Growth and your weekly check in.
Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with your self. A creative recovery is a healing process. You are capable of great things on Tuesday, but on Wednesday you may slide backward. This is normal.
Growth occurs in spurts. You will lie dormant sometimes. Do not be discouraged. Think of it as resting. Very often, a week of insights will be followed by a week of sluggishness. The morning pages will seem pointless. They are not. What you are learning to do, writing them even when you are tired and they seem dull, is to rest on the page. This is very important. Marathon runners suggest you log ten slow miles for every fast one. The same holds true for creativity.
If you will hold on to the practice of writing 3 pages every morning and doing one kind thing for yourself every day, you will begin to notice a slight lightness of heart.
Practicing being kind to yourself in small, concrete ways, but more than anything else, experiment with solitude. You will need to make a commitment to quiet time. Try to acquire the habit checking in with yourself. Several times a day, just take a beat and ask yourself how you are feeling. Listen to your answer! Respond kindly and if you are doing something very hard, promise yourself a break and that afterwards.
Yes, I am asking you to baby yourself. As a creative being, you will be more productive when coaxed than when bullied.
Action steps for day 15
It’s that time of the week where you should block time in your planner for your weekly check in and your soulful date. Grab your weekly check in HERE
Describe your childhood room. If you wish, you may sketch this room. What was your favorite thing about it? What’s your favorite thing about your room right now? Nothing? Well, get something you like in there - maybe something from that old childhood room.
Describe 5 traits you like in yourself as a child.
List 5 childhood accomplishments and list 5 favorite childhood foods. Buy yourself one of them this week.
Habits - take a look at your habit. Many of them may interfere with your self-nurturing and cause shame. Some of the oddest things are self-destructive.
Do you have a habit of watching TV you don’t like? Do you have a habit of hanging out with a really boring friend and just killing time? Some rotten habits are obvious(drinking too much, smoking, eating instead of writing)? List 3 obvious rotten habits. What’s the payoff in continuing them?
Make a list of friends who nurture you, that give you a sense of your own competency and possibility. There is a big difference between being helped and being treated as though we are helpless. List 3 nurturing friends and which of their traits, serve you ?
Call a friend who treats you like you are a really good and bright person who can accomplish things. Part of your recovery is reaching out for support. This support will be critical as you undertake new risks.