creative journaling workshop: why don't you lift your spirits?

last week’s creative journaling workshop was called lift your spirits, making a list of things that inspire and uplift you.  i love these lists and how they can support us through times when we are struggling.

this week i wanted to take that exercise on step further and take a look at what stops us from doing the things on our lists more often.  if these are the things that fuel us, then the more we are doing them, the more fuel we have for everything else in our lives.  but sometimes we flip it around, and decide we have to take care of “the important stuff” before we can play, rest and do the things we love to do.

mini-golf

what if what we love most is what is most important for us to do?  what if we are here to enjoy our lives?  what if how much joy we have is infinitely more important than how much money we have or how many items we crossed off our to-do list?

i see a lot of evidence in my life that it’s more important for me to be doing the things that make my heart sing.   not only am i happier when i’m doing the things i love, but when it comes time to do the things i “have to do” i am in a better space to do them more efficiently, to have fun doing then and mostly – i do them better.  my life flows when i am having fun.

we need to play.

so looking at your list of things that uplift your spirits, make another list – a list of reasons why you are not doing these things more often.  this may feel like a downer.  but the intention is to be more aware of where you can be having more fun, of where you may want to give yourself permission to enjoy yourself more, and to play before you work when that feels right and find ways to blur the line between work and play.  not to eradicate responsibility in your life but to bring more joy and play into your daily routine.  to lift your spirits every day.

we all deserve to be happy right here and now.  when we can look honestly at what is getting in the way of that, then we can start making some changes that will bring play, delight and happiness into what we are doing right now.  you can make this list on the same page you make your first list on, or start a new page just for this one.  i’d love to hear about how you do with your lists and any shifts that begin to happen in your life as a result of looking at this.

andrea schroeder creates creativity workshops, downloadable creativity kits and guided meditations to support you in knowing and remembering that you are a creative being and you can create anything. you can do it. let’s make some magic.

join in on her free creative journaling workshop now and learn how to use an art journal as a tool for healing, happiness and self-discovery.

Tagged as: Art Journal, happy, play