Journey through the Artist's Way, again.
Week 6: Recovering a Sense of Abundance
(and because 'this' author has fallen behind)
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection
I've found that by going back through this book The Artist's Way, I have a greater appreciation for how the author lays a foundation for creative recovery and then builds upon it while gently taking us deeper into the heart of what if means to unearth our former selves and dreams. Each week truly begins to build upon the previous until we begin to believe 'we' are worth investing in and our creative ideas are worth listening to. Therefore, since I skipped last week's blog, I thought this would be an appropriate time to combine chapters rather than confess I was too distracted or lazy to complete my task punctually, and hopefully the above opening will pass as an explanation rather than excuse.
Week 6 goes beyond addressing the abundance or lack thereof of our money, which we seem to think holds the key to our art's discovery or success, and reminds us our wrong concepts about God and other 'luxuries' afforded us, may rob us of pursuing the things that bring us true joy. "We are operating out of the toxic old idea that God's will for us and our will for us are at opposite ends of the table...Thinking like this is grounded in the idea that God is a stern parent with very rigid ideas about what's appropriate for us." I can remember how mind-blowing this was for me, the first time I read it. And yet today, I still wrestle with this window of opportunity or "luxury of time" I've been given to pursue my writing. It is not always easy for us to strive for individual goals when the world we live in repeatedly tells us we should have 'something' to show for our time and results are usually measured in terms of money. "Art requires us to empower ourselves with choice... this means choosing to do self-care", which is a beautiful way to move into Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection.
In returning to this book, I don't know which continues to amaze me more: how 'spot-on', yet nurturing this author can be in helping one learn to appreciate the gift of self and commitment to caring for self's dreams, or the collective emotional growth of our group as we share our individual stories of healing. This chapter addresses creating right attitudes that are conducive for creativity- and its good, perhaps one of my favorite's- but it paled in comparison to one member of our group sharing her breakthrough. Through her commitment to the basic tools suggested by this author ( Morning Pages and Artist Dates ) and her persistence to keep reading and attending class though she fought fear every time she came, a nagging depression that had lingered for six months was shattered to pieces. The glow on her face substantially backed up her claim. The rest of us therefore, were willing to make the following phrase our mantra: "Treating myself like a precious object will make me strong", or at least write it down someplace, as suggested by the author.Thanks Julia!
We meet next week for: Recovering a Sense of Strength-Join us.
Sherry Scott
Goodreads authorThe Year My Mother Died: A Memoir
(and because 'this' author has fallen behind)
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection
I've found that by going back through this book The Artist's Way, I have a greater appreciation for how the author lays a foundation for creative recovery and then builds upon it while gently taking us deeper into the heart of what if means to unearth our former selves and dreams. Each week truly begins to build upon the previous until we begin to believe 'we' are worth investing in and our creative ideas are worth listening to. Therefore, since I skipped last week's blog, I thought this would be an appropriate time to combine chapters rather than confess I was too distracted or lazy to complete my task punctually, and hopefully the above opening will pass as an explanation rather than excuse.
Week 6 goes beyond addressing the abundance or lack thereof of our money, which we seem to think holds the key to our art's discovery or success, and reminds us our wrong concepts about God and other 'luxuries' afforded us, may rob us of pursuing the things that bring us true joy. "We are operating out of the toxic old idea that God's will for us and our will for us are at opposite ends of the table...Thinking like this is grounded in the idea that God is a stern parent with very rigid ideas about what's appropriate for us." I can remember how mind-blowing this was for me, the first time I read it. And yet today, I still wrestle with this window of opportunity or "luxury of time" I've been given to pursue my writing. It is not always easy for us to strive for individual goals when the world we live in repeatedly tells us we should have 'something' to show for our time and results are usually measured in terms of money. "Art requires us to empower ourselves with choice... this means choosing to do self-care", which is a beautiful way to move into Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Connection.
In returning to this book, I don't know which continues to amaze me more: how 'spot-on', yet nurturing this author can be in helping one learn to appreciate the gift of self and commitment to caring for self's dreams, or the collective emotional growth of our group as we share our individual stories of healing. This chapter addresses creating right attitudes that are conducive for creativity- and its good, perhaps one of my favorite's- but it paled in comparison to one member of our group sharing her breakthrough. Through her commitment to the basic tools suggested by this author ( Morning Pages and Artist Dates ) and her persistence to keep reading and attending class though she fought fear every time she came, a nagging depression that had lingered for six months was shattered to pieces. The glow on her face substantially backed up her claim. The rest of us therefore, were willing to make the following phrase our mantra: "Treating myself like a precious object will make me strong", or at least write it down someplace, as suggested by the author.Thanks Julia!
We meet next week for: Recovering a Sense of Strength-Join us.
Sherry Scott
Goodreads authorThe Year My Mother Died: A Memoir
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