Tips To Consider When Choosing a Piece of Artwork “Tips To Consider When Choosing a Piece of Artwork (for Your Home or Office).” It’s super gross outside–dirty and grey in the days between Winter and Spring. The trees are still bare, and there’s no fresh snow. No flowers have bloomed. No street sweeper has cleared the detritus from the Winter Melt. It’s all monotone and blah. If you’re like me, you’re longing for color. That’s a huge reason I’m an artist. I bring Beauty and Joy into the world through my colorful, abstract original paintings. When we perceive beauty in the stained-glass-wings of a butterfly, in a loved one’s smile, in the curve of an old cedar tree, we feel Hope. And that’s what we need more of in this world–especially in the grey days after Winter. Choosing a piece of art can be an overwhelming task for some and a challenge to articulate what you actually are looking for to bring into your home or office. And, so much of art is an intangible aesthetic of subjective Beauty. Among many considerations to make, I want to share a few tips to help you choose artwork for your space. It’s helpful to consider whether you want an original or a print. Knowing what size of artwork you’d like and what size of space you have to fill is important, too. Considering the other items in your room is valuable to know how to coordinate a new piece might be necessary. Emotions play a role, too, and knowing how you want to feel when you experience the art can be considered.Because art can be such a personal experience, for some, knowing the artist is significant. And, for some collectors, the title of the artwork is important to be able to curate the story a room tells. Once considering these questions, you’re likely to have a clearer idea of what artwork to choose for your home or office. 1. Do you want an original piece of artwork or a print? Do you want to commission a piece from a local artist? When you choose an original piece of art, it can feel special to know that you are the only one in the world in all history and future who will have this exact piece in your home while you’re alive. The prestige, honor, and privilege of getting to commission a painting from an artist can feel valuable, too–not only are you the only one with a piece of art like this one, it was made especially for you. And, that’s super cool. Price can be a consideration of this, too. Original art can have a large price tag–as it should. Artists are skilled and talented at their work and need to be compensated as such. Because of this, and your available budget, you may choose to start by owning a print from an artist whose work you love, and then, save up to commission a piece later on. 2. What size of space do you have to fill? The size of space you have to display art is necessary to consider. I once painted something that I thought was big enough for a wall in an event venue, but the room dwarfed my painting. When I was in my studio, however, this painting was massive and filled my entire wall. Taking literal measurements with a tape measure–and writing them down–to have available when considering becoming a collector is important. Are you looking to fill one wall with a statement piece? Or, maybe you want to have a pop of color and story on multiple walls. Hanging a painting above your fireplace will work differently from hanging a piece on a nursery wall or in a hallway. Considering the space your new piece of artwork will live in is helpful information to share with the Artist when you commission a piece, too.) 3. What other items do you have in mind that might coordinate with the new piece of art? Interior designers know that each item in a room needs to function on its own, as well as in the presence of all of the other pieces. There’s a certain flow that encourages a feeling or experience in a space. Introducing new artwork to a space will likely change the dynamic and flow of that room–this may be why you are considering choosing artwork in the first place. Details like wall color and texture, whether or not you have bookshelves and what you put on them can have a significant impact on what type of art would be the most appealing in the room. Items like floral arrangements, framed photographs, other pieces of art, decorative vases or figurines can live on display alongside artwork, but may need rearranging. The style and size of furniture, the pattern, color, and texture of cushions can affect how art works in a space, too. Even seasonal and holiday decorations or cultural decor can play a part in choosing what artwork you’d like to collect and feature on your wall. 4. How do you want to feel when you look at the piece? Experiencing artwork is subjective and it’s important to know what you want to create your space to feel like. You may love a piece of art in an artist’s studio or on the walls of a gallery, but that’s a different type of space where it’s displayed. In your calm sitting room, what was bold and busy enough to stand out on a wall in a gallery may be too energetic in a space you want to feel restful. One of my favorite memories of meeting a collector of my paintings is meeting a woman in England who said she’d spent the last three years searching for a painting that could live on the hallway wall outside of her bedroom, so that she could wake up, see the Art, and feel happy to start her day. She held my painting, beaming with relief and joy that she’d finally found a solution to suit the Beauty she longed to experience daily. Perhaps you want art to have a calming effect. Maybe you also want to feel happy first thing in the morning. Or, you might want to feel energized. The subject matter could be important, too, and how you feel inspired by nature could help you choose a piece of art that helps you feel like you’re by the lake or hiking in the woods–even when you’re snuggled up on the sofa, reading. Other factors to consider: 5. For some, knowing who the artist is, and how you feel seeing their art and them plays an important role. You may choose artwork simply because it’s a memorable experience from having interacted with the artist. Sometimes the painting that hangs on the wall is a reminder of a place you loved being or the human who created it who made you smile, feel seen, or listened to, comforted in some way. 6. The titles of a piece can be important to you, too. For me, as a writer, I always intentionally title my paintings to tell the story that I see in the painting as a starting point. Knowing what story you want to tell in your home or office, or to remind yourself of, could be intriguing as you select artwork you love. 7. Do you want art from me, Molly Ovenden?An ongoing project I’m perpetually excited about:I write pieces of poetry or short prose or fiction to pair with my paintings which share the same title. When I name my paintings, I call them what I see. Sometimes they are simply like, “May” here and other times they are more complicated and involved like, “Late Night June–Almost Seeing the Moon Between These Trees” here. I love bringing the viewer into the world of color and beauty I create in my paintings. So, I choose to write the poetry and stories behind the paint. Once you’ve considered these questions, you’ll have a good foundation to approach a gallery or local artist to make an informed decision about becoming a collector and owning art you love and that you are proud to display on your walls. To see the artwork I have available, visit my gallery shop online here. And to follow along with the creativity joy in my studio and behind my typewriter–you can be the first to know when new paintings become available by signing up here. Thank you so much for reading this article and for following along my creative journey. I’m so glad you’re here!
3 Methods of Journaling Practice to Improve Your Daily Life Journaling as a daily practice may sound too intense or too time consuming for your own life–that’s okay! You can still benefit from little bits of journaling throughout the day with a one-line reflection or every few days. You can even try seasonally or at crucial and transitional times of life. Sometimes we feel stuck in life’s circumstances, but we don’t know why. Other times, life is simply overwhelming with endless distractions and endless opportunities, resulting in decision-fatigue. Still other various points in life offer us the opportunity to let go of a certain heaviness or give us a leg up to heal and grow in our own lives. Journaling regularly can improve the quality of your life, your mental health, and help you to make a positive impact on the world as you become who you’re made to be. Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. This article and tips within it are meant to encourage you along the way, but are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to your general practitioner, therapist, counselor, or spiritual director for the professional attention you need. I am a typewriter poet, writer, coach, speaker, and visual artist. I know about being in the trenches of creativity and being paralyzed by views of current circumstances (and dreading the days because life isn’t what you’d hoped it would be). I also know about wanting to improve and taking the initiative to move forward and make positive changes, but feeling at a loss for how to prioritize. In this article I want to offer three simple methods for you to use as a journaling practice to improve your daily life. This is an original acrylic painting I painted because of how much I enjoy engaged with the seasons, and I especially love autumn. Find out more about my art here. 1. Use your 5 senses: Stay present.If your mind is full of future worries, anxiety, uncertainty, it can be challenging to stay in present reality. If your soul is heavy from past hurts, shame, or failure, making any change to improve your conditions can be challenging, or even impossible. These non-present states of being can be a strain on your mental health and prevent you from moving forward and slow you down from becoming who you’re truly made to be. When we engage our five senses, we lovingly force ourselves to pay attention to here and now. It can be emotionally and spiritually grounding to acknowledge what is real and accurate as we experience life in present time: no slower or faster than here and now. Try this: Using one line per sense, write a brief present account of your experience right here and right now. This doesn’t need to take any longer than five minutes and can be quicker than that. Example:I can hear the morning rush hour traffic heading to work.I can feel the chilly air on my fingers.I can smell my hot cup of coffee after it’s brewed.I can taste my mint toothpaste.I can see the messy desk in front of me. Whatever you notice in your five senses is information. There’s no need to make meaning over what you notice, but simply notice and take notes. This is journaling that you can do at any point during the day and with any frequency that you fancy. Becoming present in this sensory manner alleviates past and future anxieties by being focused on here and now. This offers clarity for emotions and for decision making. Photo Credit: Used with permission from Pexels || Karolina Grabowska 2. Engage with poetry: Express emotions safely.If your mind is full and processing at race pace, it may feel like there’s no time to pause for emotions. Emotions at any heightened state (whether it’s elation or devastation) can feel scary, overwhelming, or too much.When I was a kid, I learned that in order to stay safe and not bring any pain to others, that I should keep my emotions as even as possible. If I was too excited and celebrating, someone who was not celebrating the same achievement my feel disappointed or like I was arrogant celebrating “in their face.” If I was too sad or angry, someone else might become sadder or more angry than they wanted to be, so I should regulate my expression of emotions to not have a negative impact on anyone.Having grown and healed a lot, having worked with professionals who have helped me identity, experience, and express emotions, and then, express them healthily, I’ve learned that the feelings we have can often be indicators of what our emotions are in our real circumstances. Our emotions can trigger various thoughts and then, prompt certain actions, as a result. As I’ve grown as a writer, I’ve noticed how poetry is a fantastic and effective container for and carrier of emotion. Lots of poetry is a manageable length, meaning that you can take a moment to read a poem and be curious to notice how you feel, what emotions surface, and how you want to respond as a result of interacting with the poem. Try this:Read one of the following poems and journal for a few lines, answering a selection of these questions:a) “What memories were stirred as I read this poem?”b) “What fears or shame came up?”c) “What do I love/hate about interacting with this poem?”d) “What would I add to/change in this poem to personalize it for myself?”e) “If I were to complete the phrase, ‘I feel…’ after reading this poem, what would I say?” Simply allow yourself curiosity in this space with poetry. When we notice what comes up, it’s like taking a deep breath or having a sigh of relief. Sometimes we don’t know that we’re hanging onto something, but poetry can help to loose the grip and unlock insight. Example Poem 1: “I Feel Happy”By Molly Ovenden I love to run in yellow-flowered fieldsWhen leaves of tall treesTickle blue skies.I love to smile at yellow petalsWhen the outdoor ceiling shinesBrilliant blue between branches. I love to imagine a day whenMy yellow flower friendsGo on walksAnd tell jokesAnd giggle with joy. I love to imagine a day whenMy arms stretch as high asThe trees to feel the fluff of Clouds between my fingers. I love these happy days whenMy heart wraps aroundThe blue sky full of trees andThe yellow flowers full of sunshine Because… I want to hug them! Example Poem 2: “When the Ice…”By: Molly Ovenden Ice cracks a gunshot echoingShattered silence speaksThe roaring waters beneathShards of ice float piled highPushed relentless by the LakeObscuring the view untilWaves dance, swaying to meltTo music of ice chimesWaters ebb and flow along the shoreKeeping time to the rhythm of springSuch beauty once dappled in winter freezeOf Lake glassWith winter tears to grieve its deathSay farewell with April’s breathWhose soul, watered to explodeWith greens and purples andAll colors bright,Shares light of suns risingMornings earlier, perhaps its farewellTo the long winter’s nightAll the rage of the inland seaAll the rage of all that sinks so deepAll the rage of what’s withheldCrashes free, drawn from leagues beyondThe ice breaks, the dawn awakesThe ground quakes with a surge of new life Poems For My People: Community, Volume 1 is a collection of poetry I wrote that captures a broad spectrum of human emotion, featuring 100 poems written for 100 individuals–mostly spontaneous and in live settings with my typewriter. Find out more here. 3. Morning Pages: Daily Reflection and Brain DumpThe concept of “Morning Pages,” or three handwritten pages of stream-of-consiousness writing, done first thing in the morning was popularized by Julia Cameron, particularly in her book, The Artist’s Way and elaborated on with more detailed descriptions in her newer book, The Listening Path. Morning pages are everything and they are nothing at all. They are everything that you can possibly think of in the morning when you’ve just woken up and they aren’t necessarily about anything in particular. Example: I’m annoyed that my back hurts because my mattress and I wish I wasn’t allergic to dogs and we have to take the laundry out of the dryer before our landlords need to use the laundry room and I can’t remember what else I need to do before my trip next week and my muscles on my rib keep twitching and it’s weird and what does weird mean? And I wish I had straightforward answers to…etc. Morning pages can clear the cobwebs of your waking up mind and offer permission for the day and clarity for prioritization. But, they also can be a map for the direction to go with a project or where to unearth a solution. Morning pages can often demonstrate what you care about deeply. When we journal first thing in the morning (or even, last thing at night), we are tired enough to not edit or censor ourselves from otherwise telling the truth of what we think and feel. We can dump out all of the stuff of life that feels bigger when we leave it to constantly remind us that it’s there. When we put our thoughts or worries on the page, they are allowed to be the size that they really are. Morning pages allow small things to stop being obnoxious in our brains, bouncing around for attention. And this tired form of journaling gives voice to the big things that our conscious mind tells to be quiet and shuts down when it’s awake and trying to keep us safe. It may feel intimidating to start journaling Morning pages, but you can always use a variety of prompts, like questions to answer or to finish a sentence. Try one of these prompts:Today, I feel…I wish I knew what to do about…What would happen if I finally said yes to my dreams?It’s really scary that…What if good things happened instead?If I’m honest with myself, the thing I’ve been avoiding is…I remember…My favorite…I love…The worst/best thing I remember happening to me… Reading your journals as another practice can be beneficial to notice patterns, to express gratitude, to celebrate progress and overcoming. When we slow down long enough to pay attention and notice, our mental health and our growth overall in daily life improves. Why? We’re no longer stuck in our heads catastrophising or being lonely and unrealistic. Putting words and thoughts and emotions on the page help us to identify what actions we might take toward health and growth–that, without writing it down, we might not have noticed. May you be inspired today in your journaling practice whether you’re starting for the first time, trying again, or a seasoned journaler. Happy discoveries and happy healthy growth to you on the page! … Would you like a few prompts to get you started in your journaling practice? Sign up here for creative journaling prompts to nudge you toward growth and health in your everyday creative life. Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. This article and tips within it are meant to encourage you along the way, but are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to your general practitioner, therapist, counselor, or spiritual director for the professional attention you need.
Poetry As Transitional Object Where I live in Northern Minnesota, the end of summer looms in meandering heat and cool turns. It can be easy to feel discouraged that our short summer–which we wait for throughout the whole of the many, many months of winter–is running out of steam. It’s goodbye to leisurely beach picnic days and hello to back-to-school schedules and new routines. Even for adults who don’t go back to school, simply seeing the fall colors change can be a difficult transition. Sometimes it’s even a time of mourning the loss of our favorite season in the Northland. As the air gets chillier and the days get shorter, I want to offer a kind of help through poetry. What is a transitional object? In therapy and psychology fields, there is a term that we could give to a poem: a transitional object. Often this is most thought of in the form of a teddy bear or blanket that offers comfort for an infant transitioning into toddlerhood. But, adults can have transitional objects, too. Maybe you choose a rock from your time on the North Shore this summer–you set it on your desk or carry it in your pocket. You have a bit of summer slow and warmth with you as the weather cools and changes. There is a familiarity with that object, a happy memory of peace and pause. Could poetry be a transitional object for you? Poetry might be an alternative transitional object for you. Because poetry is an effective container for emotions, and because many of us find transitions and change challenging, a poem could be something to add to our routines during a transitional phase. A poem of celebration and awestruck wonderment of nature, like one by Mary Oliver could bridge the gap in between seasons. A poem of gratitude or empowerment for a dear friend, like one by Pierre Alex Jeanty, could give you the strength you need as you move into a new season. Or maybe you’re in a time of grief from the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of health through a cancer diagnosis, or the loss of community because you’ve moved: a poem of grief, like one by Sussi Louise Smith, could carry you through the seasons. As a Typewriter Poet, I offer poems as containers for emotion. Sometimes the intensity of a seasonal change (in the impact of temperature or hours of daylight) can feel too heavy. Sometimes the excitement of a new season due to a welcomed new beginning even feels full. Often when I’m out writing poetry in public on my typewriter, I meet people who are full of excitement and delight about a new relationship, a new baby, a new cabin, a new experience and their poem carries this high and joyful emotion. They frame it because of what the words hold. A personalized poem is just that: personal. Whether a poem is written for you or it’s one that resonates with you in this season, it can be your container for joys or sorrow or simply slowing. And a poem is often a small container–nothing too overwhelming, but a page–maybe two, in a book. It takes a couple of minutes of pause to sit in the moment–just a couple of minutes to allow stillness while living in transition. A poem isn’t a big commitment like a novel or self-help book you have to listen to while you’re cleaning or commuting, but a poem can be digested and savored in a short space of time, with regular visits to a resonant phrase or line. You can carry this poem in this season as the poem carries you through this emotional transition, too. Where to find poetry? You can visit your local library or independent bookstore for recommendations, or you can visit my website, mollyovenden.com/poetry for a regularly updating list of poetry collections I’ve enjoyed. I hope you’ve been inspired to consider how poetry can be a gift for you and your loved ones during times of emotional transition.
3 Reasons a Campfire Keeps a Child’s Learning Fresh There’s something mesmerizing about a campfire. You can stare at the flames for hours as they move over the logs, crackling, and preparing themselves for the best space for roasting marshmallows. When it’s safe to have a campfire this summer, it can be a memorable time with family, friends, and children over the summer. Campfires and nature inspire curiosity and connection, both of which are gifts for our own lifelong learning and for any students or children in our lives, too. There are many reasons why campfires contribute toward fresh and continual learning. Three of those of are: one, campfires allow us to get outside with a purpose; two, campfires are great places for culinary experimentation, and three, campfires inspire storytelling and sharing. Get outside (with a purpose) Sometimes we tell children simply to go outside and expect them to explore or not get into any trouble, but if they’re used to being inside all the rest of the year, it can be overwhelming. Interacting with nature can be a naturally freeing activity. Having a bonfire together with friends or family provides a bridge between being active and having a purpose. A) While you are outside, you can practice identifying trees based on the type of wood or bark (or by the leaves of nearby trees) you’ll use to build the fire. B) Keeping curiosity alive through tree identification can also happen by collecting textures of trees or leaves, or by following inspiration in the area around where the campfire later will be burning. You can simply use a crayon and cheap copier paper to capture wax relief textures. The paper can later be used as a fire starter or saved for inspiration. C) Developing a healthy respect of fire, learning about the environment and the impact fire has on the earth is an opportunity for learning, too, this summer. Researching news stories or scientific research at the library or online can engage lifelong learning this summer, all inspired simply by a campfire. You can even learn how to build the most efficient fire. 2. Culinary experimentation (s’mores and more!) A) It can be fun to go shopping for bonfire snacks. Maybe a child picks out a new snack or treat that they are unfamiliar with (and adults can do this, too!). Researching how to prepare the snack or its cultural origins can be educational and entertaining. Who knows? Maybe wasabi peas will become a firm favorite among family and friends, but only while you’re sitting around the fire. B) S’mores are delicious! Gooey marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker. Why mess with a good thing? Because it can be really fun to experiment with different flavor combinations! Maybe you try a chocolate candy bar that has caramel or nuts in it and melt that with your marshmallow. Perhaps your favorite cookie would be a winning combination to replace the graham crackers. It could be a fun tradition of curiosity pairing flavors around the campfire. 3. Storytelling (and sharing) A) As an author an avid reader, I’m always going to recommend getting to the library and being amongst books. What if you start a tradition among family and friends to read poetry or a book of myths, fables, legends? Being in the library among real, physical books, whether they are graphic novels, chapter books, memoirs, or audio books…these stories real and imagined provoke curiosity. So, spend time in the library and check out books that intrigue you. When someone is interested, they’re more likely to learn and stay curious in life. And then read a story aloud to each other. B) Tell stories, too! There is a magical truth-telling quality to time reclining near the fire. The warmth, the flickering, can open up a desire for relational connection. Developing a family culture in which you ask questions about life and experiences and childhood memories is a powerful platform upon which to build healthy family memories together. C) And when someone asks you questions, allowing yourself to be honest about what’s important to you can be a gift to your loved ones resting by the fire with you. Discussing meaningful topics in a safe space invites lifelong learning when curiosity is rewarded with openness. There are so many more ways that a campfire can promote lifelong learning with a child or student and their family. Fires in a safe enclosed environment paired with some type of learning or relational engagement help keep the summers interesting. When adults make this creative pursuit a habit, it’s easy to have a natural curiosity rub off onto a child or student in their midst.
3 Gentle Habits for Reflection Watch or Listen to “3 Gentle Habits of Reflection” Hi there! As we approach the year end, I want to share some gentle reflective habits to help you finish strong, confident, and just as you are now. You may find journaling works well for you, so feel free to take notes to reflect on or journal on more later as this season passes. 🙂 3 Gentle Habits of Reflection: 1. What are you proud of? 2. What surprised you? 3. What are you taking with you to the next season? And…new things are coming to BECOME the Writer 2023! So, watch this space, everyone! For more information about my coaching and membership services, please visit: http://mollyovenden.com/coaching/
Closer, the book Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers and Thinkers helps people of faith grow closer to God through the acts of writing and thinking, so that they can live full, authentic lives as the person who they are made to be.Purchase your signed copy here. The process all started more than ten years before the book was released into the wild.Listen to pre-launch day reflections here. I had graduated from college during a recession. I’d started my university education at a time when organizations simply wanted their employees to have a degree in something and I ended with a degree when organizations preferred their new employees to start with at least five years of professional, working experience in the field they were hiring. So. I sat at home in my pajamas applying for teaching jobs every day of the summer. I worked for a family member, too, so at least I had a summer income. While I worked I had a lot of time to think about fun things, like actually becoming the writer I dreamed of being. Like actually writing a book. Like continuing to write regularly as I’d been doing while I was a student. (By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.) My summer job with family was an assembly line and I was quicker than the machine (yay, me!) and this meant I could write my thoughts and book ideas in a notebook between assembly. Thankfully my boss was a supportive family member (because I got the work done efficiently and quickly — my writing along the way didn’t slow me down). When 4:30pm hit, I’d clock out and hop into my car, clutching my notes from the day. I’d charge through the door of my mom’s house, still wearing my greasy clothes from the machine shop and I’d plop down at the dining room table with my notebook. I’d spend the next 30 to 60 minutes furiously scribbling all of the thoughts I’d had about the notes I’d jotted that day. Grab your signed copy of Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here.. . . . . . . By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here. Now you can get your words out from brain to page and into the hands of readers who will devour them, too. I wanted everything that had been swirling around all day to get on the page. And, I was curious about what might come out. I had a practice of capturing ideas all day in a scrap of notebook paper. I had a practice of expanding the ideas every day when I got home from work. I had a practice of showing up every day as the writer I wanted to be. Listen to pre-launch day reflections here. This practice meant that I was available daily for the muse to come and inspire me. In this book’s case, my muse was the Holy Spirit. And, I developed a practice of listening for the Holy Spirit, noticing where God is in my daily life, and looking for what I could learn from God to get closer to Him. 📚You can find a signed copy of my book Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers here. (By the way…I also have signed copied of Closer: Companion Journal for Writers & Thinkers available to purchase here.) 📚You can find my book on pretty much wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally: 🇺🇸US readers order print copies here. 🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here. 🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here. Closer is a collection of essays about every day events where I experienced the presence of God and learned to grow closer in my relationship with Him. The format is simple:a) Here’s my story.b) Here’s how you and I, dear reader, are in it together.c) Here are some questions to think about where you might notice God.d) Here’s a prompt for you to write YOUR story. e) Read. Write. Think. Repeat. Intrigued? Sign up here to get all of the details about this book and how you can get your hands on it. 📚You can find my book on Amazon or wherever books are sold. If you enjoy reading my book, please leave an honest review on Amazon: 📚You can order the Kindle or print version on Amazon. The print version is available at the following (& more!) locations, regionally: 🇺🇸US readers order print copies here. 🇦🇺Australian readers order print copies here. 🇬🇧UK readers order print copies here. Listen to pre-launch day reflections here.
7 Ways Gratitude Helps Us to Focus Gratitude keeps us grounded, focused on the present. Being content is being thankful for what we already have. Thanksgiving allows a time of reflection on what’s happened, where we’ve grown, what’s surprised us, we count our life blessings and then we can look ahead with a hopeful attitude. I can lose perspective when I’m not present here and now. I’m either daydreaming or looking ahead only we leaves me feeling stuck today. Holding past, present, and future up to God means they can all work together and not exist in unhelpful isolation. Living in the PastWe all can learn from Napoleon Dynamite’s Uncle Rico that living in the past isn’t the best way to live. Being in the past alone can leave us feeling regret and hopeless because of what we didn’t do or something we wish we hadn’t done. Looking back constantly can also be full of fear of what’s coming from our past to bite us or rear-end us like in a car crash.Living in the FutureBut, living in the future isn’t ideal either. When we only look ahead, we’re always not yet there. We haven’t achieved that goal yet. We haven’t become that writer yet. Our goal posts keep moving as we make progress. When we focus on the future, we only see that we’ve not reached the finish line yet.Living in the PresentGratitude offers a different perspective. Gratitude allows us to be here today while keeping the tension in check. We can be thankful while holding onto the known of the past and holding onto unknown of the future. Gratitude gives us the opportunity to be a supportive observer of progress and supported holder of hope. There are undoubtedly countless ways to grow in gratitude. Here are several reflections which I’ve found helpful to I engage regularly to live with gratitude: Photo by wewe yang from Pexels For the morning:1. Today I am grateful for…I look back at what’s happened recently and I take time to look around me. In the physical, I often notice the good about my home, my job, my family, my health and body. In the emotional, mental, and spiritual I often notice something that feels happy or something I’ve accomplished or how I’m experiencing my relationship with God.I list 3-5 items or phrases that express what I’m thankful for in the morning.2. What would make today great?I consider what I hope to accomplish in the day and imagine what it’d be like if I could show up how I want to. Often my list of “great” comes what I want to accomplish and in some ways it can become a to do list. Other times it includes thoughts about being present or a mindset. We want every day to be great, right? So, I always intend to keep this reflection for items which I have control over.I list 3-5 to do’s or to be’s in the morning as I look ahead to the day. 3. I’m thankful for these people:I usually consider this in the morning and lift up 3-5 people that I feel particular gratitude for. Most days it’s my husband in one of the slots and usually it’s my coach, pastor, spiritual director, or friend who has helped me through something or stuck with me in something or for whom I simply feel full of love and gratitude.Sometimes I spend a moment in the evening to thank God for the conversations that happened throughout the day with certain people. Whether morning or evening or throughout the day, noticing the people in my life in the here and now helps me. Acknowledging them points me toward progress made that they’ve helped me though and points me toward hopeful future with them in my community.You might even consider writing one of these people a note or postcard to send in the mail. Or, perhaps a text or phone call would be better. Sometimes taking a moment to make a personal connection helps us experience more ingrained gratitude and passes on a feeling of thanksgiving to those whom we’re thankful for. Photo by cottonbro from Pexels 4. Awesome things that happened today…Usually I’ll reflect on this in the evening, but sometimes I’ll start in the morning to reflect on the previous day. I list 3-5 things that happened in the day that were a surprise, a relief, a moment of joy, an accomplishment, a gift.Sometimes it’s amazing or awesome or really cool because it was a hard thing I was trying to achieve (like drinking more water than coffee or having a hard conversation with someone that resulted in a better situation) and it’s sometime awesome because I got to be with a person or was surprised by noticing God in a situation even when I wasn’t intentionally reflecting, but being present in the here and now. 5. How could I have made today better?I usually list 2 things each night that I could have done better. It’s amusing how over time I can see the consistent struggle to run more frequently, do more yoga, eat healthier, go to bed earlier. Like #2 with what we can do to make today great, this one is also a focus on things that are within the realm of our control where we’d like to improve. Noticing the regularities allow us time Photo by Arina Krasnikova from Pexels 6. What did I learn today?Looking at what I’ve learned allows me to realize that yes, indeed, I have made progress. My own tendency is to look so far ahead in the dreamland of “Wouldn’t it be cool if?!” if I’m not taking intentional action and noticing what progress I make.A head in the clouds in fun for a time, but it’s not a healthy place for me to live as it’s a seed for despair when I only consider the lack of what hasn’t happened yet, since I dream of that which isn’t reality.As a lifelong learner, I also want lifelong learning for others, so at the end of the day, I hope you’ll reflect. Whether it is “I learned that something is wrong with the toilet” or “I learned that I need to learn x” or “I learned how to plot my novel” each of these measure progress and paint a picture of transformation. 7. Where have I experienced God today?This allows me to pause and spend time breathing, praying, asking God to reveal Himself to me. Even if this is a mere moment, I think spending a moment is better than never. I do this throughout the day and have had seasons of setting an alarm or calendar notification every couple hours to help me re-focus.Some people would describe this as a time of contemplative prayer or an examen to reflect on consolations (all of the good, life-giving, invigorating things) and desolations (all of the bad, life-draining, wearing-out things).If faith is important to you, I’d encourage you to do this each evening before bed and ask God to show you where He was at work over the last 24 hours. Even if faith isn’t important to you, I’d encourage you to consider where you noticed anything spiritual happening. Who knows what may come to mind? How would you feel if you decided that TODAY is the day to become the writer you’ve always dreamed of being? Grateful?Book a call with me to see if 1-on-1 time with a creative writing coach is your next right step.
How to Become an Audacious Writer Audacious is a big word, one synonymous with outspoken, sometimes intimidating people. Yet, it’s also often synonymous with success, courage, seeing massive dreams come to fruition. Audacious, as defined by dictionary.com, means, “extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer.“ Those of us who’ve sat back and observed someone instead of taking action ourselves, we’ve have felt intimidated, offended, demoralized when watching someone with the audacity to succeed in doing the things we want to do (and usually not as well as we know we could do them). Yet, I didn’t take action. Other times, I’ve felt that I couldn’t measure up to achieve what I saw others doing. When I finally resolved to take audacious action: in spite of feeling afraid, in spite of worrying about what people think of me, in spite of knowing how to fully do what I want to be able to do, I felt more like myself. How do I become an audacious writer?1. Write and share words even when I feel fear.2. Write and let go of others’ thoughts about me.3. Write and keep writing even when I don’t know how to finish or where I’m going. Here are three lessons I’ve learned about how to become an audacious writer. How to Become an Audacious Writer Lesson #1: Fear Doesn’t Have Power to Hold Me Back, Unless I Give it Power.Fear can be loud, dark, blaring, and in your face. It can chase you. It can whisper in your ear. Fear can be very persuasive. But, fear has no power unless you give it over.For me, fear has a very real spiritual aspect to it. Because I believe that Jesus is who He says He is in the Bible, giving into fear holds me back from receiving love, and I’m just not into that. So, I know that I can take action in spite of the fear surrounding me because I know that I am loved. When I doubt that I am loved and accepted, cracks begin to form where fear can seep in and scare me off from completing my writing task. This gives fear permission to have power to push me down.I will write and share words even when I feel fear.Fear is part of reality. How I react to feeling fear determine whether I give it power over my life. The difference between feeling afraid and being afraid is massive. When we feel afraid, it’s a condition outside of ourselves that we can choose how we respond in the midst of it. When we are afraid, however, it’s a characteristic of our identity. While conditional, it is part of who I am. “I am afraid.” Being afraid means stopping in our tracks. Phrases like ‘paralyzed by fear’ cause us to take no action and live in a state of fear.Simply feeling the fear is an awareness of the fear, but because it’s not part of our identity, we don’t have to respond to it. It has no power, because I’ve not attached it to my being.As a result, I write words and I share them. Yep, there’s a ton of stuff that feels scary to me. That will likely always be the case that things feel scary, but it doesn’t always have to be the case that they really are scary.So, while the unknowns, the doubts, the uncertainties can feel scary, I choose to write the words and get them out and not allow fear the delight of holding me back from becoming the audacious writer I’m made to be. I hope the same for you, too. Lesson #2Fear About What Others Think of Me is a Waste of Time.It’s true that I actually spend more time worrying about myself and what I’m meant to do that I do thinking about other people. It’s selfish and normal and, dare I say (yes, I dare because I’m an audacious writer) freeing!Most of us are stuck in our own minds. This is a topic for another post series, but the reality is that usually people simply aren’t as hyper focused on you and your choices as you are with your own.When this comes to how to become the writer you’re made to be, allow yourself the ability to get words out. If people are concerned with or by your words, there’s an opportunity for a conversation where you can get to know each other more. If you’re committed to being an afraid writer who doesn’t write, but simply thinks about writing, people will think of you the same amount that they will if you actually take that audacious step to get your words out, but they won’t have the opportunity to know you in the same way.Sharing your words is an invitation. I will write and let go of others’ thoughts about me.When I write, I am being myself. I am a writer. I am a writer who writes thoughtfully. I am a writer who submits and publishes regularly. I am a writer who encourages and empowers others to become the writers they’re made to be.The reality of publishing through contests, open calls for submissions to magazines or podcasts, traditional publishing methods means that there is a limited amount that can be published within each issue or episode or print catalog.The reality of publishing means that sometimes your work doesn’t fit at this time for the publisher, purely from a logistics standpoint. Magazines, for instance, often have themes for each issue. If January’s theme is animal rescue stories and your overcoming cancer story gets rejected, it isn’t necessarily that the publishers think your story is garbage. It just doesn’t fit at this time.Of course sometimes it can refer to the quality of my submitted work, but one way to ensure my work is of highest quality as possible is to…write! And, keep writing and let go of others’ thoughts about me. I want to think this part goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. When I say I’m letting go of what other people think about me, I don’t mean that I can write mean things about people or lack regard for upholding someone’s character or reputation or that are outright mean. What I mean is that I’d rather write my words than not write words in case maybe somebody might not like them (because not everybody will always love everything you or I write–we’re too different to all love the same things). Lesson #3Fear of Not Knowing How to Do What I Want to Do Doesn’t Have to Hold Me Back.When I was a kid I developed this messed up belief that turned into a massive fear I lived many years with. If I can’t do something perfectly the first time something is wrong with me and I shouldn’t try to do it.This just isn’t true. If I’ve never done something before, of course I don’t know how to do it and of course I won’t be able to do it perfectly. Also, only God is perfect, so me trying to do things perfectly isn’t helpful.When I’ve allowed the fear of not yet knowing how to do something hold me back, I’ve let go of the power of learning and education. I believe that we all have the capacity to learn and we can observe this human quality as we watch babies learn to walk and listen to them learn to talk. They aren’t afraid of making mistakes or scared because they don’t know how to do something yet. They just do the thing.I will write and keep writing even when I don’t know how to finish or where I’m going.It’s a choice to keep putting one word in front of the other. When I plan my writing with exact precision, I can get stuck and prevent creativity from flowing if as I write my ideas morph or change all together.At the time of writing this (November 2021), I’m in my first draft of a novel. I know vaguely how it will end, but I really have no idea how it’s going to get there. I don’t know–yet–how to weave my main characters’ stories together into a cohesive narrative. I don’t know how to work with a particular editor, yet. I don’t know yet what the best method of publication for this story is yet.Instead of stopping in fear before I even start the story, I’m committed to writing and allowing myself to learn and discover along the way. This adds fun to the process of creating, but it also allows freedom for me to meander and glean everything I can along the way. When we do this, I think it makes us better writers, too. We’re not locked into the way it’s always been done. We’re not paralyzed and prevented from any forward motion. We can move forward with imperfection and it’s the process that’s most valuable.As a creative writing coach, I’m committed to helping people become the writers they are made to be and I do that through courses, community, and coaching. If you’d like to learn more about how to become an audacious writer, I’d love to speak with you. Book a Discovery Call today.
How Affirmations Can Inspire Your Creativity My Story. “It’s not your turn.” In kindergarten, it was free choice time–we could choose to do anything we wanted, so I went over to the easel and made one big vertical blue streak. Then, my teacher came over with another child, who had an apron on, and told me that it wasn’t my turn to paint. That I hadn’t asked permission to paint, but this other child had asked permission. I was confused–it was free choice time and we could choose to do anything we wanted to do, but…somehow I chose wrong? The teacher ripped my page, with its one blue streak, off the easel and set it on the floor by the window. I had to find something else to do. For so many years, part of me has remained this five year old who was told that I’d made the wrong choice when I chose to paint. I have had to learn to rewrite this memory so it has less of a negative impact as it likes to play on repeat and persuade me to give in to fear. It is always my turn to paint. Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels Application for Us Once I found out that I had been subconsciously holding onto this lie that it wasn’t my turn and that I had chosen wrongly, I was able to make a change. I had no idea why I was resistant to spending time making art or why it felt like forbidden fruit to be created in secret when I had the opportunity to rebel. Now that I know, I can remind and affirm myself that:1. It is always my turn to paint.2. When I paint, I’ve made a great decision.3. It is a good use of my time to paint.4. My art is worthy of hanging on walls to be appreciated.5. I am a grown up and I have given myself indefinite permission to paint.By working with affirmations, I am able to grow and be more creative.Would you like to be notified of a recap of when I blog or to have creative inspiration delivered to your inbox? Click those links and we’ll be in touch. Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels I often find it helpful to journal in writing questions and answers as a way to process what I’m thinking or feeling about a situation. Especially, when it’s something like this, from my forgotten past. If writing seems like it’d be helpful for you, I want to invite you to take time over the next week or so to reflect on these questions and how you might answer them. When is a time that you felt like you were doing the wrong thing (when morals were actually not in question)? What was the situation? How old were you? Who was with you? What meaning did you assign to that experience? What have you told yourself since then?Ask God what might have been the result of feeling like you were wrong? What have you been prevented from doing?Imagine the best version of yourself: How would you love to spend your days? What type of person would you love to be?What might life look like if you started to give yourself permission for these things?Who might you be able to talk to about taking these new steps?What is the negative belief, meaning, lie that you’ve been telling yourself? How could you change it around to be a positive affirmation? What have you learned from working with affirmations? What questions do you have around this process of turning a negative thought into a positive one?Leave a comment below.
Would you rather day dream or take action? On Dreaming Most of my life, day and night, I have spent dreaming. One time when I was on a school trip, driving through Paris I saw a nude statue of a man sitting pensively with elbow on knee, chin on fist. Often I fancy myself to be quite the intellectual ponderer like him—sat in contemplative silence, continually wondering, watching the world go by and processing it all. The thing with this possibly brilliant man is that he only watches the world go by—I mean, he’s a statue, so I’m pretty sure his eyes don’t really work, but stick with me. He only watches. He doesn’t do anything. He has bicycles leant against his naked body and is pooped on by the over-flying bird. Deep in thought. So focused. I admire his continued thinking. So passive, he does nothing in response. But here’s my trouble with him: he is unmoved. He is undisturbed by the life passing him by. How often have you found yourself being unmoved by your surroundings? Simply daydreaming like me? Are you living a passive life? Photo by Pixabay from Pexels As much as I love a good day dreaming session, I don’t want to stay stuck in my thoughts. I don’t want to be passive, or even passive-aggressively grumbling with irritation toward others, while unwilling to first change my own behavior, simply thinking about changing. First, I want to allow God to transform my heart, so my behaviour can change. If I’m going to spend my life thinking about the world around me, and dreaming about how it could be, I’d like to actually do something about it—not just think. However scary it is to make the first move, I want to actually do something, to stand upright to face the world, to wake it up with ripples of action! I want to share my story of what God’s done in my life and I want to point people to Jesus. Afterall, when Jesus sent us out on the Great Commission, he called us to action. He didn’t call us to think about taking action. Sticky Verse: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 A Few Moments for Reflection: Photo by olia danilevich from Pexels What consumes your thoughts, what do you dream about? Ask God, is this from him? And does it please him for you to think about it? What would you like to do? Ask God to show you the hopes and dreams in your heart. How would you like to respond or take action? Sit with God for a moment and ask, “What is one step I could take today?” One for this week? One for this month? One for this year? Actually Prayer: LORD, you have put it on my heart to care about certain things and this is good. Show me practical ways that I can actually do something, to point people to you and to do something that means I can have an impact to glorify your name in this world today right where I am. Help me to be bold and stand up for your name, for justice, for love, for truth, for life. LORD, put people in my life who are like-minded so that we can encourage each other to stand up and move as you call us to do. Thank you that you hear my prayer. In Jesus’ name. AMEN. Leave me a comment. What is God stirring up in your heart and thoughts today? What might be preventing you from taking action?