I was reading a book called "Inner Simplicity" by Elaine St. James, who is also the author of "Simplify Your Life". Early in the book, on page 10 she says "I found it wasn't sufficient to cut my work schedule so I had the time to spend in peaceful solitude on Saturday afternoon, if I spent that time worrying about the grocery shopping, or getting the lawn mowed or what we were going to take to Jack's potluck dinner Saturday night....You'll find it's much easier to enjoy the full benefits of your quiet time if you're able to reduce the distractions and the energy drains as well." On page 29 she writes about creativity and says "For many of us, the ability to tap into our creativity comes only after we have slowed down to the point where we can take the time to get centered. Learning to be and learning to be creative are two sides of the same coin." and the last piece for me, on page 31 "....I've learned that if things aren't going well, I need to slow down and listen. When I get back into sync, things start to flow again."
This has been my experience - the connection between taking time and just being with myself and my creativity. Taking time is about setting aside time - and that is about prioritizing what is important to me. Some things do get put on the back burner. I have only a certain amount of time and energy, and life in my household is more than I can keep up with, even when it's just me and my husband! The other day, just like many days, I have a break and must decide the most important and efficient thing to do with that extra hour. Sometimes it's worth the 30 minute round trip, in order to come home and paint for an hour. If it's a bit longer, I also swim three times a week - I do find that my commitment level to swimming somehow "creates" the time to swim : somehow I always find the time. Sometimes it's an errand - but I have to keep careful tabs on errand running. Sometimes it isn't enough time to come home to paint, so instead I spend 30 to 40 minutes in the park at a picnic table, working with coloured pencils in my drawing pad. Or with that same time frame: go walk at the beach or in the wooded park or even an antique store (being careful that I don't actually buy something!), to observe and to listen - to nature and my inner conversation and inspiration. Sometimes it's 10 - 15 minutes to journal.
These are all enriching and informative activities for my relationship with myself. This is really the only relationship I have! Think about it - in all my many relationships, the only person I am really dealing with is myself and my beliefs and perspectives. I am the most important relationship I have, because I'm stuck with me! If I don't understand myself, all my other relationships will suffer - because I will blame the other person for my wants and reactions : which they cannot ever be responsible for or fix for me. When my friend is upset, I don't fall into making their reactions personal - "taking it on" as it were, because I'm centered in who I am and where my boundaries of where I begin and end are clear. I am able to be more objective and that makes me a much more valuable friend because then I can really support them, instead of stirring up more confusing emotions between us.
So in taking time to be with myself, and listening to what I need to do with the time I have, I develop a relationship with myself which supports me in my life. I listen to my inner direction and honor it : I ask "Which direction is the most clear?" when driving, and make the turn when the urge guides me. I say "I really need a parking spot next to the door" and feel in my body, which direction to go, to finding the perfect spot. When I get anxious, I sing "laa, laa, laa" like "Babe" the pig (!), to relax and get in sync with the stream of energy for my benefit! I find the more I listen, the more I receive - synchronicity is possibly the word.
If I am listening to my body/emotional needs for what activity and direction I need in the moment, certainly I am able to hear my creative urge, moving me in certain image collecting or using a certain colour. These inner urges are my alphabet and language expressing what is in my heart, and actually what is in the collective human heart. What I'm trying to communicate as an artist, is actually what I am actually trying to communicate as a human being. Someone out there understands my language - I am able to speak on their behalf until they are able to articulate for themselves, what is in their heart. So this work of being in relationship with myself is also the best thing I can do for my community!
Slowing my lifestyle down enough, giving myself enough room to negotiate the day to include space and silence, nurtures my creativity and my humanity - aren't they one and the same? I'd like to think so!! Living without distractions is almost impossible, but I can reduce the distractions because I'm clear on what my priorities are. I am living my best by balancing my well-being between my inner and outer needs. Priority is given to my inner needs because they nurture my outer life, but it's good to get those dishes done, because otherwise they clutter up my mind and emotions, too!
This has been my experience - the connection between taking time and just being with myself and my creativity. Taking time is about setting aside time - and that is about prioritizing what is important to me. Some things do get put on the back burner. I have only a certain amount of time and energy, and life in my household is more than I can keep up with, even when it's just me and my husband! The other day, just like many days, I have a break and must decide the most important and efficient thing to do with that extra hour. Sometimes it's worth the 30 minute round trip, in order to come home and paint for an hour. If it's a bit longer, I also swim three times a week - I do find that my commitment level to swimming somehow "creates" the time to swim : somehow I always find the time. Sometimes it's an errand - but I have to keep careful tabs on errand running. Sometimes it isn't enough time to come home to paint, so instead I spend 30 to 40 minutes in the park at a picnic table, working with coloured pencils in my drawing pad. Or with that same time frame: go walk at the beach or in the wooded park or even an antique store (being careful that I don't actually buy something!), to observe and to listen - to nature and my inner conversation and inspiration. Sometimes it's 10 - 15 minutes to journal.
These are all enriching and informative activities for my relationship with myself. This is really the only relationship I have! Think about it - in all my many relationships, the only person I am really dealing with is myself and my beliefs and perspectives. I am the most important relationship I have, because I'm stuck with me! If I don't understand myself, all my other relationships will suffer - because I will blame the other person for my wants and reactions : which they cannot ever be responsible for or fix for me. When my friend is upset, I don't fall into making their reactions personal - "taking it on" as it were, because I'm centered in who I am and where my boundaries of where I begin and end are clear. I am able to be more objective and that makes me a much more valuable friend because then I can really support them, instead of stirring up more confusing emotions between us.
So in taking time to be with myself, and listening to what I need to do with the time I have, I develop a relationship with myself which supports me in my life. I listen to my inner direction and honor it : I ask "Which direction is the most clear?" when driving, and make the turn when the urge guides me. I say "I really need a parking spot next to the door" and feel in my body, which direction to go, to finding the perfect spot. When I get anxious, I sing "laa, laa, laa" like "Babe" the pig (!), to relax and get in sync with the stream of energy for my benefit! I find the more I listen, the more I receive - synchronicity is possibly the word.
If I am listening to my body/emotional needs for what activity and direction I need in the moment, certainly I am able to hear my creative urge, moving me in certain image collecting or using a certain colour. These inner urges are my alphabet and language expressing what is in my heart, and actually what is in the collective human heart. What I'm trying to communicate as an artist, is actually what I am actually trying to communicate as a human being. Someone out there understands my language - I am able to speak on their behalf until they are able to articulate for themselves, what is in their heart. So this work of being in relationship with myself is also the best thing I can do for my community!
Slowing my lifestyle down enough, giving myself enough room to negotiate the day to include space and silence, nurtures my creativity and my humanity - aren't they one and the same? I'd like to think so!! Living without distractions is almost impossible, but I can reduce the distractions because I'm clear on what my priorities are. I am living my best by balancing my well-being between my inner and outer needs. Priority is given to my inner needs because they nurture my outer life, but it's good to get those dishes done, because otherwise they clutter up my mind and emotions, too!
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