January 24
The Artist’s Way…Week 1 (Safety)
The readings and tasks this week are about establishing a sense of safety so you can explore your creativity with less fear.
I decided on some affirmations (positive statements of positive beliefs) that counteract my “censor” (that nasty, internal critic). I spent some time on this because I wanted the affirmations to be short and specific so that I would actually use them.
My favorite tasks (and the most revealing) were to identify 3 old enemies/monsters to my creative self-worth; write out one horror story from my “monster hall of fame”; then, write a letter in my defense.
Generally, I’m an easygoing and understanding person, so this series of tasks was fun because I could lay it all out and not be nice or understanding. It actually helped me lighten the situation in my mind; allowed me to see the humor in the situation; and ultimately, allowed me to have a truer understanding of the situation.
I’m not sharing my personal stories with anyone. That’s the most powerful aspect of this journey for me. By keeping my work private, I have the freedom to be completely honest without having to explain or justify my feelings. For now, that’s what makes me feel safe.
