Hello, dear one!
I know you’re busy. You have a work life, a home life, and a number of responsibilities that need your attention each and every day. At times, it can feel a bit overwhelming. So how do we make room for cultivating creativity and curiosity?
Well, we can start by being kinder to ourselves and asking:
•What's been life giving?
•What’s been life draining?
•What’s the next right loving thing that I can offer to myself?
It can also be helpful to identify what drains you. In this exercise, we use the word “draining” as a metaphor for anything that causes you to feel depleted. We want to know what drains your creativity and curiosity. If something makes you feel bad about yourself, it's draining your energy and adding stress onto your day-to-day life—and that's not helpful! So keep track of how often these things happen in a daily log or journal entry for a week (or even just a few days).
It’s important to recognize what drains you in order to avoid it. In the short term, this may mean not checking your email for a few hours or taking a break from social media. In the long term, it could mean establishing some healthier limits and boundaries with others.
You might also consider how you can manage the overwhelm when it does happen without letting it consume you. For example: if work has been particularly taxing and stressful lately, consider going out with friends or making time for yourself after work instead of letting stress build up until it reaches critical mass (which might mean skipping out on weekend plans). Or if family life is draining your energy, try building in some daily alone time by going on walks or doing something that lights YOU up. Identify where you can simplify and maybe even let some things go.
Authenticity is a choice that requires courage, compassion, and connection.
It's important to self because it's the path of least resistance. You can't be authentic in a vacuum; you have to show up for yourself so you can therefore show up for others.
This can be quite challenging at times, especially if you are prone to shame and fear about not living up to some idealized version of yourself that has been ingrained in your mind by society or family or other people (or maybe even yourself). The good news is that these thoughts don't need any validation from anyone else—they're just thoughts! They don't have to dictate how we live our lives or treat ourselves or others. We can choose authenticity over fear anytime we want: through kindness towards ourselves; through asking ourselves hard questions; through staying vulnerable with someone so they know when something is off between you; through listening to that still quiet voice within; through saying “yes” even if it scares us…
It's important to remember that you can't control other people's decisions and actions. It’s also important to let go of comparison. It’s not helpful to compare our insides with someone else’s outside.
The best way to cultivate creativity begins with learning about yourself.
If you want your imagination and curiosity to blossom into something beautiful, really get to know yourself: maybe explore more of your inner world through writing, painting or drawing; discover more deeply what inspires you; create some time alone each day for reflection; really get in touch with your goals and values—this is all part of cultivating the creative spirit within yourself!
The journey of authenticity begins with self-awareness and self-kindness. You can't be authentic if you don't know yourself. Be kind to yourself, you are doing the best you can. Don't compare yourself to others, everyone is on their own path in life and we all have different experiences that shape us into who we are today.
This can mean:
•Having more compassion toward yourself.
•Gentleness with yourself.
•Patience with yourself.
•Forgiving yourself when you make mistakes or fall short of your own expectations.
If you’re feeling a bit stuck— know that creating change starts with awareness! You are not a failure; there is no right way or wrong way to do life.
Remember: when we compare ourselves with others, we create unnecessary stress and anxiety. But when we connect with our true selves through self-acceptance and understanding, we find peace within ourselves—and in turn, peace around us too!
Authenticity is a choice that requires courage, compassion, and connection.
If you are needing support in your journey, consider reaching out. I’d love to hear from you.
Namaste,
Lea, xo
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