Everyone knows people who have taken up a
new hobby and before they have even taken one lesson, they have gone out and
purchased the best equipment money can buy. Truth is, almost everyone has done
this at least once in their lives.
That is why so many people have closets,
basements, and garages filled with stuff they don’t use and why there are a
plethora of garage sales, listings on sites such as Craigslist and eBay, and
resale stores.
While it may be
necessary to invest some money in new tools, it’s often true that you can get
excellent results with either what you already have or with a simple, lower
cost investment.
This is certainly the
case for both learning to apply the Law of Attraction (LOA) and taking up the
art of photography.
There are ample
opportunities in either of these endeavors to spend lots of money. You may choose to do so over time, depending
on your own goals and desires. For most people, spending large amounts isn’t necessary
and certainly not a prerequisite to beginning your studies.
To take a good
photograph, you don’t need to have the fanciest camera. While it’s true that
professional photographers often have several cameras, each costing thousands
of dollars, it isn’t necessarily the equipment that earned them their standing.
Even if your goal is to become a pro, starting off with fancy gear may actually
inhibit rather than inspire you.
While the camera on
your smartphone may not be top-notch, it’s convenient and something you
probably already carry, so it’s a good place to start. With this simple camera,
you can move beyond the “Ooh, isn’t that cool” snapshot and learn what it takes
through practice to more consistently capture the image.
The first place to
start is to learn the equipment you already have. Your phone/camera has a
user’s manual. Read it. Learn the basics of photography and then begin
shooting.
You’ll discover
that getting the shot does require taking lots of pictures, but also requires
patience, lighting, etc. No matter what, some of the best photographs are
“happy accidents,” captured only because the photographer was in the right
place at the right time with their gear.
Once you’ve learned
more about photography and have more confidence in your abilities to capture
the desired image, you may decide to upgrade your camera. You may buy different
lenses and a bag to carry them in.
By tapping into
your Internal Guidance System (IGS) you’ll know which type of photography you
really enjoy as your skills grow. This will help steer you to the proper
equipment to buy for your goals. If you love taking portraits, you’ll likely
want different gear than if your thrill is taking shots of wildlife while out
hiking in nature. Some photographers will be excited about tiny details, while
others prefer broad scenic shots. This will also impact your purchasing
decisions.
Learning to apply
the LOA is a similar process. You don’t need a lot of fancy courses or tools,
but you do need some basics. Rather than a smartphone, your basic tools will be
yourself and learning to trust your IGS.
Learn about the
LOA, what it means, and how it works. Try a variety of simple tools to see what
suits you best. Regularly tap into your IGS and it will steer you in the proper
direction. You may decide that you like guided meditation and so you buy CDs or
DVDs to assist with that process. Or you may discover that you like to meditate
by listening to the sounds of nature outside your own door for free.
As you practice
your basic LOA skills, you’ll probably discover that you’re pulled in one
direction or another. You’ll find the gear that helps you to feel peaceful and
abundant. Then you can focus on learning more about this area of interest and
practice those specific skills rather than attempting to be an expert on all of
them. You may also decide that you need a professional life coach.
Other people will
decide they want to become professional
LOA coaches, just as some people choose to become professional photographers.
If you’re guided to take this path, then you’ll spend more money on tools,
lessons, and coaching in order to reach your goal.
Whether you’re a
photographer or a student of the LOA (or both), you should be open to learning
more with what you have at hand right now. Allow your skills to develop. Tap
into your IGS to determine which path to take as you grow. If you do this, you’ll
find you’ve become an expert without having acquired a bunch of things you
never really used or needed in the first place.
For more, please
visit www.SharonBallantine.com.
