You Don't Know What you Don't Know
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I am in a relationship with my local library. That is, I take out books regularly and give her the utmost respect and appreciation, and in turn, she sometimes extends me overdue books ... (which happened today, am so grateful to have another 3-week loan of my current book... which I will reveal to you soon... stay with me here... which was technically due back today)
She also sometimes goes extra lengths to obtain books for me that she doesn't have on hand, via inter-library loan. I love that about her too. It makes me feel so special.
Anyways, It all started at the end of 2016... I realized that I needed to make some changes. I had been doing the same things over and over again and not getting the results that I desired with those same old actions. I didn't know what I didn't know. You know? I was ready to do things differently for 2017... which I spoke a little bit about another different aspect of this in my opening monolog video of my
I was ready to do things differently for 2017... which I spoke a little bit about another different aspect of this in my opening monolog video of my Patreon Page.
To that end, one big thing I decided to do, besides the thing I mention in the Patreon video, was to start reading regularly.
Specifically books that would help me change my perspective, expand my reality, grow my consciousness, help me be happier, teach me to market myself and my artwork more intelligently, and help me get even better at being an entrepreneur in business. I set the intention to read books that would support me to live my dream confidently and with joy.
I am now well into this year, book-wise, and am really excited to share the past 5 - or is it 6 now? - books with you what I've been reading, all of which have revealed to me unique gems, inspirations, learnings, and ideas that are beyond what I knew before I read them.
First up, the book I am currently reading (and just gratefully got renewed from the library) is The Power Is Within You by Louis Hay.
What I love about this book is that it's loaded with powerful affirmations that I can write on my mirror and remind myself of every day to help re-program my mind to focus on the positive. Being positive is such a powerful state and way to be, I'm sure you are well aware of this. It's just that sometimes it's easier said than done, so we need all the help we can get to
stay
in
the
positive
zone.
Reading positive inspirational books is one great way to do this. Another is writing quotes from that book on your mirror with a white board eraser pen. (Just use Windex with a paper towel to erase and update the quotes).
On my mirror currently are affirmations from Louis' book :
"I now release, with ease, all old negative beliefs"
" I am wealth, I am love, I am abundance."
" Its comfortable for me to change, learn, and grow."
"My pathway is now smooth"
"I am free of the past"
"Everything I need to know is revealed to me."
" Everything I need comes to comes to me in perfect timing" (I'm really looing forward to that white, hybrid, 4 WD, Volvo, SUV showing up in my driveway :-). Actually, I printed out a picture of that vehicle and stuck it on my fridge, just so the universe is now super clear with this need of mine for that car!)
"I am willing to change and to grow"
I also got really inspired by the piece Louis wrote about fear. I wrote this excerpt out in my journal;
"Fear is rampant on the planet. You can see and hear about it in the news every day. Fear is the lack of trust in ourselves. Because we don't trust life. We don't trust we are being taken care of on a higher level, so we feel we must control everything in the physical level. Obviously, we are going to feel fear because we can't control everything in our lives. Trust is what we learn when we want to overcome our fears."
The third piece of huge value I got from The Power Is Within You was the chapter Louis wrote about loving yourself as well as the chapter about connecting with and tending to your inner child.
I went to the gym this morning and afterward, I walked up to the mirror, looked myself in the eyes, and said out loud to myself; "Well done Deb, you did it! Great job! I love and appreciate you."
There are also some really powerful questions from those two chapters that I want to share with you here that I found very profound:
If I absolutely adored myself, what would I do for and with myself today?
How can I totally, utterly, and completely love myself today?
and finally,
How can I really be here now and show up for myself?
Thank you so much, dear Louise Hay, for this fabulous book that has helped teach me new ways of thinking and further me along my journey to live in joy, personal power, and confidence in myself.
Can't wait to share with you some of the other books I've been reading and what I've been learning...
Each month I offer a one day workshop on Saturday in my studio here in beautiful Coquitlam, British Columbia with workshop participants coming far and wide and enjoying my enthusiasm, knowledge, and guided structure to support them in getting creative making abstract paintings with acrylics and mixed media. Until now, I think it's been about 8 years, I've been doing the marketing, registration, teaching, and all the other details required to make these events run on my own. It's now time reach out and receive support around this. Long story short, I am looking to hire an assistant to help with workshops. Here's the low down... Most work can be done from home on your computer with an internet connection, except once a month when I'd need you to come in and be there to help support me run the workshop. Workshops run the last Saturday of every month in Coquitlam and are listed here:
Excited to share this new item now available in my Yoga Girl store... Enjoy your ultimate savasana experience with this Yoga Girl one-of-a-kind fleece blanket. On sale this week for 15% off with code: STPADDYPARTY 
Corporate painting party this week at Expedia. I was just blown away with this group - they were open minded, passionate, amazingly confident and fearless with painting and a pleasure to work with! Thank you for bringing me in.
I don't know if you know, but I have a wonderful e-commerce store offering variety of products ranging from 
I had a request a while back for the possibility of having prints made for thispainting 'Snow White'. Finally found the high-resolution digital image and uploaded here to Saatchi Art so if you are here reading this now, dear friend & art lover, you can NOW get prints! Thank you for the inquiry.. apologies for the delay.
http://www.illuminateTheArtistWithin.com
One of the tricks about living a consciously creative life is knowing how to stay connected and inspired. How do we do this?
Hello friends living in the Lower Mainland of BC! If you are interested in earning some extra money each month I am now offering $25 per sign up, to you, if you refer someone who registers for one of my workshops. Here's the current workshop flyer image for February. All the workshops and registration information are also listed at 
If you are in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia - Vancouver, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Abbotsford, Delta, New West, Port Moody, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond - there are still spots open for my one-day workshop. Join us! Come paint and play!
Saw this poster up at the local community centre and got inspired! We are so many beautiful, creative and inspiring things! Let's own them!
