The Artist’s Way: Tap Your Creativity
26 Jan 2009 ~ Categories: blog • mind • wellness
Recently I dug up a favorite old book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Have you ever read it? It’s basically a 12-step program for recovering non-creative types. Or to put it another way, a revolutionary book that taught me how to tap into my own latent artist. We all have one ya know…an artist inside. Some of us just forgot how to use it along the way.
Okay so maybe it doesn’t mean deep down you’re a brilliant painter like my dear friend Josephine Taylor-Tobin, an impeccable designer like IO Creative Director, Matt Dick, or a super skilled coiffeur like my pal Alex Sandor. I’m certainly none of these. What it does mean is that we all have the capacity to insert more creative ways of thinking and being into our daily lives…even if that life is mostly spent in front of a computer or serving others.
And in becoming more creative, we boost our ability to do our jobs better, live our lives more fully. Plus it’s just a heck of a lot more fun.
This book still inspires me. Periodically I revisit it and remind myself to make space for the inner artist in my day-to-day life. Sometimes this looks like a daily journaling practice. Painting silly watercolor artwork for my eyes only. Singing along loudly to my iPod in my room, while driving, and yes, there’s always the shower option. These days, I am channeling my creativity through beginning a teaching practice. I am stepping up to lead workshops as part of our IO Wellness Workshops series. My first workshop of the sort will be in March (stay tuned on our workshop page for details). It’s an Urban Renew YOU Retreat that I am pleased to be co-leading with Dr. Brenda Wade. Think spa treatments, yoga, a little friendly meditation and lots of tips and tools to be the most inspired version of beautiful YOU.
The Artist’s Way also taught me the value of the “artist’s date”. It’s a non-negotiable, regularly scheduled date I make with myself, and only myself. Sometimes I go to the movies. Sometimes I visit a museum. Sometimes I just curl up with a book. How the time is spent is not nearly as important as the priority commitment to spending time with number one. It’s kind of like a soul Sabbath, if you will.
In my favorite quote from the book, Julie Cameron puts it beautifully: “In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our works of art.”
Think about it. Don’t you want your own life to be a work of art? And what would that look like for you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Be creative,
Amy
29 Jan 2009
nic
Love this, Amy! I’m going to check out the book. I love the Sabbath reference. It’s one of the only practices I still keep from my upbringing & I think it’s such a good way to live!
03 Feb 2009
Leslie Wang
Amy, thanks for reviving this dedication! My artist’s date last week was an afternoon at the NYC Met with my family, and I’m still feeling creatively re-charged..!
12 Feb 2009
renee
Wow! Love this book. I could have made millions recommending it to friends when I 1st read it 11yrs ago. A timeless piece & worthy adventure. Completely changed the way I view & deal w/ life. I continue the practice and read the next book “Vein of Gold”.