This week focuses on Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection.
Cameron starts by having us revisit our creative blocks. Those things that we do so we don't have to be creative.
For me, it's watching too much TV. Maybe even overeating.
Both things dull my senses. And when I over-indulge in them, I don't have any energy for creative work, either.
We use these blocks to prevent us from finding out where our creativity will take us. And we need to embrace that anxiety and see where our creative impulse will go.
Workaholism can also be an addiction that blocks us from our creativity. For the workaholic, work means worth. So, it's hard to over come that sense.
Fortunately, I don't suffer from workaholism!
But if you do, setting boundaries or establishing bottom lines will help. One of the exercises for the week is to come up with five "bottom lines". Mine are:
- No TV before my daily writing is done.
- No watching TV for more than 3 hours.
- Go to bed by 11pm.
- No snacking after 9pm
- Prioritize exercise!
Cameron also emphasizes that creative droughts are normal. You feel like you have nothing to say.
Yep, I know that feeling.
Here, she prescribes the Morning Pages as a lifeline. They will help you as you traverse the time she calls "a tearless time of grief". When you are between "dreams".
Droughts end. And if you keep writing your Morning Pages, you will be ready when your drought ends.
She also talks about two spiritual drugs: Fame and Competition. Both will poison your creativity.
Fame is a short cut for self-approval. The important thing is doing the work. Not the product of the work. It's the process, not the result. Focus on doing the work because there is never enough of the fame drug to satisfy anyone.
Competition takes us away from ourselves. We focus on other people's successes and not on the things we need to do. The desire to be "better" than someone else (a friend or rival) can block off the desire to "be".
Cameron says, Originality is the process of remaining true to ourselves.
Remember the story of the Ugly Duckling. Something may start off as an ugly duckling and turn into a beautiful Swan if you give it the opportunity to grow. If you work on it and develop it.
But you can't do that if you're always looking over your shoulder worrying about whether your idea is original or "in".
You are you. Do the work or art that is inside you. Learn to approve of yourself. You go, girl/boy/person/artist!
Part of the work for the week is to find ways to cherish yourself. Find some actions that nurture your artist. Do something that comforts your inner artist.
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