The Costs of Living an Unexamined Life, via Becoming Who You Are

Sometimes I like to share a little inspiration.

To read the full post, go here: The Costs of Living an Unexamined Life

 Unexplored feelings, dismissed as unacceptable, rationalized away using “shoulds” or “shouldn’ts” will make themselves known. They will come out in other ways. They come back stronger, and will keep coming back, shouting louder every time until you hear them.

This is what self-conversation is all about. I'm learning to talk to myself kindly, so that my self learns to talk kindly to me. Creating art, and talking to myself kindly about my art, is one way of doing that.

37 Things You Might Find While Looking for Your Writing Voice

37 Things You Might Find While Looking for Your Writing Voice

It's helpful to see that it's not only me who experiences the "negative" things, especially the "impossible stuckness." I'm finding ways out, but it's taken years of struggle. The most helpful way has been to stop rejecting the stuck part, and to begin to listen to it, writing in the form of a dialogue:

"Can you tell me more about feeling stuck?.... How does that feel for you? What are you needing that you're finding it so difficult to achieve? I'm sorry things have been so difficult for you. Please tell me more...."

The stuck part begins to talk, the writing continues, and I become unstuck.

12 Weeks to Self-Knowledge | Becoming Who You Are

12 Weeks to Self-Knowledge | Becoming Who You Are

Here's a course for journalers. I'm signing up as a birthday present to myself.

12 Weeks to Self-Knowledge is a sentence completion course that will help you deepen your awareness of your beliefs, thoughts and feelings. Looking at the past, present and future, you’ll explore the messages you received when you were younger and how they influence you now. Each week, we will explore a different topic that will help you expand your self-knowledge and kick-start your personal development journey.

Creative Every Day Challenge | Creative Every Day

Creative Every Day Challenge | Creative Every Day

Making a commitment to art in 2012.

Part Art: The Girl In the Closet

First eye contact with "the girl in the closet"

Paul Gauguin's Crouching Tahitian Woman Seen From the Back

This reminds me of "the girl in the closet"

before I found her, or my parts led me to her.

Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal by Alexandra Johnson

‎"And those who never keep journals, out of fear or self-censorship? The final twist of secrecy: lives hidden from themselves." ~Alexandra Johnson

From the book Amazon.com: Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal (9780316121569): Alexandra Johnson: Books

Psychology Book Club Podcast: Journal to the Self by Kathleen Adams

Journaling and psychology enthusiasts from around the world discuss the uses, tools, and benefits of journaling:

Book Club Podcast: Journal to the Self by Kathleen Adams: "In this episode we talk about a book that helps you explore the rich inner world through journalling. Kathleen Adams' life is journal keeping...."

When I first got this book, I skimmed it and stuck it on the shelf to sit unused with all my other journaling books. I kept journaling. Since listening to this conversation, I've been thinking about all the hours, days, and years I spent journaling throughout my teenage years and my adult life, trying so hard to heal, and being completely unable to get anywhere without first principles. This book doesn't talk about first principles, nor does any other journaling book that I know of, but the concept is inherent in all the conversations of the Psychology Book Club podcast. Combining journaling (psychology) with self-RTR (philosophy) finally gave me the recipe for progress that I spent over 40 years looking for.

Real-Time Relationships, by Stefan Molyneux, is a book about relationships with others, but the most important knowledge that it offers is how to develop the most important relationship of all—the one with oneself.

Single Dad Laughing: Sit Down and Write

When is the last time you just sat down and started writing about something heavy? You should try it sometime. It's one of the most powerful exercises you have the ability to put your mind through. Nothing will have the power to heal you from whatever hurt or darkness you carry like writing will. ~Dan, Single Dad Laughing

Read the full post here: Sit Down and Write

Single Dad Laughing: Journaling to find the root of the problem.

See the whole post from Single Dad Laughing, as well as read an example of the process: Journaling to find the root of the problem. He writes:

The process takes blatant honesty, which isn't always simple, even when you're dedicated to the idea.

Step One: Write down the problem or the issue that you're dealing with.
Step Two: Write down the question, "why is that such a big deal to me?"
Step Three: Answer the question.
Step Four: Write down the question, "why is that a big deal to me?"
Step Five: Answer the question.
Step Six: Continue in this process until you get to the underlying root of the problem.
Step Seven: Write down your emotional need based on the root you've discovered.
Step Eight: Give yourself an action item to deal with the root (not the original problem) as well as to get your emotional need met.

Why this works? It takes the focus away from controlling or trying to change what others are doing to recognizing what actions you might take in order to change yourself or meet your own needs. Bravo!

How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me) - Austin Kleon

Really inspiring (and basically what I'm doing here): How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me) - Austin Kleon

From number two: 

Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things.

Or, fake it til’ you make it, as in, pretend to be making something until you actually make something. I love that idea.

From number six:

“Do good work and put it where people can see it.”  It’s a two step process.Step one, “do good work,” is incredibly hard. There are no shortcuts. Make stuff every day. Fail. Get better.

Step two, “put it where people can see it."

Try Ommwriter

 THE NEW VERSION FOR PC - Ommwriter

A free writing program available for the Mac and the PC. It removes all internet distractions, so that you can focus on writing.

What is Writing Therapy? | Mark's Daily Apple

Read the full post: What is Writing Therapy? | Mark's Daily Apple

"Writing, more than speaking, presents us with a slower, solitary mode for reflection. Unlike conversations, we’re less concerned with another person’s reaction. We listen perhaps more intently to our own voices and catch glimpses of subtler stirrings. We own our words in a more definitive way."