Cold showers and cup samples

💦 I started taking cold showers in the morning for the past two weeks and I scream every time I get in the water. But I do like how it wakes me up. It gives me energy. And I also like how it makes me feel more comfortable with discomfort. It makes my brain go: 1) “omg this is uncomfortable,” 2) “…but I’m doing it??,” and then always, “actually this isn’t that bad.”  Witnessing myself do something uncomfortable, and still live.

The pathway to growth is discomfort.

 I heard someone say that on a podcast a couple months ago (it was Zoey Greco on Alea Lovely’s podcast Spiritual Shit). I know we’ve all heard it before, but I received it right at a time when I was considering not starting uno+ichi again. And it made me make that 🥴 face. 

Why would I consider not starting uno+ichi again? Basically, I have/had fears about the time it will take up and the stress it will bring. (btw, the fear is still there, but less threatening. I see the fears like those inflated Christmas decorations on peoples lawns— they’re there, but they’re deflated).

What I’ve come to understand is that these are just fears and worries that I can treat as real or fleeting as I like.

I can either put my attention on the fear of what I don’t want to create (“what if I get overwhelmed?” “what if this sabotages my painting career?”) or I can use my mental energy to imagine the ways I can make what I actually do want, real. 

Instead, I chose to focus on what I chose to make real: A business where I listen to and prioritize the health of my energy. A business that supports my painting practice, and vice versa.

Writing these Lab Notes are (not gonna lie), a little uncomfortable. I’m used to journaling a lot, but not sharing my thoughts with others. But ultimately I want to write them, I want to share, and so just like the showers, I’m just gonna do it until the discomfort fades. Thank you for coming on this journey with me 🚗

This Week At the Studio 🐇

I have so many things I’m working on at the studio to share, but here’s a sneak peak of some of the new cups/vases (or sculptures if you’re precious) that I’m making! They are an update to the old niña y chico cups, but this time with a cup on their head. I’m trying to figure out a new name for them, so if anyone has any ideas, lmk!

(These are not great pics but I’ll take some better ones soon):

Okay, I’ll share more next week or the week after!

🫶🏽 Hana