#EncourageImpossible // 1

This is for you if you're thinking about giving up on your creativity.  Two years ago, you could find me sitting in a dimly lit room on an exercise ball. Furiously answering emails and leaving exhausted at the end of the day.

Megana

I worked with people who were all incredibly good at their job — and they liked it. This always made me wish I loved my job, too.

For the longest time, I'd given up the idea of doing something I loved and that allowed me to be creative for a living — and instead, I put all my energy into my day-to-day tasks, because I was good at it.

At this point I knew I loved photography and I started to wonder if there was more I could be doing with it.

Two years ago, I was making a green smoothie for lunch — as I did almost every day — and realized I'd been lying to myself. I knew what I wanted to do with my life but I was scared to admit it.

I wanted to be a photographer. I wanted to shoot beautiful work that would move people and connect with them. (I was so ready to admit it that I immediately wrote this post.)

So I started to slowly shoot what I was interested in — bloggers and creatives. I emailed people who had never heard of me asking to shoot. I put myself out there online and tried to meet people in person when I could (my introvert self was terrified most of the time).

I had moved to Dallas with no friends, network or clue as to what I was doing with my life.

But once I knew what I was meant to do, I started intentionally working towards it everyday. After work, on weekends, before work (can you say 7am shoots!).

And slowly my impossible sounding ideas led me to working with amazing women on a pretty regular basis.

Since admitting that to myself, I have:

• Been able to shoot what I love as a career — don't get me wrong, it's the hardest thing I've ever done and not always glamorous but I wouldn't trade it.

• Quit my job in the dimly lit room (it taught me some incredibly valuable lessons and I do miss that exercise ball helping me with my core strength).

• Worked with some of the top bloggers in Dallas.

• Taught four in-person photography workshops and three online classes.

• Traveled to NYFW to shoot street style and met wonderful hard working people.

I'm not telling you this to brag. I want you to know that if you believe in your gifts and keep practicing them, great things will happen. And you'll be able to make an impact in people's lives.

I'm not necessarily telling you to quit your job.

But I am telling you not to lie to yourself — admit what it is you love doing and what you want out of your life. Take time every day to practice and improve your skill.

Don't think your dream or creativity is dumb.

Don't think you're replaceable (you aren't).

Don't think anyone else can create what you can create.

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