I first started following you because you said what I was feeling. I felt like you were talking to my soul. Once again you have spoken to that human deep inside if me. I am grateful for your continued vulnerability.
Thank you so much for this. I needed to read this, as I'm struggling hard with the drive to prove myself worthy and the impact it's having on my life right now.
Thanks for putting yourself out there, both here and in the book club, Dr C. I have been a follower since long before the club, because I feel like I can relate to and learn from you. Your voice matters and is a valid one to me.
I had to step away from the community side of it, though I've continued reading and doing the tasks at my own pace. I'm sorry if that felt like the club wasn't succeeding - I was just using my enrolment as leverage to stay on the task of getting The Artist's Way read, the activities done.
What's been very real for me in this process is that the universe has conspired to help my inner artist to emerge after I invited it. I hope that's true for you too. It's funny how things work out, and I trust that incredible, wonderful and amazing things are coming for you and your daughter. Be safe and be you - you're the drawcard; The Artists Way was just one vehicle.
It’s humbling and vulnerable to be accountable for your actions and decisions, especially when you are accountable to yourself. What a wonderful gift to yourself; self-knowledge is so valuable especially as a creative.
Also if you want to nerd out about higher ed (I’ve been at a community college for over a decade, and I’m still there, but in a different role), hit me up. But if you need a detox from the field, believe me, I get it.
I have discovered that I judge my self worth on what I can do for others. If I can be useful, folks will want me around. I am trying to grow from that. I had really appreciated your work. I don't feel like this first business has failed, you are just getting started. Book Club was just a small part of it. 🫂
A deep thank you for being transparent about and within your process. Alex B. Is right, this is a message! This is an incredible message!!
There has been no failing and there is zero reason to cringe.
There is only reason to celebrate.
You actually needed to enter that project, from that program, so that the deeper part of yourself could witness it and catch it for you to learn everything that you’ve just shared with us.
It was a step that was absolutely required and what is so beautiful, Is that once you saw it and UNMASKED TO YOURSELF, you didn’t just pack down the project and then try to quietly slip back into posts without sharing what that deep learning was.
We have spent our entire lives designing masks and perfecting our capacity to switch from mask to mask to survive multiple environments and necessary engagements. I don’t even know if we will ever get to a point where masks do not show up at all ever again….
I feel like it is a practice that needs to be continually practised.
In living more consciously with autism and ADHD as grown adults, (a lot of us most likely late diagnosed) we can better design our lives to mask less ie. which friendships we nurture, what work environment is sustainable for our nature, what activities we choose to socialise and engage with and how to choose staying at home for rest over prioritising people‘s expectations to be somewhere.
However, the more we make the efforts to lean into authentic self, the more obvious the masks we have worn to survive become.
We can begin to witness from a third party perspective and this is in fact, the very intersection that we need to arrive at, to then be able to unpick ourselves from the mask.
Did you catch that? It is the very intersection that we need to arrive at, to then be able to unpick ourselves from the mask.
I am so incredibly grateful for your share here in this way. I have not been on Substack for weeks because I’ve been stuck in my head trying to get all of my pieces perfect. It is only coming online this morning and reading your post first thing that has made me realise,
Not doing anything is still a mask. Trying to edit pieces that have been written from my heart, using my mind to find a way to make them more appealing before posting, is masking to myself.
I am so excited that this was the first thing I read on waking up and the awareness that it has gifted me.
Keep sharing your journey, inspiring others and celebrate the gift of awareness!!
Thank you for this. I recently left my second job leaving me entirely dependent on my own mobile biz. Despite knowing I deeply need rest, I’m sometimes focused on fear (lack, needing to always be doing) making me think I need another job… but I seriously need rest. Thank you for modeling that.
Thank you! I recently quit my job to pursue my creativity, and it struck deep that burnout comes from over providing… I’m wishing you all the best, and I hope our intuitions guide us to the places we need. It’s so easy to listen to fear and be steered by capitalism, this is a friendly reminder to serve yourself first
Another wonderful piece that resonates to my core. Thank you for showing us how this hard work is done! I'll be following you wherever and however you choose to share.
I first started following you because you said what I was feeling. I felt like you were talking to my soul. Once again you have spoken to that human deep inside if me. I am grateful for your continued vulnerability.
Don't walk in front of me,
I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me,
I may not lead.
Just walk beside me
And be my friend.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for this. I needed to read this, as I'm struggling hard with the drive to prove myself worthy and the impact it's having on my life right now.
Thanks for putting yourself out there, both here and in the book club, Dr C. I have been a follower since long before the club, because I feel like I can relate to and learn from you. Your voice matters and is a valid one to me.
I had to step away from the community side of it, though I've continued reading and doing the tasks at my own pace. I'm sorry if that felt like the club wasn't succeeding - I was just using my enrolment as leverage to stay on the task of getting The Artist's Way read, the activities done.
What's been very real for me in this process is that the universe has conspired to help my inner artist to emerge after I invited it. I hope that's true for you too. It's funny how things work out, and I trust that incredible, wonderful and amazing things are coming for you and your daughter. Be safe and be you - you're the drawcard; The Artists Way was just one vehicle.
It’s humbling and vulnerable to be accountable for your actions and decisions, especially when you are accountable to yourself. What a wonderful gift to yourself; self-knowledge is so valuable especially as a creative.
Also if you want to nerd out about higher ed (I’ve been at a community college for over a decade, and I’m still there, but in a different role), hit me up. But if you need a detox from the field, believe me, I get it.
I have discovered that I judge my self worth on what I can do for others. If I can be useful, folks will want me around. I am trying to grow from that. I had really appreciated your work. I don't feel like this first business has failed, you are just getting started. Book Club was just a small part of it. 🫂
Thank you for sharing this. I can relate so damn much 🙌🏾🖤
Ahhh, this is so good 💖
I appreciate you so much❤️ thank you for your transparency and authenticity
This is a beautiful truth telling that has inspired me so much 💕 I've been burned out multiple times and never knew what the core of it was.
I feel like I can breathe after reading your work. Thank you!!! 🙏🏾♥️🫂
I resonate with this so much. Thank you for being vulnerable with us 💛
Love this ! I have been leading in fear for a while but now I’m learning how not to
This is a message! Thank you for speaking your truth.♥️
A deep thank you for being transparent about and within your process. Alex B. Is right, this is a message! This is an incredible message!!
There has been no failing and there is zero reason to cringe.
There is only reason to celebrate.
You actually needed to enter that project, from that program, so that the deeper part of yourself could witness it and catch it for you to learn everything that you’ve just shared with us.
It was a step that was absolutely required and what is so beautiful, Is that once you saw it and UNMASKED TO YOURSELF, you didn’t just pack down the project and then try to quietly slip back into posts without sharing what that deep learning was.
We have spent our entire lives designing masks and perfecting our capacity to switch from mask to mask to survive multiple environments and necessary engagements. I don’t even know if we will ever get to a point where masks do not show up at all ever again….
I feel like it is a practice that needs to be continually practised.
In living more consciously with autism and ADHD as grown adults, (a lot of us most likely late diagnosed) we can better design our lives to mask less ie. which friendships we nurture, what work environment is sustainable for our nature, what activities we choose to socialise and engage with and how to choose staying at home for rest over prioritising people‘s expectations to be somewhere.
However, the more we make the efforts to lean into authentic self, the more obvious the masks we have worn to survive become.
We can begin to witness from a third party perspective and this is in fact, the very intersection that we need to arrive at, to then be able to unpick ourselves from the mask.
Did you catch that? It is the very intersection that we need to arrive at, to then be able to unpick ourselves from the mask.
I am so incredibly grateful for your share here in this way. I have not been on Substack for weeks because I’ve been stuck in my head trying to get all of my pieces perfect. It is only coming online this morning and reading your post first thing that has made me realise,
Not doing anything is still a mask. Trying to edit pieces that have been written from my heart, using my mind to find a way to make them more appealing before posting, is masking to myself.
I am so excited that this was the first thing I read on waking up and the awareness that it has gifted me.
Keep sharing your journey, inspiring others and celebrate the gift of awareness!!
Thank you for you 💕🍀🔑🌀
Thank you for this. I recently left my second job leaving me entirely dependent on my own mobile biz. Despite knowing I deeply need rest, I’m sometimes focused on fear (lack, needing to always be doing) making me think I need another job… but I seriously need rest. Thank you for modeling that.
Thank you! I recently quit my job to pursue my creativity, and it struck deep that burnout comes from over providing… I’m wishing you all the best, and I hope our intuitions guide us to the places we need. It’s so easy to listen to fear and be steered by capitalism, this is a friendly reminder to serve yourself first
Another wonderful piece that resonates to my core. Thank you for showing us how this hard work is done! I'll be following you wherever and however you choose to share.