Why You Need To Declare Yourself an Artist
Kara Walker is a contemporary artist best known for her black cut paper silhouettes. This past week she had a free lunch screening at the D.C. Shorts Film Festival, a 10-minute film about an artist who creates an exhibition in sugar factory before it's about to be demolished.
Kara made the decision at the age of 3 that she wanted to be an artist after watching her dad draw, and has spearheaded a very successful career doing just that. Watching an episode of ART21 (see below), Kara reflects on her early success and says this line that jumped out at me. "There's no diploma in the world that declares you as an artist [...] You can declare yourself an artist and then figure out how to be an artist."
It simply reminded me about the power of a decision. Kara herself knew at the age of 3 and she simply stuck with it. It doesn't matter how old we are, if we decide and declare a thing, anything, and couple that with action, you can moves mountains. The bible says
“What you decide on will be done, and the light will shine on your ways. ”
The King James version says "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee..." The definition of decree is "to demand, ordain, or decide". Another scripture says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." (Prov 18:21). Do you now see the importance of declaring (out loud) what it is you want for yourself?
I know many of us have said something and it hasn't come to pass, however I encourage you to keep speaking what it is you want, because the minute you change your language and speak the opposite, then that which you don't want becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Marie Forleo, a life coach and motivational speaker. says that "everything is figure-out-able". Don't drive yourself crazy trying to figure out ever little detail, and wanting to see the entire path before you even make a move. Decide first, declare it, and then just take one step at a time in that direction. You can do it!
Be blessed!