This one is a deeply personal reflection, and one that I’ve been hesitant to share, but I feel compelled to.

In recent times, I’ve become aware of a degree of pride creeping into my artwork. Not the everyday kind of pride, or the satisfaction that comes from working hard and seeing something come together, but something deeper — a brewing sense of self-satisfaction, dependency and giving glory to myself for what I have achieved.

I know many people may disagree with my stance, particularly if you’re not a person of faith. But for me, pride begins to look at the self almost like God, rather than recognising God as the giver of the gifts, opportunities and abilities I have.

Recently, it’s been a humbling experience to genuinely feel like things have been outside of my control.

The downturn in the economy has naturally meant that, for many artists, work has slowed down. Unfortunately, there is no algorithm, strategy or special hack that guarantees a sale. It is, ultimately, outside of our control. And I realised that I had been lulled into a false sense of security — believing that, to some degree, I could control the outcomes.

Recently, the story of Nebuchadnezzar was brought to my attention, which I had never really considered before. He was an incredibly powerful king, known for his achievements in engineering and architecture. But his pride became his downfall. The story tells of God humbling him until he recognised that the glory ultimately belonged to God.

This spoke deeply to me.

My gifts, my resources, my health, my opportunities and even my sales are not things I have created or secured entirely by my own strength. They are doors that God has opened for me.

Yes, it is my job to faithfully show up. To work hard. To create. To put my paintings out into the world. But the rest is actually beyond me.

And strangely, that realisation has been both challenging and incredibly liberating.

When I realised that all I could do was faithfully show up and then leave the rest alone, I found a new sense of peace. I don’t have to control the outcomes because I actually can’t. And I don’t need to.

It has also given me a completely new perspective of gratitude towards the doors that do open — whether that is a kind compliment, an opportunity to exhibit, a new follower or a sale.

What an incredible gift it has been to experience this shift in perspective. To not grow weary or indifferent towards the good things that come my way, but to genuinely stop and recognise them as something to be thankful for.

I wonder if you can relate to this in some way.

Perhaps there is already goodness happening in your life that you have an opportunity to stop and be thankful for. Or perhaps, like me, pride has quietly crept in and you’re being reminded that some things are simply not ours to control.

For me, that has been a humbling reminder — but also a freeing one.

I hope you’ve found something encouraging in this reflection.