Experiment 9: Nurturing

Throughout this year long Creativity Experiment there have been many conversations about self-care, nurturing, trusting oneself, being kind to oneself, listening inward, and being present - with oneself. Today, the main Inspirational insight is about nurturing for self.

I think I've just hit my limit. 

I made space in my day to sit down and listen into another way to inspire myself creatively. I had time in my day - I have time in my very entitled life - to sit down in front of a computer and listen into more facets of creative process.  I've enjoyed the tangible ways to try new things - photography, painting, art journaling, etc. I've reflected along with the leaders of this endeavor on how certain feelings and thoughts get in our way. I've enjoyed seeing the emotional narratives that stymie creativity addressed through the experiments. 

And yet, making the topic of the month the self love narrative itself fell flat. 

Perhaps this is simply how the process of creation for these leaders has manifested, maybe they needed to talk overtly about nurturing at the time when the video was made. The experiment for this month is to make a talisman - a tangible reminder to love thyself, to bring one courage and a reminder that one deserves to be nurtured. I realized very quickly that this activity was not one I was going to do.

Perhaps I am ready to move past the 'love thyself, trust thyself, be courageous with thyself" mantra. Been there, taught the class, worked with the clients. Really important stuff - but its just a beginning. 

I am ready to start talking about how can we nurture our selves and have that serve a larger understanding of the world.

How do we turn inward - and outward at the same time?  The process of turning inward, grounding in acceptance, reflection and love, needs to continue to flow onward and back out into the world through our relationships, our communities, our care for the planet. So how can making a talisman with the word "nurturing" work for me?  What do I want to manifest and nurture in my heart that continues to help me connect out into my community and natural world?

 Is the question then to find the ideas, places, colors, patterns, and/or memories that inspire us to feel into connection - and use those works as talismans for a better world?

Takeaway: Don't keep using the 'self nurture' path as a channel for self absorption. Let love and nurturing flow through you and out into the world. 

North Peak, Hoover Wilderness, CA