Friday, January 16, 2009

Secret #2: Honouring Your Inspirations

Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes I even have trouble doing it.
Tallulah Bankhead (pg 34)


What have you always loved? What inspires you? Catches your eye? Makes your heart sing?

You might be amazed at how many of my clients answer "I don't know" to those questions. So many of us get caught up in the busyness, in the shoulds, in "the way it is." We decide what creativity or art is supposed to look like and if our self-expression doesn't match that, we give it up. In our lives, we take on the role of woman, a boss, a mom, an artist, a housewife, a student, a CEO, (fill in the blank), instead of being who we are. And one day we realize, we've forgotten who that is.

The beautiful thing is the real you never goes away. She is always, always inside you. So, this week, if you only do one thing in exploring this secret, I invite you to notice you, to get to know your own unique loves. Carry around a notebook and every time you look at something with love or longing or joy or curiosity, take note. If you don't have a notebook, email yourself, leave yourself a voicemail message, "Hi, me. You know, every time I shop, I always pick up the pink things: pink toothbrush, pink toque, pink tights. I love pink!"

Give yourself the gift of alone time and explore. Let go of all your preconceptions and discover yourself anew. Try every radio station on the dial and notice what moves you. Walk down the street and pick the house you'd most like to live in. Go to a movie that you want to see - no compromises. Go to a clothing store and be outrageous in what you try on. You might surprise yourself!

Make space and time to notice what you love. It is a part of knowing and honouring the wonder of you.

Our Second Highly Creative Blogger Interview: Suzie Ridler

I am so excited to share with you a creative conversation with accidental domestic diva, Suzie Ridler. Listen to the interview here.

And introducing: The Vault


50 comments:

Lisa said...

I'm first! It's a mixed shade post, let me warn you. I didn't really edit out all the dark, so...

Jenn said...

I can't believe it's week #2 already! This is going to fly by!

Kathryn Costa said...

What a cool idea, the vault. Lately I haven't had those negative voices in my head but I'm so happy to know I have a place for them when they start speaking!

I'm having a blast with the book, your prompts, blog hopping, and the entire experience.

Yeah!

Nadya said...

Delightful interview!! WOW - so many, many delightful goddesses participating - I *want* to read everything everyone writes - but know that's not practical! So doing what I can, lol

Blessings, all - & great interview with your delightful sis!

Miss Kim said...

Am focusing on Gail's fabulous suggestion to BE SPONGELIKE this week! Yaaayyyy!

Genie Sea said...

I am so enjoying the beauty and incredible brilliance of this community. Thank you Jamie :)

Suzie Ridler said...

I can't wait to read how everyone is honouring their creativity, woot!

Anonymous said...

Suzie's interview was fantastic. Speaking about honoring your truth in such a powerful way, being willing to be different, being willing to be resilient in the face of illness. Inspiring stuff.

I also love her attempt to redefine domesticity in a creative way. Claiming that as a choice is important for this new generation of feminists. CHOICE, that's what it's all about.

Ananda said...

Blessings All,

I am inspired by the way everyone is sharing. This community is so juicy. Thanks everyone!

This morning I decided to play some of the music that inspired me in the past. It was a glorious time.

I am looking forward to reading everyone's posts from this week and last week in the coming week when things calm down from the Inaugural and Dr. King Service events.

Enjoy your weekend!

Peace, Love, Creativity, Community, and Service,

Ananda

Gail said...

I bought this book a couple of years ago, but have not read it yet. Since I am currently in transition from art student to artist, this is very timely for me.

Jen said...

Love the The Vault! Now I have a place to *dump* those voices :)

At first I wasn't sure if I would have anything to write but then *Bam* :) Thank you so much for this Group. It has helped me so much already!~

Anonymous said...

I love this blog group! You all are amazing ... I'm looking forward to "visiting your spaces" this week.

~Jane

Mjfontaine said...

I posted my 'work in progress' blog you all are in inspiration.

comments from me to come soon goddesses.

esk said...

I look forward to subsequent chapters! This book blogging group is awesome!

Anonymous said...

yay yay yay!!! secret #2 was fabulous!!! it inspired me to post a "virtual" tour of my creative space!!!

peace and love

Anonymous said...

Hi - how do I get my name on the side bar? I did put my name down on the other linky list.

Anyway this post - secret2 made me feel incredible and it must have asked just the right Q at the right time - cos I went and made an altered jar!!!

Anonymous said...

It is going to be wonderful to meet with all of you again this week.

Merry Thyme Fairy said...

I could hardly wait til Friday this week - and now it's almost 1:30 am and I am too energized to go to bed! Must try to do this earlier. :)
Is Kavindra somewhere on the side bar? I want to click but can't find her.
Anyway, this is awesome and motivating me to take small steps each day to get to my goals which is spectacular!
By the way, I'm thinking, since week 1, that it would be cool to use my 'muse' name as my contact - is that possible?? Really, I created my muse name a long time ago (without quite realizing it as such) when I created my email address: Merry Thyme Fairy. That's me! :) Can I be "Brittany - Merry Thyme Fairy??"
p.s. thanks for your comments and support on my blogs!

Anonymous said...

Where oh where is Mr. Linky?

My post is here: http://into-the-dawn.blogspot.com/2009/01/secret-2-honoring-your-inspirations.html

flapjac said...

My second post is here:
http://www.jackycarter.com/2009/01/16/secret-2/

Parul Singh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I thought I posted last night, but... it was gone this morning. Strange... oh well.

What I love is the way that many of us are taking different spins on the questions this week. I've been reading some posts where people list subjects of creative inspiration, and I'm about to go write a post like that too.

L'Adelaide said...

I am immersed in this process and thoroughly enjoying the journey with all of you lovely women! I have enjoyed meeting new friends and hope to meet many more as we grow and create together.....a wonderful thriving creative commune!

Today I posted HOW I make mess into magic in my painting....it was challenging fun to share my methods, which made me really think about the steps I take (and don't take) and how best to explain my thoughts....I hope you enjoy my offerings!

Parul Singh said...

I wrote a second post, inspired by what I read from everyone else.

http://writebrained.org/2009/01/secret-2-inspirations-contd/

Andi Stern said...

I found my copy of the book, glad to join in!

Jenn said...

Ack! Where did Mr. Linky go? I came to see what new posts were up and it's disappeared.

Anonymous said...

managed to put the wrong link in above !

here's a link to my piece http://creativevoyage.co.uk/node/134

Ixsandra said...

Jamie, Thanks so much for facilitating this group. I'm getting as much from reading the blogs as I am from the book.

Tricia said...

oh i am so sorry, i posted the wrong link at first and now it shows my name twice. if #51 can be deleted, that would be great! thanks!

spread your wings said...

left my link today for secret #2

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

Thank you everyone for opening the doors to your cyber homes. It´s enriching to read all the stories and points of view.

Unknown said...

It's been fun to meet new people and see how similar many of us are.

Anonymous said...

This chapter for me opened some doors I hadn't realized I had closed. It was a very deep and revealing chapter. Jamie, thanks as always for your brilliance and guidance!

Sheila said...

My Secret #2 blog is up - or as I personally call it "How Quickly I'm Exposed as a Mis-fit". J/K, partly...

Rowena said...

Oh, this one was a hard one. For me, anyway. Why? Don't know. Perhaps I have been so focused on courting inspiration when it came time to pay attention to who/what/where/when she was it all just fled.

I don't know. I did what I could.

Anonymous said...

reading and re-reading the chapter...

avoiding writing the next post...but did anyway. it was a bad day

Lil
powerofcreation.blogspot.com

Lisa PN said...

i posted twice, and hope you don't mind. It was after i read Leah's that i felt that it was a two part post.

hope that's okay, i promise i won't do it in the future!

Rowena said...

I posted twice too. This seems to be an exploration for me, rather than just an easy to answer question. Thanks.

Jules said...

Oops! I accidentally posted this week's post on last week's secret. I re-posted for this week. :) Sorry about that!

Miss Robyn said...

finally, finally got mine done!

Kathryn V. Crabbe said...

Had a lot of fun this week posting about my intuitive work with my lovely new black obsidan ball!

What a great group we have here!
I'm so excited to be a part of it and I've invited tons of friends from Etsy as well!

Kathy Crabbe

http://SoulReaderBlog.blogspot.com

Kristine said...

I'm getting caught up. :)

DS Borror said...

This is a good process for me and I am enjoying the blogs and words and inspirations of everyone.

Pearl Maple said...

My copy of the book has not arrived yet but am learning a lot from everyone's posts.

Well done for everyone sharing their ideas and inspiration.

D said...

My book just arrived so this is my first week participating. It was really powerful for me to respond to the first secret in particular. I am really happy to be on this creative soul searching adventure with all of you. I don't want it to end.

LissaL said...

I haven't even read the book yet ( should be in my hands tomorrow) yet I have so received much inspiration. I am so excited to join you all & am ready for my creative spirit to soar!

DIANE said...

I loved the interview with Suzie. It made me realize that I still have work to do on accepting myself as a stay-at-home mom/housewife. Why is it so hard to embrace who we are?

Cindy Jones Lantier said...

I just posted my response to Secret #2 and added my link with Mr. Linky. It was interesting to ask myself the Creative Style Inventory questions and really think about them, as opposed to just glossing over them in my head.

I'm enjoying looking at as many blog posts as I have time to. This is an amazing group of women we have here! Now off to spend my 15 minutes in quiet time, and then work on Secret #3!

Anonymous said...

Catching up on Secret #2...just posted my link. :-)

Valerie said...

Interesting site - must explore.....also like the look of the book!