Before yesterday, it had been awhile since posting – and that’s due in large part to the blessings of projects at work, some enriching opportunities, and lately, f i n a l l y, some free flowing creativity! But man have I been aching to get back here to you :).
The last few weeks have been peppered with thoughts of how to feed the creative spirit when we’re feeling wretched about ourselves (or others). What blocks our creativity in these times – what prevents imagination, innovation, experimentation?
I’ve re-discovered it’s those damn back stories. We just attach them to everything don’t we? There’s a storyline attached to every predicament, every argument, every judgment, every closed off belief, every insecurity, every opinion, maybe even…
every.
interaction.
Gasp.
I know whenever I’m feeling crappy emotionally and spiritually, there’s generally a story gnawing at me while I’m trying to make a point, a decision or just trying to move through the day. Maybe this happens for you too – or maybe it’s just me (do you think it’s just me?)… but, thinking more critically, are we ever fully present if we’re listening to an old story or watching a life movie replay in our mind’s eye? Doubt it. We’re likely not making clear decisions or valid points either. We certainly aren’t in a state of mindfulness allowing for the ability to cut ourselves or others, some slack. Story lines include preconceived opinions, emotions and our well conditioned ways of dealing.
I was turned on to this storyline idea from Pema Chödrön’s book, “Living Beautifully With Uncertainty and Change”. (I’ve read the book, annotated on almost every page and if you read my blog you know I cite Pema a lot. I’m her student even though she doesn’t know it). A n y w a y, while promoting the book back in 2012, Pema wrote:
“It’s not life that causes suffering, it’s our story about life – our interpretation – that causes so much distress. It isn’t the current storyline that’s the root of our pain; it’s our propensity to be bothered in the first place. The propensity to feel sorry for ourselves, the propensity to be jealous, the propensity to get angry—our habitual, all-too-familiar emotional responses are like seeds that we just keep watering and nurturing.”
I swear I hear angels sing when I read her words. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh” So powerful. And, so true for me. Let it go (I tell myself). Right now – not later. Right. Now. Unless you like feeling miserable, then by all means hold on tight.
Yes – you have to practice this… the letting go part. Practice re-conditioning yourself to be present and not stuck in the routine of reacting a certain way. If you can catch yourself reacting the way you always have – and re-set… you open, you soften, and you try a new way of “dealing”… I’ve done this successfully. Recently even. It works. It takes practice but it works. Those bad feelings toward self or others begin to fade almost instantly. Wretched feeling gone. Hello peace and forgiveness and listening.
Creative juices flowing :).
More to come,
Tanya B.
Recent Comments