How to Feel More Abundant in Your Life and Art

In this blog post I encouraged you to consider how your frugality might be hurting your art business by sending the wrong message to potential collectors.

At the end of that article, I posed questions for you to think about, which we will now look at in depth. The intention is to ensure that you are not only living with an abundant heart, but that you are projecting that way of being into the world.

 ©Judith Monroe, Eternal. Photo transfer, color pencil, acrylic, ephemera & dried pressed leaf on cradled wood panel, 8 x 8 inches. Used with permission.
©Judith Monroe, Eternal. Photo transfer, color pencil, acrylic, ephemera & dried pressed leaf on cradled wood panel, 8 x 8 inches. Used with permission.

1. How do others treat you?

Perhaps a better question is this: How do you allow others to treat you?

For example … If you’re a member of an artist organization, what is the room like at your artists’ meetings? Is it dark, gray, and lifeless?

Do something to combat the drudgery and nurture abundance throughout the organization. Ask members to bring snacks on beautiful trays – preferably handmade by an artist – instead of paper plates.

Assign alternating people to arrive early at each meeting to clean the room and serve as welcoming hosts.

You can be the catalyst for change within any organization to which you belong.

We teach people how to treat us by our actions and responses. These are things we have control over.

©Margaret Warfield, Carried Away. Acrylic, 36 x 30 inches. Used with permission.
©Margaret Warfield, Carried Away. Acrylic, 36 x 30 inches. Used with permission.

2. How do you treat yourself?

Care for yourself as if you are worth it—as if your dreams are worth it.

There are plenty of inexpensive or free things you can do to feel more abundant in your daily life. For example:

  • Use cloth napkins at home instead of paper napkins or grab a glass instead of a plastic cup. And, every so often, bring out the “good china” and silver for a meal.
  • Make time to exercise and cook healthy meals with fresh ingredients to take care of your body.
  • Read to enrich your mind.
  • Do your hair and put on makeup. Or make a statement with a scarf around your head if the hairdo thing is too much.
  • Donate clothes that don’t fit or have holes in them.
  • Buy $10 bouquets in a bunch at the grocery store and divide them into small glasses or vases to spread the joy of fresh flowers.

3. How do you treat others?

To become more abundant, recognize the gifts others can bring to your life.

I can’t ask you to develop a more abundant mindset if I’m not treating you like you deserve it. I recognize that I am here to serve you. To do that, I must acknowledge your expertise and experience.

I encourage you to do the same.

©Katie Stearns, Rustic and Refined. Oil, 10 x 8 inches. Used with permission.
©Katie Stearns, Rustic and Refined. Oil, 10 x 8 inches. Used with permission.

Physical gifts aren’t necessary for most situations, but there are equally (if not more) precious gifts of time, knowledge, and gratitude.

You can do this by being fully present for your conversations … By listening to ideas and opinions with an open mind – without judgment and without interrupting to share your own experiences. I know how hard this is, and I fail at it more often than I succeed. But it’s a practice that can be cultivated.

Deepen your practice of being present by expressing gratitude in every situation. Look up from your billfold to look the store clerk in the eye and say Thank You with a full-on smile. Ask for the names of your servers and utility workers so that you can address them respectfully.

Compassion is one of the principal things that make our lives meaningful. It is the source of all lasting happiness and joy. – Dalai Lama

Share your gifts of time and knowledge in these ways:

  • Schedule an appointment with a friend to help her solve a dilemma.
  • Tell other artists about your latest find at the art-supply store.
  • Send notes of thanks to people who make a difference in your life.

The more you give of yourself, the more you will receive in return. And there is no such thing as scarcity in our Universe. The abundance is there for you to cultivate.

This post was originally published on September 7, 2017 and has been updated with original comments intact.

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35 thoughts on “How to Feel More Abundant in Your Life and Art”

  1. This is such an interesting and important topic, not only in marketing but in general in life and what you do with your money. I tend to feel poor even when I’m not, because I’ve been out of a job for a long time earlier and might be again… That always makes me feel like saving more than spending… :-/ But even though I don’t do luxury I try to be nice to myself too. I think that is important.

  2. I’m finding when I am generous and kind to myself. It is easier to be generous and kind to others both in life and business.

    Thank you notes are huge! The act of writing them helps me think with gratitude. Living in a small town, I am amazed how many clients I run into who thank me for the thank you card.

    THANK YOU Alyson!!! Your encouragement to write thank you notes has changed my life. It is my favorite marketing strategy, plus I’m moving toward implementing it into all aspects of life. Writing thank you’s is just so much fun!

  3. I appreciate this post, I feel good even when I go to charity shops or secondhand shops. My money goes farther and I get some great frames for paintings. I just bring them home and paint them and spruce them up 🙂

  4. I love this post! I agree that treating ourselves well as artists is so important, despite facing uncertainty about how much money our art can bring in. I wanted to add the book Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra to your list. Reading it helped give me the space and confidence to spend necessary time and money on my art.

    1. Humberto: Absolutely! Please 1) Credit me as author and 2) link to this original page.

      Oh! and 3) Let me know where it’s posted. I’d love to see it in your language.

      Thanks!

  5. Re: treating others by being fully mindful. Nothing irritates, insults and upsets me more than when I’m speaking to someone, their cel phone goes off and they turn away from me in mid-word to talk with someone. Not that what I’m saying is all that urgent usually, but it is just so rude. PLEASE don’t do that. Don’t even glance at that phone, it takes attention away from the other person. Thanks for reading this.

  6. A very encouraging article! Love the reminders that physical gifts aren’t necessary all the time but gifts of time; and to be fully present in our conversations. In our crazy, busy world be forget to be present. Gratitude and compassion are also gifts we can give to others. Appreciate the great reminders, Alyson!

  7. Love this article, Alyson. Thanks for reminding me about the importance of being present when I am interacting with others.

  8. Alyson, I thought I was in communication with a Art Biz Coach but now I realize you’re more
    than that……more like a Life Coach. I like your inputs and suggestions not to compromise on the quality of life, starting the day with an exercise and leading an enriching lifestyle throughout the day. Agree
    that respect for people in sharing good memories and experiences is a special gift one should have. Making every ordinary moment extraordinary…feeling abundant in the true sense. Certainly sounds like setting the right platform for creating what we do best…..ART.

  9. I had a mother/son duo visit the studio recently and the mom was delightful while the 15 year old was quiet and pensive. He finally asked about a painting tucked far away in a hard to get to corner (because it seemed not to resonate with the usual visitors) and I spontaneously took it off the wall and gave it to him. Turned out to be from his favorite city and was laden with other significances I could not have known. He and his mom were hesitant to accept but I insisted and he just glowed. He was truely moved. I cannot begin to tell you of the “abundances” that resulted from that small act, not only emotional affirming but also $$ enriching. This was not pre-meditated but certainly taught me about generosity not only of spirit but also in my work. You speaketh truth Alyson!

  10. You had me until you suggested donating clothes with holes in them. This is a clunker amidst so many lovely thoughts and gestures.

  11. I read somewhere that to feel abundant you also need to focus on gratitude. To do so: as soon as you wake up , stat three things you are grateful for. Nice practice.
    I’m grateful that the fires are far away from us today.
    I’m grateful that I have a wonderful husband.
    I’m grateful that you Alyson are here to help us!

  12. Pitch perfect… So much here about being a beautiful human presence, truly a gift in this world! You, Alison, show each of us how we are able to touch and enrich the world- and individual experiences- in so many simple ways. I love that you brought this into focus for us through it being a great way to honor ourselves, and to realize how abundantly life supports us every day… when we are noticing. Thank you!

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Get a transcript of episode 182 of The Art Biz (Rethinking Mailing Lists for Artists) followed by a 3-page worksheet to evaluate the overall health and usage of the 3 types of artist lists.

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