The Artist’s Way – Week 11 – Recovering a Sense of Autonomy

Recovering a sense of “Autonomy”. What does that mean anyway? According to the Cambridge Dictionary the definition of autonomy is: “the ability to make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else”. Basically, it means being independent and knowing that everything you do is of your own conscious volition.

This week is all about artistic autonomy. We’ll focus on artistic autonomy by nurturing and accepting yourself as an artist. Examine behaviors that strengthen your spiritual base (your creative power). Handle success without sabotaging freedom, consider ‘The Zen of Sports’, and build your ‘Artist’s Altar’.

Before We Start: Week 10 Checklist

Last week we explored the dangers of the trail, the perils that ambush you on your creative journey. Think of your personal toxic patterns. Did you manage to weed out those toxic patterns? What does a sense of self-protection mean to you? 

• How many days did you do your Morning Pages? How did that feel?
• Did you take yourself out on an Artist Date? What did you do and how did that feel? 
• Did you do the task list? How did that feel? What was the hardest or most interesting part of the tasks?
• Did you make yourself three promises and keep them? How did that feel?
• Describe the other things that are relevant to your recovery (if any).
  
  

Recognize and Appreciate the Peculiar

A creative individual’s cash flow is erratic: sometimes you have the richest month and sometimes you have the poorest month. It would be a mistake to think that your income statement defines your success. Measure success by the moment, relationships, experience, and growth. Make concessions with your inner child: give yourself some quality time to explore creativity by going out on artist dates so you’ll be fully charged to do whatever you need to do to live up to your responsibilities as an adult. Remember that self-respect comes from doing the work, not from measuring it against others or how much money it brings. 

Creativity is the oxygen for our souls and your art will be affected when you let your emotional and intellectual mind stagnate. Once you cut off the oxygen, you’ll be more prone to go back to bad habits, sink into depression, get enraged, and spiral into a negative cycle of toxic patterns. As an artist, recognize the particular and appreciate the peculiar; allow a sense of play and inquiry into your life. Notice that external yardsticks of success such as money, property, reputation, and prestige are irrelevant to your happiness.

Success without the Cost of Freedom

Success can cost you spiritually when it is defined by monetary gains and status. The downside about living passionately as a creative artist is that the goals you reach may never be as satisfying as you’ve been anticipating. As soon as you reach the goal, it disappears quicker than the way to it and you might feel it invalidates the whole process of reaching that goal, an unfinished feeling. If you stop, you begin to stagnate. You may begin to wonder what the point of it all is and if there’ll ever be a moment where you can finally rest. The more you trap yourself with responsibilities and financial needs, the more hopelessness you’ll feel and end up in the cycle of toxic patterns. So, beware of the cost of success when focusing on monetary gains and status. 

Personally, I do agree with what Cameron is pointing out.. to some extent. My family has always worked hard to put bread on the table, as life is not an easy journey as flying with the wind. Life comes with an easy breeze, but also with strong winds and hurricanes. And it doesn’t hurt to be a little prepared for the unexpected turns that life can bring. I usually have a discussion about this with my partner. He’s an artist and he is a beautiful example of someone who recognizes and appreciates the peculiar. I’ve come to the realization that he’s my true example of living a happy life. Money and property may not be relevant to my happiness, but it sure as hell makes it easier to build a family and live my life. My point is this: I believe that a happy life requires a proper balance between (1) having enough means to live comfortably and (2) recognizing and appreciating the peculiar.

The Zen of Sports

Exercising is not only good for your physical health, but it connects us with earth again. It’s more of a psychological experience than you think. First of all, it helps you release endorphins. Believe it or not, but your body produces its on natural mood lifters. Ain’t that an awesome power to have?! It teaches the rewards of process and reconnects us with the satisfaction of a job well done. Don’t you feel relieved and proud after a heavy work out? 

Exercising is thought provoking; you’re achieving a goal with repetitive, mindless tasks. It gives your mind room to wander and let solutions come to you without any effort. It teaches you to trust yourself and to tap into inner resources even when you feel worn out. At times, you may even surprise yourself with how far you can go. The benefits of sports are endless: it improves physical health, boosts your focus and self-confidence, reduces stress, fights depression, improves your mood and sleep habits, and more.

 

Building Your Artist’s Altar

Honor the spiritual side of yourself and perform rituals to connect yourself with your own soul and to give yourself a sense of centeredness. Incorporate elements that celebrate the good things in life and give you positive vibes (e.g.: candles, incense, music, dancing, et cetera). Find your own method to count your blessings, to acknowledge the gift of the day, and to celebrate your artistic autonomy. 

Week 11 Exercises to Recover a Sense of Autonomy

1. Recordings for Meditation
   Record yourself reading (1) the basic principles and (2) your favorite essay. Use these recordings for meditation. 
2. Artist’s Mantra
   Write an artist’s mantra like you did in week 4 (exercise 6) and carry it with you.
3. 10 Wishes
   Buy a special notebook, number pages 1 through 7, and list the following categories per page: health (page 1), possessions (page 2), leisure (page 3), relationships (page 4), creativity (page 5), career (page 6), spirituality (page 7). List 10 wishes in each category without thinking too much about it as to practicality. 
4. Honest Changes
   Go back to ‘Honest Changes’ (week 4). Honest changes slowly come to the surface when the Morning Pages become a ritual. The basis of a successful creative recovery is the commitment to acknowledge and accept your real thoughts and feelings that are hidden in denial. The Morning Pages ritual helps you come to the realization about what you need and what is toxic to you, which leads to self-expression of the true self, your true thoughts & feelings). Think of your morning pages ritual and ask yourself: have you felt any changes so far? 
5. Reaping the Benefits of Morning Pages & Artist’s Dates
   List 5 ways that you’ll expect to change in you as morning pages & artist’s dates continue over the coming years. 
6. Nurture Thyself
   Plan this week in which each day includes one nurturing event (loving, concrete action) for yourself. Also, list 5 ways to nurture yourself in the next 6 months (i.e. courses you’ll take, things you’ll get for yourself, events, vacations, etc).
7. Letter to Thyself
   Write and mail an encouraging letter to yourself. Remember: the artist is a child!
8. Embracing the Universe
   Re-examine your concept of the Universe or life energy. Does your belief system support your creative expression? Can you open up to the possibility that the whole system supports you as a creative human being?
9. Personal Synchronicity
   List 10 examples of personal synchronicity that support the possibility of a nurturing creative force. If you forgot about personal synchronicity, it’s ok. Scanning through week 3 and week 7 might help.
   
   

Next: [ Lesson 12 ] – Recovering a Sense of Faith

Thanks for reading!
This article captures what I consider to be the highlights of the book and articles that helped me gain understanding of the subject matter, and should only be treated as such. If you enjoyed this article, hit the follow button for more articles and summaries.

Cameron, J. (2017). The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (12th Edition ed.). New York: J.P. Tarcher/Putnam.