Dear friend,
I guess to start off, I would say being a mom is the BEST and ultimate job. But it is so important to make sure you are also allowing space in your life to do what you love and what makes you come alive. The Lord created you purposefully and that includes the gifts He has given you- so it not only pleases Him when you use them, but it provides a space to connect with Him as well. I know sometimes we get mom guilt anytime we think of ourselves in any capacity. But our children will thrive when we are thriving. I heard this morning from a audiobook (Jen Hatmaker's, Of Mess And Moxie), "children are the thermometer simply displaying the temperature of their parents"
And OH my word, that is the TRUTH. Am I nourishing my soul with the Lord and doing things that give me life? Or am I running myself ragged and getting stuck in defeat? That is going to set a certain temperature in you. And what degree are your kids going to display?
These are questions i've been asking myself today and also apply here with my encouragement to you to never stop your creativity. It will nourish your family (husband included!)
Now. Being a mom is hard. Being responsible for a life and figuring out your own life is really hard. Especially when you are charting the waters of your first kid and figuring out life. I'd love to tell you that it gets easier. But i'm also not the type to blow wind up your skirt. It's hard then it's easy. Then it's hard. Then it's sweet, and then they start talking back, but I digress :) That's life isn't it? At some point, we just have to pull up our big girl pants and do it. If we keep waiting for the next "easy" moment in time or when things are less "busy," then we will never do it. We, as people, are really good at making excuses. But as the ol' saying goes.... excuses are like butt holes. Everyone's got them. And they all stink. YOU'RE WELCOME.
That being said, I would set little goals for yourself every day. Create to create. For you, not anyone else. Don't do it to try to make money. Don't do it to be one ahead of the others. Just start making things that make you happy. Make things that are teaching you something and then journal along with it. If you feel the need to document it on social media, go ahead and do it! But here's the thing: As much as I can give you advice of how to take a great picture, or how to use social media- ultimately, God is the one who makes it grow. And most importantly, God gave you those gifts to sit at His feet and also as a way to learn his truth. Whatever you create for yourself, will ultimately be a blessing for someone else. Because if the Lord is teaching you that one "thing" that you have created and journaled about- more than likely, someone else is needing to hear the same word.
And maybe just one person sees it. This is where I would encourage you to say, "That's enough." If you get caught up in not making an impact, or it not being as big as you want, you will get choked out. Get your feet wet by figuring out what you like to create and how you like to do it. Let the business stuff come slowly and gradually. I think people get fixated on how much money they are making or how to get from 0 to 100 in the quickest amount of time. And this will always, ultimately , not only show in your work that you put out, but it will cause you to stop creating. And that would be a shame. Because the Lord made you to create so that He could delight in you. He will provide how he does.
My business has been a series of trials and errors. But always with the reminder of no pressure. It is the unique thing about being an artist and making a living off of it. The business will never set off if you are running the race with a business first mindset. After all, you have no business if you are not thriving in what you are making. And by thriving, I mean liking what you are personally doing. Not what others think.
You know, when I started, the most support I received was from strangers and not necessarily close friends. So- do it all because you love it. Don't let those other things choke out your love. And if they are? remove them. Social media wearing you down? Take a break from it and create without anyone knowing what you are doing. Pressure of selling wearing you out? Make one thing and offer it for free to people (digital download of course. Don't you pay for that :) ) Pressure of worrying what people will think? Use your skills and make some pretty notes all around your office of God's word that tells you what He thinks of you and what He requires from your life. (am I pleasing men? or am I pleasing God? Who owns me - Jesus? or the people around me?)
Friend, whether you believe it or not, Jesus owns your life. "Finally, brothers (and sisters!), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9.
Your good God created you purposefully sweet one. He gave you a creative mind with hands to produce the overflow of that. Go and do. Your family, your friends, the world and YOURSELF will benefit from it. Whether in your or through you. Both are equally vital in this life. You were made for this.