So much of what you've written here resonates with my experience. I have grappled with finding the energy, inspiration and confidence to "put pen to paper" for years now, and it's only become more challenging since the pandemic.
I often tell others, "you have a unique contribution to make in the Collective, one that no other being can make." And yet I struggle to take my own words to heart, even as I deeply believe that this is so. And when our thoughts and ideas seem to reflect what others have expressed before us, I believe that this is the Universe amplifying a piece of wisdom and expressing it in a variety of ways so more people will receive it.
Thank you for taking the time you needed to process and digest your experiences. Thank you for interrogating your beliefs and the cultural demands that would have us sacrifice our life force energy to those who would hoard power and resources. Thank you for resting and taking care of yourself.
May the blessings you give to the world return to you tenfold.
Thank you so much for your kind words Helen. I love that what you tell others is exactly what I do! It's a truth that smacked me over 10 years ago and just continues to resurface in different ways. Isn't it funny/wild/frustrating/sad that it can be so difficult for us to live that? I'm sure we do, but maybe not to the fullness which we wish we could.
I couldn't agree more with the "Universe amplifing a piece of wisdom and expressing it in a variety of ways so more people will receive it". Beautifully said. And this is why each individual voice and contribution matters.
Thank you for seeing me friend. Grateful to be walking the path with you.
I feel this so hard. Thank you for sharing. Spirit keeps calling me to create for the sake of the act of creation. For the practice that is making, whether it be writing or arranging sticks into a neat design on top of a rock on the middle of the woods. It is felt. The energy of my making ripples in all directions. And first and foremost, I feel into the intention and potential of one human's capacity to create something from nothing or transform something into something new. We do this with love, care, and respect... over and over... you got you a way of life. A beautiful mode of living. And so it is. Blessings on the path.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Inara. Your words are calming to me. A Way of Being it is... One that it feels like we are really trying to (re)discover. So often (always??) messiness and imperfection is the point. Grateful for your presence here.
Some words of encouragement: you are worthy and creative, and your contribution matters. Motivation and creativity often arise from action, not the other way around. But also, you do not need to prove anything, you are worthy inherently, as are all. You are allowed to rest when your body needs rest. And sometimes, just learning to be comfortable doing nothing is the biggest lesson to learn.
Thank you for your words Maria. I definitely feel that my lesson of this recent season was, being comfortable doing nothing. It’s deprogramming that mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Parts work (internal family systems) and somatic practices have been deeply supportive for me in doing so.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Ben! I’m glad you’re writing long form again. What a great first post to reenter with!
I related in several ways. When there’s so many life transitions, space, rest, and finding a new form of equilibrium is important. It’s difficult to create when your world feels like it’s way off kilter. And also once you take that space, it then becomes hard to pull yourself out of that spiral and become a creator again.
I struggle with getting self conscious, perfectionistic, or like my contributions are silly. But as I’ve healed more, I’m starting to view my goals with sharing and writing to be much more complex than just being “good.” It’s about creating a shared experience, learning, taking time to untangle my thoughts and language into something coherent, offering up my slice of reality to the world, self discovery, and building connections with the people that stumble upon it.
Here’s to refinding voices and offering up our art and soul work to the world!
Thanks Addie! Appreciate you taking the time to respond.
I so agree about creating a shared experience. The most powerful "content"/Art is that which resonates deeply with others. An additional thought I had after this is that almost anything meaningful or "Real" that I've created comes when I'm really trying to process something for myself, as you mentioned. How cool is it that if we can just be authentic and simply show up for ourselves, rather than trying to curate something the world might appreciate, that we'll often find that Connection that we crave/need!
100%! I hear of so many wonderful projects/books/experiences starting as trying to fulfill a need or desire the creator had. There’s a lot of “I wrote the book that I was looking for but couldn’t find.” Our own processing or longing can lead the way to creating something that resonates with others
Hooray! What a wonderful re-entry into the writing world. Welcome! Lovely to witness your words (gosh this reply has ended up being quite unintentionally alliterative). It was lovely to read as I realised it's not even about being meaningful, or productive or making a difference (I want to italicise all those but I can't seem to on the laptop). It's just about feeling each other's hearts on the page. It's a wonderful thing.
Hahaha the alliteration, I love it. Thank you Gabrielle, your reply made me smile — and these days that is worth so so much, as I know you know. “Feeling each other’s hearts on the page.” Mmmm. Yes. This. :)
So much of what you've written here resonates with my experience. I have grappled with finding the energy, inspiration and confidence to "put pen to paper" for years now, and it's only become more challenging since the pandemic.
I often tell others, "you have a unique contribution to make in the Collective, one that no other being can make." And yet I struggle to take my own words to heart, even as I deeply believe that this is so. And when our thoughts and ideas seem to reflect what others have expressed before us, I believe that this is the Universe amplifying a piece of wisdom and expressing it in a variety of ways so more people will receive it.
Thank you for taking the time you needed to process and digest your experiences. Thank you for interrogating your beliefs and the cultural demands that would have us sacrifice our life force energy to those who would hoard power and resources. Thank you for resting and taking care of yourself.
May the blessings you give to the world return to you tenfold.
Thank you so much for your kind words Helen. I love that what you tell others is exactly what I do! It's a truth that smacked me over 10 years ago and just continues to resurface in different ways. Isn't it funny/wild/frustrating/sad that it can be so difficult for us to live that? I'm sure we do, but maybe not to the fullness which we wish we could.
I couldn't agree more with the "Universe amplifing a piece of wisdom and expressing it in a variety of ways so more people will receive it". Beautifully said. And this is why each individual voice and contribution matters.
Thank you for seeing me friend. Grateful to be walking the path with you.
I feel this so hard. Thank you for sharing. Spirit keeps calling me to create for the sake of the act of creation. For the practice that is making, whether it be writing or arranging sticks into a neat design on top of a rock on the middle of the woods. It is felt. The energy of my making ripples in all directions. And first and foremost, I feel into the intention and potential of one human's capacity to create something from nothing or transform something into something new. We do this with love, care, and respect... over and over... you got you a way of life. A beautiful mode of living. And so it is. Blessings on the path.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Inara. Your words are calming to me. A Way of Being it is... One that it feels like we are really trying to (re)discover. So often (always??) messiness and imperfection is the point. Grateful for your presence here.
Some words of encouragement: you are worthy and creative, and your contribution matters. Motivation and creativity often arise from action, not the other way around. But also, you do not need to prove anything, you are worthy inherently, as are all. You are allowed to rest when your body needs rest. And sometimes, just learning to be comfortable doing nothing is the biggest lesson to learn.
Thank you for your words Maria. I definitely feel that my lesson of this recent season was, being comfortable doing nothing. It’s deprogramming that mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Parts work (internal family systems) and somatic practices have been deeply supportive for me in doing so.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Ben! I’m glad you’re writing long form again. What a great first post to reenter with!
I related in several ways. When there’s so many life transitions, space, rest, and finding a new form of equilibrium is important. It’s difficult to create when your world feels like it’s way off kilter. And also once you take that space, it then becomes hard to pull yourself out of that spiral and become a creator again.
I struggle with getting self conscious, perfectionistic, or like my contributions are silly. But as I’ve healed more, I’m starting to view my goals with sharing and writing to be much more complex than just being “good.” It’s about creating a shared experience, learning, taking time to untangle my thoughts and language into something coherent, offering up my slice of reality to the world, self discovery, and building connections with the people that stumble upon it.
Here’s to refinding voices and offering up our art and soul work to the world!
Thanks Addie! Appreciate you taking the time to respond.
I so agree about creating a shared experience. The most powerful "content"/Art is that which resonates deeply with others. An additional thought I had after this is that almost anything meaningful or "Real" that I've created comes when I'm really trying to process something for myself, as you mentioned. How cool is it that if we can just be authentic and simply show up for ourselves, rather than trying to curate something the world might appreciate, that we'll often find that Connection that we crave/need!
100%! I hear of so many wonderful projects/books/experiences starting as trying to fulfill a need or desire the creator had. There’s a lot of “I wrote the book that I was looking for but couldn’t find.” Our own processing or longing can lead the way to creating something that resonates with others
Hooray! What a wonderful re-entry into the writing world. Welcome! Lovely to witness your words (gosh this reply has ended up being quite unintentionally alliterative). It was lovely to read as I realised it's not even about being meaningful, or productive or making a difference (I want to italicise all those but I can't seem to on the laptop). It's just about feeling each other's hearts on the page. It's a wonderful thing.
Hahaha the alliteration, I love it. Thank you Gabrielle, your reply made me smile — and these days that is worth so so much, as I know you know. “Feeling each other’s hearts on the page.” Mmmm. Yes. This. :)
And there are so many others who recognize the value of each unique voice:
https://substack.com/@jonmeta/note/c-108743894?r=3fg1m