My discovery

Dear Elaine,

I may have just discovered why I get stuck as an artist. And what I learned might help you too.

In the book Willpower Doesn’t Work, author Benjamin Hardy essentially says...

Willpower is for people who haven't decided what they actually want in their lives.

Then he says…

"If you're required to exert willpower to do something, there's an obvious internal conflict."

This means your "WHY" is not big enough.

It was a eureka moment for me. My WHY isn’t big enough…

Why do I want to get better … and why does it matter?

As I think back over the years, when I’ve decided to master something ... I realize some things I mastered because I had a strong WHY, and other things I failed at because my WHY was weak.

For instance, when I was learning to fly, I now realize I was only doing it for recognition from my dad, who was a pilot. I’m not sure it was something I really was driven to do. It's probably why I gave up. But if my WHY was that I wanted to do it for a living, I’d have approached it differently.

When I decided to learn to play guitar, I got to a certain level and never got any better. I think if I had a strong WHY, I’d work harder at it. But my WHY wasn’t strong. But if I knew I’d be playing on stage at the Plein Air Convention, I’d be more motivated.

At times when I’ve decided to lose weight, I’ve failed, but when I met my wife-to-be … I suddenly had a strong WHY. I wanted her to be attracted to me. Suddenly the weight fell off.

"Why" drives your commitment.

Though my intent is usually good, I find I have a commitment problem. For instance ... I’ll skip a few mornings of exercise, and before long I’m not doing it at all … or I’ll cheat and eat a cookie.

When you have a strong WHY, you won’t allow the slippage. There is a massive difference between being 99 percent committed and 100 percent. Skipping workouts or just eating one little cookie leads to more skipped workouts and more cookies. One hundred percent means never giving in or giving up.

But there is more to it than WHY…

According to the book, it turns out that we need the commitment of WHY, but we also need CONVENIENCE.

We’re all driven by convenience. Yes, we're compelled to run away from pain and seek pleasure. But above all, we’re going to do what’s most convenient. Even if it’s bad for our health, or our career.

Examples…

A cookie in a jar on the counter is convenient, but having to pull out the makings of a salad is not. But if you keep a container of salad and make it easy and convenient, you are more likely to stick to the diet.

If I have to get my guitar out every time I practice, if I have to open the case and carry it to another room, I won’t do it. But if I keep it out, I can pick it up and practice because it's convenient.

If I sleep in my gym clothes and just have to throw on my shoes, I’m more likely not to skip my daily workout.

And if I keep my paints set up somewhere so I can walk up and start painting without having to put colors out or move my easel in, I’m more likely to paint.

If I use our app where all my art instruction videos are stored, I’m more likely to access it at a moment's notice than if I have to go buy something, or go pick up a DVD and insert it in a player.

But what about the WHY?

If you want to get unstuck, you need to work on your WHY.

WHY do you want to get better as an artist? What's going to drive you to actually do it?

In my case, I got tired of false compliments, and whispers behind my back about my bad paintings. In a moment of clarity, I realized my WHY was that I needed to improve my own work so I would have more credibility as one who offers instruction and instructors. That was the motivation I needed.

Your WHY might be about recognition, being tired of being stuck, impressing someone else, accomplishing a big goal, or maybe about making a living as an artist. All good reasons to get unstuck.

I hope this has been helpful. If you’re stuck … think about working on your WHY, and then about making the steps convenient. I know you can do anything you set your mind to.

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Watch Art School Live daily on my Facebook, Instagram, and at Streamline Art on YouTube.

PS: I’ve got lots of resources to help you get unstuck. Hundreds of art instruction videos from the world's top artists at StreamlineArt.com. Check them out, put them on the app, and make them convenient.

Also, if you want to master pastel painting, all you have to do is open your browser for three days in August. PastelLive.com — but do it before the price increase on August 3.