Uncouple Guilt from Your Gifts

Today, let's restore those parts of ourselves that we've abandoned for fear of hurting others.

DETECTIVE WORK

Many blocked people are actually very powerful and creative personalities who have been made to feel guilty about their own strengths and gifts.

Without being acknowledged, They are often used as batteries by their families and friends, who feel free to both use their creative energies and disparage them. When these block artists strive to break free of their dysfunctional systems, they are often urged to be sensible when such advice is not appropriate for them. Made to feel guilty for their talents, they often hide their own light under a bushel for fear of hurting others. Instead, they hurt themselves.

A little sleuth work is in order to restore the persons we have abandoned—ourselves.

When you complete the following phrases, you may feel strong emotion as you Retrieve memories and missed placed fragments of yourself. Allow yourself to free-associate for a sentence or so with each phrase.

My favorite childhood toy was …
My favorite childhood game was …
The best movie I ever saw as a kid was …
I don't do it much but I enjoy …
If I could lighten up a little, I'd let myself …
If I weren't too late, I'd …
My favorite musical instrument is …
The amount of money I spend I'm treating myself to entertainment each month is …
If I weren't so stingy with my artist, I'd buy him/her …
Taking time out for myself is …
I am afraid that if I start dreaming …
I secretly enjoy reading …
If I had a perfect childhood I'd have grown up to be …
If it didn't sound so crazy, I'd write or make a …
My parents think artists are…
My God thinks artists are…
What makes me feel weird about this recovery is…
Learning to trust myself is probably…
My most cheer me up music is…
My favorite way to dress is…

(The Artist's Way, 2016, p. 52 – 53)

I am a very powerful and creative artist.

download printable affirmation card

How have others enlivened your inner artist?

List five people you admire. Now, list five people you secretly admire. What traits do these people have that you can cultivate further in yourself?

List five people you wish you hadn't met who are dead. List five people who are dead whom you'd like to hang out with for a while in eternity. What treats do you find in these people that you can look for in your friends?

Compare the two sets of lists. Take a look at what you really like and admire—and look at what you think you should like and admire. Your shoulds might tell you to admire Edison while your heart belongs to Houdini. Go with the Houdini side of you for a while.