The Artist’s Way: Week Eleven
This week’s theme was “recovering a sense of autonomy.” The ideas proposed had to do with engaging in creativity for its own sake (rather than for money or fame) and for our own good. “Creativity is oxygen for our souls. Cutting off our creativity makes us savage,” says Cameron. She encourages us to commit to creativity, rather than discrete outer goals that force us to create on a schedule, on other people’s terms. That is a recipe for stagnation, she cautions.
I have experienced this dilemma as I’ve sought to force myself into a regular scheduling of publishing articles on my Psychology Today blog. I committed in 2023 to publish three articles per quarter (which, not incidentally, is what they require to be paid for your writing.) This has led to pressure to create when ideas are underwhelming and it sometimes leave me overly focused on what readers will think, how to title things to draw in more readers, etc. These foci are not great for my creativity and I think some of my articles show that lack of sincere enthusiasm. I still haven’t figured out how to balance the need for consistency and being free to create as my spirit dictates… I’ll let you know if when figure that one out.
This week, Cameron encourages movement and exercise each day. She calls it moving meditation that can help provide perspective, inspiration, and move us from stagnation to strength. She closes the chapter by encouraging us to create an artist’s alter of sensory delights and celebrations of the things we love. This is on my to-do list for sure!
I found so much comfort and connection to myself while writing the morning pages this week. I’ve had some painful old family dynamics resurfacing in my world and, while the pages don’t allow me to avoid thinking about or feeling all the emotions related to these circumstances, the practice of tuning into my thoughts, needs, and perspectives, (and alternate perspectives,) has been unquestionably helpful and healing. I am so grateful for this exercise right now.
On to the final week - Week 12!
