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The faces throughout this post are of the book, My Forgotten Self's main character, Tiev. I am including her faces because I love them all :-) and they represent the transformation we all encounter as we embark on our personal creative journeys!
The Gift of Insight
When I first saw Tiev “in person," I actually became tearful. This young girl, who lived in my head for years after I wrote her story, was finally in front of me. The process of creating and introducing her to the world has elicited emotions such as excitement, gratitude, hope, inspiration, and serenity. If I'm honest, I have also experienced feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, overwhelm and even fear. Blessedly, this journey with Tiev (and my backpack of emotions) has gifted me with many insights about the creative process and life in general. I describe four of these insights below.
Insight 1: Change requires vulnerability and letting go.
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Recently, I made small changes to the text of the book. Without boring you with details, I brought on a second editor (who loved the story …YAY!) to review the new text with fresh eyes. She helped me realize that the illustration ideas, which sounded awesome six months ago, no longer worked given my textual changes. To be honest, I initially fought the feedback. I was so connected to how things were that I could not visualize the story without the old ideas that no longer served the story. Her suggestions have helped the book to become SO much more rich and powerful. I just had to get out of my own way.
Yes, we must be vulnerable to allow another person to challenge our cherished views; however, the regret of learning the lesson after the opportunity to change the situation has passed is often much worse. Bringing a fresh pair of eyes into our situations can help us see circumstances from a new angle.
Yes, we must be vulnerable to allow another person to challenge our cherished views; however, the regret of learning the lesson after the opportunity to change the situation has passed is often much worse. Bringing a fresh pair of eyes into our situations can help us see circumstances from a new angle.
Insight 2: Let your Soul's purpose guide you.
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I recently set the intentions that will guide my actions towards my vision. In everything I do, my intention is to inspire you to:
fully embrace your divine worth; fearlessly live your soul's purpose; and faithfully encourage others to do the same.
Through this process, I've learned that without a clearly defined intention or purpose, our actions are often driven by anxiety and fear. This is usually related to "enoughness”— Is it good enough? Am I good enough? Am I clear enough? Am I smart enough? Am I...enough?.
I’ve found that once we set intentions that are aligned with our soul’s purpose, we can choose to be guided by Spirit, as opposed to being shoved by fear.
fully embrace your divine worth; fearlessly live your soul's purpose; and faithfully encourage others to do the same.
Through this process, I've learned that without a clearly defined intention or purpose, our actions are often driven by anxiety and fear. This is usually related to "enoughness”— Is it good enough? Am I good enough? Am I clear enough? Am I smart enough? Am I...enough?.
I’ve found that once we set intentions that are aligned with our soul’s purpose, we can choose to be guided by Spirit, as opposed to being shoved by fear.
Insight 3: Mountains are just large piles of stones.
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Jesus is quoted as saying that we have the power within us to move mountains (Mt 17:20). I believe that this is especially possible when we realize that it is not the mountain that needs to shift, but our perspective of it.
Throughout this publishing process, I have come across a number of "mountains." For example, I was advised to begin focusing on a "brand." As I researched the concept of branding, it grew to be an overwhelming, kagillion ton, solid mass:
Networking, marketing, creating, writing, speaking, motivating, delivering, designing, targeting...OMG!
As a result, I did what any budding brand builder would do...I avoided it! Then one day, I had a vision of large rocks being blast into pieces and it hit me:
Mountains are simply tightly packed stones.
Mountains are easily moved when you break them up into smaller pieces! Instead of focusing on the "branding mountain” before me, I shifted my attention to major stones that make up the mountain:
Stone 1 (What principles guide what I do?) + Stone 2 (What skills do I possess?) + Stone 3 (What do I enjoy doing?) + Stone 4 (How can I put these together to serve others?) = Mountain (branding)
When we are overwhelmed by the thought of moving the mountains in our lives, we must shift our perspective and visualize the smaller stones within each mountain. In moving one stone at a time, eventually we notice that we have moved the mountain.
Throughout this publishing process, I have come across a number of "mountains." For example, I was advised to begin focusing on a "brand." As I researched the concept of branding, it grew to be an overwhelming, kagillion ton, solid mass:
Networking, marketing, creating, writing, speaking, motivating, delivering, designing, targeting...OMG!
As a result, I did what any budding brand builder would do...I avoided it! Then one day, I had a vision of large rocks being blast into pieces and it hit me:
Mountains are simply tightly packed stones.
Mountains are easily moved when you break them up into smaller pieces! Instead of focusing on the "branding mountain” before me, I shifted my attention to major stones that make up the mountain:
Stone 1 (What principles guide what I do?) + Stone 2 (What skills do I possess?) + Stone 3 (What do I enjoy doing?) + Stone 4 (How can I put these together to serve others?) = Mountain (branding)
When we are overwhelmed by the thought of moving the mountains in our lives, we must shift our perspective and visualize the smaller stones within each mountain. In moving one stone at a time, eventually we notice that we have moved the mountain.
Insight 4: Plan for the future but don’t worry about how you’ll get there.
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There are times when I overflow with creativity and inspiration and there times my pot feels dry. I've learned the difference rests in my ability to access my creative spirit. When I worry about deadlines, and the specific steps needed to fulfill my goals, my creativity is stifled. On the other hand, when I consciously increase the alignment between my thoughts, actions and intentions (e.g. to inspire) and decrease my focus on deadlines and narrow goals (e.g. "finish this blog by 5 pm"...which NEVER happens, by the way...grrr), my creative juices flow full force.
When planning for our future becomes worrying about our future, we should try to remember that it is God's job to determine exactly HOW our vision will manifest. It is our job to hold the vision, keep our actions aligned with our intentions, and remain aware of the ways in which fear and doubt limit our openness and faith in the belief that all is well.
When planning for our future becomes worrying about our future, we should try to remember that it is God's job to determine exactly HOW our vision will manifest. It is our job to hold the vision, keep our actions aligned with our intentions, and remain aware of the ways in which fear and doubt limit our openness and faith in the belief that all is well.
Insight Summary
~ Be open to sharing ideas with trusted others and letting go of things that no longer serve you.
~ Choose actions that are guided by clearly defined, "big picture" intentions versus fear-driven, narrow goals.
~ A feeling of overwhelm is an indicator that the task at hand can be broken down into smaller, more manageable parts.
~ We can (and should) plan for the future but exactly how our future will unfold is not always in our control.
~ Plans guided by intentions ignite our flames of creativity and allow us to flexibly respond to circumstances. Plans guided by worry can extinguish our creative flames and leave us feeling paralyzed in darkness.
~ Choose actions that are guided by clearly defined, "big picture" intentions versus fear-driven, narrow goals.
~ A feeling of overwhelm is an indicator that the task at hand can be broken down into smaller, more manageable parts.
~ We can (and should) plan for the future but exactly how our future will unfold is not always in our control.
~ Plans guided by intentions ignite our flames of creativity and allow us to flexibly respond to circumstances. Plans guided by worry can extinguish our creative flames and leave us feeling paralyzed in darkness.
Do any of these insights resonate with you? What insights help you overcome fear or enhance creativity? Comment below!
Namaste!
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Copyright © My Forgotten Self Blog, 2014-2015. All rights reserved
Namaste!
Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog. Also, check out my Facebook page and "Like" it for insights and updates!
Copyright © My Forgotten Self Blog, 2014-2015. All rights reserved
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