The Thief of Happiness

I just started taking an art journaling class that is being put on by Brene Brown in conjunction with Oprah.  I don’t really consider myself to be much of an artist, but I love Brene Brown, so I figured I would give it a go.  Plus, the two friends joining me for the course ARE very artistic.  I figured I could learn from and be inspired by them.

Unfortunately, even before the course started, I had my doubts: 

• “Their journals are going to be so much better than mine.” 
• “I don’t even have any art supplies, how am I going to do this?” 
• “What if I suck at this?”
• “I am not an artist, what was I thinking?” 
• “My journal is going to be so ugly.”
• And on and on…

So what does Brene say during our very first video:

“Comparison is the THIEF of happiness.”

And with that, all my thoughts had to go out the window.  The whole point of the class is to let go of who you think you are supposed to be, and accept who are.  One of our first assignments was to write on our hand, “I am imperfect, and I am enough.”  Then we had to hold our hand up next to our face and take a picture.  It is our pledge for the course. 

Is my art journal going to be pretty?  Who defines pretty?
Is my art journal going to be as good as my friends?  Who’s comparing?
Is my art journal going to suck?  What does sucking mean anyway?
Is my art journal going to be artistic?  Who and what defines art? 

All my self-judgment and comparisons have to die, or my happiness will diminish and I wil resent the whole experience.

I can be an artist. 
I can be messy. 
I can fail. 
I can be imperfect.
I can be enough.