Have a Little Faith In Me

This week I read a blog post by speaker, coach, author and photographer, Karen Walrond, On Faith, Patience, and Talent, that resonated with me hugely and reminded me to Have a Little Faith in Me.

The blog post recounted Walrond’s experience responding to a friend who was lamenting that she wasn’t “further along” with her art. Her friend, who was looking around and seeing artists who had bigger gallery spaces, commanded bigger commissions, and were better known, felt that she must do something to become more like them.

Walrond’s answer to her friend was beautiful:

“You know,” I began gently,  “I mean — I don’t create the kind of art you do, so take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt — but it seems to me that your problem isn’t talent or skill.  You just need to have some faith that you’re really good at this.  I mean, definitely, go to school if that’s what you really want to do, but the fact is:  you do great work, people love working with you and everyone wants to see you succeed.  I say you just keep plugging along.  Keep doing what you’re doing, surround yourself with people in your field who inspire you if you can, and see what happens.  I suspect that when you meet more people in your field and they see your work, and after you’ve made all of these true, sincere connections, folks are going to trip over themselves to see that you’re successful.  I think that’s how the world works:  talent is only part of the story.  You need faith in yourself, and in the fact that your hard work and talent will take you there.” — Karen Walrond, Chookoloonks Blog Post

Walrond then related that the same day that she had the conversation with her friend, she found herself lamenting to another friend later in the day that she, herself, wasn’t “further along” in her work. Even though she was able to support her friend and give her great advice about the need for patience and persistence, she was unable to cut herself any slack.

I realized that Walrond could have been speaking of me when she related the story of her artist friend or when she talked about how even though she was able to counsel her friend, she was unable to step into the same faith, confidence, and patience in her own artistic career.

I have walked the same journey. Too often I lack trust in my work or I get impatient for something different to happen. This lack of faith comes most often when I become too focused on outcome (making a certain amount of money, getting “further” in my work, etc.) instead of staying in the process, work, and joy of “doing the next right thing.”

When I stay grounded in the work and in learning and growing as a photographer I have no doubts and trusting comes naturally. When I start getting caught up in wanting a particular outcome, I get impatient for something to happen and I lose touch with my inner compass.

Recently in my meditative practice I’ve begun asking myself whether I’m willing to look underneath my impatience and ask, “Where does this impatience come from? What thoughts or emotions precede the feeling of impatience?”

My explorations in this area are new to me, but I am learning that often fear precedes impatience—fear of not being enough or doing enough, of uncomfortable feelings, of being hurt or embarrassed. Too often in my art and my life, I rush in impatiently to do something, anything which will alleviate the discomfort of my fear.

Being willing to notice the fear gives me the space to do something different than I habitually do. I can work skillfully to release the contraction of fear and relax into the moment. And when I don’t notice the fear and find myself having acted with impatience I can be compassionate and gentle with myself. I can whisper to myself, “Forgiven,” to remind myself of that holy, perfect, soul that I am.

Have a Little Faith in Me

This practice of being mindful in my work reminds me to “have a little faith in me.” As an artist and a person it is enough to do the next right thing.

Is it time for you to have a little faith in you?

May you walk in beauty.