Cartooning VS. Reality

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If you’re unsure what a real Tanuki is, look here.

How do you see yourself?

Maybe you don’t think about it all that much. As a cartoonist, drawing a version of “me” for all of you often makes me think about how I come across to the world.

I often feel it doesn’t align with what others see.

Everyone should know how to draw themselves in a simple way. Making yourself look cute (and thin) is always fun—don’t 100% believe that’s really you.

I found this article sharing how Random House Dictionary defines self-image as “the idea, conception, or mental image one has of oneself.”

The Mountain State Centers for Independent Living explains further:

“Self-image is how you perceive yourself. It is a number of self-impressions that have built up over time… These self-images can be very positive, giving a person confidence in their thoughts and actions, or negative, making a person doubtful of their capabilities and ideas.”

Your self-image is what you see when you look in the mirror and how you picture yourself.

Sometimes, you can feel overly confident and full of yourself.

Give me a break! I’m still learning. Thanks to my wife for writing the Japanese.

Other times, you may feel you’re handling life better than you actually are.

Ever notice people looking at you funny when you’re thinking to yourself?

I make a point of smiling more when thinking, especially when teaching art at my school. It helps calm me down, and I look less like a psycho.

As teachers, we meet and talk about new ways to think about situations we’re in and challenge how we perceive what students think or say. Reframing your beliefs can help you deal with others and also yourself.

When thinking about yourself (especially if it’s something negative), ask a few questions in your head I learned about from Byron Katie’s The Work.

-Is what you’re thinking about yourself true?

-Does it have to be true or real?

-Who would you be without the thought or belief?


Your Creative Pursuits Take Time

Am I doing this right?

If I am, shouldn’t I be more successful by now?

Starting a new business or creative endeavor may build up excitement that deludes you into thinking success is a given or at least right around the corner.

I’ve been working on this Substack newsletter for over two years and have a lot of fun. Over a thousand of you are reading (and hopefully enjoying) these humorous cartoony examples of life, creativity, and the adventures of an international (American and Japanese) family. It’s growing but on its own slow timeline, and I’d love more paying subscribers (hint, hint!), but I’m not worried.

I love my freedom with this format to share whatever I’m working on with you and see what resonates.

As with self-image, I can like an idea, draw, or write it; you may see it differently and not be interested in it. Either way, I get an understanding from you of what works and what doesn’t. Having people to share it with helps. Thanks for opening up these posts and checking them out. Making them for you is also therapeutic for me.

Are you openly sharing your struggles creatively in some way?

Appreciating your faults along with your attributes (which I’m clearly still working on) takes acceptance, patience, and awareness. Writing or drawing about them regularly can be a good practice.

I’m convinced it makes living a good life easier and more enjoyable.

What about you?

Share funny or serious ways you think about yourself below in the comments.