Make sure you're comfortable.
Either sit down with your back straight in a chair,
On your couch,
On your yoga mat,
Or perhaps you prefer to lie down.
If you cool off quickly,
Feel free to cover yourself with a blanket.
Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Again,
Breathe in deeply through your nose and out slowly through your mouth.
Once more,
Breathe in deeply through your nose and out slowly through your mouth.
For your next breath,
Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose in an even pace,
Your pace.
Close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so.
Keep that breath going,
Nice and easy,
No strain,
No tension,
No nothing.
A simple breathing in and breathing out.
Check in with your body.
Are there any places left that carry tension?
Between your shoulder blades for example,
Or perhaps in your legs,
Maybe your abdomen,
Or lower back.
If you notice any strain or constriction,
Bring your attention towards it.
Only in breath,
Imagine how the breath embraces the tightness.
On the out breath,
Feel how the tension lessens.
Can you be still in this moment for just a few seconds?
Slowly breathing in and breathing out,
Seeing if you can release that constriction,
Make it less tight,
Even if only a little.
It's okay if it doesn't give,
Just stay with it a few more seconds,
Breathing in and breathing out in that even pace.
Now imagine you're in a meadow,
Green grass rolls from one side of the meadow to the other and beyond,
Disappearing out of you just before it meets the mountains in the distance.
Perhaps you see a few animals grazing,
Going about their day,
Perhaps you're entirely alone,
It's all good.
You turn around and see a gorgeous tall oak tree standing in the middle of the meadow.
There's a picnic table there as well,
Right next to it,
And a low fire burns in a fire pit.
You look back at the oak tree,
Taking in its majestic shape,
Its massive size,
And you notice someone tied ribbons to its many branches.
They look around you,
But there are no other humans there.
Whoever tied those ribbons to the tree,
Whoever must have gotten that fire going,
They must be long gone.
Intrigued,
You decide to walk towards the tree,
Your eyes never leaving those ribbons.
Once you get close enough,
You realize they aren't just any ribbons,
There's writing on them as well.
You reach out,
Standing on your toes to untie the one closest to you.
But just before loosening the knot entirely,
You realize all of a sudden what these ribbons are for.
They are the beliefs you have about your creativity,
The projects you're working on,
You as an artist.
You untie the ribbon further,
Then straighten it out.
What does it say?
Which of your beliefs are spelled out across the fabric?
Is it a good one?
One that empowers you as a creative?
Or is it a limiting one?
One you know that's holding you back?
Did you remember having this particular belief?
If the belief empowers you,
Feel free to tie the ribbon back to the branch.
Perhaps you want to tie it elsewhere,
In a spot that makes more sense to you.
You can also keep it with you,
In your pocket or tied around your wrist,
If you could really use a reminder right now.
If the belief doesn't empower you,
Read it again.
Whose voice or voices are you hearing?
Whose handwriting is that on the ribbon?
Is this your belief,
Or is it actually someone else's?
If it's yours,
Do you know why you created it?
Do you remember?
If it isn't yours,
Do you know why you adopted it as your own?
What made you convince you needed this particular belief?
Is it time to let this belief go?
If it isn't the right time,
Tie the ribbon back to the branch,
Knowing you can come back later once you're ready to let it go.
If it is the right time,
Walk over to the fire pit next to the picnic table,
Before dropping the ribbon into the flames.
Remember to believe you're letting go of everything it has done for you.
No matter how much it is limiting you now,
It did serve a purpose once,
And there's nothing wrong with being grateful for that.
Once the flames have consumed the belief entirely,
You can return to the tree and untie another ribbon,
If that's what you want to do right now.
If so,
Determine once more whether the ribbon holds an empowering or a limiting belief,
And act accordingly.
If it empowers you as a creative,
Either put it back into the tree or bop it,
If it's one you need to remember more often right now.
If the belief is limiting,
Determine how it became one of your beliefs,
And whether it's time to let it go.
If it is,
Go back to that fire pit,
Thank the belief for everything it did for you,
Then drop it into the flames.
You can return to the tree as often as you like,
Perhaps you want to do a few more,
Perhaps you want to check all ribbons now you're here.
Do whatever feels right in this very moment,
And know the tree will always be there for you when you're ready to return.
You don't have to release all limiting beliefs at once,
Take as much time as you need.
When you're ready,
Walk away from the tree in the direction you came from.
Take a deep breath in,
And slowly exhale as you wiggle your fingers and toes.
If you feel like yawning,
Please do.
Stretch your limbs any way you like.
Slowly open your eyes and take in the room you're in.
If you feel like it,
Grab your journal and write about what you've just experienced,
The beliefs that showed up for you.
Enjoy the rest of your day,
And remember to take it as slowly as you possibly can.
You just let go of limiting beliefs and the old patterns that came along.
It will take some time before you process all that.
Do allow yourself that time.
