The Way Forward is Simpler than We Think
My trampoline and my colored pencils: my favorite access points to my joy and hence my creativity
I want to share with you a tool that for me has been more transformative than years of therapy, self-improvement, years of study and research that is backed by science and easily verifiable with little risk. It is a tool that is expertly modeled by those we may not typically seek counsel from.. The child. I know it seems too simple? Stay with me though.
The recent eclipses, a major planetary transit last weekend and our full moon today have been disrupting our foundations (in not so subtle ways). The way we see reality, ourselves and the way we have been orienting our lives is shifting. Powerful change is being ignited within all of us and it wants one thing for us-greater freedom to pursue your mission. The mission of you being and expressing YOU. Who better to illuminate this awakening than a child? Their very essence is purely just that. Before they are conditioned on “how to be” by their parents and society, all they know how to be is unabashedly themselves.
How free they are!
They express exactly how they feel when they feel it-squeals of delight, fits of rage, unsatisfied curiosity-they express the entire emotional range.
They believe that all is possible, even the most fantastic fantasies. They believe that they can do and be whatever they want when they “grow up”.
There is very little logic in their decisions, just pure desire. They want waffles for breakfast because it tastes good. They want to smell the flowers because they smell delightful. They want to ride their bikes because it is fun. Impulse-action, no second guessing.
Their main filter being the joy and fun of it right now. What true models of innate creativity at play, of being in the flow with yourself on the deepest level, of being so unbiased and open to the wonder of possibilities, at being so delighted in the awe of the now.
I think if we are honest, when we “grow up” we are in constant attempts to foster the very things that we had access to when we first began our lives-joy, freedom, confidence, creativity. How many times have I tried to be creative in my work life, or wrestled to open my mind to a new way of thinking? How many days did I dream of being more free?
When did “adulting” cause us to forget the tool that no one had to teach us to use. When did we substitute a belief that effort and struggle would trump the flow of what was naturally being delivered to us through what we desired instantaneously?
A child is not doing anything as a means to an end because they are already where they want to be.
As “wise” adults we cannot seem to fix the modern day problems of overwhelm, stress, stuckness, busyness-heck some days I have to “practice” to relax!
Enter in this profound tool-joy.
At the core of all we do is the belief that it will make us feel “better”. We want that different job because it will allow us more freedom, a better schedule, and in the end it will feel better than our current one.
Yet, we often do a lot of not good feeling things hoping they produce different energetic results. In my past, I worker harder, more hours, more effort in hopes that I would make enough money to have more freedom and a better schedule. It didn’t work. The universe doesn’t work this way. Like attract like and so we never get to that better feeling place from actions that don’t in essence feel good to begin with.
What if instead create the the good feelings in the now and let those lead us to the how instead of the other way around?
The most direct route to our joy is through the act of play, expressing ourselves creatively for the “fun of it” rather than for an outcome, opening to a state of wonder and awe in the simple pleasures that we can experience through our senses. Pleasure and joy go hand in hand.
Some of the ways I have returned to this childlike pleasure is following my childlike desires..I let myself color, draw, jump on my mini trampoline, write stories, lay in the grass, daydream, smell flowers on my walks. It is so much fun!
As a person who has spent her entire life “working on herself” the most impactful tool in my awakening and transformation has been the allowing of myself to pursue and experience pleasure and joy. Instead of this being an “after thought, an activity I give with my time leftovers, I actually prioritize it first. And the results are profound, new creative ideas, a refreshed awareness of who I am outide of the doer and manager of my life events and best of all, I am feeling good NOW. I am living a fulfilling life now and yes I still have unrealized dreams but I am not putting my joy in layaway.
I have watched this profound tool impact my clients too. People who wanted more answers and when encouraged to pursue more of their creative pleasures they have found what they were seeking in the first place-themelves-their essence. They found it is so many unique ways..a man found it in taking time in the morning to create blessings for people he loved, a woman found it in making quilts..there is no “right way” and really you don’t have to try to find your way. You simply return to what has been there all along.
So my invitation this week is to invite in more of your child self.
What did you love to do when you were a child?
What would allow you to squeal with joy?
What softens your edges?
What would delight you right now?
This is your portal to your tool of joy.
Joy and play are direct links to our creativity. It is creativity that will show us more sustainable ways to orient and build foundations for our genius life. Not the mind and not through energetically hallow actions. We must swap obligation for inspiration.
So when you want to find your way-rest your mind and play more! When life feels heavy-play.
Don’t be surprised if the answers you seek come in the most unexpected places and spaces when we return to our essence, our childlike state of wonder, awe and openness.
Unless we change and become like little children, we will never access our heaven..
Interpretation of Matthew 18:2-4
With Love, Jill
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Desire is the most natural and primal call to action…and acknowledging our truest desires is the simplest way to show ourselves love and cultivate trust with our internal guidance.