The Artist Way - Week 7 and a Jealousy 4th step
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection
This week is a practice of right attitudes for creativity.
The emphasis this week is on receptive skills as well as
active skills.
We can learn not only to listen but also to hear with
increasing accuracy that inspired, intuitive voice that says, “Do this, try
this, say this . . . “
Being faithful to my journaling is teaching me that it is a
powerful tool. Journaling three pages every morning (almost every morning)
helps me to listen and hear my intuitive voice. And I am learning to recognize
my intuitive voice and learning to hear it and act upon it. Writing out my
problems or fears and coming to an understanding of them. As well as finding a solution
or acceptance them, in my personal life as well as my artistic life.
Following this intuitive voice and really acting on it – has
so much juice to it. Encouraging growth and confidence.
But all is not well in the land of TAW. I am so guilty of
not taking my artist on dates. And when I do I see how inspiring it is and how
it feeds me full of creativity and curiosity.
The following is a quote from the book as well as a
wonderful reminder.
EXPECT THE UNIVERSE TO SUPPORT YOUR DREAM.
IT WILL.
PERFECTIONISM I always thought was about getting it
right. Now I understand how perfectionism can be a ball and chain for me. And
what I heard was make mistakes make lots of them. Stop trying to make it
perfect and follow the flow of whatever it is I’m doing. Don’t get me wrong there
are still lots of decisions to be made and things to mull over regarding
composition, color and so on but once I get started I now let go and stay in
the flow. Not worrying about if it’s right but more about enjoying the process.
Michael Angelo must have been deeply in touch with his
intuition and followed this as he released The David. I’m not comparing my work
to that of Michael Angelo just the experience maybe.
And then came JEALOUSY a normal human emotion. The
book asks us to do what looks like a 4th step on jealousy. Racking
my brain trying to think of an artist or a friend or even celebrity that I was
jealous of! I came up empty handed. Until I thought of the relationship someone
close to me has with her grandchildren. And then I remembered how much it is
costing her and I couldn’t be jealous of her either.
Also I’m starting to notice some synchronicity. The one that
is screaming at me is this. This chapter is about letting go of perfectionism
and learning and growing from our mistakes. Several days ago or maybe a week
ago or a bit more I came across a wonderful quote by Neil Gaiman.
It is so appropriate for the time of year as well. And so
here it is
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because
if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things,
learning, living pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.
You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're
Doing Something.
So
that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New
Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made
before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it
isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever
it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
Make
your mistakes, next year and forever.
Keeping the brushes wet,
Teresa
No comments:
Post a Comment