Creative Living Art Blog: Marked by the Muse

5 Ways to Thrive (even if cloudy with a chance of negativity)

2011-09-12T06:08:00.002-04:00

Admit it…you’ve felt drained after being in so and so’s presence?

Just being around them makes you feel like your very life force was sucked dry (and it was).

You were in a good mood until listening to their whining and complaining - about everything!

Being submitted to their negativity is like superman being exposed to kryptonite. It takes every once of you not to scream – shut the FLIP UP!

You know the type I’m talking about.

They’re the negative Nancy’s - the Eeyore's of the group. They’re constantly a downer and have a negative influence on others. They’re first to express the worst-case scenario of a situation, genuinely pessimistic, gloomy and prefer indulging in depressed states. In extreme cases, they are anhedonic –
wonder if that gloomy rain cloud over their head is to blame.

Whom can you name as Eeyore in your life? How does being in Eeyore’s presence make you feel?

Can you recognize those feelings when you became an Eeyore to your own life and rain on your own dreams or goals?

Part of becoming a thriving artist is doing away with negativity and surrounding yourself with positive, creative vibes – on the inside and out. This isn't a woo-woo mystical thing, but a real and fundamental universal law.

You become what you live.

If you live fear, anxiety, drama, and pain, that is who you, and your art, will become. But if you open yourself up to a world of new life, experiences, joy and abundance, you become that abundance.

In order to live a thriving successful life you must --
• Believe in yourself more than you don’t
• Tell yourself yes more than you say no
• Uplift yourself more than you bring yourself down (including anyone else and life)

Thriving Artists look beyond their everyday problems into their true, authentic selves – they connect with their creativity (finding the Muse), and channel that positive energy into creating a life of hART.

So how do you bring positivity into your artwork and your life?

1. Surround Yourself with Positive People: you seek out the people you admire – the artists who make people smile, the creators who lift a mood simply by walking into a room, the partners and friends who support you and guide you. Create for yourself a cocoon of kindness, a circle of abundance and positivity to help you flourish.

2. Banish the "shouldv'e"s – You fall into bed at night thinking "I should've finished that painting … I should've emailed that theatre back … what is wrong with me? Why can't I do this? If only I had better time management I could get everything done …" Does this sound familiar? Your time management skills aren't the problem – but the dark thoughts eating away at you every day – the critical voice that says, "I can't do it. I'm not good/clever/talented/smart/pretty/famous enough".

In Integrated Energy Therapy™, being plagued with the “shoulds” is directly related to doing or being what others want you to do or be. You invite the “shoulds” when you decide to “be overly responsible” and show up as an overachiever and “worship the opinions of others”, so much so, that you can’t take action on what’s inspiring you because you’re too afraid of what so and so will think. The inner talk is “very judgmental of self and others because of being brought up in an environment of disapproval and judgment.”

A sign the emotional and mental body is blocked with the “shoulds” is when “people tell others how they should feel, what they should do and become angry when others do not take that advice” – including themselves.

Vow here, right now, to stop shoulding on yourself. Give yourself the gift of freedom.

The cure comes from faith and freedom to express and be who you are without worshiping the opinions of others.

3. You are good enough. You've always had the skills you need right there inside you – your fear builds these dark thoughts, not your spirit. These dark thoughts are a sign that you are an artist suffering the shadow side of the brilliant Artist Archetype – which is the starving artist syndrome.

There is only one you and only you can be you. Embrace the good things about yourself and life. Let go of some of the lessons you've learned that aren't teaching you to be confident.

"I once had a garden filled with flowers that grew only on dark thoughts but they needed constant attention and one day I decided I had better things to do." – Dark Garden by storypeople.

4. Be kind to yourself. You are not a soulless machine. You're a gentle, creative and nurturing spirit, and you need care and attention or you'll wither and die. You can't work work work every minute – make time for loved ones, for walking in the woods, for dipping your toes in the stream. Make time for cups of tea (or lavazza) and cooking plentiful meals. And most of all make time to clear your head of unwanted thoughts and bad memories.

5. Be kind to others. By giving yourself to others, you allow your good life to shine out from within you. When you send compassion, goodness, happiness and tenderness out into the world, you cultivate these virtues within yourself – it's like turning on a light switch – suddenly, everything is brighter, everything is illuminated. You've got to gain sort out what's inside you, before you can focus on the outside.

Vincent Van Gogh said, "art is something, which, although produced by human hands, is not created by these hands alone, but by something which wells up from a deeper source in our souls." (Letter R43).

Use your art as a conduit to your soul, to express the magic, inspiration and beauty you find all around you with intention to align with your creative spirit while releasing what bogs you down. Energy follows intent and you can intend to realize what you need and create it in a way that is right for you.

Remember, you are safe on the blank page. You are an Artist.

You are your own artsy creation.

You create the life you want. You create the response to the things you do not want.
You are your own artsy creation.

How are you NOT being the Eeyore in your own life? When you catch yourself being an ass (get it grey donkey) what will you do about it?

Go "Thrive" Yourself: What to Do When You Don't Get the Support You Need

2011-09-02T11:28:00.001-04:00

Why do so few artists receive the support they need?

The short answer - they do not provide it for themselves.

Artists who feel unsupported typically look outside of themselves, instead of within, for approval and validation. It's not that they don't want to become self-reliant or their own cheerleader - it's that they do not know how.

If you did not grow up in a family that supported or valued the arts, you may find your parents, siblings and friends less than enthusiastic about your "calling." I hear from clients all the time – successful artists with careers spanning decades – whose parents still say, "are you still doing that art thing?" No one asks the family doctor "Are you still doing the Doctor thing?"

Sometimes those closest to us can be downright hostile about our artistic dreams. Sometimes their words and actions can crush the fragile flames of inspiration in our hearts – which is a fancy-pants way of saying crushing our spirit.

Since creativity and inspiration come so easily to us, we often assume others have the same abilities – that everyone hears the Muse calling. For most people, the Muse lies dormant their entire lives -

So when those closest to you push your dreams away, you have to step in and catch them.

Don’t let yourself be the one to push away your own dream.

Being an artist takes a special kind of courage – the courage to give in to your own creative spirit, despite what other people say, despite their laughter and their scorn, despite the crippling fears that well up inside you.

Do you know anyone living with such boldness?

If you do, reach out and ask for support, learn what you can to change your thinking and empower yourself to live the life your creative spirit desires. If you do not know anyone living their best life, you'll want to visit the sites of these courageous women who have the courage to fly, who are striving to create their thriving artistic lives.

You are the keeper of your desired life – you alone carry the keys to your creative freedom.

It's time to unlock the door and unchain yourself from the perceptions of others. It's time to set yourself free from expectations and anger and pain and fear. When we are the caterpillar inching along the branch, we do not yet know the butterfly we are to become.

When we step off that branch and no longer deny our iridescent wings, we can finally soar.

What one thing do you need, right now, in order to create the life you truly desire? Please share by leaving your thoughts below

From Fearful to Thriving: becoming who you believe yourself to be part two

2011-08-12T20:59:00.003-04:00

When we are conscious of our spirits’ voice, listen to the inner whispers and follow that voice – we begin to know how to live authentically.

Living authentically as an Artist yields a Thriving Creative Life. It’s what supports your actions in creating, plus experiencing, your dreams come true.

Living authentically aligns you with your creative spirit consciously and frees you to be who you are.

Becoming who you believe yourself to be is a process of releasing what you are not so who you are truly are emerges. It is an organic process that harmonizes the duality of ego and spirit.

Any anxiety you may feel within your life could be the direct cause of feeling the following:

“… Anxiety over being loved, appreciated, and approved of, or your emotional investment in being different, being the rebel, or carrying on a solo act may be getting in the way of your opting for the choices you need to make and living in the way most conductive to your spiritual growth…. changes you want to come about in your life will arise from a change in perception that releases you to live in ways that reflect your spiritual [and artistic] beliefs completely.” ~Meredith Young-Sowers

What do you need to release in order to be who you are?

What voices must you ask to leave you, your thoughts, and your interior space so you can hear the voice of your spirit and be free to take action?

I use to torture myself with the fear of failure and the belief that if I left my day job and pursued art full time, I would "use up" my creativity, and then I would be penniless. I believed the Muse would abandon me for daring to use art for my own gain.

I realise now my fear was not about failure, rather it was a hungry need for validation. I needed approval of my work and message, and that need held me hostage in taking hold of my inner whispers.

It was as if I was waiting for permission to be an Artist – to be who I am.

When a part of you is unable to recognize, let alone claim, your value as a creative spirit you question your worth, can feel hollow, and I suffered from low self-worth. This belief sabotages the inspiration coursing through your veins, halting progress on your inspired ideas.

When suffering from low self-worth your confidence is easily shaken. You can be easily deflated by others and don’t feel it’s safe or easy to express your needs, ideas or opinions without the fear of punishment in some form (negative feedback), whether it be being fired from a job, left by a loved one, ridiculed, withheld affection, disliked or even given the silent treatment.

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms of low self-worth, consider it’s time to cultivate your inner power and stay within the energy of your creative spirit, even when others have expectations of you fixing their lives.

This is what living in the shadows of the starving artist archetype looks like.

It took me twenty-eight years to release the shackles of the starving artist and adopt an attitude of thriving. Twenty-eight years. Now I don't just create art, I live my art – I surround myself and give in to a world of courage and freedom and joy and nurturing.

Fear paralyses you, and sometimes you live with it for so long it becomes a part of you. It literally becomes a part of your DNA. But you have to release it, set it free into the world, and let your spirit carry it away. This is they very reason I began to practice Integrated Energy Therapy™ (and later became a Master-Instructor) – it supports the release of getting those issues out of your tissues.

Beyond the fear is your calling – the Muse, your creative spirit, waiting to be set free.

Fear has no bias, and victory any prejudices. It's time to claim your freedom and your dreams, to offer yourself to Heart and make the commitment to creating a thriving Artistic life, to living an authentically creative life as an Artist.

It is possible.

Want proof?

The proof is you - YOU are an Artist. You are alive and swelling with beauty, insight, ideas and possibilities. You are unique and your finger proves it. (Realizing what makes you unique as an artist is one of the concepts we explore in the marked by the muse eCourse - creating a thriving artistic life - would you like to join us and discover more of your uniqueness? It starts next week. click here)

You wouldn’t be an Artist if you couldn’t live who you are meant to be – yourself. Find the path, the way of living that allows you to be who you truly are and take action immediately, seeking any other means or following any other path – now that is worthless.

I know you have value to offer this world – do you? If you’re an Artist leave a shout out below – you may inspire a struggling creative.

Inspired By: 3 Top Creative Living Blogs (a must for any artist)

2011-08-12T09:24:00.002-04:00

Top Three Blog Posts in the Blogsphere delivering Museful Messages:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
~ John Quincy Adams

1. Courageous conversations :: working with right now

written by Kate Swoboda from Wish Studio Blog - give your wishes wings

Post delivers a poignant message to cease the time you have now in creating your dreams come true.

My favorite passage is as follows:

“The timing is rarely ever “right.” The timing is about what we make of it–not grasping and wrestling when we say now is the time, but rather, deciding something and getting behind that choice, and then watching the alchemy that follows.”

2. part of the light

written by terri st.cloud from bone sigh arts - honor yourself

This post speaks to the challenges that we all face in life, at one time or another. Sometimes life can be such a series of difficulty that it leaves us feeling broken and sad and wondering, ‘What happened to the light? To the good ole' days?” Have you ever felt this? Have you ever asked, “When will it turn around - get better?” If so, this post is for you. Though it touches on struggle it doesn’t wallow. It’s message is of hope and a reminder that the light is there in the darkness.

YES. Life does and can get better.

I know this to be true having emerged from the shadow side of the starving artist into the illuminated light of a joyous creative being. No lie. It was a difficult journey. I cried a lot during that time. It did bring me to the edge of myself. Yet, within that difficulty I found inspiration.

The stars do shine brighter against a black sky.

This is a reminder to keep on keeping on. I feel many artists are not willing to blog about their frustrations, the challenges they’re facing on the blank page, the ups and downs of a creative life as they strive to create a life of meaning, purpose and a soft place to place their heart. I mean, no artist wants to present themselves as having difficulty or as having a negative voice and so, the shadow side of the journey gets silence. I’m convinced that this silence is what perpetuates the darkness, for it’s our voice, our honesty that brings light, like stars, to the darkness.

Terri, is the perfect writer/example of how you can express the dark while allowing the light to shine and within that light is peace, hope and ability to persevere.

My favorite passage is as follows:

“...it's all one big glob.

you've got to have it all.

don't curse the darkness....

it's somehow part of the light.

i need to remember that.”

Life has shown me that too, during some of my darkest days I can remember feeling inspired by nature, or hope, or an artsy idea. Even if the difficulty lessons for a second during these inspired moments, it did lesson and perhaps that's what supports transformation. As I write this, I’m thinking maybe more true than I know. All the more reason to embrace what inspires you - it does protect you from “the nothing” from any despondency.

3. Promise #72: Cruise through life

written by Tracey Selingo from Twisted Pinky - promises worth making as you journey through life

This post reminds us of the benefits of traveling the road of life with a true friend. It urges the reader to make time for a joy ride - to simply enjoy life.

This post is illustrated with a photo of a street sign. The street is named FRIEND. After reading this gem I was inspired by the thought that what if your true friend was your Soul. What if your true friend was located deep within you, was the inspiration that kept you along the journey, thrilled by all the twists and turns and wide open skies.

What if you were consciously aware of your Soul friend?

I think it would change the way we talk and treat ourselves. I believe that conscious friendship could change everything. It would change Life as a whole, perhaps making people more tender, compassionate and unhindered with expressions of love, not only for others but most importantly towards themselves.

The Irish have a term for soul friend and it’s called, Anam Cara. I didn’t know what this word meant or even that existed until I heard it one day, in my head during a meditation. I wrote it down and forgot, until I saw it weeks later as the cover to a book by John O'Donohue.

What I find inspiring about this Anam Cara, discovery was that I have Irish in my blood. Needless to say I bought the book immediately. John O'Donohue is one of those writers, that I swear, infuse their words with inspired beauty, an invisible embrace. That embrace envelops the reader with tender healing energy that inspires, encourages and unlocks parts of the spirit ready to emerge - talk about the essence of a true friend, a soul friend.

This book changed my life and so does true friendship. Tracey is right, sometimes all we need is a good joy ride, to feel connected and little wind our hair to renew yourself. I know it helps me.

Though the road of life can be challenging, so is the journey to creating a thriving artistic life, finding the path of our authentic self, traveling the path of our true heart. Despite the challenges, the pain, the set backs, even plagues of doubt - it’s worth it.

It’s worth fighting for our friend, our Soul.

Partnering with our Soul is what helps us bring clarity, confidence, inner authority and self-approval, to bring focus to our work, to bring it to fruition, to understand the spiritual integrity of our heart, which we’re hoping to embody. It determines the quality of what we bring to work, to ourselves, to friends, to family - to LIFE.

It’s worth fighting for your friend, your Soul. Wouldn't you agree?

From Fearful to Thriving: Healing the starving artist syndrome part one

2011-08-04T21:00:00.004-04:00

"They were wrong, her eyes didn’t borrow light from the stars. They came to her, each night, drinking from her inspired spirit until intoxicated with illumination, and she, happily kept their secret, for that's what made her eyes sparkle." ~ stephey from Dream Song series

"I'll never make enough to live on as a full-time artist."
"If I create art to live, I will end up hating art, the way I hate my job."
"People will laugh at me if I try to be an artist and ask when I’m going to get a real job."

Do you say these things to yourself? What do you need to free yourself from these lies?

Before, you answer that question, place your right hand over your heart. Hear it beating? Take three deep breaths. Now, ask your spirit what you need to embrace about yourself in order to feel:

• Confident about myself
• Fulfilled in my life
• Free to be who I am
• Trust my inner whispers
• Faith to provide for myself
• Release the need for others approval
• Courage to take action on my dreams

What do you need to release in order to be who you are?

Rather than claiming you don’t know or that you need to go off and find yourself – stop. Instead of believing that finding who you are is an additive practice, consider it a subtractive process.

What you feel you need, have to have, have to get, or must find, doesn’t exist outside of your self. You are all ready who you are.

Your spirit lies within - not with out.

You do not need to find yourself – this is a journey of emergence. It is a journey of seek and discover, not get and take.

Just as the caterpillar has within it wings, so do you. You all ready contain your true essence, authentic self, and spirit, there is nothing to find but there is much to discover.

You begin the journey towards authentic living by, releasing what you are not, so who you are emerges. Traveling this path provides the insight to the above questions and instills you with unshakable confidence.

The journey towards authentic living, towards thriving as an artist is a process, a home coming to your creative spirit.

To illustrate this process, imagine dirty windows. Picture a run down house with windows covered in years of dust, grim and dirt. The dirt complies a film over the windows, which act as a barrier to sunshine, blocking the light from getting into the house.

You don’t think, I need to get windows so the light comes in; you simply discover what windows need cleaning and do just that – clean. Viola! The light comes shining in! The act of cleaning dirty windows invites the light in just as the act of releasing what we are not allows our authentic spirit to shine.
When we are conscious of our spirits’ voice, listen and follow that voice – we begin to live authentically. Living authentically as an Artist yields a Thriving Creative Life. It is the secret ingredient to experiencing your dreams come true.