Because I Said I Would… Building Self-Trust

On 02/07/2019 / Art Journal

Because I Said I Would…Building Self-Trust

radiate with life meditation

We are all on a journey of some sort. Living the Creative Life is about looking inside and seeing where your journey is leading you. Recently, my journey has reminded me about the value of building self-trust. Building self-trust is a powerful gift for a Creative to give themselves because it often means they can more fully share their gifts with the World.

Tips for Building Self-Trust

Here is one of my favorite tips to help Creatives stand up and say to themselves and to the World…. I am doing it because I said I would.

Start a Conversation

In college as I was studying theatre, I discovered how powerful it could be to have a conversation on paper with myself when I wasn’t so sure I could follow through on my ideas or keep my commitments to myself and others. Inside my journal, I would begin a deep talk from the part of myself that needed to be heard and let another part hear them out, even going so far as to answer the first part back in the voice of a loving, nurturing parent or creative guide. Over time, I began to have those conversations more subtly in my head, and now, they are part of my daily self-awareness. Occasionally, when I get stuck in the I-can’t’s or I’ll-put-it-off-til-tomorrow’s, I get real with myself on paper. And then I dive into trying to understand the stuck part by listening from a place of love and compassion. I began calling them Inner World Conversations.

The Inner World Conversations go something like this….

If you would like to build your because I said I would Self-Trust Muscle, get in touch with the Reluctant Part inside by starting your own Inner World Conversation. Begin by using two different pens, one for each inner voice. Ask yourself what the Reluctant Part (the fearful, stuck, little, hurt, unsure part) of you needs to say, and then invite that part to share. When you feel you have expressed the first layer of what you need to say, stop and read it back to yourself. Don’t edit. Don’t over think. Pick up the other pen and invite the Heart-Centered Part (loving, compassionate, listening, peace-making part) of yourself to respond in a supportive way.

The back and forth can go on several times as the Reluctant Part finds a sense of being able to fully express itself and the Heart-Centered Part discovers how to help it feel heard and supported. The goal isn’t necessarily to make yourself do something, it is to build trust with yourself. As a Creative, the more you foster a space of listening for difficult emotions like fear, doubt, and worry, the more you can likely build an Inner World that helps shift those emotions to deeper levels of peace, enthusiasm, passion, and ease. This can help shift an automatic kind of living to an intentional, self-supportive way of being. Lots of magic happens there!

Share Your Self-Trust Ah-ha’s

I would love to hear your ah-ha’s around self-trust. Do you find yourself struggling there? If not, what are your secrets to building your because I said I would Self-Trust Muscle? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments.

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This Sense-ational Life {playfulness}

On 01/29/2013 / This Sense-ational Life

This Sense-ational Life is a blogging series that explores the senses as a way of cultivating a more mindful, connected way of life.

Sense of Playfulness

When I was in 8th grade, I started taking theatre and never wanted to stop. I realized it was a way to play and still get credit in school. What a no-brainer! As I got older, I found ways to keep that connection to play. I took jobs that allowed me to play and get paid for it. And eventually became a kind of play leader for other adults.

Here is a list of a few playful jobs I have had….

A Way of Life

Playfulness has become a way of life for me. It is how I socialize, how I practice self-love, a medicine when I am down or sick, an outlet for what wishes to be expressed in me, and even a way for me to embody my spirituality. Bringing it so fully into my life has taken work. Yah, that’s right. I had to work at remembering to play. As kids, it comes with the territory. But over time we lose our sense of playfulness and replace it with the roles and responsibilities of adulthood. I would like to invite you to connect with your sense of playfulness this week, include both subtle and overt play. Try an old favorite like blowing bubbles or something new like a 30 second dance party. Do it by yourself or with others by inciting random, unexpected playfulness. Create a playfulness on the go kit that includes some art supplies, a joke book, a few toys, or some kind of novelty item.

Cultivate your Relationship with Play

Try one or more of these journaling prompts to boost your play-ability.

Ask Play, “In what ways do I discourage you in my life?”
List 10 or more ways you can incorporate play into your home life.
Brainstorm with your family how you could all enjoy more play.
Write a letter to yourself that gives you permission to play more.

I would love to hear about your Sense of Playfulness. I invite you to write a post about playfulness and paste the address in the linky below. Make sure to link to this post in yours so others can discover their own path to playfulness.

Posts Tagged journal prompt