Setbacks as spurs

I recently put all my efforts into applying for a job and then a two day interview process. Throughout this there were elements of positivity:

Reviewing what I had accomplished over the years in my teaching career
Updating my portfolio of skills
Creativity designing presentations and lessons
Making a video for an assembly
Asking for help from other people to develop areas in which I was less strong

On the other side there was also a battle with old demons:

Reminders of previous failed job attempts
Would I be able to do the job anyway
Who did I think I was going for this? Etc etc

In the end I didn’t get the post and my ego took another dent. My childish ‘inner chimp’ (reference to Steve Peter’s ‘Chimp Paradox’) went crazy and had a tantrum. But coming out of that came a sense of refocus – what do I really want to do? What am I passionate about? And as always it comes back to my art and facilitating creativity in others (who wish to develop their creative side).

And so back to the moment, not focusing on outcome, the joy of creating. The setback has become a real boost and kick up the proverbial to get down and do what I love most: being creative my job and being creative in my personal life, in my studio. The next project is developing the combination of structure and oil. The first piece in this series is this one ‘Home’.