I created this drawing in a Skillshare e-course called Discovering Yourself Through Art and I have to tell you I love my future self. She’s accomplished, confident and still all about her joy and her family. It didn’t take me long to create, as I’ve invested a bit of time envisioning an ideal future.
“My Future Self” by Erika Lynne Jones
If you’ve not done anything like this you should really try it. It can be as simple as making a list of your hearts desires in a journal or also drawing pictures. I’ve made lists for years, and I can tell you so much of what I write down comes to pass. There simply is power in writing your vision on paper. I have a hunch that it’s even more effective to have a visual for it. We shall see. So if you have some goals to accomplish or some dreams you’ve never shared, spend some time putting them down on paper. I bet you’ll love your future self both now and in the future.
Handwriting Therapy
One thing I wasn’t too keen on when I finished the first draft of this piece was my handwriting. I can’t remember what sparked it, but I did ask myself where this idea that my handwriting was not good began. I recalled a couple of incidents where I was challenged or shamed about my handwriting. I won’t recall them all here, but one memory involved my mom. I recalled an instance where she, a third and fourth grade teacher, expressed disappointment with my handwriting. At least that’s the story my third grade brain clung to all of these years.
When I paused to replay this story through adult eyes and my teacher-parent brain, I saw the situation entirely different. I learned how to write cursive at school and did so beautifully. However, once I decided I’d mastered it, I started to rush and make sloppy letters. My mother told me she knew I was capable of doing better. Somehow I distorted her message. What she really tried to tell me was to SLOW down and make the letters form beautiful shapes like I was taught. Rushing was my problem, not my ability to write beautifully. Of course mishearing her intended message gave me excuses to carry sloppy habits forward. I had decided I could not do better.
Contemplating my creative journey, I realized I’m already working to correct these habits. It started with my brush lettering and calligraphy practice over the holidays. But now I know the root of my poor habits had nothing to do with not being taught. Me telling myself that my hand writing was bad is what has been holding me back the most. Realizing how off my thinking has been, I immediately shifted my perspective. With this new line of thinking I erased and re-wrote all of the text for this piece. I slowed down as I made my letters and smiled as I thought of my mother’s love and probable approval of my current situation. To my delight, I immediately liked my writing better. I will continue to practice and know I will grow to love it more over time.
So my course of study for improving handwriting really is simple:
- Stop telling yourself your handwriting sucks.
- Start telling yourself, “I am capable of beautiful handwriting just like I was (or am being) taught.”
- Slow down while making your letters.
- Practice as often as you can. Find a calligraphy or brush lettering teacher online. Watch their videos. Take their courses. Use their worksheets. Do whatever you can to make it fun and hold yourself accountable. In case you aren’t aware of any, here are a couple of resources I’ve found useful:
- Beginning Calligraphy by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls – An inspiring online calligraphy course.
- Happy Ever Crafter – Becca Courtice is a calligraphy and entrepreneurial genius in my book. Check out her workbooks.
- Random Olive – She also makes beautiful brush and print lettering workbooks and worksheets.
So what about you… Did you receive a message when you were a child (intentional or not) that you were bad at something you would like to do more of today? If so I hope you’ll explore whether there was truth to the message and decide what you can do about changing the outcome of that story for yourself today.
Love and Blessings,
Erika Lynne Jones
