Joan's Week 2 Blog!

Revelation of the week: There is no gatekeeper.

Last week, when I wrote about art dealers, I chose the word "gatekeeper" to help others relate to my journey. Somehow, during my meditations and while re-watching the 2nd episode of our show, it became very clear to me that the gatekeeper is an illusion! I'm so thankful for this insight.

During my coaching with Max, he told me that it's not necessary to work with people who are cold and uninterested. He said that these people were simply not for me. Over the next few days, I contemplated this and realized that once I attracted the right partnerships, there simply wouldn't be a gate or wall to keep me away from anything. 

The Universe/Spirit loves us so much. It is infinite. Although I have experienced unkind people in the art world in the past, there are countless wonderful people in the art world that I haven't met. 

There is infinity everywhere; that is the definition of infinity! haha. I make myself laugh because I tutor kids in Math, and I talk about positive and negative infinity every day!

Infinity means forever and ever in all directions. It is incredibly powerful to think about this in relation to the possibility in life -- both yours and mine. 

Another critical lesson that Max brought to my attention this week is that it's critical to pay attention to our attention. Did you get that? I'll say it again. 

Pay attention to your attention.

Where is your attention going? I've been meditating for a few years, but lately, my meditation practice has really helped me see my own thoughts very clearly.

Our thoughts create our experience. When I lived in New York, I was concerned all the time with the cost of my apartment and how much I disliked the condition of the building in which I lived. I made a great income as a freelance photographer, but I didn't have many clients and worried about being "on edge". There wasn't much relief even when income was really good. There I was, living my dream of being a professional photographer in New York City, and I wasn't even having a great time while doing it. I was worried about how to get to a "safe" place financially and professionally.

Pay attention to your attention.

At the time, I didn't have the skills that I have now.

There were PLENTY of good things happening in my life at the time. I really was living the dream. I had an awesome record collection, a beautiful collection of film cameras (that I used every day), I discovered a new method of creating pictures, I got to spend every day with my wonderful boyfriend, I enjoyed my friendships, I got to eat at the best restaurants and I could spend a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art any time I was free. I did this every day! This was my life in New York. My dream had come true with lots of help from the Universe; it was a collaboration.

Looking back, I understand that it takes a very courageous and skillful person to take the stress of regular life (cost of living, worldly concerns) and continue to focus one's attention on what is good. To stay thankful in the face of "scary" things. It is not easy, but it is doable. The rewards are countless.

So, I continue to practice every day. Our thoughts create our lives. I'm so thankful for all of this learning and thankful I can share it with you.

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