Alyse here. . .
Jayne and I have been co-facilitating an Artists Way Group based on the book by Julie Cameron. A theme that surfaced this week was one that, at first, seemed like a contradiction: dig deep and play. We were being asked to take time to be introspective and uncover our blind spots, and take time to nurture ourselves, play and have fun. Julie Cameron says “It is a paradox of creative recovery that we must get serious about taking ourselves lightly. We must work at learning to play.”
When I am acknowledging and exploring my strengths it is easy to think about playing. I am already on a natural high. But, when I am delving into my limitations and acknowledging what it will take to really make changes, do I feel like playing? Well, escape maybe, play- probably not. How can I juggle the two worlds of play and personal discovery in order to live my creative life?
Is that not what life is! Amidst painful circumstances that are often beyond our control, we find creative ways to lighten the feeling of being overwhelmed in many situations. Jews in the German concentration camps found the will and energy to play music. There was beauty amidst fear and degradation.
Over the past few weeks, I was reminded of the tenacity of the human spirit, when Londoners could continue with their day despite the horror of terrorism. Many of them had to be creative in getting to work, since the public transport system had been suspended. I heard a story of a journalist who after many road-blocks, arrived at work taking 2 hours to walk 1.5 miles.
Here is a quote to ponder from an Englishman, John Williamson who has written about the recent London terrorist bombings.
“If we focus too much on the differences between us, we could end up killing each other. That is what governments and rabble-rousers always do to de-personalize the enemy. But if we look for those things that we have in common, we are not really that different, you and I, and that is a good basis for tolerance and friendship.
Yes, my ways may be somewhat different from yours. And your ways may be somewhat different from mine. Let us smile wryly at each other’s little idiosyncrasies and be tolerant. Let us joke together about our differences and laugh together at ourselves. We may die laughing, but we won't die in battle.”
Taking time to play is part of our sixth strategy Make it Fun. Personal Discovery is part of our first strategy, Who Are You Really. The combination of both strategies can lead to a fruitfully creative life.
Action Step.
Notice how you shift between the worlds of play and personal discovery. Is there a balance or do you have a lot more of one than the other on the path of being creative in your life?
Question
How do you lighten up when you feel weighed down?
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