* OVERVIEW:
Ever felt unlucky when it comes to creativity? Do you believe creativity is only for some? If so this book is going to break your bubble, because there are no untalented people. There are only blocked and unblocked artists and those blocks are spiritual. Now, don't freak out when you hear the word 'spiritual.' It means nothing but saying yes to life's inspiration and possibilities.
When we were young we dreamed of magic and possibilities, but as we grew older our well-meaning society told us to stop being delusional. If you are happy, content, and think out of the box they brand you crazy. Sooner or later we believe in those lies and condition ourselves to our environment. We start acting and behaving like the ones around us because that's the "norm" right?!
Who does want to be labeled as the crazy one? This is when the blockages are formed. It's invisible and so unconscious that we fail to recognise them. If you hear someone tell you that you are blocked, you would be in denial. "Me? I'm not blocked. I'm just not gifted", you'd say. To put it in simple terms, if you're resisting life you're blocked and if you're allowing life you're unblocked. It's that simple.
Let that statement sink in you for a moment. Now, look at your own life and take inventory of the areas you are resisting and the areas you have no problem with. For some making money is not a problem but relationships feel like a hassle. It indicates that your beliefs around relationships are faulty. You may think that relationships take a lot of work and that it's hard and draining and so, that's what's mirrored in your waking life.
In the same way, to believe that only some are creative or that art is not for grown-ups is a faulty belief. Some of the richest men and women in the world are artists. Who said that artists are broke and cannot make money? It's a belief that's been circulating around like a virus, infecting its victims. Don't hold yourself hostage to your limiting beliefs. The force that made life is creative. That's why God is called the 'Creator.'
And since there's a part of this universal energy in each one of us, we too are creators and we are meant to create. Take a look at the world around you, from the chair you sit on to the car you drive in was made by men no smarter than you. Human beings collectively are creators. We are not only meant to create, we live to create- each one in their specific field. So, now that you've got a gist of the book, let's dive in.
* SPIRITUALITY AS THE PATH TO CREATIVITY:
Ever felt like your days of inspiration are long gone? That ideas and creativity don't strike you anymore? In that case, you're a blocked artist and when you do the inner work to find out what's blocking you, you will automatically clear yourself of any muck and unblock yourself. Creativity and inspiration will start flowing to you like a stream.
Many artists are sceptical about this concept of spirituality leading to higher creativity, nevertheless, it's the truth. Personally, I find myself hit with an endless stream of ideas when I wake up at 3:00 a.m. to meditate and journal. The solemness of the hour and the clarity of the mind allows me to tap into the creative frequency. So, don't be sceptical without first giving it a try.
* THE BLOCKED ARTIST:
There are multiple factors why you might be blocked. It could be because of your family's against this kind of artistic frivolousness. It could be society's negative view of artists being frisky, broke addicts. It could be a friend or a teacher telling you that you're not a good artist. It could be your own negative self-talk and perfectionism blocking you from creating art and putting it out there for the world to see.
No matter what the reason you tell yourself for not creating or publishing, all blocks are purely mental and so if you change your mind's view you will change your outcome. The artists who are famous and credited for their work are not any more talented than you. They are just more courageous to put out their work for millions to see, critique, and comment on.
That's how they become successful artists in the first place. They just make art and put it out there and don't fear the judgment passed on it. They just keep creating and keep following their creative muse.
* EXERCISES TO UNBLOCK YOUR CREATIVITY:
Certain exercises can help you bring out the inner child in you and stimulate your artistic side to create with ease.
*Morning Pages- morning page is nothing but writing your fears, your wants, your dislikes, and your anxieties on paper every morning. This allows you to understand yourself better and thereby release all your limiting beliefs surrounding art. You write down all your thoughts instead of keeping them in your head.
You ask questions like "Why am I so afraid to create and why do I feel so much resistance? It allows you to pinpoint the exact moment when your inner child felt ashamed and offended for creating something. That specific incident is the one holding you back from creating. What was it that scarred you for life? (the one that held you back from following your inspirations)
Did your family discount the idea of you wanting to be an artist? Did your art teacher shame you? Did your blocked friend criticise your artwork? What was it that stopped you? Write it all down and then from there work your way up. Write a letter to your offender telling that he/ she is wrong and that you will be a successful artist no matter what. Or write a letter to yourself encouraging yourself to keep exploring as an artist.
*Artist Date- artist date is nothing but taking yourself on a date every week. It does not have to be some expensive place. It's just choosing to do something fun, frivolous, and inspiring. Maybe you can go for a walk in the park, play with children and talk to strangers or you could go to a coffee shop by yourself and read a book.
Any fun and novel event will help you to disengage from the logical brain and inspire your creativity. Now, the point to remember is that you do all this strictly by yourself without tagging along your family and friends.
*Create- create no matter how you feel. Even if it does not turn out well keep going. Write at least three pages each day or draw at least one portrait every day. Don't expect it to be world-class. Allow yourself to be a beginner and accept the process it takes for you to reach those high levels. Be patient and kind to yourself and you will surely start seeing positive results.
* REALITY VS THE ARTIST:
Reality is detrimental to the artist because artists look at the world with rose-coloured glasses. The artist sees what others cannot see. They see colour, possibilities, beauty, and inspiration. Because of this society labels them as crazy and delusional. There are so many misconceptions about artists being broke, addicts, promiscuous, and point-blank crazy.
Well, we don't have to be. Those are the labels some artists have accepted, but that's not true. Artists can be sober, righteous, stable, rich, famous, and grounded. What does being an addict have to do with being an artist? Some artists themselves believe in these false notions. Do you think you cannot draw if you don't drink? Do you believe that you can't write if you are happy? These are such false beliefs.
Another such belief is that artists do not love company. Artists do have friends and enjoy nurturing each other's growth as artists. Do they need space? Yes, they do. You need to give them the headspace to tap into their inner child and follow their inspiration so that they can create. To see artists in such a bad light is a misconception, but it keeps happening.
* REHABILITATING THE WOUNDED ARTIST:
Recovering the wounded artist after a fractured dream or a painful rejection can be difficult. Nevertheless, if you want to unblock yourself and keep moving past your insults, failures, and negative self-talk, you need to learn to shake off those comments/ failures and move in the direction of inspired work. The more optimistic and childlike your frequency the easier it is to create.
Creativity requires frivolousness, novelty, and fresh vibes. As I said it does not have to be a luxurious date or an expensive meal. It could be doing anything that awakens your inner child and inspires the artistic side of your brain. Arm yourself with positive affirmations and visualise being a successful and unblocked artist. Allow yourself to make mistakes and allow yourself to take baby steps.
The road to becoming an "artiste" does not have to be perfect. It's often painful, tortuous, and takes too much time. So be patient while in the process and don't stop. The morning pages and artist date are working in spite of what you feel. Give it time for it to work and show the results you so desire.
* CREATIVITY BUBBLE:
The creativity bubble is a sacred place to safeguard your creative self. It's a space for your creativity to emerge and shine through. It's a sacred circle of friends and loved ones who believe in your vision and nurture your artist self. This creativity bubble is so important to have and so sacred and vital that you have to guard it with all your heart.
Don't let in sceptical friends, don't allow other blocked artists, and don't let negative comments slide in. Protect it with all that you have. This includes walking away from people draining the life force out of you, cutting toxic ties, and avoiding negativity. Toxic people thrive on draining your creative energy dry. Give them a little space and they'll consume your entire life.
No wonder you are not able to create! How can you? Creativity is the nature of God and that's why we call God, 'The Creator.' So, you need to tap into peace, love, and joy in order for you to create. Allowing unwanted visitors into this sacred space can end up detrimental to your artist self. So take inventory of who you let in and how they affect your energy.
* THE ARTIST'S PRAYER:
"O Great Creator,
We are gathered together in your name
That we may be of great service to you
And to our fellows.
We offer ourselves to you as instruments.
We open ourselves to your creativity in our lives.
We surrender to you our old ideas.
We welcome our new and more expansive ideas.
We trust that you will lead us.
We trust that it is safe to follow you.
We know you created us and that creativity
Is your nature and our own.
We ask you to unfold our lives
According to your plan, not our low self-worth.
Help us to believe that it is not too late
And that we are not too small or too flawed
To be healed-
By you and through each other- and made whole.
Help us to love one another,
To nurture each other's unfolding,
To encourage each other's growth,
And understand each other's fears.
Help us to know that we are not alone,
That we are loved and lovable.
Help us to create as an act of worship to you."
* CONCLUSION:
Now that you've got a glimpse of this book, I urge you to read it in case you have not. It's an in-depth book covering the misconceptions and thought blocks that artists have. It gives you in-detail exercises on how to unblock yourself and unlock your artist potential. When you follow the instructions written in this book, you'll be on your way to freeing yourself from society's shackles on you and your own mental cages that are keeping you from higher creativity.
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