Translate the metaphor into ritual. Set a small, daily “stroke”—ten minutes of sketching, stitching, or note‑making—to keep agency alive. When obstacles loom, use if‑then plans to preserve momentum: “If I feel stuck after work, then I’ll mix colors for five minutes” (Gollwitzer, 1999). Curate a visible palette—objects or images that cue your values—and track layers rather than perfection. Over time, these micro‑glazes accumulate into tone and form. In the end, the future you inhabit will resemble the colors you persistently chose—and kept choosing—when the canvas looked most blank. [...]
