How to Stop Feeling Guilty and Start Painting!

When I asked members of my private Facebook group about the things that get in the way of painting, two of the most common blocks were guilt and a lack of time.Actually, they often work together - we feel time is short, so we feel guilty if we use some of it to make art.This is  nonsense and we need to stop it!I saw 'we' because I am as guilty of this as anyone else. I don't feel guilty about writing blog posts, or developing content for a course, or answering messages and emails from readers. But if I say I'm going to go and paint, I instantly feel a twinge of guilt.Why?Because painting is something I really enjoy and I generally don't make time for things that I really enjoy.I don't think this is exclusively a problem for women - I'm sure there are men who are duty-bound too - but I think the percentage of women who find it hard to make time for themselves is probably much higher.So I think it's important to remember a few things:a) you are totally deserving of something that gives you pleasure. Chances are the other people in your life all find their own ways to seek pleasure (often while you're running around doing things for them!) - why should you not be entitled to the same?b) making art is your job. I don't mean it's necessarily a source of income - I mean it's your job. You were put on this earth with a gift - the desire to make art. No matter how many years you've stifled it, pushed it down, pretended not to hear it, that desire has kept burning. You don't get to just walk away from your responsibilities and this is one of them!I firmly believe that I have a responsibility to delve deeper and deeper into this gift, to find out all that it has to offer, to explore all of its options.So when I feel guilty about taking a good solid chunk of time to paint, I acknowledge the guilty feeling but I don't let it make the rules. I have let too many years go by without making art - I'm not letting any more get away from me!If you would like to receive a supportive and inspiring email every Sunday, please sign up for my weekly newsletter and if you would like to meet other artists, feel free to join our private Facebook group. We'd love to have you!*Photo by DavityDave via Flickr Creative Commons