While I want a break every now and then (who doesn’t?) once I disrupt the momentum of my routine it feels hard to shift back into gear.
Too much to do and not enough time
Since our return from 3 weeks of visiting family and friends, I have struggled to find time to paint. Everything else seemed more important. While studio time felt like a priority, somehow I never got to it.
Over the weekend I read this quote:
What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do.
Julia Cameron
That got me to thinking. There are some powerful questions inherent in it.
- What is this ‘want’ telling me?
- If I mean what I say, what am I MEANT to do?
- And what am I prepared to do about it?
I already knew the answers
Today, studio time easily became the first order of my day. I had a fun, productive morning and the result are to the left.
I haven’t done much in acrylics in the past few years so I’m surprisingly pleased with this.
Here’s what I think happened:
Wanting to do something makes it feel optional, something for when the ‘real’ work is complete. Perhaps that reflects a childhood lesson. “Don’t be selfish. You don’t always get what you want. “
Seeing my desire to be creative as something I am meant to do, the inner dialog changed to “I have a responsibility to do this.” Not in a heavy way, though but more like “Wow! This is my life’s purpose. What’s more important than that?”
What does your ‘want’ tell you?
Have you chosen it as a priority? What helped you do that? And if not a priority yet, what would help?
Share in the comments. I’d love to hear more.
Great post Aprille! This message was reiterated in a networking event I attended today. Okay universe, you have my attention.
Don’t you just love it when the Universe does that?
Sure do! Lovely painting as well. I find it very relaxing to look at.
Aprille, your article shows us how our Life-purpose and what we WANT and DO are often intertwined. Thanks for the reminder.
And also why, when we don’t explore what we want, they don’t go away! If it’s calling to us, we need to listen.
Love this- my want tells me i am here to color, heal, empower and inspire and i am so excited i have found a way to do this. I now realise that some things have tto be released and that to create I must let go , thanks xxoo
I’ve always found that when I let go something better always comes along. It’s taken me awhile to trust that, tho.
My want forces me to ask myself some tough questions:
* Will it help to achieve my goals?”
* Is my want a means of impressing others?
* Will my want make me feel at peace ?
Those are excellent questions, Ettie. SO good to hear from you, by the way. Hope all is well with you.