This article is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews.  You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.” (Jim Rohn, as quoted by Chris Guillebeau in his manifesto, The Tower).

Read that quote again, and think about it for a moment. It is so true.

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.”

You really do only have 2 options. You can have the discipline to pursue your art – which requires sacrifices, or you can look back years later and wish that you had. You will have regret or disappointment in the dream you never dared pursue.

Which do you choose?

Many people who don’t pursue art feel that the choice is made for them. Or at least they claim that. I would argue that most of the time this is false. No one has their choice made for them, unless they are in bondage. Most of the time, what it really comes down to is 1) willingness to sacrifice and 2) fear.

Sacrifice

It is said that sacrifice is giving up something good for something better.

What are you willing to sacrifice to be able to pursue your art? Live in a smaller home? Drive an older car? Have fewer “toys”? What about time? Do you sacrifice watching TV for hours every evening? Do you sacrifice going out on the town each weekend? Etc.?

What are you NOT willing to sacrifice? Family? Faith? Health? Etc.?

A career in art does come with many sacrifices. This is one of the first questions you must ask yourself. Are you willing to make some sacrifices?  Are you willing to give up something good for something better?

Fear

But what if it doesn’t work out? What if you never get good enough to “make it”? What if you fail?

Which is easier to say:

“I don’t have the option to pursue art, because of (insert obstacle here).”

“I failed.”

For many, the obstacle is only an excuse hiding the real culprit. Fear. Fear can be crippling. If there was certainty, if there was some sort of assurance that success would follow, the sacrifices are much easier to make.

But the reality is, there is no certainty in anything, really. Even in the “safe” jobs.

But if you have even a small amount of faith in your abilities as an artist, nurture that faith. Decide where you are willing to sacrifice. Pursue your art. Pursue your dream. You don’t need to quit your job right now. But you will have sacrifices. And it requires much discipline.

So, the question remains:

What do you fear most – the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment?

Best Wishes,

Keith Bond