Affirmations

© Robin Edmundson, 'Yucca pod in snow'

One of the things I do in all my creativity workshops is have people write for a few minutes about what they want their best lives to look like.   Then I have them write for a few minutes about all the reasons they can't, all the things that are in the way, all their inadequacies, etc.

I'll be honest, it's not all sunshine and roses.  

It's common to see things like this:

• I can't be a professional singer because I'm too fat.  
• I can't go back and get that degree because I don't have the money.
• I'll never stand up to this person because I'm too chicken. 
• I can't have people over because my house is too small.

It's easy to get mired in the negativity, especially since a lot of these are based in a reality we have invested a lot of time and energy in.   It's hard breaking free of limitations.  It is.  

But we do it anyway.   And this is how:

Take that obstacle and turn it into a positive.

1.  I can't be a professional singer because I'm too fat.  

• I can be a professional singer.
• My curves make me attractive and dynamic on stage.
• Audiences love to hear me sing.
• I am so happy when I sing for an audience that I don't care what my dress size is.
• I have the friends and support I need to make the changes I want to make to achieve my dreams. 

2.  I can't go back and get that degree because I don't have the money.

• I have enough money to get that degree.
• I am a creative thinker and I can find a way to earn enough money to finish that degree.
• Abundance flows into my life with ease and grace so that I can get that degree.
• I have the friends and support I need to make the changes I want to make to achieve my dreams. 

3.  I'll never stand up to this person because I'm too chicken. 

• I stand up to this person because I have a lot of courage.
• I do not shrink, I do not puff up, I stand firm in my sacred ground.
• I am confident and skilled when confronting others.
• I am calm and courageous when I need to maintain my boundaries with others.
• I know what to say when I need to maintain my boundaries.
• I have the friends and support I need to make the changes I want to make to achieve my dreams. 

4.  I can't have people over because my house is too small.

• I can have people over because my house is big enough.
• My house is exactly the right size for me. 
• It is easy for me to find the space at home or elsewhere to socialize with the people I need to be with.
• My friends love me for me and not for my house.
• I have the friends and support I need to make the changes I want to make to achieve my dreams. 

Once you get the hang of it it's easy to write these.  The hard part is believing them. In every class, I see the worried faces of people who are willing to do the work, and who want to believe this is possible, but who just....aren't....there.  They say, 'Those affirmations are nice, but they're just not true, so ... um...why should I believe them?'

And I get it.   I really get it.  

For all of these years, you've lived in a reality that you can't achieve your dream, that dreams only come true for a select [wealthy, skinny, beautiful] few.  You're lazy, stupid, foolish, unattractive, untalented, undeserving, unworthy.

Well all of that 'reality' is crap.  It's not true!  It's black-and-white negative thinking that is no more based in reality than those wonderful affirmations above. 

And if you're willing to believe the negative [which we are because...cultural norms] even though it isn't true, then I respectfully suggest that now is a good time to start believing the affirmations even though they may not be true [yet].  

The thing about believing the affirmations is that it will make you feel better, which will allow you to think more creatively, which will make you more aware of opportunities, relationships and connections, which will help you live your best life.  

Believing the negatives will only keep you stuck.  

Believing your affirmations will help fill you with enough light to see your way to whatever changes you want to make to live your best life. 

Homework:  Spend 5 minutes writing your dream.   Spend 5 minutes writing what's in the way of your dream.  Turn those obstacles into affirmations.   Then tell me how it went.

I'm teaching a class on Affirmations for your Best Life, on May 19, 2018 from 9:00 am - noon.  If you think it would be helpful for you to spend some focused time in a small group with me to help you along, you can register for the class here.   I can't wait to see you!

My Best Life Now - Retreat 2018

My Best Life Now

Weekend Retreat

October 12-14, 2018

Bloomfield, Indiana

_____________________________________________________

You are going to LOVE what 
WE have planned for YOU!

Do you crave more creativity in your life?  More balance?  More 'Yes!'?  A lot of us do! Now, imagine yourself spending a weekend in a luxurious space with a group of supportive women who are all looking to move forward on their journey to living their Best Life Now. 

You will be immersed in an experience carefully designed to support big shifts in how you think about what is possible in your life.  By the end of the retreat, you will have a clear idea of what your Best Life looks like, strategies for making it a reality, and a support system to help you live your Best Life Now.

This retreat is for all women who want to move forward on the journey to living their best lives now.   

Facilitators:

Robin Edmundson is an award winning artist and blogger who has been teaching creativity since 2003. Her professional and artistic path has been full of twists and turns so she has a lot of experience blazing new trails. She's excited to help you get started on your journey to a happier and more creative self.

Amy Kimmel is a Women's Empowerment Mentor, Certified Intuitive Reiki Master, and Yoga Teacher-in-Training focusing on discovering the magic we all have inside that allows us to live our soul purpose. Her loving, no-nonsense approach will help you fully tap into your power so that you can learn to shine your brightest inner light and live your best life.

Embrace your present life
Unleash your Inner Power
Dream big
Visualize your Best Life
Organize your ideas
Identify your struggles
Make it Achievable
Gather your Support
Celebrate the journey
 

Highlights of the retreat include: 

• Mini-workshops: spirit dolls, affirmations, dream boards, creative journalling
• Optional creative activities: watercolor for relaxation, exploring essential oils, dancing, personal ceremonies and rituals for creativity, spirit names/totems.
• Great food and sisterhood. [All meals included]
• Meditation, yoga, reiki.
• Luxury accommodations: fireplaces, heated outdoor pool, lake with kayaks, tennis courts, walking paths, etc.
• Retreat tickets and accommodations priced and listed separately.

Venue:

We will be staying at an estate just north of Bloomfield, Indiana.  We get this whole place [33 acres] to ourselves for the weekend!  Staying at the house gives you unlimited access to the lake, kayaks, pool, tennis courts, walking paths, fireplaces and companionship of other retreat participants. Overnight guests may stay up as late as they want to take advantage of all that this luxurious venue has to offer.  Even better - our experience is that some of the best Aha! moments come after hours when people are relaxed, getting to know each other and really talking. 

Prices for accommodations vary.  There are two private rooms [queen bed] with private bath.  There are two rooms with several beds and a shared bath.   

For more details, see my website HERE

Creativity Exercise: Affirmations

An unfortunate time honored tradition of artists is that mythical belief that in order to be a ‘real’ artist, you have to suffer.    ‘Real’ artists are tortured, miserable, addicted, sad, etc.  Somehow, they periodically emerge from their fog of dysfunctionality to create masterpieces, the genius of which the public attributes to the misery of the artist’s hard living.    This is nonsense. You are much more likely to be creative and inspired when you have a clear head and feel good. 

Affirmations are positive statements about yourself as a person and as an artist that make you feel good.   Julia Cameron, in her book The Artist’s Way, has a whole section on affirmations. [If you don’t already have the book, get it.   It will be one of the best investments in your art that you ever make.]   Most of what I’m saying here, she said first in that book.  Affirmations are the shield you use to protect yourself from others’ artistic or anti-artistic drama.   Affirmations are personalized to protect your specific vulnerabilities.

The first step to creating your affirmations is to identify your vulnerabilities.   Julia Cameron recommends that you have a little chat with your internal Censor by sitting down with paper and pen and writing down all of the awful things that are bouncing around in your head about you and your art.  This might be hard, but it’s worth the time.   Do it.  Right now.  Spend 10 minutes and begin with this:   I     your name here    am a brilliant, prolific artist.  Write that 10 times in a row, then let your Censor loose and see what it says.  Write down all of the nasty stuff that comes out.   All of it.  Do not stop before the 10 minutes is up.

Once you have your list of nasties [Julia calls them ‘blurts’], you know where your vulnerabilities are.   Now it’s time to build shields to protect these parts of you.    Take each nasty and turn it into a positive statement – an affirmation.   ‘You’re a terrible writer’ turns into ‘I’m a great writer’.   ‘You can’t do anything original’ turns into ‘My art is inspired and original’.   ‘You’ll never make any money doing this’ becomes ‘I support myself with my art’.    Do this for every single nasty.  Email me if you’re having trouble with one of these.  I’ll help you turn it into an affirmation. 

The next big objection that frequently comes up at this point is this:  Why should I do these affirmations, when they are clearly not true?  These affirmations are lies.  Every time I say this affirmation out loud, I feel like I’m lying.    

You have a good point; the affirmations aren’t true. Yet.  But remember this:  Your nasties aren’t true, either, and you were willing to believe them.  You have a choice.   You can choose to keep believing the nasties, which aren’t true, and which make you feel bad, thereby decreasing your creativity and productivity.  Or, you can start believing your affirmations, which aren’t true [yet] and which make you feel good, thereby increasing your creativity and productivity [and the likelihood that they will come true.]  Your choice.  You’ve been willing to feel bad before.  Are you willing to feel good now?