Creativity Expands Energy Healing
Remember how you used to cringe when your parents did some cringeworthy thing that parents do? It somehow feels surprising to be that parent now. As my twins enter their senior year of high school I’m fully comfortable that they don’t think I am cool, or smart, or a lot of things that I acknowledge to myself. But, it gives me a window into the worldview of an adolescent. The unconscious message they are embracing is “don’t be seen, don’t be visible, unless you’re cool”. When did they stop dancing like no one was watching? When did I for that matter?
Before my messy divorce, I’d been hiding under the mask of perfectionism for a good long while. I recently found a grade school photo of my 11 year- old self, complete with a purple lace Madonna style hairbow and double strand of pearls. I vaguely remember teaming up with a bestie to perform Material Girl at a school talent show. Granted, the pursuit of a stage career would not be aligned with my life purpose. But, I didn’t need to lock it up tighter and tighter, funneling my energies into the narrow scope of only what earned me accolades and straight A’s. As an English Lit major in college, I specialized in Shakespeare rather my heart’s desires, creative writing, because I didn’t want to mess up my GPA. I actually do love Shakespeare as an entertainer and philosopher. Still, my heart yearned to not just study a master, but to create my own messy, imperfect stories.
When that innate passion to create meets the fear of being seen as lacking, irrelevant, totally uncool, most of us shelve our inner artist. If you are paying close attention you might notice the painter, in her quiet way, wears a wardrobe of bright colors as her canvas. The writer narrates with heartfelt texts and emails. The singer belts out opera in the shower. The inner artist patiently hibernates, playing it safe.
Playing it safe is a key characteristic for the perfectionist. She creates a million distractions and procrastinations- another social event, another volunteer position at kid’s school, another glass of wine- so she doesn’t have to be seen. Bad habits become addiction. The inner artist recedes further into the background.
Then, one day, if you’re very lucky, the call to live a unique creative life is heard. Perhaps you stubble upon the right mentor or coach. Or maybe the carefully constructed world of the perfectionist comes crashing down and you realize we’ve got nothing to lose. Eckhart Tolle says that, “God will tear at the fabric of your life to let the light shine in.”
For me it was a combination of the two. The day after my husband announced he was leaving, a voice said “You are going to write a book. The title is Does This Divorce Make Me Look Fat. Start taking notes.” The voice (I think of it as God, Source) was a booming, direct voice that came from somewhere outside of me. It’s showtime.
It was divine design that I was tasked to write a book about overcoming my inner perfectionist at my most messy and imperfect moment. By the forces of Grace, I was already a certified health coach and life coach and yoga and meditation instructor. My intuitive healer, reiki master, and hypnosis teachers were on schedule to appear shortly. I had the right tools and the right guides through every moment, all organized by divine appointment, so I could offer that healing to others. Click here to learn more on how I support my clients.
I feel very pleased and humbled that my book was just named a top finalist for the Canadian Book Awards. I feel honored by every reader, male and female, who tells me it has saved their relationship or comforted their heart. I can see the healing that is manifested from my creative expression. What truly awes me is the power unleashed in my own life. In expressing my truth and being witnessed, I am reclaiming the younger version of myself who believed it wasn’t safe to do so.
To go learn more about how I ended self-sabotaging perfectionism and created a magical, soul-affirming plan for living, explore Does This Divorce Make Me Look Fat? In the meanwhile, dance in the kitchen, sing in the shower and take the art class you heard about. Life is short. And it’s showtime.