The Inner Studio - Riverside Architectural Press

PART FIVE | USING THIS LIFE TO BE CREATIVE AND WISE
then I may need to do a better job of honoring my own intuitiveness.
In choosing to not blame the other, I choose instead to try
growing in places within myself that I may have difficulty acknowledging.
The key to managing interpersonal situations is to own the
shadow side of ourselves. The hallmark of the shadow is often its
exaggerated response. A phrase or a glance that makes us wild with
a theory of conspiracy or attack is a sign that we may be possessed
by our shadow. It is very difficult to acknowledge one’s own
shadow. One technique is to try writing a description of yourself
that acknowledges the behavior you find upsetting as something
you are capable of from time to time. If this fails to help, try visualizing
your enemy happy. See them smiling in nature. If this is not
possible, try to see yourself in light and happy; once you can do
this, try again with your enemy. If this is not possible try to visualize
something you care about, like a plant or pet or perhaps your
room. Once you find something you can send affection toward, try
to work your way back to sending the affection to yourself and then
perhaps your enemy.
When you get stuck, the most important thing is to believe in your
own creativity. To do this you need to consciously have the experience
of being creative. Because everyone is creative, you may never
have actually stopped to ask yourself what it feels like when you are
creative. You need to give yourself permission to know and enjoy
the experience in your body and mind when you are moved and
possessed by the creative spirit. This is a fundamental part of everyone
and can easily be obscured by the pressures to succeed and be
liked. What we sometimes forget is that this part of ourselves is
indestructible and always available.
Go back in your mind to a creative moment you enjoyed and
try to recall the sensation in your body and mind. See if you can
reconstruct and really enjoy the sensation of the creative moment
physically moving through you. If you have trouble making contact
with a feeling of being creative, ask yourself what moves you. You
may need to go to an art gallery and find a painting or sculpture
you like. Rather then analyzing the experience, just allow yourself
to stand in front of the work of art. Rest in the feeling of being
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