The Creative Way: one simple tool to help you thrive in work and life
I woke up to darkness. Blinking away the sleep, I stretched long and tried to remember what day it was.
Wednesday.
I started going through my mental checklist of to-do’s and got stuck on one thought.
I need to work on my novel.
Then came the familiar loop that had kept me stuck for years, leaving my dream to suffocate in a dusty desk drawer.
Am I really supposed to work on this?
What if I spend a ton of time on this and it’s all for nothing?
What if I just don’t have what it takes?
Those thoughts drained my energy quicker than a downspout after torrential rain, tempting me to roll over and go back to sleep.
Whether we want to write a novel, start a business, or even start a new fitness program, any time we step outside our comfort zone and into the realm of possibility it feels scary. It’s unsettling.
We often go through waves of faith, where we are excited and believe we have what it takes one moment, to utter bafflement the next, questioning why we ever thought we could do “the thing” in the first place.
We may not be outright stuck any longer, but we don’t really know where we are going either, and what if anything will come of it.
That feels scary. Especially if you tend to lean toward being control freak-ish like me… 😉
We grapple with a changing self definition, as we wrestle with the hard truth that we’re not where we once were but also not where we want to be.
This is where integrity comes in. Being whole and undivided. Knowing our true motives, dreams, and desires, so we can move past denial and into real progress.
And that takes some internal work.
“If you want to work on your art, work on your life.” Chekhov
An important part of this process is discovering our powerful WHY.
Why do we want to launch a business, sell water-color paintings, or start a music career?
If we don’t have a powerful enough ‘why,’ then those silent, dark mornings where we question everything around us and in us will derail us, and deny us our dreams.
Growing a life of integrity begins with choosing authenticity (no matter what people may think) and working through old, worn-out thoughts and feelings that keep us stuck.
And I have a fantastic tool that will help you.
Journaling.
A regular journal practice will allow you to make sense of the waves of emotions commonly associated with any BIG dream. It will help you get clear on your beliefs about what you think is possible or not possible in your personal and professional life.
It’s a private place to pour out your questions and contend with the answers.
Questions like:
“I don’t know what I really want.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
“I don’t even know why I think I want to do this.”
These “I don’t know” questions are often code words for:
“I don’t think it’s possible.”
AND
“I don’t think I have what it takes.”
To move forward into a more meaningful, creatively inspired lifestyle we must be aware of our toxic belief systems and deal with them head on.
RELATED: GRAB YOUR MY DAILY MINDSET JOURNAL
Your private journal will be invaluable in developing your creative integrity, and overcoming the extreme emotions common to the creative recovery process.
Personally, I have found it is a fantastic way to work through long-held fears and insecurities, and find greater clarity in my life.
It is also a great way to connect with God.
Many times, my journals have become prayer logs, where I pour out my heart to God, seek His guidance, and petition Him for my needs. And you know what? He always shows up!
I’ve received confirmation from Him more than once, after spending time in my journal. It’s also much easier to leave my cares in His capable Hands when I write them down.
Now, you may not even like to write, but that’s not the point.
It’s not about beautiful prose, it’s about an unfiltered, free-flowing expression that will clear your mind and help you focus in on what matters in the moment. It’s a powerful practice for many reasons, but for one, there is brain activity that occurs through the physical act of writing that is similar to meditation, which might explain why so many people find relief from anxiety through this practice.
But regardless of whether you like to write or not, consider this a smart tool to help move you along in the creative recovery process, and help you connect to God at the same time. Because it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or the size of your dreams, God cares about YOU and He wants to be involved in this process because He wants to be involved in your life.
So here are some things you can do this week to enhance your creative integrity AND your relationship with God. All it requires is for you to spend time daily in your personal journal.
Excavate those buried dreams.
We worked on this in this previous blog post, but if you’re still in process on this, explore these questions this week:
What 3 hobbies sound fun?
What 3 topics do I find interesting?
What 3 skills would I like to have?
What are 3 silly things I’d like to try at least once?
Once you have this list, the next thing is to…
Eliminate distractions.
Especially social media.
Do a detox if you have to, but at least limit the amount of time you spend on it considerably.
When we empty our lives of distractions we open ourselves up more to the sensory world which is essential for any artist.
If you’re worried about how to fill your time letting go of those habitual distractions, do focused research on the topics, skills, and activities that came up on your brainstorm list. Find a way to pursue those things that interest you. You’ll never know if it’s a good fit unless you give it a try.
The more distractions you remove (aka social media… :-), the easier it will be to find time to devote to the things that really matter, and you’ll be forced to discover and explore your craft. Let’s face it, many of us have become quite skilled at finding every excuse NOT to work on our craft. That’s not a skill that will serve us well, my friend… 😉
Here are a couple other journaling exercises for this week.
Describe your ideal creative environment. Is it out in nature? Alone at your desk? The local coffee shop? Is it familiar surroundings that inspire you or something brand new? Once you determine that ideal environment, schedule time there on your calendar this week.
Write down a prayer to God and use it every day this week. What do you want to tell your Creator? What do you need from Him? Tell Him your BIG dream, and ask for inspiration, revelation, and confirmation. Keep your eyes open and see what transpires this week.
7 Dimensions of Wellness Wheel.
We did this in a previous post, but if you haven’t start here:
🌟 Draw a 7 section pie and label each section with the following: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, vocational, financial. Place a dot in each slice at the degree to which you are fulfilled in these areas (outer rim indicates most fulfilled, inner circle least fulfilled). Connect the dots and you’ll see where you’re out of balance. You may find areas of your life that feel bankrupt. Make a point to invest in those areas this week. It doesn’t require a ton of time. For instance, if your spiritual life is unhealthy, starting your day out with just 5-10 minutes of prayer can make a difference. If it’s your physical fitness that is non-existent, then add in a 15 minute walk 5 days this week.
If you’ve completed this practice already, then use it again to review your progress. Has the shape changed at all? Don’t expect too much too soon, but do track your progress weekly to ensure you are building healthy habits that will make you a healthy artist. Here’s a free download for 7 things you can do to improve your health today ⤵️
Grab your free download: 7 simple ways to improve your health today
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Hello! I’m Karen Ferguson, author, content creator, and the owner of Illuminate Communications, LLC.
I’m all about illuminating God’s Truth and His love through the power of words.
It’s my mission to inspire, encourage, and equip you on your faith-journey by providing books, tools, and resources that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus, and thrive in mind, body, and spirit.
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