An idea I read that might change my life

And maybe yours too?

Welcome to Follow Your Gut, a newsletter about the artist life and business from a mother of two. After nearly 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.

In my welcome email that gets automatically sent to everyone who joins my publication Follow Your Gut, I share my vision for what the benefit of my newsletter is for you.

In short;

I believe that any one book can change someone’s life when read at the right time in the right place.

The same applies to newsletters, where each letter has the potential to provide that one idea or concept that may lead to a complete shift and opening of perspectives and ultimately change someone’s life.

All it takes is one thing.

• One thing to start.

• One thing to change.

• One thing to continue.

Yes, it’s not one thing for the whole transformation, rather it’s the cumulative effect of many “one:s” that aligns in the most beautiful way to create someone’s destiny…

We may not have an influence on when or where the next one thing will present itself. But we do have the power over how we respond to it when it appears (probably in the most subtle of ways) and choose whether to incorporate it into our lives or not.

When my husband suggested I take pictures of my embroidery work in front of the original inspiration, it cahnged our lives. Some years ago, this type of image was our signum (before others started doing the same thing of course, but it never bothered me) and it greatly accelerated our artistic careers. This design is from a street corner in Paris that I absolutely love. The pattern is one of our free designs, if you’re into embroidery you’re warmly invited to download it here.

My mission is not to imply that I have the answers. Rather, my mission is to open questions and the possibilities for potentially new reflections (all in the pursuit of discovering one’s own intuition and gut feeling).

This is why, when I read the sentence:

“I don’t write books because I have all the answers. I write books because I have so many questions.”

by

Beth Kempton

, I immediately felt in the depth of my gut that this, this is the type of idea that has the potential to change my life. Beth goes on by saying:

“Here's the thing: It’s deep in the not knowing that the interesting things happen. All the questions that lead to adventures, good conversations, book ideas, live in the not knowing. So I am happy that I don’t know what I am doing, or else I’d have nothing to explore, nothing to have a real conversation about, no ideas for books. It is our curiosity, and our willingness to walk through the dark of the unknown carrying nothing but our questions, that leads us to write our best books.”

Suddenly it all made sense.

Why, from one day to the next (of opening this publication), I was liberated to write and share my creativity again after a long period of drought.

I have no answers, merely suggestions. On the other hand, I have plenty of questions and more are continuously added as I progress through life.

It’s questions that open for the most intriguing explorations. It’s questions that contributes to the thriving conversations we’re having in the comments and over on Notes. It’s questions, that connect us through deeper reflections across borders and demographics.

When I thought I had to wait for all the answers to appear before I could write my next book, I got it all wrong.

Beth Kempton

reminds us that the time will never come if answers is your sole permission slip. Rather, you know you’re ready when you’re full of questions.

Thank you Beth for this reminder and for giving such a beautiful example of how one idea is enough to change the course of someone’s life… Now I’m off to scribble book ideas!

Thank you for reading!

Elin,xx

Ps. What questions come to mind when reading this? Do you agree, or not? Do you also have an example of one thing that has had a profound impact on an aspect of your life?

You’re warmly invited to share it in the comments! I can’t wait to read it

And if you think others may find as much value in this idea of "questions being our guide as opposed to answers, then don’t hesitate to share parts or the full piece.

Oh, and a little bonus… Some more gallery images of other embroideries I’ve done through the years and shared in a similar way:

The iconic Nyhavn in the old town of Copenhagen, Denmark. You can access the pattern here.

This beauty was inspired by the majestic building “Villa Therèse” in Arcachon, south west of France.

The charming tram stitched and photographed when I briefly lived in Lisbon, Portugal with my husband. Here’s the pattern in case you’d like to try and stitch it too.