I’m on week 8 of The Artist’s Way, “Recovering a Sense of Strength,” and enjoyed this chapter. It was also a difficult chapter to read with mentions of miscarriage and sexual harassment as analogies to suffering with losses to creativity: the first being suffering terribly and privately when there’s a rejection, and the latter is receiving criticism that is ungrounded, based on something personal or is too nebulous, but makes the artist feel ashamed or otherwise told that their work isn’t good or lacks promise because the a teacher doesn’t see the talent.
So yeah, a much more “serious” chapter, but I appreciate the perspective of how dire the repercussions could be when the outside world tries to dissuade us from our creativity. This happens quite often with people we trust like parents and teachers, particularly when we’re the most vulnerable and still in the early stages of exploring creativity.
Yesterday, my Artist’s Date landed me at a Hobby Lobby with my family. This is a dangerous store if you’ve never been: it’s like Michael’s and Home Goods had a baby. I could live in the store. Anyway, I ended up getting a “Learn how to draw cute chibi animals” book and tapped back into drawing + adding quotes:
I want to do more of this illustration and quote area, and maybe add music too. Stay tuned!
So this week, I’ve been more intentional about saying yes to creative risks. Here’s how you can, too:
Shift your mindset
We’re often afraid of what we want the most. What creative projects do you see out in the world that call to you? What do you eye with envy or longing, but make excuses about? You can tell if you’re putting something off by prioritizing something easier (like laundry, or an “easier” project) than the actual big thing you want to do. So reframe fear as an invitation to grow, instead of something to avoid!
Follow your curiosity
Everyone starts off at the same place. the most motivating thing you can do to feed your creativity (in addition to not listening to critics and outside negativity) is to do it because you want to. It really is that simple. Do you want to learn French? Write a song? Grow a garden? Take that first step: Buy a book, grab a notebook, plant some seeds. Figure out the easiest way to move forward, and set off on your way!
Treat your creativity as a must-have
I’ve been having some health stuff come up as of late, from 6-hour ER visits to doctor appointments and endless blood draws. I haven’t had a wellness check-up since the pandemic, but now these doctor visits are a “must-have” because my body is yelling at me. So often, we approach creativity the same way, as a “nice-to-have” and something we do when we want to. But, what if it was something you *had* to do for your soul? Why not take care of it before it yells at you?
Hope this helps inspire you to do something creative today.
🎥 How to start your journey towards self-discovery
I’m in the middle of recording this 5-part series, a supplement to the Swishie board game. If you enjoy choose-your-own-adventure type games and want to try a playful approach to journaling, get it at the shop now!
🎨 Need motivation to create? Join me next month, Saturday, April 9 with the intention of doing something creative for an hour. I’ll provide a prompt, and you’re welcome to work on your own creative project. RSVP at Creative hour & mimosas.