Early this month in my newsletter I talked about being forced to take a break & my poor attitude about it. I meant to publish this post and left it in drafts.

When I worked my office job I would often get super focused in "finishing" the task at hand. I think anyone reading this that has worked in insurance will agree that you never actually finish, there is always something else that needs to be done. My hyperfocus and drive to achieve is a big part of what made me successful in my career.

I have learned that traits that help you be successful in a career are not always the same traits that help you be successful with your personal relationships.

Painting provides me with the same opportunity for total mental focus that my insurance job did. It has been an eye opener to me that my hyper focus to the exclusion of other important things was not necessarily only because insurance work is never done, as it turns out it is also because that is how I am wired. Maybe it is my drive to achieve and check things off the list as done or maybe it is a need to just esacape into my own world be it insurance policies or painting.

Regardless of why I do it, it is also important to keep a balance, to take a break. I am finding this is true even when it comes to painting, which is fun and I love to do. I guess I should confess that I also loved reading insurance policies. Yes, many people find that a little unusual. Ha.

So I was "forced" to take a break, to spend quality time with my husband, to have an adventure and do something completely enjoyable. Okay not really being "forced" but it is the right thing to "say yes" in this case. So why did I have such a bad attitude about it? Why was it so hard to leave this painting, that I certainly don't love at this point, and go do something totally fun?

I don't have answers to all the questions in this post but logically I know that my attitude means I NEED to take a break. Having adventures, disconnecting from my "regularly scheduled programming" or regular life is a large part of how I keep the creative juces flowing.

Let's not forget to prioritize our relationships with humans, remember to have fun and give ourselves a break sometimes.

In hind sight that reason for why it was so hard, Momentum. Likely the topic of my next newsletter.

If you are not already on my newletter email list would love to include you. Thanks for reading.

Karin