Living The Artist’s Way, Week Three: Inviting Calm
This is my series on Living The Artist’s Way, a workbook focused on writing for guidance to find creative inspiration. Check out my posts on weeks one and two if you haven’t already done so. This week is about experiencing the calm of receiving guidance, that perfect peace and sense of serenity that comes with knowing we’re on the right path.
Guided To Patience
“In the winter, I wait impatiently for spring. In a cool spring, I yearn for summer.”
Cameron and I have similar struggles with practicing patience. My problem is that I am always thinking of the next steps of my journey, which takes away from the enjoyment of the present moment. Yes, I’m renting a sweet apartment in a great location, but when will I own some land? Yes, I am in a blissfully happy relationship with my beautiful boyfriend, but when will I be engaged? Yes, I’m working at a full-time, good-paying job that I love but when will I have my own business or non-profit? Yes, I completed my Bachelor’s Degree, but when will I complete my Masters?
Do you see what I’m saying? I am trying to practice gratitude and mindfulness and celebrate small wins instead of constantly looking forward to more life-shifting, monumental victories. Because I know that when I do own land, have a ring on my finger, have my own business, am in the thick of my Masters, etc I will look back on these days with sweet nostalgia.
A lesson I’m continually being slapped in the face with is that the right timing is not always my timing it’s rarely ever my timing. When I was immersed in evangelical Christian culture, this fact was drilled into my head. As Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes, “To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” A main theme of Ecclesiastes is to accept that everything in your life is out of your control, so you might as well enjoy the simple, good things in life, like friendships, family, a good meal, or a sunny day.
This isn’t to say that all of life’s circumstances are completely out of my control; I can save enough money for a down payment, apply for a grad program, and invest in my own business. Yet, I do not control inflation, the cost of living, or the grad school admissions, so much is beyond the scope of my authority. It’s much more freeing to live life with open hands, willing to let go of what is not meant for you and grasp on to what is.
Writing Prompt:
Choose an are in your life where you are struggling to have patience. Write out the following questions and listen for your guidance:
What do I need to know?
What do I need to go?
What do I need to grieve?
What do I need to accept?
What do I need to celebrate?
