Let’s keep looking at our creative goals – this time from a very personal perspective. The top of this list is “Time Alone” – often very hard to come by in our busy, busy world. But it is truly the time when we can hear the whisper of the Muse or can truly let our imagination soar. This is not the time to worry or run reactive dialogue in your head. It is time to breathe, open your heart, let your mind expand. Sometimes doodling with a pen and sketch book, or taking a silent walk alone, open to the surrounding smells and sounds can be helpful.
Tenderness is part of what allows you to do this – to love your process, to be good to yourself, honor your inner work as well as you outer efforts. Many of us grew up believing that if it wasn’t visible it didn’t count: “Don’t be such a space cadet, a day dreamer, a loser.”
It’s very important as an adult to reclaim this silence surrounding your own piece of your creative process – and to be sure you get enough of it! Tenderness also needs extend to our results – things do not always turn out as expected, even after our best efforts. And that is okay – we learn by doing and nothing is guaranteed! Growth comes through practice so be tender enough with yourself to allow the young shoots to take hold.
Trackability is another aspect of maintaining and keeping track of of our goals. Setting small and reasonable goals all along the way helps us keep going and keeps our spirits up. We have the pleasure of checking them off our list, and see our progress and that validates our commitment to ourselves. So yes – I set aside $10 for art supplies this week, yes – I signed up for the class I’ve been wanting to take. Small, measurable, clearly defined goals are trackable and satisfying. Pie-in-the-sky goals often make us feel worse about ourselves – like we never get enough done. Be good to yourself – break your goals down and enjoy the steps along the way!
Ask yourself –
– Is it hard for me to get time alone?
How are you spending it when it does occur?
– Where are you hardest on yourself? Can you start to ease up a little there, pat yourself on the back occasionally?
– Please set appropriate, manageable and trackable goals – what might be your first one?
Hope you’re summer days are filled with some daydreaming and idle time to grow your creative spirit. Patty & Suzanne
Thanks for such a great response to Liz and Dharma’s introduction! We were so jazzed that we thought we’d share a snippet with you in each blog. Enjoy!