Immersing yourself in creative activities while losing track of time aligns you with your true essence. It’s a powerful way to transmute the monotony of your day into a monumental shift. Throughout my career, I have encountered overwhelming situations that were strenuous and often ate up my peace and free time. Despite these difficulties, I remain committed to replenishing my creativity and resetting my mind. It’s easy to feel like there isn’t enough time each day when you have an uneven work-life balance. And it was in these moments I could say dance saved my life. It may sound like an exaggeration, but it kept me level-headed. It allowed me to vent, return to my desk, and ultimately pay my bills. As George Lois once said: “Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.” When in doubt, know that it’s always possible to flow in a new, rewarding direction. There is no question that the choice of creative activity varies from person to person. Yet the effects remain the same. For me, painting is my favourite way to express myself. It quiets the mention of time; inspiring my consciousness to drift through the river of fulfilment.
I like to keep paintings minimalistic (using only a few of layers of paint). However, this week, my art teacher, Flora, presented me with a contrasting technique, calling for over five layers. The guidance and encouragement of an obvious master prompted me to let go of overthinking and criticizing myself. Her enthusiastic brushstrokes evoked a newfound sense of freedom within me. That’s when I got to thinking, can I have this relationship with myself? One of equal parts learning and teaching. Can I trust myself enough to take that plunge into the unknown? Were we conditioned to follow, to go with someone else’s flow? Or is this the jarring process that pushes us to become leaders? Like any creative act, painting has a similar course of action, requiring purpose & persistence. As we let the layers dry, we step back and reflect on our next best move. We know if we don’t love something about what we’re creating, we can augment it, let it go, or cover it up. (Note: nothing is ever truly erased or destroyed, merely rearranged.)
The speed of joy is faster and more effective than the speed of thought. No matter what anyone does, if it’s infused with joy, that creation will be stronger than any subsequent criticism.
During this period of my painting career, things have taken a delightful turn (and I am thoroughly enjoying it.) Specifically, I’m finding it easier to let go and flow with the strength of my intuition. These changes have developed due to purification. To purify the connection between myself and my art, I am honouring my authentic self. I achieve this by eliminating thoughts and judgments interfering with my joy of creating. Artists could spend their entire lives planning their next masterpiece. They could imagine every intricate detail and mentally prepare for every step of the process. Yet without the sands of time, for the waves of creation to splash upon, all ideas would become lost at sea.
I am painting; I am living; I am liberating myself from all hindrances, every instance of procrastination. It’s time to get started now.
Pablo Picasso once said: “Painting is a blind man’s profession. He paints not what he sees but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen.” Take a moment to remember your youth. Remind yourself of what invigorated you as a child. A simple question: What were you excited to share with others? Close your eyes. What do you see? Relax those eyelids. Let them rest, even for a fleeting moment.
Imagine.
Your mind is an image engine.
Combined with emotions, and open hands in motion,
anyone can finish what they began.
Honour your energy by entering your inner garden.
Then carve out time on Earth,
surrendering, centring,
until the tides are calmer.
– Authera Bay
When remembering your childhood, does anything you imagine include sounds, smells, tastes, or feelings? Can you recreate that scene for yourself? Maybe a song your parents played during a family road trip or an aroma that frolicked through your childhood home? Fresh laundry? Grandma’s famous recipe? Whatever it may be, the point of this exercise is connection. As children, it is easier for us to enter a flow state, and by connecting with your inner child, you improve your ability to access a rewarding stream of consciousness. This is not an exercise regarding becoming anything else. This is about letting go of what doesn’t serve us any longer.
Scarcity? Artistry.
Restrictions? Depictions.
Adversity? Diversity.
Disruptions? Productions.
1) Name some things that brought you joy as a child.
2a.) Do any of these things still bring you a sense of joy?
2b.) If not, why? What happened to alter your enjoyment?
3) Reflect, and connect what currently brings you joy, and what you enjoyed as a child.
4) What are some ways you can sprinkle joy throughout your day?
Create from a place of timeless joy. Stay with that flow, following the whims of fulfilling bliss. It requires us to not only have an open mind but also open hands, hands that are willing and able to let go. Or to build upon the previous layers of our lives. Not from shame, regret, or denial. But from a place of detachment. No one can tell you what is right for you. You are the only one who knows what makes you feel best. To begin your creative process, gather everything you need with open hands and an open mind. If you’re an athlete, that may be a football or baseball bat, etc. If you’re an artist, that may be paint or a pencil, etc. The supplies are endless, like our individualities. We are all unique, and our dreams should be no different. The only thing that’s the same is that we all need to show up for ourselves. Because we cannot depend on anyone else to fulfil us. Doing this consistently will have a ripple effect for the rest of our lives. Especially in areas you have noticed are stagnant, or where you have become dissatisfied with the lack of progress.
“If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing.”
– Will Rogers
If you experience the effects of the flow state, it’s no different for the world’s greatest athletes and actors. Every successful visionary has experienced the power of getting into the zone and flowing through deliberate practices. I was painting before I wrote this, and I kept thinking: this method cannot be overstated. I just had to write about it, and that’s the effect of joy. You want everyone else to feel it too. When you connect with your authentic self and create from that source, the essence of pure joy enriches everything you do. This is the not-so-hidden secret of creating a fulfilling life.
#1 Get started, and do it faster than you can even think because thinking can lead to hesitation. #2 After starting enough times, you will notice a connection between these nascent moments. It will be here, at this incubation, that will be the introduction of your flow state. #3 Surrender your efforts to deliberate flow. #4 Be clear regarding yourself and your goals. After all, without goals, there is no measure of success. And above all else, #5 never take things for granted, especially your time & creativity. Always find time for gratitude, even when life is non-ideal. You will feel a surge of creative energy within you. It’s about activating your imagination & intention muscles and giving your authentic self the chance to flow.
The world is your canvas, the mind is your brush, paint with your intentions until your life is your greatest masterpiece.
Wow 😯 love ❤️ it
I Feel it
I will create