I think that I might finally wrap up the artist’s way today. Seeing as how I’ve spread the 12 week program out for, oh let’s see…. almost 8 months, I guess now would be a good time to wrap it up.

I’m am concluding my artist’s way journey with the FEAR JAR EXERCISE. Here’s how it works.

Steps

1. Find a jar

2. Decorate it/fill it with your fears

3. Cork it

4. Continue living an awesome/kick-ass life minus those pesky fears.

I actually had a really fun time doing this task. This is what I came up with:

As I look at this jar now sitting at my desk, I am overwhelmed by how much I have accomplished in these past 8 months. I think that it’s only fitting to conclude this challenge with a summary of these accomplishments:

1. I graduated from Vancouver Acting School
2. I got a leading role in a feature film
3. I was cast in a short film
4. I was cast in a lead role in a play for the fringe festival (currently in rehearsal for this)
5. I got a callback for Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet) – I didn’t get this, but I’m still pretty psyched.
6. I got a callback for another feature film – this callback hasn’t happened yet.
7. I signed with an agent
8. I ran a half marathon
9. I got a job writing a health and wellness column for “The Capilano Courier”
10. I started writing for examiner.com, and had two of my articles promoted by the site
11. I got a job as an assistant editor at myyogaonline.com and gave my two weeks notice at club16
12. I started working on my one-act play.
13. Made a ton of amazing connections with people in the industry
14. Learned to laugh and to let lose a little bit, and am the most present I have ever been.
15. Transformed my diet, and am now in the best shape of my life.

I’m not going to lie… it feels pretty good to see all of this written out in front of me. Actually, it feels a little bit impossible – but it’s not.

Has my life been transformed from doing the artist’s way? I think so. The biggest thing for me was writing those morning pages. I’m going to keep it up moving forward. It has truly become an integral part of my day. If I don’t focus my brain and sort out of my thoughts, the potential for my day to achieve even a semblance of productivity goes down the drain. Even though it sometimes feels like a waste of time when I first sit down to write, I never regret doing it (I guess it’s sort of like writing in that way).

What has this experience taught me? That you can truly do anything that you set your mind to. I don’t care what you say, you are not stuck. You are in complete control of your life. If you are waiting to live up to your potential, stop being ridiculous.

I listened to a podcast recently with Trish Blackwell, and she spoke about the difference between capacity and potential, saying that capacity is something that you have control of in the now, whereas potential is only an idea of what you could be in the future. Too bad the future doesn’t exist and all we have is the now. I’m constantly reminded of that girl from my grade 11 science class “I could be a straight A student if I tried.”

Don’t be that person. Don’t spend your life thinking about who you could be, and just be who you are to the best of your ability. Set some goals, and work towards them today.

Seriously. Make a fear jar and send the picture to thepositivityproject.cm@gmail.com, and I will put it up on my site.

OH, and with your picture: tell me something that letting go of this fear will allow you to do. SET A GOAL!

We can do this. Let’s be impossible together

…. I dare you!

I guess I have to move on to another challenge now.

Have you completed the Artist’s Way? What was your experience?