Things always work out if you allow them to
You’ll never know what happens if you don’t try. And if you don’t know you’ll always wonder
Welcome to Follow Your Gut, a newsletter about the artist life and business from a mother of two. After soon a decade as an independent artist and writer, the question is not only how to do it, but how to continue to follow your gut in a world that tries its best to stuff it with fluff.
85% of new letters are free to read for 3 days, whereafter they go behind a paywall. If this is our first date, I warmly invite you to check out the free archive first. I’m Swedish after all, don’t want to be too pushy (just a loving nudge ❤️).
Hi there!
How are you doing?
This feels perhaps a bit odd to say, but I’m longing to just pour my heart out on the page and write whatever comes to mind.
I write daily, yet I feel as though it’s been a long time since last? Is that weird?
I know I warned you in May that June would be busy, but somehow I’m always the one least prepared for when it happens.
It’s like I’m always naively thinking “this time it’ll be different”, and I suppose that’s the only thing that is the same.
Because it’s never different.
I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a forever optimist. I want to think and see the possibilities first rather than the potential drawbacks and inevitable emotional drain after big events.
I’m a person who throw myself head first into an exciting project without thinking about the ramifications because things will just sort themselves out somehow.
And you know what? They always do. In one way or another.
I feel as though, as the years progress, and we’ve added a couple of children to the team, this rings more true than ever.
The comfort of knowing that “things always work out, if you believe they will”, is what keeps me going. It’s what keeps my naive excitement about life and things and art and love… you know… all the important bits that makes up a wholesome living… going.
When I was younger I thought this was a weakness. That I’d grow up and become more of a realist, because that’s what you’re supposed to right? Realize where the limits go.
The thing is just that, I don’t want to see the limits. Whenever I hear limit-like talk, it’s like an alarm clock goes off inside of me and I feel like a flower with its petals falling off.
Why, No? Life’s beautiful! Let’s TRY things!
Because if we don’t try; we’ll never know. And if we don’t know we’ll always wonder. And if we wonder, we’ll never arrive to fully flourish and get to chase new dreams to try. I know what I’m choosing… what about you?
Thanks for reading todays outpour,
Let me know how you’re doing, I’d love to hear from you!
Elin, xx
Insight into my sketchbook this morning, utterly uncomfortable positions from the posing doll don’t you think?
Some soothing roof tiles… because who doesn’t love roof tiles?
Oh - I also made these sketches that I’m not sure I shared… I never knew I’d enjoy drawing in an old book so much… tried my hand at some block poetry too, fun!! 🤩
Pps in case you missed my last essay, you can check it here:
And here;
I love this perspective. I would much rather think about how something *could* be possible or work out, rather than limit myself by imagining ways it won’t. If if it doesn’t turn out the way I hope, at least I’ve let myself dream, which leads to beautiful things eventually. 🌸
I'm a fellow optimist over here 🙋🏻♀️ It does always work out one way or the other and it's wonderful when you encounter other people who live that way. It's so full of possibility.
"Sometimes I've believed as many six impossible things before breakfast"