Welcome again,
Creative,
On this journey to awakening.
Just that,
That creative sense of yourself,
Your best delivery into this world.
I've created it as a 40-day journey,
With consideration to that 40 days in the desert.
Not biblical connotation,
But not necessarily that,
As much as an example for a human's personal development and growth,
And the necessity for time away from everything,
In that somewhat desolate environment of solitude,
In order to recognize that it's not desolation you're looking at,
But development,
Opportunity,
And maybe even delight.
We're at the tail end,
Coming to the final few days of our journeying.
We've begun to see the horizon,
And even now that finish line is very much within reach.
But we're not here to hurry it along.
We want to savor each day and linger in the lessons we've come through,
The tears,
The joys,
The revelations,
And we want to be present to what is yet to come.
Because even though we can see that finish line,
It doesn't suggest there's nothing left to pick up and carry with us as we cross over.
In order to make sure that those tidbits that we collect are made for us,
Today we explore the heart contract.
A heart contract is one that you take your mind,
Organization,
And proclamation that the mind is so attuned to,
You use that mind to discern your heart's desire.
Now,
Another word,
If you'd rather,
Is values.
What are the integral,
Integrity-based things,
Unique and yet universal,
Unique to you?
This can end up being a mission statement,
If you will,
This heart contract.
It's something you return to over and over and over and maybe rewrite or reframe,
Just a little bit,
Tweak it here and there,
As it makes more sense and grows in wisdom and experience to become a more fuller picture of you as you,
Too,
Grow and evolve.
But the important first step is getting it down,
Taking it out of your sensory experiences and giving it to the light of day.
So that's today,
A journal practice,
If you will.
Grab a piece of paper,
Pencil,
Or pen and get comfortable,
See what we can do.
Most important is to begin with yourself.
My voice is only a guide,
So try to tune it out and listen to that heart.
My example is the best I can give,
And we're working here to develop an integration of sensation that has nothing to do with any feedback,
But everything to do with that simple first hit.
That's the truest essence and the place where we begin.
Think of it as the soil into which you plant every seed of what-if that occurs to you as you continue from here.
This soil needs to be rich and fertile and full of all your uniqueness,
Your authenticity,
In order for those seeds that also come from you to germinate and thrive.
So we start with the best we can be.
First,
Write down words that come to you that mean something in terms of action and maybe even accountability.
Create is an action word.
They can be general and broad or succinct and specific.
Only you will know when they're true to you.
When you have a few of those words down,
Don't lament,
Don't overthink,
It's what hits first.
Capture a few words that are invaluable to you,
Unbreakable totems that are things you want to be,
Let's say,
Known for,
But without an audience.
They're just you,
Whether somebody puts them as an epitaph or you live without that acknowledgement,
They're always consistently you.
Kindness.
Generosity.
Consideration.
These are some examples.
One more column.
Value.
Sometimes it helps to look outside for this one,
To consider a parent,
A teacher,
A mentor,
Someone you admire and look up to,
A hero.
And write those words down.
Stability.
Sensitivity.
Steadfastness.
These are some examples of values through which a life can be lived,
Choices can be made.
Collect a few of these on this list.
You now have three columns.
Now,
The fun begins.
Create a diagram,
Three intersecting circles,
In which the middle,
All three,
Overlap in a triangle.
First,
Put your words,
Each of these three columns,
Into each of these three circles,
In the separate areas where they are set apart from any intersection.
Then bring your mind into it.
At the intersection of where two combine,
Choose a word or phrase or consideration where those overlaps become one.
And then,
From each of these three areas of double overlap,
Look to a concise,
Distilled word or phrase to distinguish that center overlap where all three combine.
This is the place to start,
Composing your heart contract.
Your commitment with yourself.
Capital S,
Self,
In this lowercase s,
Self-life.
Create beauty.
Create an environment.
These are two that have called me back,
Over and over.
Contract with myself.
When I find myself arguing with the blank canvas in front of me in the studio,
And the voices of,
What do you think you're doing?
You're really calling yourself an artist?
And all those doubts start creeping in.
Who's going to like this?
What space can this hold?
Why am I just creating more stuff?
Then I come back.
Create beauty.
Does that hit?
Is this passion to stand before the canvas true to that heart contract?
Then continue.
Through the muddled spaces,
Through the doubts and discerning words,
I keep going.
When asked to come do a gentle renovation on an apartment flip,
My initial yes is a swelling,
A heart enraptured.
I know I'm aligned.
But as I'm in that space pulling back ancient linoleum floor to expose decomposing subfloors,
Do I feel the same?
I must ask myself again.
Not my head,
But my heart.
Create an environment.
It's not easy.
But it's simple.
And simple makes it easy.
Keep going.
Keep aligning.
Keep dissecting.
And awaken.
Create.
Create.
