This blog introduces you to my special brand of BIKE. I show you how to find your Best self, access your Inner strength, tune in to your Killer instincts, and use your Expressive voice. It's inspiring, spiritual, quirky, and it's all in your head. It's about ATTITUDE, not exercise, though that might be a side benefit.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Motivation for Mondays: The Artist's Way


It's official. I started another 12 weeks of working with Julia Cameron's masterpiece, The Artist's Way, today. It's a book that's been on my reading list for years, probably since the first time I read it in 1999. I've read it at least four more times since.

I especially encourage it for personal growth--and not just what it was written for--to unblock your creative energy.

The book and all that you do because of it becomes a great outside motivational force that transforms into an internal motivational force during the 12 weeks of reading it. But it's not just a book you read. As I mentioned, you do things because of it. It's 12 weeks of DIY therapy.

First, you learn about the benefits of journaling. Only Cameron calls this the act of writing your Morning Pages. You write three pages every morning for the full 12 weeks--and then hopefully continue the process once you've finished the book.

You are also required to take an Artist Date with yourself. This is the kind of date that you do alone, no one else allowed, to help open your mind to see and acknowledge new insights, inspirations, and guidance. Sometimes, we have to be reminded we need to be open to that. These special dates help unblock a stagnant life. And this is the main reason I was drawn back to Cameron's book--I knew I needed to revisit the Artist Date. I've been starved of this kind of self-nurturing. Without it, creativity is stymied, and you don't know what to do exactly with the creativity you have. My creative self has been in need of nourishment for quite some time, in very specific ways. And I am finally acknowledging my Killer instincts, which apparently were not as honed in as they needed to be. So I'm correcting that by working this book and scheduling the Artist Dates. Cameron calls this "filling the well."

After each chapter, for the next 12 weeks, Cameron has her readers doing exercises. There are several listed, but you don't have to do them all. You may spend approximately 10 hours a week with the book and its processes for the next 12 weeks, but it's worth it.

You see results: You'll gain clarity. You'll find solutions to inner challenges you knew you had but didn't know what to do about. You'll free your mind to think more creatively. And you'll get work done. I've doubled my productivity and my income each time I've committed fully to the process.

If you are in need of this kind of motivation and are willing to set aside the time to work this process, you will see positive results. Julia Cameron will change the way you think. And you don't have to be an artist to benefit from her wisdom. Lawyers, teachers, engineers, and artists of all kinds have experienced positive growth because of The Artist's Way.

If you've already heard of this book and have benefited from it, share with us your success story. If you're interested in going through the process with me, I'll be publishing a weekly check-in and would be happy to include you in on the process. We can work the program together for added motivation. Just let me know by posting a comment below.

Motivation for Mondays is a part of a weekly Twitter party called #MotivatedMondays initiated by Lorrie Shaw, a professional pet sitter, a regular pets contributor at annarbor.com, and pet blogger in Dexter Township, MI. Together, we post a combination of inspirational notes, links to motivational blog posts, and tips to help kickstart your week ahead. Look for us online every Monday morning--and throughout the day--if you need to kick start your week or want to share your own motivational thoughts.

6 comments:

Kim said...

Count me in! I haven't done TAW in quite a few years and I've never done it with other people before. Love that idea! I was having a bad day recently and used the word "stagnant" to describe my life so seeing you use the same word really resonated with me. This could be exactly what I need, exactly when I need it. Thanks, Jackie!

Unknown said...

Kim,

Wonderful. I see you experienced a bit of serendipity already then, with the word stagnant. I've read chapter one already this morning, did four of the exercises, including the "letter to my editor." Had fun with that, as I really chewed her out, my editor being the inner monster inside of my head blurting out those negative messages I've accepted from other people. Yep, out they go! As I get older, I realize I don't have as much room in my head for that crap, anyway. My next step is to schedule an artist's date. Not sure what I want to do yet. But I'll come up with something I can use on the Phoenix Nightlife iPhone app I'm writing.

Thanks for joining me. For the rest of you who decide to join in. Check-in will be every Monday for the next 12 weeks. If you get behind, no worries, just post what you've been able to accomplish. We'll focus on the positive--it's the best motivator I know.

Teresa Bitler said...

I can't let you take a 12-week journey in DIY therapy and not tag along! Actually, I need to double my productivity (and income), so I'm in! I haven't done TAW before (bought the book today). I'll start tonight.

Unknown said...

Welcome aboard, Teresa. I think you'll like this ride. The Artist's Way is an amazing process that will sometimes hurt, but you'll see. Don't gloss over the two intro chapters; they explain a lot. And chapter 1 is going to be an interesting start if you aren't the introspective type. You're about to be. Don't skip on anything. Read the chapters, do the exercises, start your day with the Morning Pages, and do schedule/attend your Artist Date; it's just for your experience only, though, so the hubby and kids can't come along. And it can be anything you want to explore, which is why others don't particpate with you. It's about YOUR interests, etc. I think you're going to like this work. And I know, if you complete all 12 chapters, you're going to see positive results. Right, Kim?

Kim Haas said...

I didn't even recognize the serendipity in seeing the word "stagnant." Thanks for pointing that out. Here's my week 1 check-in: http://kimhaas.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/taw-week-1/

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I'm glad I dropped by. I'm going to check out the book. I could use doing something like to get my creativity growing back again. Thanks, Jackie.
Su-sieee! Mac
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