limiting beliefs

i'm reading a book by wayne dyer right now, and last night i came across this idea. it hit me in a different way than ever before-- some limits just seem like THE TRUTH, yes? you know, just the way it is.

but what if it isn't? what if everything you think is the truth is actually just something you've come to believe for one reason or another in your life? what if you just changed what you believed, because you wanted something different?

what if instead of believing the common notion that most artists never make a lot of money, and instead believing that we are entitled to make all the money we desire doing what we love?

what if we let go of all our crazy beliefs about money and saw it for what it actually is- a tool to use to make our lives more comfortable. we have so many beliefs about money.... ick.

what "truths" in your life can you see as just beliefs that you picked up somewhere along the line of your life?

lucky heron: by betsy thompson

betsy betsy betsy, how do you do it? your images are just too gorgeous! this piece, called 'lucky heron,' makes me want to have a symbol in my life that represents abundance and good luck.

there was a time just before the new year when ryan and i were walking along the coastal cliffs in california, looking out over the ocean and talking about how we wanted to be in our lives, and we were talking about living in the moment. we were saying we needed a reminder of some sort, and a pelican flew by just at that moment. so he said "how about a pelican?" i thought it was perfect, and we decided that we would have little drawings of pelicans all over our house, to remind us. but then we never did it. we forgot. or got busy. or whatever we all do to get stuck back in the routine.

perhaps now is the time to bring that pelican reminder into our lives. do you have a symbol that represents something for you? a reminder, a good luck charm, a memory....

make sure you check out betsy's etsy shop and flickr page, too- her work is pure joy!

dallas clayton: an awesome book

some of you may have seen this posted on my other blog a few weeks ago, but i'm so taken by this project that i have to post it here, too. dallas clayton emailed to tell me about his book, called 'an awesome book,' and let me tell you, it is amazing. AMAZING.

there's a big, big message in this story, and i'm not going to tell you what it is, because you really must go see for yourself. you can preview the whole book on dallas' site, and he also told me it just got picked up by urban outfitters, so you may be able to find it there by now, too!

and if you're as taken by this book as i am, you should buy a copy, so you can look at it every day. or buy multiple copies and give them to your friends and family! it's that good. (and dallas would be very happy if you did.) :)

rian lougheed-smith

rian lougheed-smith sent me a link to her work a few weeks ago, which is posted over at feelsgood, which rian tells me is "a networking site set up by artists, musicians, and other abundant folk in new brunswick, canada."

these two pieces were my favorites from her page.... i'm amazed by that watery, glowing feeling in the piece above, and the image of the sparklers making heart shapes is just beautiful. it makes me want to celebrate all the special little moments in life.

check out the rest of rian's work on her feelsgood page, as well as the rest of the feelsgood community!

*thanks, rian!*

i do i have i am: by saul steinberg

good morning, friends! i hope your weekend was nice and relaxing. i spent mine working on finishing up my wedding invitation design and my wedding animation (the project that will not end)! i can't believe it's monday already-- time to get back into work mode now!

my friend leigh, who owns the most wonderful gallery in warren, RI called yes gallery and studio, sent me a link to this illustration by saul steinberg, and i think it's just perfect for pecannoot. this is the first piece by a non-living artist that i've posted here, but i just love this piece so much and it's so fitting that i thought you all might like to see it, too.

it reminds me of one of my favorite phrases,which i've written about here before: BE DO HAVE.
i think it's a nice reminder to live in the moment, and to just do what you're meant to do and the rest will fall into place. right?

you can read more about saul steinberg here and here if you're interested-- did you know he illustrated 88 covers for the new yorker? wow!

let go of your rocks: by jess gonacha

it's funny, usually i don't have any idea where a drawing is going to go when i start, but when i finish i realize that what came out was exactly what i needed.

this time i'm realizing the "rocks" that i need to let go of are the beliefs that my ideas are not good and that my artwork doesn't mean anything. these are rocks i've carried around for a loooooong time. too long. it's time to let them go, and to fill my mind with flowers. :)

so, i hope this drawing can mean something similar to all of you, and to inspire you to let go of your rocks this weekend and go outside and fill your mind with flowers! that's what i'm off to do right now. see you monday!

xoxo

abundance in flowers: by paula jenkins

One of my favorite parts of springtime is definitely the blooming flowers-- I love walking around my neighborhood, noticing all the different colors and varieties. Yesterday, I saw some beautiful irises that I just wanted to pick out of the person's yard and take home with me! (I decided that wasn't a very good idea..)

Anyway, Paula Jenkins sent over these photos of flowers that she's taken, and her thoughts on how flowers represent abundance are just lovely:

"When I was thinking about abundance yesterday, I realized that I see abundance in flowers. Flowers bloom year after year, needing nothing more than what is already provided for them in nature. They ask for nothing, and yet they put on a glorious show, a testament to creation, a great pageant every spring. I take great delight in tulips and daffodils for their sheer beauty. They remind me that if I can be content with what I have, that everything else will be provided. They remind me that as humans, we are gorgeous in our individuality, and we can be breath taking in our gathering together."

Paula also wanted to share this quote with us:

“It is not only my right and my privilege to walk in the abundance God has for me, it is my responsibility...just as it is my responsibility to live the rest of my truth.” - Jan Denise

Paula has a wonderful blog called Welcoming Spirit, which is insightful, fun, and abundant all at the same time. Check it out! (I love this post that she wrote about being grateful for her life just as it is.)

*Thank you, Paula!*