The Courage, You Forgot You Had

I wanted to end this year with a simple thing. A thank you. A real one. The kind that comes from the ribs. Because you might not realise how often I think about you when I sit down to plan these episodes. I think about what you’re navigating, what might help, what could spark a shift, or soften a blow, or give you a way through a knotty day. And I’m grateful that you’re here, listening, building a creative life alongside me. It’s been a challenging year for so many of us. We’ve ridden wave after wave in the social, political, economic, and arts climates. It’s been loud out there. Overwhelming at times. And artists, more than most, have a knack for turning all of that noise into blame. Blame for what we didn’t finish. For what we haven’t achieved yet. Blame for the mythical future selves we think we should already be. My brain does that too. Ambition is a beautiful engine, but it forgets to look back at the road travelled. It forgets the courage it’s taken to get here. It forgets what we’ve survived, created, learned, and quietly carried. So instead of listing everything I’ve done this year, I wanted to talk about something I rely on every single day. Gratitude. Not the glossy version. The real, grounded, neuroscience-backed kind. The kind that keeps you upright when the world tilts. -- Most artists are guessing their way through and staying stuck far longer than they need to. Inside Ceri Hand´s Coaching Membership, you get straight answers and real support through live sessions, portfolio reviews, virtual studio visits, monthly art world experts, and community to help you cut through fast. Ceri covers everything. Right now, you can join or gift a full year for £99 - our only discount of the year, available until the first of January. Please join here - http://cerihand.com/membership/ KEY TAKEAWAYS We’re so quick to measure ourselves against the version of us we think we should already be. The one who’s achieved more, finished more, ticked more boxes. But we forget the person who got us through this year. The one who kept showing up when life was heavy or heartbreaking or just plain hard. A new year won’t transform your life if you carry last year’s avoidance into it. If you’re an artist standing at the edge of something important, let this be the year you stop walking around the perimeter of your life and finally step in. BEST MOMENTS “I want to invite you to pause and notice what you're grateful for, not the obvious wins - the quieter things, the things you did for yourself, the things you did for others, the things you survived, the moments of courage no one else saw.” “Confidence doesn’t arrive first. Courage does - And courage usually shows up exactly where you feel the wobble.” HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/