How to Stay Motivated to Learn Calligraphy + Free Printable

I get asked this question a lot because I started off with calligraphy simply as a hobby, with no intention of doing this at all as a business. Yet, as I shared in my journey of learning calligraphy, there were a lot of ups and downs. So, how did I stay motivated to learn this craft? 

A few things that came to mind as I reflected on this question. Why do I write? The answer to this question has evolved so much over time. 

• When I was first starting out: I wrote because I was searching. I was searching for a skill that would become an expertise for me. I felt that I was often a jack-of-all-trades type of person. 
• While I was learning: It evolved to a form of creative release, meditation and relaxation. It gave me a sense of peace and quiet, a place of refuge in the craziness of my full-time job. Many times, writing calligraphy comforted me as I wrote verses, quotes, and lyrics to songs. 
• When I started to create work with calligraphy: I realized how much I could bless people through my writing. 
• When I started to teach: It brought me so much joy to see people gain confidence in learning a new craft. 
• When I became a mom: I rekindled my joy in creating something with my hands, at a time where my purpose felt shaken and unstable. It helped me slow down even more and appreciate the beauty in the hard times. 

So, how I stayed motivated to learn and develop calligraphy was because I continued to ask why. It helped me see that the beauty of learning calligraphy was in the process of the ups and downs, literally and figuratively. My motivation was in the enjoyment I found in the journey of slowing down and taking the time to focus on each pressure, each stroke, each shape that was coming to life through writing. 

To help you stay motivated, I encourage you to enjoy the process! This printable can be a square, or a 5x7. Print it on some gorgeous cardstock! Get the printable here. 

P.S. But of course, it really does help to come up with a step-by-step plan to learning calligraphy. Following a program, like a workout plan, with accountability, will really help you stay motivated to learn.