Fall(ing) into Creativity
It’s been a good while since I’ve come back to a blank page, to sit down and really reflect. And the longer I’ve waited to do so, the less inclined I’ve been to take a good look at my actions and my intentions (or lack of them). As the list of things that I “should” be doing-- like taking time to let my creative voice out or committing to five easy minutes of breathing and meditation-- got longer, I began to brush off the simple practices that originally brought me to a more mindful and productive place, all in the name of “instant forgiveness.” In reality, I wasn’t being honest with myself and I knew this. I wasn’t practicing instant forgiveness, but rather, instant forget-this. In the back of my mind, a voice still nagged; I could be doing better, I was hardcore falling off the mindful wagon, and nourishing my truest self less and less.
So, as Fall, a time of slowing down and looking inward, stepped into the main frame, October has become a safe space in which to come back down to earth, to re-ground, while also getting artsy again. I recently taught a class focusing on the importance of the throat chakra, an energy point in our bodies that most intrigues me. It is essentially the spot where all the pressure of beliefs, experiences, emotions and boundless creativity-- the elements that make you, YOU-- can be released and shared with the world. It’s where you --that voice and gut feeling on the inside-- meet your external world. Without that self-expression, the divulgence of you and your unique offerings, you become trapped within yourself, unable to give off even a little bit of that spark that the planet really needs at this time, while also frustrating all of that good energy within into a tornado of doubt and confusion.
Reviewing and teaching the ins and outs of the Visuddha throat chakra reminded me that there have been things that I have said to myself that I need more of, and that I had been ignoring or pushing down instead of acknowledging for the better and letting out. I need more space to make art, both physically and emotionally. I need to give myself more downtime. I need to eat cleaner because I want to feel clean and full of energy again. I need to let go and take mix-ups less seriously. I know what I need and why I crave it; I know that accomplishing or committing to the simple tasks will allow me to be more in line with my own beliefs and will further my journey of continuously evolving into better versions of Alana versus closing myself off by slowly ignoring those callings.
Moving forward into November I want to continue to listen to my inner creative rather than focusing on ambitious career goals mostly molded by external opinions. I want to drop the outside judgments and commit to the activities and practices that excite me.
Solid goals for November:
Write at least 3 articles
Run at least twice a week
Draw/collage once a week
Meditate/journal every weekday
