New custom, San Clemente Surfboards & Art by Paul Carter
I have been shaping surfboard since 1993. This board is an evolution on the abstract art design when I started painting in 1988 and as a business in 2000.
This board reminds me of the importance of staying present with gratitude for my family and friends. I’m reminded of the importance of facing one’s fears, not running from them..
We all have a past of heartache and experiences in relationships. It takes work to clean house on the conditioning.
We all have a story, and I know I have my own with loss of loved ones and friends. I am grateful and thankful I am not a drug addict or an alcoholic. I cannot imagine going through an unhealthy relationship and being codependent on alcohol and drugs to try and escape the situation..
Coming from a large family I have learned a lot on personalities and egos and insecurities. I have learned to read these patterns with the people I come in contact with..
For many it’s religion for others it’s ideology and for those that know God without all the worldly rules, that’s a healthy relationship not religion.
What is your perception of the words? Know thyself?
It is a difficult position to be in a place of seeing the big picture with someone knowing you can help them. At the same time knowing you have to let them go. They have to learn without you and it’s not my responsibility to try and help someone who is unwilling to help themselves and take responsibility and accountability for their choices.
It has taken me hundreds of hours to learn how to Handshaped Surfboards. It’s taking me many years to learn by doing the work, mentally, spiritually, physically. The discipline to learn how to hand shape and learn how to build confidence in oneself takes consistent daily discipline. Do you know the difference between ego and confidence?. Ego is simply the need for validation.
Confidence is the freedom for no longer needing validation from anyone. We all get inspired daily which is empowering. We have to choose the positive or the negative we want to create in one’s life.
Building a trusting, friendship or relationships takes consistent commitment from each person to build a trusting foundation. If that foundation is broken on a monthly basis, you have to ask yourself is this a two-way street or a one-way street? I am reminded how powerful the heart is. It is more powerful than the brain. It is important to stay present and aware with healthy priorities, and have very strong boundaries.
I am reminded to not let things slide when it comes to building a trusting healthy communication and a mutual respect.
Life is an amazing journey of experiences and tests.
This is a small time capsule of being around six month olds lions all the way up to 14 month old. Along with a full grown Bengal tiger. This Bengal tiger is a female, and she recently had four kittens at that time..
These cats were very tuned into one’s energy. A powerful test to stay calm and talk to them lightly.
Powerful animals and powerful reminders of respect for the planet for people for the animals for oneself is so very important.
I am grateful and thankful for each and everyone of you. All of my friends and family I appreciate all the positive support and empowering conversations.
I am reminded the importance of keeping my life simple. Now when I say simple, your perception will go wherever your experiences go in your mind. To me simplicity is a healthy quality lifestyle.
When one commits to the simplicity of knowing thyself self, you reap what you sow. To treat people the way you want to be treated is key. To have the commitment to be the best version of yourself to learn the power of positive self talk to not be swayed all over the map with people, places and things.
It is so important to learn the difference between confidence and ego. Ego is the constant need for Validation whether it’s people places or social media.
I’m reminded the importance of staying present, breathing and believing in a higher power, which I call God. I am grateful and thankful because we all have the freedom by choice. Meaning free-will to choose healthy, priorities, healthy choices with healthy boundaries. It’s that simple..
We have to do the work daily for change with healthy priorities, and healthy boundaries.
It is so very important to learn how to self regulate the heart, the mind, the spirit and body daily.
Over many years, I have had to learn what proper breathing is. The right way to breathe when going through high-pressure situations or confusion.
I have had to learn the power of a breathing meditation to truly stay present to clear the mind and body to release and renew and restore.
The mind and body is so powerful and one will become addicted to all the feel good chemicals from social media which is designed that way. The constant need of validation from people or even going to church can become an insecure ego driven condition. Alcohol or drugs become an unhealthy escape from simply taking responsibility.
I am grateful and thankful to have a clear sound mind, spirit, and body. It takes consistent will power, and the Freewill to make healthy choices today this moment right now..
For myself growing up in an athletic family surfing, mountain biking, running, hiking and playing many sports. All of these outdoor activities helped me to simply have logic of the times I went through drinking alcohol and yes, waking up the next day feeling tired in a fog and hung over.
I realized overtime I got tired of it and I wanted to surf etc and I no longer wanted to waste a day or two recovering from alcohol and deplete my energy anymore.
It’s that simple it takes a reality check to get to that point with logic to break those unhealthy habits and patterns.
For me, it was not an escape or running away from anyone or anything. It was simply a fun party atmosphere with friends. I’m grateful that I recognize that many years ago.
I also recognize that we can’t save anyone from the unhealthy conditioning. Yes we can help to inspire them and support them, but ultimately they have to make those choices to not turn to alcohol or drugs to escape.
There is no escape and the mental self talk is what keeps most people in the unhealthy patterns or loop.
We each have to truly want to change In order to be free and healthy and happy with a whole lot more energy and a clear mind and body.
Be happy and healthy it sounds simple, but it takes a lot of courage and confidence and consistency to want ti be truly free and happy.
No one can do it for you only you and the faith to breathe and believe and be free.
Thanks for checking out the latest thoughts on the journey.
Join the positive tribe on YouTube and Instagram @paulcarterart. This is a 8’8 for a little bigger surf and less nose.
I am reminded of the importance of knowing one’s self.
To break the conditioned chains of lies in the subconscious mind. it takes a lot of courage and training and awareness and consistency to do so.
When one is codependent and addicted to people, places or things, including drugs, alcohol and social media which is another feel good addiction as well. Each gives a false sense of security for the ego.
Freedom is by choice, free will is a choice to have the willpower to make healthy choices and have healthy boundaries, takes daily consistent courage and training to learn.
We can’t help anyone that does not want to take responsibility for their choices.
Here is some logic for you, If you’re getting migraine headaches and lying to yourself and everyone else. Knowing the truth that you are drinking a bottle of wine to cope with the conditioned lies that are holding you back there is no self control at all.
That makes no logical sense if you want to live a healthy lifestyle or wake up feeling tired and drained with a migraine headache that comes from alcohol.
Guilt and shame comes from conditioning, and most of the time it’s because one is living a lie and hiding from taking responsibility for their own actions and choices. Instead, they are blaming everyone for not having any self control and for all of their own unhappiness. That a selfish victim mentality.
I also realize that people hide behind many addictions to feel good. Even the feel good that comes from churches or the Bible when used out of context.
Ego is a powerful, unhealthy addiction because it’s all based on insecurities and the need for validation which is a false sense of security.
We cannot help those type of people until they wake up and take responsibility for their choices.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the latest blog journal.
Have a great day remember, no validation required. Keep the creative fire stoked with healthy boundaries and priorities daily.
Listen to your intuition and your gut/heart and you will save a lot of time and energy on people that don’t deserve it.
A spontaneous, freehand, sketch, of some reminders we each have today. To choose the positive self talk and learning the power of self regulating.. to have a healthy routine in the morning and evening before sleep, is key. To get the mind and body aligned and flexible and focused on all of the good with gratitude..
The first sketch is 3/4 completed, showing the process. It’s a Meditation and activating the right and left side of the brain. It is opening up the mind to train it to stay present..
I’m reminded once again the importance of awareness and listening to the body when it’s tight and tense. To breathe and work on those pressure points to release, renew, and restore the mind body back into harmony.
Keep creating, and remember no validation required. Keep the fire stoked with positive thoughts, feelings, and emotions daily.
Broken to a new life, painted cutting board by Paul Carter 2024.
Where is your perception? Do you see the positives or negatives, either way it’s a mental training to learn how to focus on the positives and be aware of the negative conditioning.
This broken cutting board was given to me by a good friend James after a great breakfast at the beach.
I put some temporary tape on the back to keep it together while I was painting it.
Focusing on the positive thoughts, feelings and emotions it’s a daily training that no one can do for us, but ourselves.
This is the final version of multiple layers of paints and highlighting. I also added a little bit of glitter to highlight the reflections that you would see in the water and the waves..
When I say broken to me, it means breaking another layer of the conditioned lies that are longer helping me in a positive way.
I used a variety of paints from acrylic paints to paint pens to tulip paints, which is used on clothing.
Thank you each for following the blog journey and following me on YouTube and Instagram both are @paulcarterart.
Stay present, and remember, no validation required.
With each new day, and each new wave, one has to commit into the gravity of change.
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This day a swell in October this was a spontaneous 10-15 minute window shot by my friend Leo.
I would like to share a little bit of the backstory of these three screenshots from some of the drone footage.
On this day, the waves were between six and 8 feet, with 4 to 6 waves in each set.
Before these images, I caught my first wave, and the wave closed out and got caught up in the white water and lost my board.
I was still pretty far outside, and I had a long swim in to get my board. It took between 5-8 minutes. I managed to get my board in about knee-deep water, I took some deep breaths and turned around and paddled back out through another set of waves..
I made it back out and focused on getting and staying present and got back into proper breathing.
This was the second wave I caught and It was a speed run to say the least..
I am riding a 8 foot eight single fin square tail with a 9 inch fin.
First photo I’m committing to the turn
This image I’m locked into the turn
Full speed gravity turn. Thanks for checking out the latest see you in the surf.
