Trusting the process is the key to success with daily painting. Without understanding how the process works, you’re more likely to give up. Here’s my advice for how to understand and trust the process, so you can stay motivated and on track!

Trust the Process?

Trust the process, have you ever heard of that? I had a student write this in her self-critique the other day. The prompt was to “List a goal that you have for yourself this year.“ She wrote, “Trust the Process. Don’t get so frustrated.” I immediately underlined it and wrote “YES!!!”

Background: What Does Trusting the Process Mean?

So what exactly does trusting the process mean? I actually googled it because I was so intrigued. There are a couple of different places it has shown up. One was a book on drug addiction from 1996, another was an art book from 1998 which I really want to read now that I know it exists! (Thank you Amazon.) The main way “Trust the Process” has become part of our social dialogue happened in 2013. It was through basketball’s 76’s team. The team’s new manager Sam Hinkie talked about process over outcome after they traded a popular player. Through a series of tweets “Trust the Process” became a popular slogan for the team.

How Can We Trust the Process in Our Work?

So bringing us back to “Trust the process”. What does that mean for creatives?

Well for me it means a lot of different things. Trust is an attitude toward something we cannot control… we have to think with faith that good things are happening because we are working. As a Christian artist, I trust that God is directing me along this path. I have faith in the good things happening and know that I have no control over a lot of things in my life..

We Control the Process But Not the Outcome

The process is something in our control. Showing up and doing the work is to engage in the process. The process includes our habit and work ethic. Most people give up or don’t stick with a process because they don’t see noticeable results right away. When we put in hard work, we have to believe our efforts in the project will pay off. However, this is difficult for almost every creative person. In my experience, there’s many hard times and moments where you want to just give up and be done. The process can really stink and growth rarely happens right away but takes time. When you don’t see growth or improvement, quitting seems like a way to cut your losses.

Tips on How to Trust the Process

Here are a couple of tips that have helped me along the way to keep going and “trust the process”. I like to add to it “trust God’s process” because I know I could not do any of this without Him.

1. Figure out what you want to accomplish and WRITE IT DOWN:

   Writing down the goal/process you want to work on is a great way to remind you to do it. For me I wanted to paint a painting everyday when I started the “Make Art Everyday Challenge” back in 2017 so I wrote it on my to-do list.

2. Make painting or whatever you do easy and inviting to do.

   Have whatever you need available and ready to go. Maybe you want to write everyday. Make sure your laptop is out on the table ready to go. Play guitar? Make sure it is in a place you are frequently at home. For me I had a bag of paints and a mini sketchbook that I would take with me to work everyday. I painted during my lunch break for 15-20 minutes each day. I made it super easy to do.

3. When you feel like giving up-read some inspiring books, blog posts or podcasts.

   My favorite art podcasts are the Laura Horn Art Podcast and the Savvy Painter Podcast .My favorite book is “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. He talks about Resistance. “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work.” “Resistance is the enemy within.” When you know that you are not alone and other creatives are going through this struggle it can be comforting. When I am feeling particularly uninspired and unmotivated I will also look through art books, and through my own personal photos.

4. Make your process fun and inviting.

   Light a candle, play inspirational music, have a good cup of coffee or tea as you work. Reward yourself for doing the process. For me I like to reward myself by having an amazing cup of coffee and listen to a podcast or music. I shut my classroom door and enjoy the quiet and peace I feel while painting in my sketchbook. It is truly something I look forward to even if the artwork does not turn out the way I want it to for that day. As long as I have put my brush to paper, I have defeated Resistance.

5. Keep track of your growth.

   I have over 10 sketchbooks filled with art at this point. I have been painting everyday since January 2017 so there is a lot of evidence of my process. When I look through the first year’s sketchbook I am totally mortified. I have grown so much and it is embarrassing to see where I used to be! However, having these old sketchbooks is proof to me that what I am doing is working. If you can keep track of your growth I believe it will motivate you to keep going. Know that growth does not happen right away. It personally took me a couple of months before I saw any significant growth.

6. Share your work!

   If you feel comfortable share your work on social media. I started sharing my daily artworks on my instagram page and it personally kept me accountable and motivated me. Plus I was able to connect with lots of other creatives!

I hope these tips helped you stick with your process. I’ve used them over the years to keep up consistent habits with a hectic schedule. I would love to hear any tips you might have to add to this list!