Experiment 7: Appreciation
Experiment. Spring is here. Wars abroad, pandemic and endemic movement. New variants and travel opening up around the world.
And the word for the month is Appreciation.
What stood out to me in listening to this month's talk between Val, Jean, and Kelly was the notion that Appreciation is a movement of lightness and hope that ripples and can get one unstuck from judgements that feel heavy or stagnant. They talked about a timed writing exercise that simply begins with "I am ___________". "Our self talk needs an infusion of love," says Val. True.
I've always loved Appreciative Inquiry from leadership models and theory - the act of looking at any situation, dynamic, project, group - and concentrating on what works well. We are too often drawn to the problems, the difficulties, the complaints or shortcomings. Appreciative Inquiry begins with looking at what worked. How can we build on what worked well? Wouldn't it be wonderful to embody curiosity and practice, honing our strengths and highlighting the positive?
I made the choice the other day - a visceral, gut wrenching choice - to not give myself over to the stories of my life that are harsh or sad. The "I'm not enough" story, abuse or betrayal stories - frames that could become the headlines of my life - if I CHOOSE those headlines. I shook myself out of the moment and grabbed on to what is bright and beautiful in my life - choosing instead to make the headlines about love, motherhood, friendships, creativity, the gorgeous day, the smell of spring in the air. I felt battered, a bit bruised from the conversation I had just had - but the appreciation for the bright wonders of my life helped me leave those other headlines on the floor as the fragmented pieces of living that they are. I had a moment where I realized that living a long life means that it will be filled with all sorts of experiences and how I weave those experiences together as I age is up to me.
Wisdom is learned in all sorts of experiences but those lived moments can make me feel more compassion - and at the same time - gain clarity around how I want to be on my life's path. And who I want with me.
Now how this all wraps into a creativity experiment? It's rather fundamental, I suppose, that being able to appreciate creative expression in one's self is a gift of love we give ourselves each and every day.
Takeaway: Intentionally appreciate what is good and fulfilling - and ask yourself what do you need to do to create more of those moments. Let yourself feel that little piece of happy - and see if it leads you towards your creative self (Or at least a better day).