Recognize Either/Or Thinking
Week 1, Day 5 of The Artist's Way
Today, let's recognize our either/or thinking that keeps us blocked from embracing our beloved dreams.
Central Negative Belief
“Stripped to their essence, our multiple negative beliefs reveal a central negative belief: we must trade one good, beloved dream for another.
In other words, if being an artist seems too good to be true to you, you will devise a price tag for it that strikes you as unpayable. Hence, you remain blocked.
Most blocked creatives carry unacknowledged either/or reasoning that stands between them and their work. To become unblocked we must recognize our either/or thinking.
“I can either be romantically happy or an artist.” “I can either be financially successful or an artist.” It is possible, quite possible to be both an artist and romantically fulfilled. It is possible to be an artist.
Your block doesn't want you to see that. Its whole plan of attack is to make you irrationally afraid of some dire outcome you are too embarrassed to even mention. You know rationally that writing or painting shouldn't be put off because of your silly fear, but because it is a silly fear, you don't air it and the block stays intact.”
(The Artist's Way, p. 32-33)
I am willing to experience my creative energy.
download this printable affirmation card
Select and write out one happy piece of encouragement.
Describe why this vote of confidence means so much to you. Once you are done, write a thank you letter to the person who gave you this encouragement – even if it was you. Mail it to yourself or to the long-lost mentor.
“I cannot believe that the inscrutable universe turns on an axis of suffering; surely the strange beauty of the world must somewhere rest on pure joy.”
– Louise Bogan
