Category: Inspiration

Posted on

Observations

"Lamb", digital photo by Mary Gow Pincus
Listening to Mel Robbins’ Podcast I find myself working on this post to take action and get it done rather than to think about it too much. Robbins has a 5-4-3-2-1 technique – a way of “just do it” thinking that means get it going. Start counnting, 5-4-3-2-1, and then do it.

I’ve been working on what to write and how to make this an epic and fantastic blog post.

That put a lot of pressure on my getting something posted here.

Do you ever feel that way?

After being away from my blog for a while I’m back, posting something.

The photo above is one I took from my lap, of my legs crossed. You may be able to see my flannel pjs that have little lamb-looking squiggly lines. There’s an intersection with my light purple robe that brings a few folds. I then used the Paper Artist app to get this effect.

For more info on Mel Robbins’ Five Second Rule, to check out her book of the same title, click here.

Let go of observing and go ahead and make a baby step forward, even if it’s an awkward one.

Little bit forward, make adjustments, rinse and repeat.

There, I’ve broken the spell. Check back for that epic post : – )
-Mary

Posted on

Light from Below

Following the advice of photographer, Tyler Mitchell, in his MasterClass “Tyler Mitchell Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography” I’ve been taking a series of photographs of the floor.

You can see Day One of my series by clicking HERE.

Applying an app I love called Paper Artist, the image immediately skewed in a new direction.

The exercise is easy.

Who doesn’t have a floor?

Here’s what I captured on Day 2. I was looking at the floor through crossed legs. The Paper Artist filter pushed the image into an abstraction.

Like Tyler says, “Daydream about photography.”

Mary Gow Photo Floor No. 2

Posted on

What We See Every Day

mary-gow-floor-number1
“Floor No. 1,” Photo by Mary Gow
The message from Tyler Mitchell’s Master Class was clear: photograph something every day, even if it’s the floor or the ceiling.

SO I’m taking his advice.

Here’s a photograph of my floor.

I was having fun.

“Explore what interests you,” says Mitchell in his course. You can find out more about it at:
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/tyler-mitchell-teaches-storytelling-through-portrait-photography

Can you tell I love abstract art?

Posted on

Is This Natural?

"Shine Your Light Within" Watercolor by Mary Gow
“Shine Your Light Within,” Watercolor by Mary Gow
For a little while I had a banner on my blog that said “Move in the Direction of Your Dreams.”

Later I thought, does that really sound inspiring?

One of my lifelong pursuits was given a name by Anthony Robbins in one of his books so I realized I wasn’t so unusual. He calls it “Constant and Never-Ending Improvement” or “CANI.”

I remember when Robbins advertised his “Personal Power” 30 day coaching program in infomercials. He was convincing and I bought the program that came out in the mid-1990’s. Within those teachings he brought my attention two different ways people may be wired to get things done – a basic part of what is known as Neuro Linguistic Programming (“NLP”).

“NLP works from the starting point that you may not control much in your life, but that you can always take control of what goes on in your head.” –https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/nlp.html

Robbins got my attention because I didn’t think “moving away from” could be as powerful a driving force as “moving towards,” yet he and other coaches have told me that the majority of us are motivated by moving away from, also known as the need to avoid pain.

In fact pain and moving away from pain can be a greater motivator than pleasure.

Look at the ways limited time offers work, for instance.

Doesn’t the fact that it’s going to go away compel more action because of the possible pain of missing out?

Would “Don’t Move in the Direction of Your Dreams” actually be motivating? or “Don’t Miss Out on Your Dreams”? In essence, don’t die with the music still in you! What message gets you to want to keep pursuing your dreams?

Note: The reference to the music within is from Dr. Wayne Dyer’s quote, “Don’t die with the music still in you.”

I was in my “music,” in my flow when I painted “Shine Your Light Within,” the watercolor as seen above. -Mary Gow

You might also like:
Day 31 – The Grateful Heart
Day 16 – Heart Waves
Heart of the Lotus