Private: The Art of Getting Unstuck

Integration is the name of the new game. That’s what my soul explained to me recently.

A few months ago, I was feeling “stuck” with my writing and other projects in my work and life. But when I remembered to ask my soul’s wisdom, I heard something very differently.

You are in the process of integration. Give space and time to those parts of yourself that are finding a new home and clarity in the core of your being.

I saw an image of a stained glass mosaic, with it’s many colors and shapes combining to create a beautiful window. But I noticed some pieces were muted by dust or hidden by dark grime.

An artist, like our soul, remembers the beauty of the original creation no matter what is visible. Each piece of the stained glass window has been lovingly created and divinely fits together to enhance the whole, regardless of how much of life’s storms weather it.

Over time, we may forget our soul’s wisdom and believe we are stuck. At those times, we look at our life’s challenges and feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and/or disappointed. Ultimately, we end up thinking we are powerless or have limited capacity to change our lives.

However, I invite you to consider another perspective. The real truth may be that your soul is calling you to integrate and bring more clarity and light to your original creation.

This may be the time when your Big Self is encouraging the parts of yourself that are ready to show up bolder and clearer… tenderly embracing the scared parts of yourself that are ready to be seen, heard, and honored… and creating mental and energetic space to expand the definition of who we really are.

I used to spend time journaling, seeking out exercises and tools from self-development books, and talking to others in my search for integration. It often felt like hard work. And yes, it worked but took more time and energy than I liked. I made being myself serious business. It was often exhausting and not very fun!!!

Art is a seamless, not to mention also a powerful and fun way to integrate. (And if you’ve painted or drawn recently… or participated in my Art Playshops… you know how freeing art can be to your mind and soul.)

Integration means “whole.” Yes, we are whole beings and yet muti-faceted. Art offers a way to dust off those parts of ourselves that are obscuring our beauty and limiting our brilliance.

There’s the inner child who embraces the simple delights of colorful paints and what I talk about in my Art Playshops as “playing without a plan.” Art allows that part of yourself to feel honored, celebrated and held in a loving, safe space to explore playfully.

There’s the feminine energy (no matter if we’re a woman or man)… the receptive, just “being” aspect of ourselves that holds the key to flow. Not focused on the outcome of your art, but fully and passionately in the present moment of creation. Being open and available to whatever comes through you and allowing your artwork to emerge with trust and faith.

There’s our creative self. Even if you don’t think you’re creative, you are!

We ALL have a creative voice when we tap into our right side of our brain. When we draw with a crayon, play a musical instrument, sing, or journal, we are tapping into our innate self-expression and our intuition.

Do you remember a creative activity where you lost track of time?

One of my favorite sayings is about how time becomes meaningless in the face of creativity. When we’re fully in the present moment, there’s a sense of feeling “in the flow.” (I love that feeling because it helps me reconnect with my timeless, ageless Soul self!)

And there’s our spiritual self which is deeply fed and nurtured by the inner stillness and peace that art brings. It’s an opportunity to hear our soul’s wisdom that has been there all along, patiently waiting for us to pause our busy lives, quiet our left brain chatter and simply listen.

That listening allows a natural process to unfold that reveals our True Self. It allows the dust and grime of the world to be cleaned off the stained glass window. So the light can shine and reveal our strengths and illuminate our life experiences as gifts.

As Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

As we make time in our busy, left brain lives for art, we see, hear, and feel the beauty of our soul. The dusty stained glass window becomes brighter and lighter, allowing the true colors to shine through in all their brilliance.

Would you like to use art to help you reconnect with one of the parts of yourself I’ve mentioned?

Here’s a quick and simple 5 minute exercise. First, gather up a few colored pens (or markers or your child’s crayons) and a piece of paper.

• Ask yourself: What part of myself haven’t I connected with recently? (Your inner child, creative self, feminine energy, or spiritual self?) Pick one for this exercise.
  
  

• Close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths, and ask that part of yourself to show you what color or colors represent them.
  
  

• Pick up that color marker, pen or crayon and start moving it on the paper in your non-dominant hand. (If you’re right handed, use your left hand to draw.) Keeping your eyes closed, ask that part of you to guide you and don’t lift from the paper as you continue drawing.
  
  

• Keep this up for a minute or two until you feel your energy shift to feeling calm, happy, or relaxed. Then ask that part of yourself to speak to you through completing the sentence “I am aware that…” Keep listening and writing until nothing more comes to you.
  
  

• Thank that part of yourself who has shown up today. Read over your statements and decide how you’d like to bring more of that part of yourself into your life. What one commitment will you make to integrate that beautiful, powerful part of YOU?

One thing to note… when (not “if” ; >) the inner critic shows up to judge and criticize your work, don’t let that voice stop you. Acknowledge with a smile or a “yes I hear you” and simply keep going.

Bravely and creatively face the inner critic that insists “I’m not good enough” and often compares ourselves to others to validate that belief. Most importantly, don’t let the inner critic stop you from creating or keep you from exploring and expressing the beauty of your soul.

Ultimately, art helps us reconnect with our Soul’s magnificent beauty. And art also offers us a gift for mind, body, and spirit healing. Not in the conventional sense, but in the Latin definition of “healing” which is wholeness.

Yes, we are whole beings, no matter what pain, struggles, and challenges are reflected in our outer world! Art reveals our hidden wholeness to us so we can embrace our true beauty.

Would you like to tap into your creative side and reconnect with your soul’s beauty and wisdom?

If you’re in San Diego area, come join me at a future Art Playshop!  Sign up for my list here and receive 2016 Art Playshop schedule when available.

Not in the San Diego area? Check out my free experiential online class on “The Art of Listening to Your Soul” at The Spirituality Center.

Did you do the 5 minute drawing exercise in this post? I’d love to hear your insights and “I am aware…” statement so post a comment below!