“Freedom is exercised in the confrontation by each other, in the context of an infinitely extensible work of imaginative understanding, of two irreducibly dissimilar individuals. Love is the imaginative recognition of, that is respect for, this otherness.” -Irish Murdoch
Braveheart, the more we know about ourselves (and our otherness), the less we will get lost [distracted, discouraged] within what we do not know. 🏹
“Follow a strange thought. Write down a dream you can’t explain. Take a closer look at something you’ve passed a hundred times without noticing.” -Suleika Jaouad*
🏹 I love the idea of following a strange thought and devoting attention as a practice to something familiar, and yet, with its unknown facets and details.
- *This is the prompt offered by Suleika Jaouad in her recent post, “Seeing in Technicolor.”
💁🏻♀️ Frankly, I am the “something familiar” that I am currently devoting attention to. 🔍💭📝💗🖌️
➡️ Becoming more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, my opportunities and threats as an essential aspect of being true to myself and what I envision living more of.
“[Freedom] is the hinge between being and belonging that swings open the door to being ourselves—which, yet again paradoxically, must include the freedom to change, to confront the illusory solidity of the self, its ceaseless mutability.” -Maria Popova
Our freedom to change can be tricky when we are unsure what changes we want/need to make. ➡️➡️➡️ This is where journaling and contemplation (and journaling) 😊 serves us well, Braveheart.
Devoting time to participating in a kindred community is also a vital detail of determining the changes we desire + being able to trust our pace. 💗
Uncovering these details requires a self-compassionate assessment of the beliefs driving our actions and personal conclusions.
“What constitutes the freedom, the soul of an individual life, is its uniqueness.” -Vassily Grossman
Our uniqueness 💯 depends on our willingness to assess and to be intentional about trying [experimenting], to love and to be vulnerable in such pursuits—despite what we know about the risks.
I have been compiling notes about my life roles and accomplishments; the most significant and best times of my life so far … taking “a closer look at something you’ve passed a hundred times without noticing” (Suleika Jaouad).
“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart.” -Louise Erdrich
☑️ The Ko-fi download for November includes art, content + guiding templates to compile a personal assessment of strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
☑️ We will be meeting the third Saturday of November to discuss this theme and I will also be sharing some art journal prompts and ideas. I would love for {you} to join in, Braveheart! 💕
🫂member comments and testimonials:
“I was surprised to feel so relaxed and seen…” | open and authentic | “I have learned to simply resume (without shame)…” | stronger together | motivation to create | warm & welcoming | “I was surprised to feel so relaxed and seen…” | open and authentic
Within the small groups I host, we focus on the benefit of fostering trust, ongoing support and inspiration—in addition to sharing practical 💡 ideas about our right brain planning practices.
- Slow is fast enough 🐌 when it comes to our progress.
- Being active in a community 💞 provides support and helps us to remember to trust our pace.
Thank you kindly for your presence here, Braveheart. 💗
I appreciate your interest and support.
~love & good wishes~
⭐️ I am an artist and curator; I am one who communicates with color, found words and collage, inky marks and doodles as I cycle like the moon (as my calendar), chronicling oracles and abiding with the sky as a meditation.
Artist’s Statement 😊🔮🔎📝🖌️🎨❤️📊
⭐️ I host creative communities, safe spaces for gathering and sharing. I choose love and creativity for coping with the ongoing challenges of this world and I go to work—not because everything is fine but because I believe art heals.
❤️ Braveheart, as the original Creator/Artist of Right Brain Planner I am ever-grateful to have the opportunity to share my creative work online + support other creators! 🎉 For almost 20 years I have had the privilege of sharing my art and writing about right brain planning while also hosting kindred 👭🏽💞👭 communities. ✨ I consider it an absolute 🤸 delight to continue this portion of my creative 📝🖌️✂️🫧 work (even as I retire from full-time work).
- This is possible, in part, by {you} and your presence here. (Thank you!) 💗 But also because of the support of my Ko-fi patrons and the other member/subscriber communities I host (via their presence, input and paid subscriptions). 🫶
- 💁🏻♀️ Other ways to support my work: ❤️ continue to read this blog + follow me on Instagram. 📲
If you already have your own system of creative journal-planning, but are interested in financially supporting my creative work, you may do so by making a donation:
- Make a one-time contribution in any amount via [this link]. (Thank you!) ❤️