Write an affirmation: FREE assignment from a top art agent

Lilla here. Let’s make some magic together! Today I’m going to show you how to write an affirmation.

One of my affirmations. They can be a powerful tool for helping you to focus and succeed.

I love to write affirmations, visualize, and then manifest whatever it is I’d love to do next. I find that affirmations are wonderful for focusing your mind on what you want to do and achieve – and for harnessing some of the power of the universe. They’re also a fantastic way to start a brand new year, while we’re looking forward and thinking of the year ahead, which means that this assignment is great even if you’re not currently planning on taking my new LIVE course, Manifest Your Dream Creative Career.

I’m so excited about Manifest Your Dream Creative Career, which starts Monday, January 15th. I’ve spent the better part of four decades working in the creative industry – as an illustrator, an art agent, an educator, a speaker, an author, running my own jewelry craft line and tons more – and I really really want to share everything that I’ve learned along the way with you, my wonderful students.

Some of my career highlights including illustration gigs, my book, one of my columns for Uppercase magazine, my jewelry line, my front cover, and more.

In the class, I’m going to share my secrets for manifesting, along with live oracle card readings from my custom Creative Career Deck (always fascinating to watch even if you don’t get picked), and share my advice as an art agent and former illustrator, answering any questions you want to put to me. Plus you’ll also get three fabulous assignments I’ve written for you to strengthen your portfolio and help you get some cool illustration work.

Manifest Your Dream Creative Career is perfect for anyone working in the creative industry, but if you do choose to make art for the three assignments you get in class, they’ll be terrific for your portfolio. You’ll have art to show to book publishers, card deck publishers, and more.

Gorgeous illustrated oracle decks. If you’re an illustrator, the assignments you’ll get in class will be great for your portfolio.

To help you prepare for class, I’ve written this FREE two-part #MATSprep warm-up exercise so that you can begin your process of manifesting the dream creative career that is out there just waiting for you! You’ll get Part 1, all about how to write an affirmation, today and then Part 2 in next week’s newsletter and blog – don’t miss it!

Here’s Part 1 of your #MATSprep warm-up assignment – write an affirmation

Let’s get ready for Manifest Your Dream Creative Career, which starts January 15th. To manifest, first we’re going to write an affirmation.

Q. Hey Lilla, what’s an affirmation?

A. I’m glad you asked! It’s a sentence that gets to the heart of whatever it is that you’re dreaming of, and we’ll use them in Manifest Your Dream Creative Career.

You’ll use your affirmation over the three weeks we spend together in Manifest Your Dream Creative Career in fun, creative and arty ways. Manifesting is about being clear on what you want and then putting it out in the universe, combined with actionable steps, that we’ll also work on together in class.

Of course, you can have several affirmations that you use, and/or change them up along the way, but today I’m going to give you a questionnaire that I’ve written for you to get you started on honing in on what you most want and what you want to focus on in your career. As the course progresses, you may find that you change your idea because of the inspiration that you’ll get in class, which is great.

Let’s get started! Here’s your questionnaire …

Dream big, dream small, dream just the right size for you for now.

Let’s write your affirmation! Grab your sketchbook or journal and fill in what you can for now. Skip any that don’t speak to you and come back to them later.

I, _______________________________, secretly (or not secretly) dream of a thriving creative career/opportunity/experience doing this: ________________________________

I love it because:

Doing it would make me feel:

Ideally, my day to day would be like this:

Where I would do it:

Who I’d do it with or for:

When I would do it:

Why I would do it:

How I would do it:

What’s fun about doing it:

Who would love to buy it/support it/use it:

How much money I’d make doing it:

I know I can do this because of these three reasons:

1.
2.
3.

Don’t worry if you aren’t sure what to write or are unclear if it’s the exact ‘right’ thing to want (there’s no such thing). For now, ignore any feelings of doubt, uncertainty, and so forth. Just pretend. Dive in. Be a warrior.

… and now let’s write an affirmation

Let’s rewrite your affirmation. Your affirmation is always written in the present tense, as though it’s happening now. So rather than, “One day I will get my book published,” you would write, “My book is published.” Better yet, get specific. For example:

I, Jana, see my picture book in the window of Statler’s Book Store!
I, Neeti, am working with my new agent on a fabric line of my mushroom patterns!
I, Millie, have just been offered a lovely deal to do an oracle deck with a very cool publisher!
My jewelry on Etsy is selling really nicely and I love making metal clay necklaces for it!
My podcast has 100,000 followers and I am so in love with coming up with ideas for it!

Now, rewrite your affirmation here:

What do you think? Are you excited? I hope so! You’ve just taken the first step towards manifesting your dream creative career.

Art by Kristiina Skilton. Create gorgeous portfolio art and discover the magic in the every day in Manifest Your Dream Creative Career. Join here!

You can just want to write it out, or you can hand-letter it and make it pretty. Stick it somewhere where you can see it, and don’t forget to share on Instagram so I can see – I would love to see it. Be sure to tag @makeartthatsells and use the hashtag #ManifestMATSPrep so I can find it.

Don’t miss Part 2 in next week’s newsletter and blog – it’s a nutty one and you’re going to love it!

Ready to join the class? Find out more about Manifest Your Dream Creative Career and sign up here.

Monday, January 15th: It’s time for my very first LIVE course of 2024, Manifest Your Dream Creative Career! Join me for three weeks of Creative Career oracle card readings, LIVE Zooms, and assignments to build your portfolio. Sign up here.
Also Monday, January 15th: Join me at 2.30 pm ET/7.30 pm GMT for a FREE live Zoom event to celebrate the start of class! I’ll be taking your questions, demonstrating Creative Career oracle card reading, and giving away a FREE place in class. Don’t miss it!
Next newsletter: Get Part 2 of your fab FREE Manifest Your Dream Creative Career #MATSprep warm-up!

Lots of love