For 2026, I will be reviewing a chapter from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and providing a free download of themed art cards on a monthly basis (third Tuesdays).
“We need to keep our minds prioritized on rooting out the messages of our old stories and focusing instead on the new, rewritten ones.” -Dr. Gail Saltz
“Most of the time when are blocked in an area of our life, it is because we feel safer that way… This is seldom a conscious decision. It is more often an unconscious response to internalized negative beliefs…” -Julia Cameron
Braveheart, I have been reviewing The Artist’s Way chapter 1, “Recovering a Sense of Safety” along with my notes from my last reading. It has been a reminder of how my creative practice has faithfully served as my way through my questions, pain and loss. ❤️
This is a chapter focused on confronting [naming] and letting go of the negative thoughts and beliefs [“the enemy within”] that we have internalized as a result of external influences such as:
- being overwhelmed, mocked and unsupported
- experiencing criticism or made to feel small
- dismissed or mocked for creativity
- “You always have your head in the clouds.”
“Remember that in order to recover as an artist, you must be willing to be a bad artist. Give yourself permission to be a beginner.” -Julia Cameron
When we deny ourselves permission and safe space for our creativity, we experience discontent and “a sense of missed purpose and unfulfilled promise” (Julia Cameron):
“They want to write. They want to paint. They want to act, make music, dance … but they are afraid to take themselves seriously.” -Julia Cameron
Finding a sense of safety and ease can be the result of embracing our desire for creativity and practicing—try over and over ☑️☑️☑️—with our art and creative choices.
This process is enhanced + fostered by reframing (and eliminating) our faulty beliefs with affirming words and practices.
“Make your own recovery the first priority in your life.” -Robin Norwood
Grounding statements (affirmations) are a foundational element of my creative practice. This is often as simple as choosing a guiding word or simple phrase that sets (or redirects) my focus and energies as I meditate and add to my journal pages.
- Pen-to-paper is a simple way to redirect ourselves when we feel distracted, discouraged or overwhelmed.
- An excellent example: 🪄 How drawing can set you free, Shantell Martin
As a practice, guide words + grounding statements are how I move away from faulty beliefs and begin to envision, embrace and experience my desired outcomes.
“Maybe it’s perpetual quest for stability; I want a ritual to hold on to, a recurring photo taken in the same spot every year, or maybe I’m trying to blot out old memories and replace them with happy ones.” -Caitlin Metz
What does all this have to do with right brain planning?
The principal goal of Right Brain Planner is to foster a daily practice of [being present] + [seeing] the details of our living by compiling a visual chronicle.
The focus in developing a right brain planning practice is to see our living as ongoing—a timeline [days within years; years within a lifetime].
- To resist the urge to allow a “bad day” or a “bad week” to become a filter—a lens—that limits our ability to hope and live differently.
- Easing away from a performance-based valuation of self-worth; cycling like the moon and exploring so-called irregularity (stops and starts) as a cycle of wholeness.
Right brain planning is an opportunity to allow our journals to be our “planners”—elevating expression and desires over expectations and shoulds.
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.
⭐️ 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 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. 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.