I want to show my dream I’m in it for life

You too?

Hi there, hope you’re well 🙏🏼

Part of the dream-driven theory, which kind of got born the other day as I keep expanding on the necessity to dream, is that you have to try things.

Failing is a massive part of building a dream. It may sound counterintuitive, but really it’s not.

Dreamy should be all lovey dovey shouldn’t it? Oh no dear. Pursuing a dream is probably more like shedding sweat, blood and tears. In a loving way, of course.

I try new campaigns and offers for my work all the time. Constantly reiterating. Constantly experimenting.

It feels embarrassing sometimes. Even shameful when I don’t get it right. But then I remind myself that this is part of the dream. No dream will come to actualisation without effort.

I want to show my dream that I’m committed, for best and for worse.

I want to show my dream that I won’t let the outside noise, the noise that tries to bring you down, the noise that tells you you can’t do it, stop me.

I want to show my dream that I’m in for life.

The good thing about trying a lot of things is that you gain first hand experience quicker than by following the how to guides.

What looks good on paper may not work for your audience. Or it did. And then it doesn’t.

The latter has been particularly true in recent years, where something drastically shifted in email marketing (and digital marketing in general) since the pandemic.

Businesses either boomed or flopped in 2020, followed by some kind of attempt of establish equilibrium in 2021.

I know I’m not alone when I say that online sales never recovered to the pre2020 ease.

Things shifted. People changed.

Mostly I think people got suspicious. So much shit got sold online in the infancy of the pandemic.

Everyone was trying to make the most of people being at home (except my husband and I lol…. we had just gotten a baby and had our hands full and I sometimes laugh-cry at how we missed one of the greatest opportunities for online art teaching… but oh well, we’re thankfully still here).

On a private level I think it’s a good thing that people are more suspicious now. But on a professional level it’s really hard. I don’t want to sugar coat it.

Those who made it pre2020 telling you how easy it is to replicate their systems sell an illusion. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be done post2020 (clearly I’m still here, showing my dream I’m in it for life), it just means that we have to approach it differently.

I feel as though I have to reinvent and reimagine new ideas constantly. Its part of the art, and it can be really fun if we adopt the artist Follow Your Gut mindset.

What worked 6 months ago doesn’t work anymore. Things change quicker than ever, yet what stays the same are the dreams.

The dream of art.

The dream of freedom.

The dream of authenticity.

The dream to keep living audaciously.

The dream to live every day as if it was your first day at work as a first time innocent artist. In it for life.

---

Something that gets increasingly true through the years is how we cannot do it alone. Especially as the ever growing conglomerates try to kill small businesses like helpless aunts under their shoe.

They don’t want you there and you can’t do much on an individual level. But together - supporting each other, living generously expecting nothing in return.

I feel as though the greatest positive in the current rapidly changing online business climate, whether in the arts or not, is how people crave people more than ever. Humans crave to connect with other humans. This is good news!

We need human art.

To make and sell art can feel like a nice-to-have, but really it’s becoming increasingly a must-have. For without human art and connection there’s no human.

Thank you so much for reading! I truly appreciate having you here.

Elin, xx

---

This is a difficult road, but the only one I know to be true for me, maybe it’s the same for you?

I know first hand how difficult it is (or can be) to talk about and share our art with the world (whether visual and written art). So I’d love to invite you to share it openly here in the comments.

Tell us your dreams; show them that you’re committed to it, and while you’re at it: pop your Substack link in there so that we can all have a moment to devour wonderfully dreamy publications and recommend those we genuinely connect with 💕

Ps

I think I’ve never asked for a recommendation in a newsletter before… it feels uncomfortable and nervous but I will do it anyway;

If you love my writing, wish to support but aren’t in a financial position to do so, your recommendation of my newsletter will mean more than words can describe 🙏🏼❤️

The way you recommend my newsletter:

1. Go to your dashboard

2. Click ”recommendations” in the navigation bar

3. Click ”recommend”

4. Search for my newsletter Follow Your Gut (or Petronella.Art)

(And while you’re at it, find someone else you genuinely enjoy in the comments to recommend too + add your own publication there so we can devour your work!) 💖💖

I’m feeling all the dreamy energy this new year… let’s do this ✨

---

New to Follow Your Gut?

Hi 👋🏼 I’m Elin Petronella! Independent artist and writer for soon a decade. Moving mountains and following dreams with two little princesses in tow ✍🏼 🎨 👸 👸

Or read the archive here

Most recent posts:

• Why dreams should matter more than goals

• Can we leave realistic in 2024?

Me with my embroidery art

For the embroidery curious, check out Petronella Art Magazine 🥰