The Hardest Yes I Ever Gave Myself

Turning my art into a business was not an easy decision. It meant redefining something deeply personal and exposing it to the unknown. For a long time, I held back. I kept telling myself it was not the right time, or that maybe no one would really understand what I was trying to say through my work.

I was also very close to offering custom art, thinking that would be a safer way to start. But deep down, I knew it would disconnect me from why I create in the first place. Saying no to custom work was not about rejecting others. It was about protecting the process that helped me heal.

This entire shift forced me to confront fears I did not know I still carried. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of putting value on something that has always been tied to emotion. But choosing to show up anyway taught me something new. Growth is not loud. It is not always celebrated. Sometimes it is just choosing to take one quiet step forward.

So here is something to sit with: What could happen if you stop avoiding the unknown and finally walk toward it?