Start from where you are

Drew this on my desk this morning.

I'm about to start serious work on two projects I'm very nervous about.  One's a commission,  one's an exhibition.  Both are going to push me to the limit, both are going to take me well out of my comfort zone.

Around about this time in any project that matters to me, I find myself wanting to dive under my duvet... I get the im-too-scared-to-start vibe going on in my head.  Lucky for me I've had loads of experience of this kind of sick gulping feeling, and know after nearly thirty years of working that it's usually a good sign, the yuk sicky feeling in my throat.  Because it means I'm moving into new territory, pushing myself to go to places artistically that I've never been.  Taking yourself to the edge of new horizons always pays off.

But how, how how to start?  How the fck to begin when I so fcking scared?  

It's simple.    

Start from where you are.

That's all you ever need to do.  All you ever can do, really.

Start from where you are, put one foot in front of the other, and see where you end up.

I can tell you right now that despite my brave words, right now I've got a pounding headache, a tight throat and a fast-beating heart.  But fck it, giving in to fear never got me anywhere.

Here goes... 4,3,2,1 and I'm off.

Let's see what the next six weeks brings...