I strive to be a
person who keeps commitments: doing what I’ll say, showing up when I’ve signed
up, following through. At times this effort really stresses me out, but I have
an inner driver who demands that I be responsible.
What I’ve discovered is,
this “responsibility” mentality gets in the way of making healthy, positive creative choices!
Commitments are one thing,
but to keep the energy of a beautiful practice is much more than that.
Here’s where I “try softer.”
I have an accountability
writing partner. She and I have met for many years because we are determined to
be gentle with our processes. It’s okay if we have to make a last-minute change
or cancellation. We are very, very kind about this. We have both pledged to let
changes go with ease. We show up the next time, and the next, and keep it
flowing. We change rhythm quite a lot, but we always land on our feet.
If we didn’t have this
gentleness, we both would have quit a long time ago. The pressure would have
pushed us away from the very practice we need.
What I want to say: go
gently.
_______________
You can work this way with all your most powerful energies. You do need the accountability . . . but you also need the grace.
I am always drawing gentle but firm boundaries that will promote being consistent . . . and in this way I am the most responsible that I can be.
In creative practice I recharge and renew. I let go and feel the human and her body and breath, and write down her feelings and stories and ideas and journey. Paradoxically (because it doesn’t feel like work), here is where I do my best work.
I travel to and from the coast, around the northwest . . . and around the world, and to places virtually, to bring you this gentleness. To help you be softer on yourself.
Take good care . . . and go
softly!
—Christi
