I’m doing a programme at the moment about exploring ‘the artist in us’, it’s based on Julie Cameron’s book The Artist Way.
(Side note - since leaving permanent corporate life I have probably invested half of my hard earned self employed earnings on self development. In corporate life, when it was all paid for me, I didn’t much looking forward to learning and development programmes. Maybe there is a Home Truth in there about what we value, and paying for something gives us ownership and value. Still exploring that one though!).
We were exploring our beliefs and our values, and how they direct us in life more than we know. We run this exercise in Another Door but I’ve never really done it for myself.
A home truth I discovered was that I have a quiet belief ( it doesn’t show up loudly, but it’s there) that anything that isn’t work or hasn’t a clear tangible outcome, I believe it is indulgent. That doesn’t mean I don’t do it, it just means I maybe don’t value it as much as activities with clear outcomes. It has certainly heightened since becoming self employed.
So. A big home truth.
And one which means I no longer make time for things I enjoy like painting, drawing, even walking. In fact, I realised that even hiking / walking I have found a way to make it have an outcome and a commercial purpose! And in the past I haven’t just been able to paint for fun, it has always had a purpose, either to sell it or sell it for charity.
So that’s my challenge to work on. Do something that has absolutely no purpose, outcome, reason what so ever and enjoy it! ( I’m not sure if going out drinking with friends is included in this, but keeping an open mind!).So that’s been my ponders today.
What are your home truths, your beliefs, that might actually be stopping you from things you really want to do?
They are worth discovering, because once you know they are there they start to disappear!
eleanor
Like you I feel guilty if I'm spending my time unproductivly.
But yesterday after my daily 10 mins of online 'Yoga with Kassandra', I accidentally watched her 'Coffee with Kasandra'. 30 mins of listening to an online yogi talking about fostering cats and buying a horse. Boy did I feel guilty.
But, what she was actually saying was that she'd become consumed by her online presence and making money and was spending every waking hour doing just that. She realised she was burned out and needed to get a better balance by doing things just because.
Cats and horses might not be your thing, they're certainly not mine, but the message is a good one a d reinforces your wise words. So maybe it was a productive 30 mins after all. Now I just have to figure out what my thing is!
Home truth for me is I believe I must be doing rather than just being, maybe I feel I’m being judged. I know that really it’s only me judging. A habit to ponder, & break