The Artist’s Way Week #7

Week #7: Recovering a Sense of Connection

This week we focus on practicing right attitudes and being receptive as well as active to our creative skills. We need to listen – listen to the voice of inspiration or muse. You can’t think up a story or poem, you have to get it down on paper (or computer). Take time to listen to what God is telling you to do, what is in your creative soul.

We have a tendency to be perfectionists. We will edit and fix what we are doing before we finish the product. We must finish the product first and then fix. If you keep fixing, you will never finish. Take a risk and just do it, even if it is something new that you think is crazy or unachievable. You won’t know until you try. You will remain blocked if you are unable to take the risk of moving into new and more satisfying artistic territory. Once we are willing to accept that anything worth doing might even be worth doing badly our options widen.

Sometimes we become jealous of people who are successful. These people became successful by DOING, not dreaming or thinking or wishing. Do not let jealousy stand in your way. Be happy for those people and work to achieve your own successes.

One of the tasks consisted of listing 5 of your favourite movies, examine what they have in common and how the similarities play a role in your life. Most of my favourite movies are musical romances. As I wrote I realized romance is lacking in my life so I live it through movies and sometimes my writing.

I found myself tackling many new creative activities this week. I finished painting my Christmas figurine.

Photo courtesy of the author

I got a Doodle Art for Christmas and began colouring that. I realized my eyes are not as good as they used to be.

Photo courtesty of the author

I am reading Debbie Macomber’s book “God’s Guest List”. I started a new journal called “God’s Guest List” and am exploring the people in my life and how they have affected my life. I write about a different person every day. The hope is that I will meet new people and recognize the message their presence brings me, even if they are only here for a season.

I came to the realization that I will not be able to finish working on my novel if I don’t become organized. Since I am unable to have my own home office, it is necessary for me to de-clutter what areas I have to work with. De-cluttering the home de-clutters the mind giving room for new ideas.

In examining my writing interests I see that a common theme in my own writing is social interests. In writing about social issues I am helping others. This becomes God’s work.

There were several tasks this week I still have not accomplished. The biggest task was to cut out images from magazines and post them in a collage. These images should be my interests and/or goals. I still plan on doing that.

All the while the fact that I am not working on my novel is nagging at me. I will let you in on a secret: I had a breakthrough in Week #8. You’ll have to wait until then to see what happened.

Affirmations:

I can live my life according to my interests.

All things are possible through God who strengthens me.

De-cluttering will make me a more productive person.