"Anger is meant to be listened to [and] acted upon. It is not the action itself. It is action's invitation.... It will always tell us when we have been betrayed. It will always tell us when we have betrayed ourselves. It will always tell us that it is time to act in our own best interests."
Anger is a powerful motivator. Did anything come up for you this week that "pointed the way" for you, that made you aware of action you needed to take? Did you act in your own best interests to take a step that you needed to take?
SYNCHRONICITY
"We all have dark and romantic notions that call to our deepest selves. When we answer that call, when we commit to it, we set in motion the principle that C.G. Jung called synchronicity.... a phenomenon that some of us prefer to ignore: the possibility of an intelligent and responsive universe, acting and reacting in our interests."
Linda shared a great story about shopping synchronicity last week, and Pam told us about meeting up with an old acquaintance who just might help her get a manuscript published. Did anyone "take a small step in the direction of a dream" this week and experience a "synchronous door" flying open? Or were you reminded of any of the "thousand unseen helping hands," in Joseph Campbell's words, that have helped you along the way in your creative life?
CRITICISM AND SHAME
"Many artists begin a piece of work, get along well in it, and then find, as they near completion, that the work seems mysteriously drained of merit. It's no longer worth the trouble."
I had an experience this week, while working on revisions for a manuscript, of feeling that it just wasn't any good and I should forget about doing any more work on it and chuck it. Then I remembered a critique of the story that came from an editor in a face-to-face group setting. Her words about it were blunt, flippant and not at all useful in producing an "aha!" moment that might have helped me see my work in a new light and point me in a new direction for revisions. I still remember how embarrassed I felt. I wondered if my story really was unworthy, or if I was letting that editor's assessment color my own. My answer to myself is that if the story is true to me and my experience and the sharing of it brings me joy, it's worthy--even if no one wants to publish it.
Anyone else ever had a shaming experience from a critic that rocked your confidence?
GROWTH AND SELF-CARE
"As a creative being, you will be more productive when coaxed than when bullied.... Practice being kind to yourself in small, concrete ways.... If you do one nice thing a day for yourself, God will do two more."
It's been a stressful week for me, a lot of things converging to make me feel overwhelmed. I've felt particularly unproductive creatively. AND, it's come up in my morning pages this week that I'm not doing well at self-care--at a time when I most need it! Related to my unproductivity? I can't help but think...
How are you doing at self-care? Do you find that you are more productive when you're taking care of yourself?
MORNING PAGES: Are you finding them helpful?
ARTIST DATE: Are you doing a good job of romancing your inner artist?
WEEK THREE TASKS: Did you find that any of last week's tasks brought significant insights to your creative life?
If you can make the time, check back this week after you've posted your own comment to respond to others' Week 3 experience and to see if someone has responded to yours. There's more of that going on lately. Start a conversation!
Next week's assignment: Week 4, Recovering a Sense of Integrity
