that this sentiment has been on my mind "a lot these days" is for two reasons. One being that as I continue to travel this path of sharing myself and my art with you, especially via this blog. I’m constantly reminded to "just be myself" both personally and professionally. It might seem easy enough right? But unless you really come to know who "yourself" is, staying authentic can feel challenging at times. I find this to be especially true now that we can glimpse into the lives of so many people around the world via the internet. While the possibilities and inspiration can feel endless, so can the comparison that accompanies that. Clearly the lines of being true to who you are can get blurred. And having a strong sense of  yourself is what will bring those lines back into focus.

The second reason this has been on my mind so much is that now heading into my 5th week of my e-course I’ve been teaching, this continues to be the underlying message behind every class. The longer I’m alive, the more I learn, the more I do, the more I realize that a good teacher is the one that not only supports and encourages others to be themselves but empowers them to discover the answers for themselves. 

Of course we all evolve and change, every day. But somewhere within each one of us is that calm sense of self that embodies the "be yourself" that I’m talking about. And I find that whenever I return to that place in myself, my life gets clear and I get peaceful. It is from this place that my best creating comes, that my interactions with others is the most genuine, that the answers I seek present themselves and that I feel more in the flow of my life than out. Since I believe that "just being yourself" invites this kind of living clearly that is my advice to everyone these days.