I am free to think
wonderful thoughts.
I move beyond past
limitations into freedom. I am now
becoming all that
I am created to be.
-Louise Hay
How have your holidays been?
As the ball approaches dropping in a few days, how you you feeling about 2018?
Specifically, how are you feeling about your Art?
The holidays can be a time of great intensification. Whatever we are dealing with, can be magnified under the bright lights and holiday frenzy.
While we crave rest most at this time of year, we are usually running around endlessly trying to cram in, and take advantage of the season.
I remember coming home from college and literally passing out as soon as I got to my bed, the build up of exams, not sleeping, and trying to get everything done before the break.
The break…..
So vital in the course of a college career.
And something I have come to deeply respect as a mature Artist.
The place of confusion I feel I was in for so long, was what I DID WITH that break.
There’s the cards, the gifts, the parties, the travel….the family gatherings. Depending on our dynamics, being with family can be deeply connecting, or horribly triggering. Either way, it’s a lot for the system.
As Artists, we tend to feel very deeply. Many of us are more sensitive, and empathic.
I spent many holidays, especially POST holidays, sick.
My body literally gave out.
And this year was no different.
I was at dinner with my family, the day after Christmas, and could feel my energy dropping. I ate about half my dinner and my appetite just stopped. They all finished, and I took my dinner with me to the living room with the full intention of finishing it….
But I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and soon fell asleep.
I woke up just about 15 minutes later, and felt really nauseous. We all had the same dinner, and they weren’t showing any symptoms. The TV was loud, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be sick or not, so I came upstairs, closed the door, and curled into a ball.
And closed my eyes.
I really felt low….unsure…..and this is where I did something I NEVER did when I was a college student.
I said,
This too.
I hate being sick, especially nausea. And as a child I suffered from migraines, strange rashes, and many other odd ailments. For so long, I fought what was arising.
But I had a feeling underneath all of this; the feeling my body was shutting down TO heal.
As I lay there, I could feel the EDGE of,
I can’t get sick right now!
I’m traveling in a few days!
WHY is this happening??
And in the space of all of this, I simply said,
This too.
An hour later, the nausea passed, and that night I slept solid with vibrant dreams.
And when I woke in the morning, I felt ready for my day. I was able to be present for my family, had energy again, and was inspired to create.
Is this what you want?
When you look back at 2017 and your Art, how do you feel?
When you stack up your challenges, your failures, and your frustrations, how much are they impacting you moving forward?
We all have our breaking points. We all have the moments when our body says,
ENOUGH!
But, as Artists, it’s vital what we are doing in that space. Even more so, how we are treating ourselves in that space.
It’s such an easy choice to just disconnect, and make the choice NOT to feel, and beat ourselves up in the process.
But, if we keep disconnecting, we are robbing ourselves of truly regenerating. And the reason regenerating is so important is simple:
We are the conduit FOR our Art.
For some of us, our actual bodies ARE our Art, and for others, it’s our hands, feet, and minds that create the Art. Either way, we need to be nourished and fed to create. This is especially important to attract our audience.
We can’t be empty inside, and create a strong raving audience.
And what’s most important is knowing the starting point, a vital step BEFORE freedom, especially the kind that Louise Hay speaks about….
Acceptance.
This too.
Within our Artistic journeys, we will hit walls.
We will become overwhelmed.
We will be in high pressure situations that test us.
And we will experience the intensity of the holidays, year after year.
Your choice,
Your FREEDOM comes in HOW you approach it, and what you make it mean.
Acceptance is always the first step, and when the overwhelm hits, take a moment, and don’t fight.
Accept what has occurred this past year, and know you are not TIED to your history.
You are not tied to the nausea, the fatigue, and fear.
Change is constant.
This is a new day, one that has never been lived before.
This is a new year, one that YOU have never lived before.
So, if this is true…….what is possible for you?
I am free to think
wonderful thoughts.
I move beyond past
limitations into freedom. I am now
becoming all that
I am created to be.
3….2…..1…….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!