Kamara Marsh

As most of you may already know, I’m an artist and paint with acrylics, mostly on canvas. There is a juried art show I’ve competed in every fall for the last seven years. There’s always a theme, and last year it was food. I’ve always tried taking things up a notch from what I created the year before. This was going to be a challenge as the last year, I stepped way outside the box and worked with metal for the first time, creating an incredible piece that has won three awards.

So, I worked hard to create three unique and wonderful pieces this time. One of which, I went through painstaking efforts to dehydrate grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes, and then spent even more time cutting, painting, and strategically arranging the pieces onto an already painted canvas. I spent many hours transforming fruit into beautiful Monarch butterflies flying across a cloud-filled blue sky. I was able to pull it all off and won third place out of well over 100 submissions.

The inspiration behind the name of the piece “Transformed” has dual meaning. First and most obvious, I transformed mere pieces of fruit into butterflies. This painting will be enjoyed for years to come by the person who bought it. Second, I chose the butterfly because it transforms from a cocoon into the delicate creature that it is. What an incredible process that takes place!

As a counselor, watching transformation in my clients fascinates me too. It has always amazed me that no matter how bad a state a person is in when they come to me, they seem to work through it and grow into a different person than what they were before. It’s very satisfying to be a part this process and for me, the most enjoyable part of helping others.

However, transformation can be complicated and challenging as well, and requires commitment and a lot of work in order to be successful. I thought that on the heels of an article about goals, this would be a great topic to follow up with. In her book entitled “Level Up Your Life,” CEO of FIT4MOM Lisa Druxman lays out steps one can take to build meaningful habits for a joyful life. Below, I’ve paraphrased these steps to help you be successful at making desired changes in your life and help you reach your goals this year.

First, understand why habits matter. Our lives are dictated by habits, whether good or bad. So, changing your habits is the pathway to making positive changes in your life. Once established, habits require very little effort to maintain. This will free you up with more energy to do other things.

Second, begin small and build momentum slowly. You may have made goals when the New Year rolled around to eat healthier or exercise more. Those are great goals, but we often take on too much, work too hard, and move too fast. This can cause us to crash and give up. Instead of doing this, start slow. Start by picking one small habit to change to work towards one of your goals. Anchor the habit by pairing it with something you already do. Celebrate when you complete a habit because this reinforces the behavior and makes you want to do it again.

Third, track your progress. This is also how you hold yourself accountable. Create a simple chart or list and check off the habits you accomplish daily. Use this data to learn about the patterns that help you stay consistent. You don’t have to be perfect and get it right every time. So, focus on making progress instead.

Fourth, build habits that align with your goals. Your habits should support the goals you want to reach and the life that you’d like to have. Break down your goals into smaller steps. For instance, if you want to improve your diet, add habits like drinking more water or cutting out junk food.

Fifth, give yourself grace. Change doesn’t happen overnight. You may take two steps forward one day, and one step back the next. What matters most is that you keep trying to move forward. So, remind yourself daily that you don’t have to be perfect.

In conclusion, Lisa is quoted in her book as saying: “Habits are the building blocks of your dreams. They’re the small, daily actions that add up to big results over time. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your life transform.” I don’t think I could have said it any better than that, so I won’t! I encourage you to go out there and make new healthy habits for yourself and see where it takes you this year and for many more to come.

Kamara Marsh is a Michigan-made Licensed Professional Counselor and award-winning artist from East Lansing now residing in Alpena, where she combines her gifts of art and healing to reach the world, one person at a time. She can be reached at kamaramarsh333@gmail.com.