Not sure how you have all felt this year and even the last few months. Creatively for me, its been a challenge.
I had a few months of handy man work and while it lasted, it was fantastic.
It took my mind off the worry or anxiety and that was and felt fantastic.
Then .. crickets. Cue Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” on repeat…Like don’t get me wrong, I have become a bigger fan of embracing quiet times and having less noise in my world but that’s a different type of body environment.
My mind starts having all of these inner conversations of you suck. your work sucks, you don’t have any new ideas… might as well quit.
It got me to thinking that maybe my inner critic was actually wanting me to compare the list of haves, what I wants and the things that didn’t. And what I realized was that that dialogue was causing a lot of grief I didn’t need or want.
Then along come Rick Rubin in my Instagram feed with this little gem that made me smile.
It’s OK and completely normal to distance yourself from your work. Take time away, take time to re-evaluate on is this my best work? Is this time to let go or start anew?
What I needed to do was switch the mindset to looking at these mental conversations through the lens of reflection. Which usually flips it into gratitude.
And what I realized was a couple of things.
1. We will fail more than we like or want to admit. I think that’s just a natural result of being human.
2. Learn to embrace failure in a way that doesn’t quickly tank me mentally and emotionally
3. Do some gratitude journaling on the “what”, the “why” and the “who”. The quicker I can change my mindset that happier I will be. It’s daily work sometimes or some seasons but its never forever.
4. So, as I enter this season of Solstice again, it will be a time of quiet reflection and not quiet comparison. Go through my work, evaluate, and see what pieces are ready for a new story. Whether is redemption, forgiveness or shining a light in those dark places, its time time. This year was a challenge not just for me but many others I know.
Lastly, one thing that I have found to be true this year is that when I get down on myself, I know it’s either time to practice the Pause or to go do something that bring me joy like woodworking, tinkering or even just take Abbey for a walk and plug in my earbuds.
Take care friends!
I am grateful for all the love and support this past ear.