Here you'll find some favorite articles--mostly about relating with our own thinking in a way that fosters recognition of our inherent wisdom, ease and freedom--without policing thoughts or pasting a happy-face on top of them.
Plus, some on love...because, isn't that what it all comes down to? And then a few others on phases of the Creative Process.
On Changing Your Mind
Bright Idea digital self portrait 2010 by Jude Spacks
Invisible Creative Blocks So, the good news? You're not so blocked you're scratching your head raw hoping a genius idea light bulb will sprout out of it. But there are some more subtle creative ruts that can mute your joy, ruffle your peace and stunt your leaps....
Fun With Your Plastic Brain How insights from neuroscience can help us break out of unwanted patterns. First step? Understanding that the pain is in your brain, not your circumstances.
Recipe for Deciding My preferred mode of travel is Flying By Seat O' Pants. Sometimes in the game of life, it can help to pick a card, any card, and go from there, without back-talk...A handy how-to guide for gut-checking decisions.
Get Out Sometimes the way of liberation is so simple. Pictures from a freedom walk.
Fun With Your Plastic Brain How insights from neuroscience can help us break out of unwanted patterns. First step? Understanding that the pain is in your brain, not your circumstances.
Recipe for Deciding My preferred mode of travel is Flying By Seat O' Pants. Sometimes in the game of life, it can help to pick a card, any card, and go from there, without back-talk...A handy how-to guide for gut-checking decisions.
Get Out Sometimes the way of liberation is so simple. Pictures from a freedom walk.
How to Deal with Inner Snark Voices
Voices, digital self-portrait by Jude Spacks, 2010
Who Do You Think You Are? A very different way to relate to this classic put-down, and maybe actually make friends with it.
Who's the Doer? What if instead of trying to earn a better self-image, we could let go of coming up with any self-image at all?
Woman Stops Braining Herself With Carrot Stick A way out of tyrannizing yourself with your List.
A Theory It's ok to play hookey from the school of What's Wrong With You That Led To Mistakes.
Who's the Doer? What if instead of trying to earn a better self-image, we could let go of coming up with any self-image at all?
Woman Stops Braining Herself With Carrot Stick A way out of tyrannizing yourself with your List.
A Theory It's ok to play hookey from the school of What's Wrong With You That Led To Mistakes.
Meanwhile, let's talk a little about love...
Just Sayin', digital self portrait by Jude Spacks
Cat Love Here's what I don't really get: what's so laughable about being seriously in love with a cat?
Unconditional God spelled backwards....
Nesting The love of small things.
Drawing Papers Love of drawing, even something apparently unlovable.
Unconditional God spelled backwards....
Nesting The love of small things.
Drawing Papers Love of drawing, even something apparently unlovable.
Here are a few more favorite articles on the theme of meeting different phases of the creative process. I hope you'll find some useful company for your journey in them, no matter what you want to create....
Starting something?
For No Good Reason (marker drawing by Jude Spacks, 2014)
10 Minutes and Art First: Two pieces about an easy practice that can return you to an open mind when it seems like survival necessities are leaving too little time for whatever you really want to do.
Difficulty at the Beginning: Too much beginning at once? How to sort through the chaos. Plus, give yourself a quick reading about your challenges based on the wisdom of the I Ching Book of Changes
Entering Retreat: A love letter from future self makes a happy entry/exit practice for a period of work and/or reflection.
Difficulty at the Beginning: Too much beginning at once? How to sort through the chaos. Plus, give yourself a quick reading about your challenges based on the wisdom of the I Ching Book of Changes
Entering Retreat: A love letter from future self makes a happy entry/exit practice for a period of work and/or reflection.
Feeling stuck?
What's the Point? (marker drawing by Jude Spacks, 2011)
Mud Season: In the uncharted middle of creating something--a painting, a conversation, a business plan-- sometimes inspiration wanders off for no apparent reason, taking momentum and confidence with it....
Slugfest: I hadn't realized how personally I'd been taking a sluggish low mood, how ashamed I felt--of feeling ashamed and useless? As if all lifeforms weren't astonishing, even the ones I might find a tad booger-like and repulsive. As if only perky, productive, quick-moving beings earn a right to belong here...
Waiting and Limitation: two pieces that let you take a reading on your situation based on the wisdom of the I Ching Book of Changes
In the middle or nearing the end of a project?
Results (marker and digital drawing, Jude Spacks, 2015)
Dogged Dedication: Inspiration for keeping on keeping on, from a canine teacher of perseverance.
The End: On Finishing or Not Are we there yet? What if there were nothing to lose and nothing to gain from getting to all done?
What Should I Do?: A how-to guide on getting and giving constructive feedback.
Winning at Nothing: A short-sweet moment of celebrating.
The End: On Finishing or Not Are we there yet? What if there were nothing to lose and nothing to gain from getting to all done?
What Should I Do?: A how-to guide on getting and giving constructive feedback.
Winning at Nothing: A short-sweet moment of celebrating.
