Rising Up
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Starting the year off with a bang.
AmazIng weather conditions really helped this year start off with a bang photographically - with fog and hoar frost dominating. EXIF data f7.1, 1/250s, 120mm, ISO100.
I’m not sure that I was as intentional about starting this year off differently than I could or should have been, but regardless - I found myself wrapping up 2025 with some feelings of unrest and vague distraction. I also found myself spending more time online than I like and less time getting outside pursuing my passion of photography and just being in nature.
I also found myself falling into some habits that I know are not productive or good for my mental health - things such as comparing my images and progress with others - that’s a rabbit hole that never leads to a good place. Wondering what my photography is about and trying to come up with some way of making it financially viable - ugh what better way to suck the joy out of something. Which led to second guessing and questioning the reasons that I get out with my camera at all - a definite start to a negative spiral.
I made a couple of decisions towards the end of the year and it had less to do with following trends or making deep purposeful decisions than a need to change things up and get out of my own way.
For instance, I bowed out of some online photography forums that I’ve been part of for a number of years - I felt like I was spending more time viewing, liking and commenting on other peoples’ images than I was actually getting out and making images of my own. I was also wrapping up a 52 week creativity course (ok I still have 10 weeks to go, but I am almost there) and I recognized that while there was some benefit to having a creative prompt to drive my photographic intentions, I was falling back into a habit of checking the box rather than really digging in and exploring the concept creatively.
All of these indicators led me to understand that I was in a rut and needed to shift gears and start to follow a different path. I’m happy to be able to say that I’ve gotten out more in the first few weeks of 2026 than I did for most months last year and I’ve been having fun experimenting and playing - no expectations about how good the images are or whether anyone else will like them - a definite win in my book.
How I show up
I’ve just finished reading Brene Brown’s Strong Ground which I wouldn’t recommend as a first one of her books to read - unless you’ve already read her Dare to Lead series it won’t make a lot of sense. This book is bit of a compilation/update of her previous research and how it impacts our leadership skills in the current world situation - it’s great stuff to chew on and consider in this rather chaotic world we’re living in right now.
One concept that really resonated with me - that got me thinking about my end of year funk was the idea of being above or below the line. In short Brown defines the line as fear and being above or below the line is how we show up when we’re in fear. Being below the line means a likelihood of showing up as hero/victim or villain and being above the line shows up as coach/challenge or create.
A good example of this comes up around cooking dinner (funny how my examples seem to keep up a recurring theme) - I like to cook - I think I’m a pretty creative cook and I enjoy it most of the time. That’s the key - most of the time - when I’m feeling depleted or tired it can feel less than enjoyable, but I often don’t recognize this and ask for help - I think it’s the fear of being seen as weak or not capable - not having superwoman status or strength.
Above the line looks crisp and magical with amazing results compared to the murky fuzzy below the line results. EXIF data macro lens f16, 1/100s, 105mm, ISO2500 with an external light providing backlight from underneath the subject.
If I’m below the line then my reaction and comments come out as a “hero” and I’ll say things like - “I always make dinner and I’m the only one who spends the time focused on producing good healthy food consistently”, or a victim with comments such as - “you take advantage of me and my ability - expecting me to make all the dinners”, and finally the villain - “I’m on strike! I refuse to make dinners until things change”. Key red flags are absolute words like “always”, “never”, “all” and ultimatums. Not my finest moments and not how I want to show up.
If I’m above the line then it’s a different scenario and different conversation (probably a big clue when it’s a dialogue rather than monologue) - I approach the conversation as a coach saying things like, “I’m feeling depleted or tired and could I get some help with this if I walk you through how to make it?, or challenge comes out as “I’m feeling done in - how about we come up with other ideas for meals over the next couple of days to give me a break”, or create looks like, “I’m feeling in a bit of a rut around meals - you have such great ideas about what do to that’s different - how about a brainstorming session to get us both excited about preparing meals - let’s make a game out of this and maybe a date night around preparing dinner”. Why can’t I just copy and paste these responses into the moment I need them?
I notice that when I’m above the line then my words tend to be about me and how I feel and what I need rather than about blaming or shaming. On the positive side, I’m starting to be able to identify when I’m feeling above or below the line which gives me the opportunity to slow down and take some time before responding - or even declaring that I’m below the line and need some space to reset.
Positively Uplifting
It amazes me that just being able to make a shift in my perspective makes all the difference in the interaction - in fact it enables positive and uplifting solutions to be found and enacted which takes me back to my end of 2025 funk and feelings of discontent.
When I consider what was happening and why I was suddenly focusing on comparison and me not measuring up, I recognized that I was below the line and that was a good first step to figuring out what to do. As soon as I recognize that I’m below the line my next question is what is the line about - what is the fear?
After some thoughtful reflection the fear started to show up as what is my purpose or meaning - do I even have one? What am I doing with my retirement years to create value - there is that darned phrase again which first cropped up when I initially retired - it even cropped up when I decided to set up a website and started to blog. What is my big why?
Some deep soul searching brought up the same answers for me - I want to live an uplifting positive life that is focused on growth, learning and being content with my life. Photography is about connecting with the world around me and finding ways of expressing what’s going on inside and relating it to the outside world. It’s about mindfulness - slowing down and really experiencing life. Just even spending time reminding myself of these things started to clear some of the negative thoughts from my mind.
Bohemian waxwings in our garden just make me smile and feel uplifted. EXIF data f7.1, 1/250s, 840mm, ISO800.
I’ve finished reading Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson and I really do find that focusing on heartfelt positivity makes a difference in my day - it’s not a short term fix, but more of a slow burn that just gets stronger the more I lean into it.
Focusing on what’s going on for me rather than what’s going on around me seems to really help me focus on connection and gratitude. I’ve scored my positivity ratio (see the book in the list of references for how to determine your ratio) twice now and the first time surprised me as I was just over 2 and in order to really feel the effects of positivity you need a ratio of 3 or more consistently.
The second time I scored 2.5 and then I just kept focusing on doing little things that raised me up and raised up those around me - things like connection - having conversations with Kory and Anne that were meaningful and uplifting, going for a photowalk, sharing cooking responsibilities - making dinner and cleaning up together, sharing laughs with Siri generated jokes in the morning, dancing, music, and all sorts of little things that really helped me to feel more connected and uplifted.
As I mentioned since making some changes to my routines and focusing on staying above the line while experiencing heartfelt positivity has really shifted my positivity ratio. My latest positivity score is 3.2 and I’m continuing to do the things that I find uplifting as I know that positivity pays dividends over the long term.
Heartfelt Positivity
Positive emotions include gratitude, joy, awe, pride, inspiration, serenity, interest, hope, amusement, and love. Leaning into these emotions in an authentic way really does open us up and helps me to stay above the line.
Positivity opens us. The first core truth about positive emotions is that they open our hearts and our minds, making us more receptive and more creative. (Positivity - Barbara Fredrickson)
Sunrise over the prairie. landscape - never fails to fill me with awe. EXIF data f5.6, 1/80s, 600mm, ISO5000
There are so many ways to build these emotions into my daily life. For example, I stop and watch the sunrise everyday and when we have partially cloudy conditions or no clouds in the morning sky, I spend time in awe and inspiration that a natural event can be so beautiful and different everyday. I take photography walks which creates opportunities for being close to nature and marvelling at how the natural world evolves around me.
I’ve written about my gratitude journal and how I’ve started working on identity shifts which means identifying what behaviour or mindset I want to shift and then looking at what is blocking me or preventing me from achieving that shift. Once identified I write about how I am going to achieve that shift and the block that I am removing (like I am a person who seeks joy and wellbeing - today I am going for a walk in nature would be a morning entry in my journal - with the evening entry being - Today I showed up as a person who seeks joy and wellbeing by getting out with my camera for a photowalk).
My decision to move away from online forums and stop comparing my progress and my life with others has been a healthy shift. I find that by doing this I’m able to be more open to recognizing the amazing talent of those around me - and it doesn’t diminish or change my creativity or talent.
How is it going?
I’ve found that already in 2026 I’ve been more creative and more productive in my photography without worrying about what it’s for. I have been getting outside for walks and photowalks just for the sheer joy of doing it - any images that I make are just gravy and for me alone. This makes sharing my images less about hoping for acceptance or approval and more about spreading the joyfulness and awe that I feel when making the image.
I’ve also found that slowing down and focusing my attention more on spending time doing things that fill my cup rather than checking items off self care to do lists has had a very positive impact on my mood and energy level.
How has your 2026 started? Are you above the line and leaning into positivity or is this something that you’d benefit from exploring more? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or drop me a note directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
One of the new creative directions my photography is taking. EXIF data 3 image multiple exposure merged in Photoshop.
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
