What is it about human beings that has us habitually say No to the things we love the most? You know what you need to do (to feel good in your skin, to take care of yourself, to reach your personal goals, to make a difference in the world) but somehow you don’t do it and don’t do it and don’t it. Or you know what you need to not do, and you do it anyway. Again and again and again.
So many of the people I work with say things like:
- “I just want to feel free to be myself.”
- “I just want to create.”
- “I just want to take my place in life.”
What they’re saying basically is, I just want to be there now. Not so fast!
This post is #3 in a series of 12 in which I share the map I’ve made of the creative journey of life. It’s not just my map, but one that’s appeared throughout history and cultures as “the Hero’s Journey.”
Step 3: Choose what you love.
The second step in the journey is to choose what you love. Station three in the Wheel of Creativity is Anorexia. This is the place of the automatic, habitual No. Were it not for that No, there would be no longing. The move from here (where you are today) to there (where you long to be) would be instantaneous. That fact that it is not instantaneous is an opportunity for personal development, for spiritual awakening.
The gap between where you want to be and where you are today does not appear until you admit that you want something more. Only then can you really confront the habitual patterns that keep you stuck where you are, longing but not moving. This No plays an important part in the creative process, and in your own personal development. It is a moment of choice, where love melts No away. By choosing what you love, in small ways at first, you create the opening for
Step 4… which I’ll write about tomorrow.
Learn more.
For these 12 days, I’m sharing one step each day… 12 distinct steps on the road of creating your life, as outlined in my book, The Wheel Of Creativity: Taking Your Place in the Adventure Of Life. To be sure you don’t miss one of the steps, move your cursor up the sidebar on the right and type your email address into the box beneath “Don’t miss a post! Get blog alerts.” I’ll email them to you.
At the end of the 12 days, on September 15th, I’ll also be offering a free half-hour Discovery Call in which you can learn more about the Wheel of Creativity and an in-depth course I’ll be offering this Autumn.