Taking Action

The Creative Soul Journal is an invitation for creative souls to explore their own strength and capacity building a dream and a real life.

“…It can't be all work. Right now, I'd love to be painting, working on my music. I have my piano right there, and I haven't been learning many things I've always enjoyed and used to do, and I have to start all over again. I have stacks and stacks of poetry books that I need to publish, songs, everything, just sitting there. And I have so many things to get rid of, and no time to do it…”

Do these words sound familiar to your soul? This is the story of so many of us, creative souls who at some point in our journey, looked back and realized that everything was just sitting there, waiting for us to start. But the responsibility, routine, and lack of motivation to begin what seems a very difficult task, plus the lack of time and the tiredness of the body, make us think that, right now as we are, it would be impossible.

But it’s not impossible.

Last year, after seven years of looking at my things “just sitting there”, I embarked on a difficult journey.

I committed to drawing and writing every day. I raised myself from the after work “sofa intertia,” and stepped into my studio to draw and write. I also published the Creative Soul book and journal, painted several artworks, created hundreds of drawings, put together an event, didn’t fail at my job as a program director in a school, and overall revived my art practice. It was definitely not perfect, and my body failed half-way to the goal, but in just six months I accomplished so much more than I had been able to accomplish in the previous 7 years combined.

How did I do it? I decided it, committed, and took action.

I took action even when I didn’t feel like it, even when I was sick in bed, and even when I couldn’t imagine taking one more step. And the more action I took, the more energy I had.

And yes, by August, I had to take a long break because my body said “no more”, but by then my experiment had paid off and given me proof that the passion and energy that I had know during my years as a full time artist, were still alive in me.

There are things we can do to become unstoppable in our commitment to ourselves. And I suspect we don’t need to be as brutal as I was with myself last year.

So this year I will be gentle. And this is why I’m starting a month late!

A new year proposes a new start, a clear vision, a wish that doesn’t stay imagined. And while I start late, this first day of February, that is a statement in itself: better late than never.

This is the premise of Creative Soul. It’s never too late to dream, it’s never too late to act in favor of our soul’s desire. And it’s never too late to start, especially when starting after a whole life of work, learning, experience and wisdom, all qualities that contribute to a deeper capacity for expression than we had at 20 years old.

Everything we are, everything we do, everything we think, adds to our creative toolbox. It is that wise quality that will permeate our creations and help us connect on a deeper level with the people we want to reach.

There is only one step we must take: the first step. Taking action, small or large action, is the only way to cross the bridge that leads to a new life of abundant creation.

As I continue to practice and commit to this journey toward creative freedom, I invite you to join. I look forward to a year of clarity and action toward the dream!