so this morning, while the guys are here taking out my old window and installing the new one, there is really too much noise and action for me to be able to concentrate on anything other than the new window installation. it was really cool when the old window was out and there was this giant hole in my living room. but when i got my first glimpse of the new window i was sad. new windows look so icky to me. i love the heart and soul and character of the old windows so much.
but i know in time i will love the energy efficiency of the new windows. and i will get used to how they look. and i will decorate them with my things and make them mine.
so with all of this going on, i decided to retreat to my art room and do a journal page called: i embrace change.
begin by writing somewhere on your page: i embrace change.
look at it. notice how you feel about it. find the part of you that really does embrace change. what does that part of you have to say? write that down. i wrote: i am strong. i am brave. i trust life. i trust myself. even when it’s difficult or even hard, i can dive into the unknown. i trust the process. i make friends with change.
then illustrate the part of you that embraces change. i did a self portrait with “allowing change to swirl through” in my hair.
with the illustration, write a message, from the part of you that embraces change, to the part of you that does not.
for me, this was: i know that there are always gifts on the other side
so when the part of me that does not embrace change remembers that, that makes it easy to go into it.
this also reminds me of the creative journaling video i made about making friends with change.
looking forward to seeing what you do with this creative journaling exercise.
(for more about the creative journaling workshop, go here)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m going throught tons of change and have been since moving from MI to AZ 2 years ago. My husband and son-in-law lost their jobs.My dad passed away in June and my moms kidneys are failing. I can’t tell you how much I love your blog and I’m going to get some journals, paints and things this weekend.
My husband sold his biz 2 years ago and planned on working for the next eight years in AZ before retiring. It’s been 5 months with not much happening so he is planning on purchasing a business here. Yikes…I need to make friends with all this change.
Thanks for your help in the process.
Thank you for that line, “I know there are always gifts on the other side”. I’m gonna hold on to that idea right now. I’m letting go of a big chunk of old ugly stuff, and I’ve moved into the “angry” phase of it. I feel like a ticking timebomb,right now, just waiting to explode. I keep telling myself that it’s okay, and necessary, to move through this stage. It will pass. I know that i’m doing incredible work, and that I’m reclaiming lost parts of myself, and that I will be that much stronger and healhier and happier. I’m doing my best to stay present, and feel what I need to feel, and also keeping an eye on the light on the other side. In fact, as I write that, I realize that what I’m doing as I feel these dark feelings, is shining the light on them. I’m coaxing them out of the darkness, into the light, where they can be transformed. Wow, that makes it all feel worthwhile, and so much easier to go through. Okay, I’m off to go and be with my anger. Here i go, moving bravely forward. YAY!!
wow tess that is a lot of change! i am so happy you are going to buy paints and journals and things. i find working in my journal so nourishing and soothing especially during times of big change. i’m looking forward to seeing what you do with yours. i am seeing you move through all this change with BOLDness.
robbin you absolutely are doing incredible and worthwhile work. i see you moving bravely forward!