Hitting the "wall of frustration"? Here's how to overcome it!

Are there times when you feel like you’re trapped on the wrong side of that “wall of frustration”?

“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

~ Mother Teresa

Have you ever had this happen? That wicked occurrence I call “hitting the wall of frustration”? Sometimes it comes when we are trying so hard to learn something new, whether it’s a new painting medium, painting larger, a new technique perhaps, or just improving our skill level.

At one point, about a dozen years ago, it occurred simultaneously with a few personal frustrations - moving away from my beloved art group to a town far away, and my twins leaving home (again - living far away). I thought I was prepared for all these things. After all, as a Navy wife, I had moved every two or three years and done so with great enthusiasm. I had spent the whole span of my children’s lives teaching and preparing them to lead confident, independent lives, where ever their goals led them. But to become ‘unhinged’ at my own art frustrations when it had always brought me so much joy? I just didn’t know how to navigate those waters!

At the time, I thought I’d never climb out of the depths of despair. but my kind husband, who is one to really be observant and thoughtful (and not one to ‘get up in your face’) told me, “You know, you go through this every six months or so, like clockwork.” (I do? I did?) He had my attention! He continued, “I’ve noticed when this happens, you are about to go through some major growth spurt or a major breakthrough…..and I see you conquer the thing that was previously knocking you over!”

(Realy? I wondered). I continued to mull it over and thought that indeed he may be right. It didn’t make it any less painful at the time though.

He also reminded me that usually, I dug in and persisted, being too stubborn to give up and that’s always when the ‘miracles happened’ - those wonderful times when I got what I was after artistically speaking.

Over the years I’ve noticed that his observations are true! And after that point in time, I learned to drop the anxiety and frustration over it and know that I just had to keep showing up keep doing the work, and my efforts would pay off. I learned to remind myself that these feelings are temporary, and eventually I began to see it as just a ‘matter of fact’ , seeing it in a new light : “I’m making explorations and great things will come of it.

I’ve learned to drop the ‘perfectionism’ and embrace this period of self-doubt knowing that something good is on the way. By changing my mindset, I now anticipate the good thing that I know will be coming, instead of wallowing in misery.

Every artist that has ever been and those to come will likely go through the same feelings. We have all started out at the same place on our journey…..the beginning. It is our job to persist…to show up and create.

Now, at this point the same thing can be said of this crazy-horrible time we are living in during this pandemic. I could be wallowing in fear and misery….or I can choose to take the actions of being safe, wearing a mask in public, limiting my exposure by staying home except when it’s necessary to be out. I can also choose to help others in the ways I’m able to so they can get through this scary time as well.

I’m closing my online paintings shop for a few days and updating a collection of beautiful, heartfelt pieces of various sizes. A portion of the sales during the month of May will go to “The Lord’s Pantry” at St. James Episcopal Church in New London, CT. It will re-open Monday, May 11th . Subscribers to my email newsletter will have a special discount code for this release! I appreciated Mother Teresa’s thoughts, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

Last month I was able to send $85 to our local food bank,. There’s already people really hurting from the effects of this pandemic, health-wise and economically. If you’re able - let’s help feed the hungry in this community! I’ll be donating a portion of sales from this painting collection during the month of May.