I am working through the book, The Artist’s Way, A Spiritual Path to Creativity with a group of women around the globe, from Burma on to Australia, to Canada the US, over to Iceland, the UK and on to France. Because we are doing this together, it gives me a sense of accountability. We are doing a chapter a month, and this month is “Recovering a Sense of Identity”.
Every month there is a list of tasks to complete. I stopped when I saw the “Life Pie”exercise. It consists of drawing a circle and dividing it into six pieces. Label one spirituality, another exercise, and on to play, friends, romance/adventure and work. I really hestitated to do this because January and February have been unbelievable at work. Below is my “Life Pie” as it is today.
You can see my life is NOT BALANCED at all right now. This was a call to make some changes to take care of myself more. I vow to exercise more, to play more, to spend more time with friends and famly. I started by exercising, giving myself a facial and taking a hot bath.
Another exercise is to list 10 changes you would make in your life – and then do two of them this week. Well, I can’t lose 10 pounds this week, but I can start with exercising. The other eight changes are:
- get enough sleep
- meditate
- get rid of the clutter
- paint more
- organize
- learn to relax
- practice yoga
- journal daily
Another is list your affirmations, so I took a minute to write several that mean something to me.
I am the queen of my life
I will do my best, and that is good enough
I am unique and wonderful
I am on an adventure with my life
I welcome the opportunities each day brings
I am open to new possibilities
I am thankful, grateful and appreciative
It is easy to let go of any an all stress with every breath I take
Another fun thing to do is come up with imaginary lives, things you want to do in your fantasy world. This week they are: (outside of being an artist, because that is an affirmation to add, I am an artist!)
A musician (I play the piano)
A yoga master
A tour guide (I have given historical tours of Atlanta)
A professor
A film director
There is something in me that chose all of those lives, and I vow to recognize that in me.
Sitting down and putting all of this in writing was cathartic to me. I realize I have to treat myself better. I am going to change my mindset away from getting stressed out because of what I need to do, and celebrate what I have accomplished, each and every day.
What affirmations would you add? What imaginary life would you choose?