It’s All About Your Mindset

I’m writing this after just getting a painting to a better place. Sometimes my paintings flow effortlessly—and sometimes they don’t. But when things start to go sideways, the most important thing I can do is remind myself: I’ve got this. I can fix it.

Today, I literally had to look in the mirror and hype myself up. But it worked. I turned the painting around! That’s the beautiful thing about oil paint—any mistake can be fixed. In fact, those extra layers and moments of repainting often add depth and dimension to a piece.

A few years ago, I read Carol Dweck’s book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, and it completely changed the way I think about mistakes. Dweck writes, “In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow.”

That perspective shifted everything for me. Whether I’m in the studio working through a tricky painting or navigating everyday life, I try to remember that it’s never too late to turn things around. Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re invitations to grow, learn, and create something even better than before. Now I sound like the elementary school teacher I used to be—but honestly, sometimes that’s exactly the kind of thinking we all need.