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By Lesley Samms Founder/Pure Arts Group www.pureartsgroup.co.uk

As we enter 2021 with all our expectations and hopes resting on positive change and growth, we thought now might be a good moment for some reflection and review. Reflection is a means of processing our thoughts and feelings. It gives us an opportunity to come to terms with what we have experienced and make conscious decisions about our future. It gives us the opportunity to grow and change if we wish to, and aim to do more of what makes us feel content and less of what makes us feel unhappy. At Pure HQ we took some time in the last few weeks of 2020 to do just this. To consider both the achievements and the challenges we faced in 2020 and take a moment to set our intentions for 2021.

So for this article we are turning the spotlight on to you the reader.

• What were your highlights of 2020?

• What challenges did you overcome?

• What goals did you achieve?

• What are you grateful for?

• What new ideas and ways of being will you be taking forward into this shiny new year?

Feel free to share your responses to these questions with us on Instagram @pureartsgroup and Facebook @pureartsgroupuk or email me at lesley@pureartsgroup.co.uk if you would like some extra support or guidance on your journey.

Here are a few activities you might find helpful as you reflect and review:

Hand evaluation

On a piece of paper draw around your hand and record the following information:

Sketch your feelings

• Thumb – something good, something you enjoyed • Index finger – something you would like to highlight • Middle finger – something bad, something you did not enjoy • Ring finger – something you will treasure • Little finger – something small but important you want to remember • Palm – A prediction for the future – what happens next…?

Get a large sheet of plain paper. Start thinking about the events, people, places… of 2020, that come into your mind. Sketch your mood and feelings about these memories on the paper. This can be in the form of just colour blocks or shapes or more detailed sketches. This is for your personal use only, not for public consumption so don’t stress about your drawing ability – stick men are fine – They worked well enough for Lowry after all!

Talk out loud

Stand in front of a mirror and talk out loud about your year and your feelings, both good and bad. This will feel awkward and uncomfortable at first but stick with it – it gets easier!

So what did you discover about yourself through this process?

• What promises have you made to yourself?

• What is your word for 2021?

• What are your 3 primary business goals for 2021?

If you have found this process useful, there are loads of free resources on the Pure website from talks, to podcasts, interviews to blogs. Have an explore and see what you can find that might help you on your journey.

Our programmes and courses are all detailed on the Pure Learn page – take a look and see if any appeal. You can email us at any time to book a free discovery call to discuss in more detail.

And if we seem like your tribe – join us – we would love to meet you.

We wish you the very best you wish yourselves for 2021.

Botanical studies by Louisa Crispin top: Hedera helix; above; Chrysanthemum I www.louisacrispinart.co.uk

Lesley & the Pure Team

Pure is a professional organisation which has been supporting the creative community in unlocking their full potential since 2009.

Pure is internationally renowned for discovering, mentoring and supporting talent in contemporary art.

To find out more, exhibit, learn, watch.... please visit www.pureartsgroup.co.uk