Nerve vs. Nice
“It’s not enough to be nice in life. You’ve got to have nerve.” Geogria O'Keeffe
When I look at this photo Georgia O’Keeffe is seeing right through me and gently screaming “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?”
In the moments of my busy life, my keeping up with my niceness persona feels good- I don’t want to disappoint others, I love my friends and family and feeling loved -feels comforting. I also don’t want to miss out on life- the events/invites in my life seem so exciting-I feed off of learning and staying curious. I hate to say no.
AND YET - O’Keeffe’s words sting truth- being nice won’t get me to my studio to create art and make my YouTube films. I need to feel the nerve—the nerve to guard and schedule my time, see friends and family less, decline some teaching gigs, so I can lead with more nerve and prioritize my goals.
I need to feel that visceral- nerve sensation. The power of the no - even though I want to say yes.
It’s not selfish—it’s necessary.
O’Keeffe didn’t become O’Keeffe by pleasing everyone. She became O’Keeffe by choosing, fiercely and repeatedly, to protect and express her vision.
You? Do you lead with nice or nerve?
Right girl? This is our work as grown-ups part two
Perfect day for me to read this. Just got off the phone with my daughter who said I need to prioritize myself on my list. Which takes nerve...