Why getting mentored in a small group is BEST – part 3
“Being an artist is not just sitting in your studio and painting, it’s” also having all these other people around you that lift you up.” Michelle Paradis – Emerging Artist at Mastrius
Continuing our series answering the question…
Why does mentorship at Mastrius happen in small groups?
Today we’ll focus on answer #3…
Because connection is key to living a full and meaningful life. But connection isn’t always easy to find.
It’s a simple truth. Decades of research have consistently shown that we humans fundamentally need each other. We need that sense of belonging and the profound experience of truly being known. Just ask Maslow, he’d tell you the same! 😉
Isolation is a real thing and artists have been dealing with it long before the pandemic. It’s the nature of our work, we’re solopreneurs, we generally create alone in our studios. And if you’re an introvert like me, you might have even once thought, “This solitude suits me just fine.” I get it. I’ve been there too.
But let me be honest with you – the impact on my life from finding my mentors and cheerleaders has been profound. Not just to the quality of my work, not just to my confidence, but to me as a whole person. I’m happier, I feel freedom to create in ways I never thought of, my mind has opened wide, and my heart is full.
Find your people. Find your place. The place where you belong.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert or extrovert, an emerging artist, a hobbyist, or a seasoned pro, being an artist is more than just creating artwork. It’s about thriving and impacting the world for the better. No one can do that alone. You can’t impact the world without being in a relationship with the people in the world.
Have you found the people who’ll encourage and inspire you, who’ll help lift you up as an artist and remind you that you’re not alone in this beautiful world? I hope so. If not, it’s time to take a step toward that goal.
We’re designed to need each other just like we need food and water.
Don’t starve. Find your people and start living your fullest life.
~ Julie deBoer
Hear Michelle’s experience! Watch the video below. 🙏 Especially the end!