Tiny Changes, Big Impact

To get anything done, you have to act. Thinking about it, wishing for something, is not enough. Imagination precedes action, it doesn't replace action. What happens is we sometimes get overwhelmed with the scope of our dream or goal, and we don't know where to start, or what the next step should be. Julia Cameron has a great suggestion to get moving.

In The Artist's Way, she recommends making 10 tiny changes in your life. Listing these in your journal, or anywhere, and doing them. What kind of changes are tiny ones? Ones that you can do today, or certainly this week. For example, something so mundane as socks. I had been looking for socks to wear with my running shoes, not that I was going running, but of course I needed athletic socks, not dressy socks. I started to murmur to myelf about my kids taking my socks, and then I realized, simply go buy more socks! It sounds so ridiculous, but getting out to a nearby convenience store, I bought my socks. No more negative thoughts about socks!

In their follow-up book, The Artist's Way at Work, the authors, writing for a slightly different audience, refer to this as filling the form. "Filling the form requires us to pay gentle attention to our wishes and needs. We may not be able to make the large changes that we yearn for, but we certainly can make small changes that bring us a sense of comfort and optimism" (69). I think tiny changes are the path to big changes. In his work with success principles, Jack Canfield recommends taking 5 steps each day that move you closer to your big goal, it could be as small as sending email to 5 people who may be able to help you.

Think of 3 small changes you can make in eacd of the following areas of your life:

1. Work space.
2. Car.
3. Kitchen.
4. Wardrobe.
5. Reading list, or entertainment plans.
6. Living room.
7. Bedroom.
8. Exercise habits.
9. Eating habits.
10. Spiritual/intellectual maintenance

These changes can be so ordinary, getting your tires aligned, getting a picture framed, buying organic dates, picking up paint chips, buying socks. However, they get you moving toward your good life.

What can you do today that would bring you delight, or bring you closer to attaining a big dream?

The Characters Within You

This post is adapted from an exercise in The Vein of Gold: A Journey to Your Creative Heart, by Julia Cameron, and was recommended on Christine Kane's blog. It's worth hundreds of dollars in psychotherapy, so read carefully. It explains a lot about yourself.

She calls these personae "Secret Selves". I don't really think of them as secret, but in a way they hide from your conscious thinking. These are characters within yourself, "Each of these historical selves forms the root system for your adult Secret Selves". To illustrate, she points out her inner Mother Abbess, the product of many years of Catholic schooling. Mother Abbess has many firm opinions about what is proper and appropriate, and what is not. She dresses in traditional nun garb, and encourages all to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Competing for Ms. Cameron's attention is Bon Bon, another Secret Self. Bon Bon is blonde, drives a vintage convertible and wears red lacy underthings. When Bon Bon is in charge, life is fun and frivolous, under Mother Abbess, Ms. Cameron writes, teaches, and does service work. Between the two of them, she manages a life that is both festive and productive. In this exercise name and describe 5 of your own Secret Selves.

Here are mine:

1. Bossy Lucy: The is the extroverted ueber-organizer who works with flair and wears red dresses. She gets things done on time and under budget.

2. Southern Belle: She is full of charm and makes people laugh. She wears summery dresses and high-heeled sandals. She delights in entertaining folks in her home.

3. The Intellectual: An introvert who loves to read and write. She wants to contribute to her own never-ending learning, and that of others. Looks preppy and blossoms in the classroom.

4. Mother Earth: She would like to have 10 children. She relishes the maternal role, tries to nourish the unlimited potential in her children. She wears jeans, t-shirts, and flip flops.

5. Boho Artiste: Looks as hip as possible. She thinks about color, listens to music. Fascinated by visual symbols. Her life style is down to earth, organic, and perhaps unconventional. She plans to move to Paris....one of these days.

See how this explains our complex and wonder-filled personalities. You can understand better why we really don't know how to accurately answer all those surveys that are supposed to put us in a marketing cubby hole. Each of the Secret Selves contributes to your rich, productive, and creative life. All need a voice at times, plus tender loving care.

Why We Say That We Can't Do Something

This is a direct quote from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way and it's so true! I want to emblazon this into each brain of every student (and child) I've ever had:

Usually, when we say we can't do something, what we mean is that we won't do something unless we can guarantee that we'll do it perfectly (121).

She suggests completing this sentence: If I didn't have to do it perfectly, I would try......

In other words, I think we squash our creative impulse because we suspect it won't be a glorious success. In the case of students, at times they focus so much on getting the high grade (the superficial payment) that they don't risk trying something untried. Then again, there are those who simply want to slap down something, at the last minute. But they have the same fear. If I just turn in "whatever", I am not exposing myself to real criticism...it's obvious this is not close to my best effort.

Think of every project as work in progress. It will never be truly perfect, but it can be wonderful and each time we put effort into a project, we're becoming more human.

Make a list of the topics you like to read about.

Ten Lists to Help You

Antje graciously lent me a copy of the book, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. It's written by Julia Cameron, who writes movies, plays, magazine articles, and gives workshops on creativity. This book is packed with suggestions and here are some lists of the many lists she highly recommends to help you be your more of a creator. Her first advice is to write 3 pages daily - just to get the crud out of your thinking.

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power it it. --Goethe

Note: Titles of the lists are provided but YOU have to fill them up! These are designed to help you get past the clutter in your existence so you can create more.

1. If I had 5 other lives to lead, I would do the following in each of them.

2. My 5 Major Activities in a Given Week.

3. 20 Things I Enjoy Doing.

4. 10 Tiny Changes I Would Like to Make in My Life....Now.

5. 5 Traits I Like in Myself as a Child.

6. 5 Childhood Accomplishments.

7. 3 Rotten Habits of Mine.

8. 5 Friends Who Nurture Me.

9. 5 People I Admire.

10. 5 People I Secretly Admire.

Get busy! More to come later.