When Things Feel Overwhelming: One Step at a Time: From Canadian Artist & Muralist Courtney Florence

When things feel overwhelming, just take the next step. Small, manageable things done every day can add up to something really big. -Brandi

This week I’m chatting with Courtney Florence, one of my mural class students who took what she learned in the class and jumped into a summer full of mural projects!

We talk about what mural work is really like behind the scenes, from giant walls and unpredictable weather to uneven surfaces, tight timelines, physical exhaustion and those moments when you’re wondering, “What did I get myself into?” Courtney even shares the story of working on a mural in Coleman until 4 a.m. while battling freezing temperatures and rain!

But underneath all of that is such a good reminder that trying something new doesn’t have to mean figuring everything out at once. You can learn, take one step, solve the next problem and keep going. And before you know it, those little steps have turned into something much bigger than you imagined.

Courtney is such a great example of what can happen when you give yourself permission to try something new, learn as you go and just keep showing up.

And if mural painting is something you’ve been curious about, you can learn more about my Mural Class HERE. Courtney is one of our students and it was so fun to hear how the class helped prepare her for the real-world experience of putting murals on walls!

2 TAKEAWAY TIPS:

1. Break the big thing into the next small thing. You don’t have to know how you’re going to finish the whole project. Just figure out what needs to happen next.
2. Trying something new gets easier once you start. You may not feel ready, but learning as you go is part of the process. Small steps, repeated consistently, can turn into something surprisingly big.