Christopher J Wesley, Author at Christopher J Wesley | Fine Art and Fiction Artist Page

Once Upon a Time

April 22, 2019 by Christopher J Wesley Leave a Comment

Your story gets to start today if you need it to.

If your happier ever after hasn’t begun yet, you don’t have to wait for the new year, the new moon, or the new month. You don’t even have to wait for the new day.

Just. Start. Now.

This very second and begin writing the story you want to live in.

You don’t have to go big yet.

Just get that small win. You can build to the big stuff later.

All you need to do for today is end it knowing that you’ve set off on this new adventure you get to live and it’s the one that you chose.

#success #motivation #motivationmonday #love #life #lifestyle #goals #hustle #happy #mindset #inspire

Now That I Have What I Need

April 21, 2019 by Christopher J Wesley Leave a Comment

When I decided back as a teenager that I was going to be a rock star lead guitarist, beneath the obvious perks and attractions was the idea that it would make it easier to build the kind of relationships I was looking for.

The fact that I didn’t gain that rockstar status but still managed to build the relationships I was looking for is one of those examples of getting what I need rather than what I wanted.

Today, I’ve spent 45 unplanned minutes writing on my next book and delivered art to the Alkebulan Cultural Center for next week’s art reception, so it hasn’t been a day off per se.

But along with the work, has been a some time spent just acknowledging how far I’ve come and how much I’ve turned the life around for a kid who radiated major depression by the age of eight.

#mindset #altadenaauthor #altadenaartist #success #CuratedRelationships #lifestyle #lifebydesign

Stop to Smell the Roses, Even if Your Roses Don’t Look Life Mine

April 19, 2019 by Christopher J Wesley Leave a Comment

What serves as a version of roses to you?

I heard an interesting perspective yesterday about hobbies listening to an @garyvee podcast. That for some, business is there hobby. It just so happens that their hobby makes their livelihood.

A completely different take on the notion of ‘workaholic.

Yes, I think it’s possible to work yourself too hard, but I think we as individuals need enough self-awareness to differentiate when we can keep going and when it’s best to put the brakes on.

So I encourage you today to take a moment and revel in your version of something that makes you happy.

It may look like the commonly accepted version of fun and relaxation.

If you’re like me, it will look like you’re working too hard.

Either way is okay and don’t let anyone tell you different.

As for me, I hired a veteran storyteller to keep me on track with my next book and I have pages that I’m excited to write.

It looks like work from the outside, but inside I am loving every second of it. Even when the story fights with me.

What do your roses smell like?

#success #mindset #motivated #feelgoodfriday #inspiration #lifestyle #love #hustle #artistlife #authorlife #artisticagenda #motivation

Design Your Life

April 9, 2019 by Christopher J Wesley Leave a Comment

Design your life. It sounds so, well, trite. But there’s something to it.
.
From the those first weeks as a teen when I decided my electric guitar was going to be my ticket to a better life, I knew that it wasn’t just the material things I was after, it was everything that surrounded me. From friends to family to the city I lived in.
.
So I curated it all the best I could. Naturally, many mistakes were made along the way, but my biggest goal was to avoid the mistakes that would haunt me the rest of my life and I managed to succeed on that count.
.
My gradual climb into the skin I wear today was made of millions of tiny choices over the course of years, many of which weren’t apparent at all on the surface.
.
But that’s what’s necessary to design the life that you want, regardless of the life you were handed.
.
If you’re reading this and you’re in the midst of that struggle, hang on and keep the faith.
.
What’s waiting for you is so much more powerful than anyone can ever explain.
.
If you’re still trying to figure it out. The same goes for you. Keep at it and when the naysayers start up, figure out how you can either delete them from your social circle or minimize your exposure to them.
.
The journey is hard enough without carrying dead weight.
.
Not every decision is going to be easy, but each one is going to pay off in a design that will leave you awestruck. A life that will make you believe in magic.
.
#mindset #motivation #DesignYouLife #FightForYourLight #ArtisticAgenda #AltadenaArtist #AltadenaAuthor

A Chorus Line (Just Breathe)

April 2, 2019 by Christopher J Wesley Leave a Comment

Clearing out space for the deep work.

This morning, I had it in my head that I was going to get at least an hour in on my novel, but instead spent all that time sending out emails to people I networked with at the #GenreLA conference this weekend.

I’m learning to relax my expectations of myself slowly, but surely.

I’m learning to take a moment to celebrate my wins, slowly, but surely.

I’m taking a moment to just breathe.

Slowly, but surely.

And after those breaths, I’m just going to admit it. I’m back to working on my book with next to every spare moment I’m not devoting to strategizing what’s up next with my fine art career.

As well as where and how the art intersects with my novel.

That isn’t really work though. At least not in the way it sounds.

There’s a freedom I find in there. A kind of meditation.

A view not unlike the image attached to this post.

How about you? Where is your bliss today?

Digital photo by Christopher J Wesley and available from my website. 😉

#mindset #bliss #photooftheday #artisticagenda #authorinspiration #artistinspiration #newart #contemporaryartist #followyourbliss #palmtrees #breath #justbreathe

Connect With Me

If You Have Questions