I have been on a bit of hiatus, not because I haven't been thinking of creativity, but because I ended up doing a week-long "Creativity Burst" via email, where I sent out seven days of creative exercises to get you up off the couch potato throne and into a new perspective.
If you're interested in receiving this week's worth of activities, please send an email to: wishingmachines@gmail.com
I have spent some time since then putting these exercises into practice and starting a couple of new creative projects of my own (for I must practice what I preach!)... and I have had some awarenesses happening...
Winter is such an easy time to become dormant. There is nothing more beckoning than a giant comfortable bed, a television, and a stack of movies when you come inside from the cold. But spring has a ways to go before making her glorious appearance, and there are a whole lot of hours between now and then that could bring you one step closer to creative satisfaction!
So I have a challenge for you this week, which is to limit your TV/ internet time each day. Unless it's required for your job, when you have spare time this week, try to spend it not in front of the screen. I know, it's scary... there are alot of YOUTUBE videos out there that are mucho hilarious... but, just for one week of your life, just TRY it...
There are things that happen when you are not sitting and observing someone else's experiences, but living your own:
1) You become in tune with yourself. You start to move at your own rhythm, you lilt across the room when you hear the teapot boil, you reach for things in higher cabinets you previously forgot about, you find that old favorite pair of jeans in the bottom of the drawer... in essence, you do not groan each time you must lift yourself from the comfort of your couch, but there becomes a lively spring in your step. You notice things you never noticed before. You are more awake.
2) You use your hands. You tidy up more, creating a more lovely environment. You put things away, cause you have the time to. You pick up that picture frame and look into the photo with more attention than normal. You open up the window to live life not in a hurry, but to move through the day taking action. You become inspired to cook something you haven't made in awhile... you do all sorts of things that require simple actions with your hands, which connect you to having a purpose- and when we feel like we have a purpose, we calm our minds. (We have this idea that when we are successful, we will have other people take care of things we don't want to do, and then we will have more time, and then we will be happy. But actually, in order to be happy, we must feel we have purpose, and when we use our hands, we are connecting to a simple human awareness that we are alive... not so when our tushes are glued to the couch!)
3) You start to create more life experiences. Suddenly the stories on your favorite TV series begin to pale in comparison to the stories you create for yourself in real life. The mystery movie, while compelling, is nothing compared to the mystery of the antique book lying on the corner that you decide not to pass by, but to put it together... and then you see a book by the same author on the coffee table of another friend, etc. etc... (yes, these things happen!)... Suddenly the drama on primetime is not as interesting as the drama of a friend's paintings at the art exhibit you now have time to go to. You suddenly find yourself getting invitations and deciding to accept them, and don't feel it's difficult to walk out the door. Instead, it's refreshing... you hardly remember that you're not caught up with the latest episode of your daytime drama, because, well, life is so interesting, it's the last thing on your mind!
4) When you are open to life, life will open itself up to you. Yes, it's a bit scary- after all, we all build up walls to things that make us feel. The pain of losing things makes us more afraid to open up to others, to take chances, or to put ourselves out there and risk rejection. If we can maintain control, build ourselves up into this glorious empire of ME, then we cannot get hurt, right? But the problem with this is, when we try to protect ourselves from hurt, we also close ourselves off to all other sorts of pleasant things... joy, compassion, giving, innocence, grace, excitement. We get in our safe routine with our creature comforts. We don't bother making new friends- the ones we have are obligation enough. We have pressures, bills to pay, who has the time?! Actually... YOU have the time. Let yourself use your time in a different way this week... just one week of your long life. Drop the remote, pick up a vase, and fill it with flowers. Invite your neighbor over for tea. If they can't make it, invite someone else! Give your mailman a cookie. Shake out the rugs and turn on some music. Put on the crazy sweater and make someone a Valentine...
There is a world awaiting you, but it's just outside your idiot box.
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