SARK: "We each get a life (if we're alive) and the shape of that life can be affected by us ... so sit down and send energy into your life. Begin adding new elements that you want included in your life invent their form..."
Being in India, albeit only for a day so far, has really made me think about the ways life can be enriched so simply. Even though this is a trip fundamentally about art, textile and heritage research I cannot help but be drawn to the people.I am staying in Ahmedabad - a place that is not readily visited by tourists and as a result I'm getting to witness Indian life in it's very natural state. The people who live in this old part of city that I visited today clearly live very simply and, to be blunt, are very poor. Yet the Gujarati people are full of vitality and life. There is so much spirit and happiness among such destitute scenery.
SARK: "My life has become so much of what I dreamed, it astonishes me. My inventions have nourished me and others. I'm so glad to be the inventor of my life. Whenever I fall into a dark pit, I try to remember this."
Like SARK my life has become something so much more than I ever could've hoped. I have a wonderful fiancée, I am loved, I am following an exciting career path, I live in one of the worlds most exciting city, I live in comfort, I have spare money to spend on things simply for pleasure...
I would like to work on inventing my life so that I am satisfied by the plentiful thins that I have, not to "want" quite so much. I wish to invent my life so that I do not take for granted the things that I have so readily - and certainly to complain so much less. I'm going to invent a life where I am happy with spiritual satisfaction (not in terms of religion as such - but more about inner peace). I hope that the longer I spend here the more I can absorb from the people and culture around me.
... Invent a new you ...
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
17th January - There are no mistakes
Special post coming from Qatar whilst waiting for a connecting flight.
SARK: Picture this: You are writing in your journal and your cat jumps up and bumps into your pen making a big black mark! Follow that black mark ... onto your nearby pillow where you decide to draw an ink portrait of your cat, which leads to more pillows... and more portraits, which you make for friends, and take great delight in and then somebody silk screens it and you use the profits to sponser two inner city cat shelters...
I am highly fond of this idea of there being no such thing as a mistake. We are all familiar with the expressions around there being no such thing as a mistake and it's all a learning experience in life.
I think really it's all a kind of happy mistake that I happen to be in the position that I'm in now. I hapharzardly got involved with volunteer work with the museum that lead to my trip to India. It wasn't really a conscious decision that lead to my situation - more one small event that lead me on a trail...
Similarly in many aspects of my life I've begun courses and projects that may have been a mistake or didn't feel right for me but in turn have lead me down many great paths that have brought me to the situation I am in now. If I hadn't tried out these things I would not have acquired the experiences and titbits of knowledge that have provided the new ideas I have today...
Follow your minds natural intuition to find new experiences and creative juice...
SARK:A mistake is new food for a new invention".
(Interestingly when I spell checked this post, it declared the entire thing to be a mistake due to the language crossover on the wifi).
SARK: Picture this: You are writing in your journal and your cat jumps up and bumps into your pen making a big black mark! Follow that black mark ... onto your nearby pillow where you decide to draw an ink portrait of your cat, which leads to more pillows... and more portraits, which you make for friends, and take great delight in and then somebody silk screens it and you use the profits to sponser two inner city cat shelters...
I am highly fond of this idea of there being no such thing as a mistake. We are all familiar with the expressions around there being no such thing as a mistake and it's all a learning experience in life.
I think really it's all a kind of happy mistake that I happen to be in the position that I'm in now. I hapharzardly got involved with volunteer work with the museum that lead to my trip to India. It wasn't really a conscious decision that lead to my situation - more one small event that lead me on a trail...
Similarly in many aspects of my life I've begun courses and projects that may have been a mistake or didn't feel right for me but in turn have lead me down many great paths that have brought me to the situation I am in now. If I hadn't tried out these things I would not have acquired the experiences and titbits of knowledge that have provided the new ideas I have today...
Follow your minds natural intuition to find new experiences and creative juice...
SARK:A mistake is new food for a new invention".
(Interestingly when I spell checked this post, it declared the entire thing to be a mistake due to the language crossover on the wifi).
Monday, 16 January 2012
16th January - Inventing means experimenting
SARK: "Inventions are always floating nearby..."
"Try this:
Get scissors and coloured markers and a large sheet of paper.
Make random colourings all over the paper.
Then cut it up with the scissors.
What do you see?
What could you make out of it?
Make something new."
I am currently spending the night in a hotel in the city where I will be catching my plane from to India in the morning. Alas I had not large paper, scissors or coloured markers ... So I got inventive and improvised.
My kit:
Notebook paper, one black pen, liquid eyeliner, lip pencil, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow and lip gloss.
This was my random markings and doodlings:
This is what I "cut" up and recreated:
... Personally I think I "invented" some kind of floor plan design for a landscape gardener. No? Okay then ... it's definitely worthy of the Tate Modern.
SARK: "When I was 8, I invented a new place to hide during hide and go seek. It was between the window and the windowshade. I flattened there like a small blond moth and held my breath".
Following on from yesterday with the idea of being able to invent my own reality, I am experimenting especially so with this notion tonight. This trip will be the longest time Josie and I have ever spent apart since we got together. The longest being just one night - this will be twelve. Together we have this thing that when we're apart we invent places to meet in our dreams. When we're feeling sad and lonely without each other it provides immense comfort to share the idea that we can meet in a mutual invented place when we're asleep. Each time we think up somewhere different from beach huts, to mountain lodges, hot springs, boats, childhood play dens, beautiful moonlit gardens. We pick a location then send a few messages back and forth deciding on details of the visuals, senses, smells, sounds. It gets pretty in depth...
I guess it doesn't have to be a shared idea - if you're feeling lonely you can invent your own place to go and decide who you want to be there. It's very soothing.
SARK:"I feel free to experiment with new ideas..."
"Try this:
Get scissors and coloured markers and a large sheet of paper.
Make random colourings all over the paper.
Then cut it up with the scissors.
What do you see?
What could you make out of it?
Make something new."
I am currently spending the night in a hotel in the city where I will be catching my plane from to India in the morning. Alas I had not large paper, scissors or coloured markers ... So I got inventive and improvised.
My kit:
Notebook paper, one black pen, liquid eyeliner, lip pencil, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow and lip gloss.
This was my random markings and doodlings:
This is what I "cut" up and recreated:
... Personally I think I "invented" some kind of floor plan design for a landscape gardener. No? Okay then ... it's definitely worthy of the Tate Modern.
SARK: "When I was 8, I invented a new place to hide during hide and go seek. It was between the window and the windowshade. I flattened there like a small blond moth and held my breath".
Following on from yesterday with the idea of being able to invent my own reality, I am experimenting especially so with this notion tonight. This trip will be the longest time Josie and I have ever spent apart since we got together. The longest being just one night - this will be twelve. Together we have this thing that when we're apart we invent places to meet in our dreams. When we're feeling sad and lonely without each other it provides immense comfort to share the idea that we can meet in a mutual invented place when we're asleep. Each time we think up somewhere different from beach huts, to mountain lodges, hot springs, boats, childhood play dens, beautiful moonlit gardens. We pick a location then send a few messages back and forth deciding on details of the visuals, senses, smells, sounds. It gets pretty in depth...
I guess it doesn't have to be a shared idea - if you're feeling lonely you can invent your own place to go and decide who you want to be there. It's very soothing.
SARK:"I feel free to experiment with new ideas..."
Sunday, 15 January 2012
15th January - Inventing
SARK:"We are all inventors".
SARK:"In.vention is the natural out.come of creative thinking: to in.vent is to make a new out.let for something to develop.
We are all inventors because we each have the capacity for original thought. New form is the result of focused original thought."
I often feel that my brain hums - it used to buzz but over time it speeded up to a hum. I have so many ideas in one day but very rarely pin them down or let them materialise. This is not to say these are amazing ideas or even any "good" (however one really defines that) but they are my "original thoughts" nonetheless.
I often joke that my weekend job working on a supermarket checkout is my "downtime". It is hardly a mentally taxing job but I suppose actually it is my "uptime" for thinking. I switch the part of my brain dealing with scan-beep-bag-scan-beep-bag on to autopilot and let the rest of my mind play around with creative thinking. My favourite form of invention at the checkout is making up little stories and anecdotes. As a writer at heart, it is words that I naturally tend to use as my means to invent.
I am working on inventing several plot lines for works of fiction (and somewhat faction) at the moment and it was these that I indulged in today after realising that this week of Living Juicy was focusing on inventing.
Inventing in this manner is what I like to think of as "super-creative day dreaming" and I do so enjoy it.
"I am now able to invent my new reality..."
SARK:"In.vention is the natural out.come of creative thinking: to in.vent is to make a new out.let for something to develop.
We are all inventors because we each have the capacity for original thought. New form is the result of focused original thought."
I often feel that my brain hums - it used to buzz but over time it speeded up to a hum. I have so many ideas in one day but very rarely pin them down or let them materialise. This is not to say these are amazing ideas or even any "good" (however one really defines that) but they are my "original thoughts" nonetheless.
I often joke that my weekend job working on a supermarket checkout is my "downtime". It is hardly a mentally taxing job but I suppose actually it is my "uptime" for thinking. I switch the part of my brain dealing with scan-beep-bag-scan-beep-bag on to autopilot and let the rest of my mind play around with creative thinking. My favourite form of invention at the checkout is making up little stories and anecdotes. As a writer at heart, it is words that I naturally tend to use as my means to invent.
I am working on inventing several plot lines for works of fiction (and somewhat faction) at the moment and it was these that I indulged in today after realising that this week of Living Juicy was focusing on inventing.
Inventing in this manner is what I like to think of as "super-creative day dreaming" and I do so enjoy it.
"I am now able to invent my new reality..."
Saturday, 14 January 2012
14th January - Permission To Nap!
SARK: "Write yourself a permission slip".
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... *This blog post has been replaced by a nap*.
SARK:"Be a nap angel for yourself and others".
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... *This blog post has been replaced by a nap*.
SARK:"Be a nap angel for yourself and others".
Friday, 13 January 2012
13th January - Invent Your Own Nap Rituals
SARK: "Choose a location, pick your equipment. On your marks, get set, NAP!! We all deserve to live refreshed and relaxed, able to claim our good humour and most flexible selves. Doctors need to prescribe naps. Insurance companies need to deduct money according to how many naps we take".
"Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a coloured pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling" - G.K Chesterton
Today Josie, as a surprise, took me to Brighton for the day. It was a first time visit for the both of us and it was a simply magical day in every single way. I enjoyed good old fashioned fun; walking down the pier, eating chips looking at the sea, playing in the arcades, crunching down the beach and watching the sunset with the person I love more than anyone else in the whole world.
I appreciated every single second because I did feel especially relaxed and refreshed after not rushing this morning and allowing myself a little nap after initially waking up this morning - responding to my brains need for napping goodness. I felt at my tip top and now I have face ache from smiling and laughing so much. On the train back home to London, I felt very compelled to nap just so I could stay there in my head a little bit longer. So that's going to be one of my new nap rituals once I have picked my location and chosen my equipment - I'm going to remember this day and I know I'll nod off with special memories and warm feelings to optimise nap quality.
Today was one of the greatest days of my life.
"Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a coloured pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling" - G.K Chesterton
Today Josie, as a surprise, took me to Brighton for the day. It was a first time visit for the both of us and it was a simply magical day in every single way. I enjoyed good old fashioned fun; walking down the pier, eating chips looking at the sea, playing in the arcades, crunching down the beach and watching the sunset with the person I love more than anyone else in the whole world.
I appreciated every single second because I did feel especially relaxed and refreshed after not rushing this morning and allowing myself a little nap after initially waking up this morning - responding to my brains need for napping goodness. I felt at my tip top and now I have face ache from smiling and laughing so much. On the train back home to London, I felt very compelled to nap just so I could stay there in my head a little bit longer. So that's going to be one of my new nap rituals once I have picked my location and chosen my equipment - I'm going to remember this day and I know I'll nod off with special memories and warm feelings to optimise nap quality.
Today was one of the greatest days of my life.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
12th January - Nap Equipment
SARK:
"Absolutely favourite and lucky pillow.
Flying pajamas
Magical blanket."
My specialist nap equipment includes:
The Purple People Eater (or Peter as he is more commonly known).
I acquired Peter when I was in Niagara Falls in Canada the summer of 2007, the year my Mum first moved out there. We have become great friends and dedicated nap partners. Peter smells of sleepiness; a mixture of faded perfumes and cosmetics, a bit like Josie (my fiancée who shares mine Peter's bed also) and for some odd reason pencil shavings.
I thought that at 23 years of age I should maybe not sleep with a stuffed friend anymore. SARK has made me understand that in fact Peter is "nap equipment" and therefore of great importance (as if he wasn't already).
Lillian
Lillian is a light up ladybird that I bought from eBay after becoming enchanted by a similar turtle design that a friend of mine introduced me to. Lillian projects little stars (and a moon) on the ceiling which is very soothing.
SARK: "Napping takes practice, I'm hoping to have it added to the Olympics! Even better, let's add naps to all of our activities, especially business (busyness). We all need some juice and cookies and especially a sleeping mat! Mine was multicoloured and folded in thirds and always had an endearing toddler mold smell".
I am hoping to practise my napping skills - certainly they will be tested as I am flying over to India for a research project on Tuesday. I have never travelled such a long distance flight before but I know there will be plenty of opportunities for nap practise. Sadly I will not be able to take Lillian on the flight, so my nap equipment will be halved (Peter is most definitely coming). I think I shall replace Lillian with another comforting and comfort making item ... probably a hoodie belonging to my other half that I can both lie on and cuddle because I am going to miss her very much.
Really it is Josie that is my best nap equipment - it's almost impossible to fall asleep without her around.
"Everytime I nap, something new happens".
When I nap on the flight to India - I will wake up in a different country!
"Absolutely favourite and lucky pillow.
Flying pajamas
Magical blanket."
My specialist nap equipment includes:
The Purple People Eater (or Peter as he is more commonly known).
I acquired Peter when I was in Niagara Falls in Canada the summer of 2007, the year my Mum first moved out there. We have become great friends and dedicated nap partners. Peter smells of sleepiness; a mixture of faded perfumes and cosmetics, a bit like Josie (my fiancée who shares mine Peter's bed also) and for some odd reason pencil shavings.
I thought that at 23 years of age I should maybe not sleep with a stuffed friend anymore. SARK has made me understand that in fact Peter is "nap equipment" and therefore of great importance (as if he wasn't already).
Lillian
Lillian is a light up ladybird that I bought from eBay after becoming enchanted by a similar turtle design that a friend of mine introduced me to. Lillian projects little stars (and a moon) on the ceiling which is very soothing.
SARK: "Napping takes practice, I'm hoping to have it added to the Olympics! Even better, let's add naps to all of our activities, especially business (busyness). We all need some juice and cookies and especially a sleeping mat! Mine was multicoloured and folded in thirds and always had an endearing toddler mold smell".
I am hoping to practise my napping skills - certainly they will be tested as I am flying over to India for a research project on Tuesday. I have never travelled such a long distance flight before but I know there will be plenty of opportunities for nap practise. Sadly I will not be able to take Lillian on the flight, so my nap equipment will be halved (Peter is most definitely coming). I think I shall replace Lillian with another comforting and comfort making item ... probably a hoodie belonging to my other half that I can both lie on and cuddle because I am going to miss her very much.
Really it is Josie that is my best nap equipment - it's almost impossible to fall asleep without her around.
"Everytime I nap, something new happens".
When I nap on the flight to India - I will wake up in a different country!
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
11th January - Declare your home a free nap zone!
SARK: "Let nap energy flow in and out of your home.
I think I became a "master napper" because in our family, you had to nap secretly. In the Lutherian midwest, naps were perceived as "lying around doing nothing". To this day, my father who is past 70, present he isn't napping and jerks artificially awake if you "catch him" at it. My mother boldly napped on the couch, and I would ask her to talk to me, and she would murmur "Mmm" and I would say to her "Mom, say a human word!"
I wish I had taken the time to read this earlier and allowed myself a nap today. Admittedly, my need for a nap was self inflicted after far too much wine last night, but had I allowed myself a nap I might have felt refreshed enough to actually do a bit of additional work today! I am going to take all my allowed naps at once and attach them on to my big sleep tonight.
"...You now have permission to nap...".
I actually had a bit of an impromptu mini nap whilst writing this but it's okay because I didn't dribble.
10th January - Some Classic Nap Locations...
SARK lists six of her classic nap locations as:
"-Tree naps
-Beach naps
-Couch naps
-Grass Naps
-Plane Naps
-Car Naps"
For me I like to take naps in corners. I used to be an expert at this at college - I'd find myself a nice little dark spot near a radiator, fold myself up and snooze under my coat. I also once took a nap on a light box - that wasn't the comfiest I have to admit. I also used to like napping on train journeys and buses - but I daren't do that in London!
Quinn (my famous napping best friend) states that best nap she ever had was outside curled up next to a radiator at Bolton train station. She said she'd endeavour to take more naps outside in future as a result. Like Quinn and SARK I too quite fancy the idea of taking a nap outdoors sometime in the future ... not now - it is still bloody January after all!
What I really want is this ingenious invention invented by Kawamura-Ganjavian - "The Ostrich Nap Pillow"
Could take a nap just about anywhere with this baby - can't wait to hear Quinn's thoughts on it!
SARK: "... the more naps I allow, the more I can accomplish..."
...I must also apologise for not posting this on time. When I left the house yesterday at 8am I didn't actually get back to it until today at 3:30pm. Something happened between a bottle of wine with my uncle for dinner and waking up on the floor of a uni friends bedroom!
"-Tree naps
-Beach naps
-Couch naps
-Grass Naps
-Plane Naps
-Car Naps"
For me I like to take naps in corners. I used to be an expert at this at college - I'd find myself a nice little dark spot near a radiator, fold myself up and snooze under my coat. I also once took a nap on a light box - that wasn't the comfiest I have to admit. I also used to like napping on train journeys and buses - but I daren't do that in London!
Quinn (my famous napping best friend) states that best nap she ever had was outside curled up next to a radiator at Bolton train station. She said she'd endeavour to take more naps outside in future as a result. Like Quinn and SARK I too quite fancy the idea of taking a nap outdoors sometime in the future ... not now - it is still bloody January after all!
What I really want is this ingenious invention invented by Kawamura-Ganjavian - "The Ostrich Nap Pillow"
Could take a nap just about anywhere with this baby - can't wait to hear Quinn's thoughts on it!
SARK: "... the more naps I allow, the more I can accomplish..."
...I must also apologise for not posting this on time. When I left the house yesterday at 8am I didn't actually get back to it until today at 3:30pm. Something happened between a bottle of wine with my uncle for dinner and waking up on the floor of a uni friends bedroom!
Monday, 9 January 2012
9th January - Napping is Productive
SARK: "Lie down and nap, a miracle will probably occur.
Napping releasing us from "too much world". Symptoms of this are: hearing yourself say, "I'm really busy!", "I'm so stressed out", "I can't right now I need to rush!!". Also, be on the lookout for outbursts of crabbiness. My Mom calls this the "crabbyappletons"."
I am eternally guilty of "too much world" - and the time when that becomes far too much to cope with is usually in direct correlation to when procrastination tends to creep in.
I mentioned my best friend yesterday (Quinn), and her talent for napping, who upon reading my last post mentioned that taking a nap was like "pressing a reset button". I think a nap is certainly essential for recharging ones batteries - what the brain needs sometime is just a signal to know it can have just a little time out during the day.
Quinn said that since she took up frequent napping she fought with herself trying to decide if it's a healthy habit or not. At first when I was presented with this theme I was worried that I wouldn't be able to differentiate between napping and avoidance but I guess the key is in the term "productive".
"... as I nap , new solutions invent themselves."
Napping releasing us from "too much world". Symptoms of this are: hearing yourself say, "I'm really busy!", "I'm so stressed out", "I can't right now I need to rush!!". Also, be on the lookout for outbursts of crabbiness. My Mom calls this the "crabbyappletons"."
I am eternally guilty of "too much world" - and the time when that becomes far too much to cope with is usually in direct correlation to when procrastination tends to creep in.
I mentioned my best friend yesterday (Quinn), and her talent for napping, who upon reading my last post mentioned that taking a nap was like "pressing a reset button". I think a nap is certainly essential for recharging ones batteries - what the brain needs sometime is just a signal to know it can have just a little time out during the day.
Quinn said that since she took up frequent napping she fought with herself trying to decide if it's a healthy habit or not. At first when I was presented with this theme I was worried that I wouldn't be able to differentiate between napping and avoidance but I guess the key is in the term "productive".
"... as I nap , new solutions invent themselves."
Sunday, 8 January 2012
8th January - Napping
SARK: "Napping is an art".
It was my best friend that really opened my eyes to the art of napping. I am still mesmerised by her ability to curl herself up (not unlike our feline friends) and have a nap just about anywhere. She is somewhat of a creative wonder, an excellent artist with boundless eccentric ideas and this weeks SARK theme has got me questioning whether or not that may be directly linked to her ability to nap. Though she will probably inform me that her reason for napping is a lack of hallucinogenics and so it's the next best thing.
I myself never used to be much of napper a few years ago, to be honest I wasn't much of a sleeper full stop. As my mental health varied through time, medication and therapy I soon found that my sleep habits when to an opposite extreme. I met my (now) fiancée at art college and she will contest to how frequently I took naps in that place. Case in point:
... Now if that isn't an image of creative napping - I don't know what is!
Napping at that stage in my life was more a question of necessity, now it is a luxury.
SARK: "After our tiny cups of juice, and a single cookie, we pulled out our sleeping mats and settled in for a good kindergarten nap. My job was to be the wake up fairy, and touch each napping child on the head with my magic wand. I'm doing the same thing today with my creative work. Of course, I myself, can barely wake up from naps".
Although SARK is making me question whether actually if they should be placed back into the "necessity" category ...
SARK: "Napping prepares the mind for fresh thoughts..."
It was my best friend that really opened my eyes to the art of napping. I am still mesmerised by her ability to curl herself up (not unlike our feline friends) and have a nap just about anywhere. She is somewhat of a creative wonder, an excellent artist with boundless eccentric ideas and this weeks SARK theme has got me questioning whether or not that may be directly linked to her ability to nap. Though she will probably inform me that her reason for napping is a lack of hallucinogenics and so it's the next best thing.
I myself never used to be much of napper a few years ago, to be honest I wasn't much of a sleeper full stop. As my mental health varied through time, medication and therapy I soon found that my sleep habits when to an opposite extreme. I met my (now) fiancée at art college and she will contest to how frequently I took naps in that place. Case in point:
... Now if that isn't an image of creative napping - I don't know what is!
Napping at that stage in my life was more a question of necessity, now it is a luxury.
SARK: "After our tiny cups of juice, and a single cookie, we pulled out our sleeping mats and settled in for a good kindergarten nap. My job was to be the wake up fairy, and touch each napping child on the head with my magic wand. I'm doing the same thing today with my creative work. Of course, I myself, can barely wake up from naps".
Although SARK is making me question whether actually if they should be placed back into the "necessity" category ...
SARK: "Napping prepares the mind for fresh thoughts..."
Saturday, 7 January 2012
7th January - Permission to Procrastinate!
At the end of each 7 day theme (in the case of this year it'll be every Saturday) Sark provides a "permission slip" page to round off the week.
SARK: "Permission to Procrastinate! Permission to explore".
Josie (my fiancée) mentioned to me yesterday that it was going to be difficult for me to be able to give myself permission to procrastinate because I do a 9 hour shift at work on Saturdays. This got me thinking - we cannot procrastinate around doing things that we have absolutely no choice about, that we cannot avoid - like going to work, so why does it feel okay to procrastinate life in general? Living isn't something we have a choice about doing either and certainly something we cannot avoid. I guess then, it becomes a question of priorities and I certainly wouldn't like to think I put working a mundane weekend job of higher importance than the other areas in my life that I procrastinate about...
"Step through the doorway of procrastination".
This week has highlighted a lot to me, in the ways in which I rely on and am cheated by my own procrastination. It has been a useful learning exercise and I hope now that I am well and truly on my way to being a "recovering procrastinator". However, this is not to say that I will never procrastinate again - I have my permission slip - but I will use it with a wise mind and a heightened awareness of my actions.
SARK: "Permission to Procrastinate! Permission to explore".
Josie (my fiancée) mentioned to me yesterday that it was going to be difficult for me to be able to give myself permission to procrastinate because I do a 9 hour shift at work on Saturdays. This got me thinking - we cannot procrastinate around doing things that we have absolutely no choice about, that we cannot avoid - like going to work, so why does it feel okay to procrastinate life in general? Living isn't something we have a choice about doing either and certainly something we cannot avoid. I guess then, it becomes a question of priorities and I certainly wouldn't like to think I put working a mundane weekend job of higher importance than the other areas in my life that I procrastinate about...
"Step through the doorway of procrastination".
This week has highlighted a lot to me, in the ways in which I rely on and am cheated by my own procrastination. It has been a useful learning exercise and I hope now that I am well and truly on my way to being a "recovering procrastinator". However, this is not to say that I will never procrastinate again - I have my permission slip - but I will use it with a wise mind and a heightened awareness of my actions.
Friday, 6 January 2012
6th January - Releasing Procrastination
Today I am ill, actually all week I have been ill but I didn't like that to become part of my "procrastination recovery". Today's challenge is about releasing procrastination so I've attempted to do as much as is possible when one is bed bound...
SARK: "To release procrastination is to fly through your very own dream sky".
I somewhat feel stuck in a rut which is most certainly attributable to procrastinating about finding a way out of it. So today during my one venture out of bed (into the bath). I got my lovely lady to sit with me as I made a list of possible alternatives and action plans of how to go about them. I realise again this is just "starting" something - it's not finishing it so perhaps could also be called procrastination... However this was about "releasing procrastination" with regards to addressing my feelings.
"Once I learned how to let go of procrastinating behaviours, my creativity soared to new places that seemed unreachable before. Letting go happens in layers and increments and is definitely a process. I'm looking forward to the new places I'll travel as I continue to let go..."
Now I have freed myself of the burden of denial I can begin to productively start working on ways to steer my life down a path that I wish for it to take. I accept this may take time and a lot of patience but I will no longer procrastinate my life away. I am going to face up to the challenges ahead and stop putting off doing what I know I can achieve. By doing something I truly want there shall be no self doubt or low self esteem (that procrastination feeds on).
"Releasing procrastination can produce euphoria..."
This is all still a work in process. Procrastination elimination will be reported on completion.
SARK: "To release procrastination is to fly through your very own dream sky".
I somewhat feel stuck in a rut which is most certainly attributable to procrastinating about finding a way out of it. So today during my one venture out of bed (into the bath). I got my lovely lady to sit with me as I made a list of possible alternatives and action plans of how to go about them. I realise again this is just "starting" something - it's not finishing it so perhaps could also be called procrastination... However this was about "releasing procrastination" with regards to addressing my feelings.
"Once I learned how to let go of procrastinating behaviours, my creativity soared to new places that seemed unreachable before. Letting go happens in layers and increments and is definitely a process. I'm looking forward to the new places I'll travel as I continue to let go..."
Now I have freed myself of the burden of denial I can begin to productively start working on ways to steer my life down a path that I wish for it to take. I accept this may take time and a lot of patience but I will no longer procrastinate my life away. I am going to face up to the challenges ahead and stop putting off doing what I know I can achieve. By doing something I truly want there shall be no self doubt or low self esteem (that procrastination feeds on).
"Releasing procrastination can produce euphoria..."
This is all still a work in process. Procrastination elimination will be reported on completion.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
5th January - Studying Procrastination
SARK: "Begin to read and speak about procrastination - it thrives in isolation".
I have tried to spend time recently talking about my procrastination both to my fiancée and through those that have passed on comments after reading this blog. It seems that even though it may thrive in isolation, incredible numbers of us individually fall victim to it frequently.
SARK: "I truly believed that I would be paralyzed procrastinator all my life. Now that I've described myself as a "recovering procrastinator", I can share this with other people. There are still areas where I get stuck, and now I reach out for help as soon as possible. I'm profoundly grateful to be surrounded by evidence of my recover and continuing discovery!"
Through working on addressing my procrastination I have come to understand it's cause. By talking about this cause that is fuelling my procrastination, I have found that these issues seems less daunting than when they were manifesting just in my head. By engaging with other people, my procrastination habits are exposed and therefore I find I am less likely to lapse into them. Sharing with others brings knowledge and shines different lights onto the situation bringing further understanding about how and why I may choose to procrastinate and ways to overcome it's claws.
"... knowledge gives you tools to work with procrastination."
I have tried to spend time recently talking about my procrastination both to my fiancée and through those that have passed on comments after reading this blog. It seems that even though it may thrive in isolation, incredible numbers of us individually fall victim to it frequently.
SARK: "I truly believed that I would be paralyzed procrastinator all my life. Now that I've described myself as a "recovering procrastinator", I can share this with other people. There are still areas where I get stuck, and now I reach out for help as soon as possible. I'm profoundly grateful to be surrounded by evidence of my recover and continuing discovery!"
Through working on addressing my procrastination I have come to understand it's cause. By talking about this cause that is fuelling my procrastination, I have found that these issues seems less daunting than when they were manifesting just in my head. By engaging with other people, my procrastination habits are exposed and therefore I find I am less likely to lapse into them. Sharing with others brings knowledge and shines different lights onto the situation bringing further understanding about how and why I may choose to procrastinate and ways to overcome it's claws.
"... knowledge gives you tools to work with procrastination."
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
4th January - Understanding Procrastination
SARK: "Weigh the gifts and negative qualities of procrastination".
Negative qualities:
- Never actually getting anything done.
- Not being able to enjoy experiences because of looming feeling that I should be doing something else.
- Feeling annoyed with myself and feeling lazy.
- Limiting my ability to be creative and experiment.
- Regardless somethings have to be done anyway so therefore procrastination truly is a waste of precious time.
Gifts:
- Not having to face up to difficult challenges.
- Able to run away from the risk of trying something and failing.
- "Ignorance is bliss".
SARK: "Negative qualities: not starting things, not finishing things, hiding, feeling self-anger frustration and paralyzing inertia. Gifts: continuing to have excuses, not feeling challenged, having a ready explanation for not living your dreams, having more "time", basking in the glow of denial".
When I read back over both mine and SARK's list of the negative qualities and gifts that procrastination brings, I realised that actually these supposed "gifts" were both counterproductive and limiting. If anything they were anti-gifts and in some circumstances take more away than the negative qualities do.
Indeed SARK put it perfectly: "These "gifts" will continue to feed areas of low self esteem until you believe in your own abilities to fly".
Last night after I had decided I was ready to understand my procrastination, I made a very simple decision to change the delivery time of my online shopping order from Asda. I understand that that may seem random, but by opting to having my groceries delivered at 8am rather than 3pm (although it cost me a whopping £1 more) I knew I had to be awake at a reasonable hour and therefore couldn't use oversleeping as a procrastination tool. So that was a step in the right direction in beginning to eradicate procrastination habits.
Yesterday morning I also received an e-mail from a new colleague of mine on a potentially very worthwhile job proposal I was given just before Christmas. Being stuck in my procrastination rut made me doubt my own abilities and I opted not to respond to the e-mail until I was "feeling more on top of my game" (read: procrastinate). However, because I had ensured that I wasn't wasting today oversleeping, I was awake to receive a phone call from this colleague as he was at an airport between flights. This too has been a positive step forward as I now feel encouraged about my new job and my value within the company - it is a very good prospect and may be a possible answer to my woes regarding university.
Although I may not have achieved masses in the way of productivity today, I have made small steps and am already beginning to see that if I trust myself to face things it actually makes me feel much better than burying my head.
"I am now ready to release procrastination..."
Negative qualities:
- Never actually getting anything done.
- Not being able to enjoy experiences because of looming feeling that I should be doing something else.
- Feeling annoyed with myself and feeling lazy.
- Limiting my ability to be creative and experiment.
- Regardless somethings have to be done anyway so therefore procrastination truly is a waste of precious time.
Gifts:
- Not having to face up to difficult challenges.
- Able to run away from the risk of trying something and failing.
- "Ignorance is bliss".
SARK: "Negative qualities: not starting things, not finishing things, hiding, feeling self-anger frustration and paralyzing inertia. Gifts: continuing to have excuses, not feeling challenged, having a ready explanation for not living your dreams, having more "time", basking in the glow of denial".
When I read back over both mine and SARK's list of the negative qualities and gifts that procrastination brings, I realised that actually these supposed "gifts" were both counterproductive and limiting. If anything they were anti-gifts and in some circumstances take more away than the negative qualities do.
Indeed SARK put it perfectly: "These "gifts" will continue to feed areas of low self esteem until you believe in your own abilities to fly".
Last night after I had decided I was ready to understand my procrastination, I made a very simple decision to change the delivery time of my online shopping order from Asda. I understand that that may seem random, but by opting to having my groceries delivered at 8am rather than 3pm (although it cost me a whopping £1 more) I knew I had to be awake at a reasonable hour and therefore couldn't use oversleeping as a procrastination tool. So that was a step in the right direction in beginning to eradicate procrastination habits.
Yesterday morning I also received an e-mail from a new colleague of mine on a potentially very worthwhile job proposal I was given just before Christmas. Being stuck in my procrastination rut made me doubt my own abilities and I opted not to respond to the e-mail until I was "feeling more on top of my game" (read: procrastinate). However, because I had ensured that I wasn't wasting today oversleeping, I was awake to receive a phone call from this colleague as he was at an airport between flights. This too has been a positive step forward as I now feel encouraged about my new job and my value within the company - it is a very good prospect and may be a possible answer to my woes regarding university.
Although I may not have achieved masses in the way of productivity today, I have made small steps and am already beginning to see that if I trust myself to face things it actually makes me feel much better than burying my head.
"I am now ready to release procrastination..."
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
3rd January - Accepting Procrastination
SARK: "If you procrastinate it has served you. Welcome it! Congratulate yourself, study its effects in your life, and its gifts.
"I discovered that I was practising a form of self-medications with my procrastinating. I needed to care for my areas of low self esteem before I could work with procrastination".
Self medication is most certainly what my procrastination has become. If I keep putting off what I need to do then I don't have to deal with the enormity of it here are now.
"I am now ready to understand my procrastinating..."
Having spent my life mostly as an overachiever, it is very difficult for me to admit that I'm not entirely sure that I know what I'm doing. More to the point I think it's more difficult for me to admit that perhaps I don't want to continue to "achieve". I think since getting engaged these thoughts have only been amplified. What is so wrong about just wanting to settle down, have a home with my partner, have a job that earns me enough money to live comfortably and bring up a family? The more I think about entering into a career in the fashion industry the more I feel sick. I don't want to be continually chasing my self, fighting to be on the top of the game, taking work home with me ... having my work be my life. It's not really a question of can't be arsed but more a need for a quality of life that I worry I won't get with this kind of job.
Then reading SARK's view of accepting procrastination made me consider that it could be my own self doubt that is making me want to pack it all in. Perhaps I'm frightened I can't do it but more so I'm frightened that I haven't got the balls to take a leap of faith and find an alternative route for myself. I think it's time to start trying to accept this dissatisfaction, face up to the fact that it has to be faced and begin by making lists of alternative ideas and life plans...
"At this point I consider myself to be a recovering procrastinator".
"I discovered that I was practising a form of self-medications with my procrastinating. I needed to care for my areas of low self esteem before I could work with procrastination".
Self medication is most certainly what my procrastination has become. If I keep putting off what I need to do then I don't have to deal with the enormity of it here are now.
"I am now ready to understand my procrastinating..."
Having spent my life mostly as an overachiever, it is very difficult for me to admit that I'm not entirely sure that I know what I'm doing. More to the point I think it's more difficult for me to admit that perhaps I don't want to continue to "achieve". I think since getting engaged these thoughts have only been amplified. What is so wrong about just wanting to settle down, have a home with my partner, have a job that earns me enough money to live comfortably and bring up a family? The more I think about entering into a career in the fashion industry the more I feel sick. I don't want to be continually chasing my self, fighting to be on the top of the game, taking work home with me ... having my work be my life. It's not really a question of can't be arsed but more a need for a quality of life that I worry I won't get with this kind of job.
Then reading SARK's view of accepting procrastination made me consider that it could be my own self doubt that is making me want to pack it all in. Perhaps I'm frightened I can't do it but more so I'm frightened that I haven't got the balls to take a leap of faith and find an alternative route for myself. I think it's time to start trying to accept this dissatisfaction, face up to the fact that it has to be faced and begin by making lists of alternative ideas and life plans...
"At this point I consider myself to be a recovering procrastinator".
Monday, 2 January 2012
2nd January - Identifying Procrastination
SARK:"Symptoms: overeating, oversleeping, over talking, overdoing, overwhelming! (the word over appears frequently here).
My immediate reaction to reading this page and it's list of "overs" was just to dismiss what I'd being doing recently as "Christmas". Though I know if I was to be completely honest that is not strictly true. The spring term at university begins a week tomorrow and I haven't so much as even read what my Christmas assignment is yet. Of course I have been busy with travelling, visiting, revelling and generally being festive but I cannot really use that excuse now that I am back in London and both Christmas and New Years have passed.
I am procrastinating. Definitely.
SARK:"Learning to identify procrastination is an excellent first step".
SARK:"We need to learn the middle route. For years I had said that if I ever built a house I would name is "Happy Medium" just so that I could live there. I avoided the middle because I thought it was boring. Now I know that's where all the real feelings are".
This middle ground is a difficult place because of these real feelings. I find it is making me face up to some things about my general discontent regarding uni and the resulting on going battle about my career choices and what I really want out of life. I know I am putting off doing anything regarding making a decision about uni and actually doing any work because I'm not quite sure what to do at the moment - and that is quite terrifying. That'll be the "perfectionism" mentioned yesterday then.
... I think for now I just going to give myself a little slow time. Perhaps I need this bit of procrastination (which is not to say I accept it as a solution - it is not). My ever wonderful fiancée just listened to me poor my heart out (and drench her chest) before suggesting that right now and tonight might not be the optimum time to fix all my worldly woes. A better solution may be to open a bottle of wine (no alcoholism also is not a solution kids) and watch films.
The last line of today's page reads, "I will now allow myself to rest in the middle..." so for today that is exactly what I will do. I have identified my procrastination and perhaps the reasoning behind it and so for today that will do. I have not resolved the situation but am just going to rest in the middle.
My immediate reaction to reading this page and it's list of "overs" was just to dismiss what I'd being doing recently as "Christmas". Though I know if I was to be completely honest that is not strictly true. The spring term at university begins a week tomorrow and I haven't so much as even read what my Christmas assignment is yet. Of course I have been busy with travelling, visiting, revelling and generally being festive but I cannot really use that excuse now that I am back in London and both Christmas and New Years have passed.
I am procrastinating. Definitely.
SARK:"Learning to identify procrastination is an excellent first step".
SARK:"We need to learn the middle route. For years I had said that if I ever built a house I would name is "Happy Medium" just so that I could live there. I avoided the middle because I thought it was boring. Now I know that's where all the real feelings are".
This middle ground is a difficult place because of these real feelings. I find it is making me face up to some things about my general discontent regarding uni and the resulting on going battle about my career choices and what I really want out of life. I know I am putting off doing anything regarding making a decision about uni and actually doing any work because I'm not quite sure what to do at the moment - and that is quite terrifying. That'll be the "perfectionism" mentioned yesterday then.
... I think for now I just going to give myself a little slow time. Perhaps I need this bit of procrastination (which is not to say I accept it as a solution - it is not). My ever wonderful fiancée just listened to me poor my heart out (and drench her chest) before suggesting that right now and tonight might not be the optimum time to fix all my worldly woes. A better solution may be to open a bottle of wine (no alcoholism also is not a solution kids) and watch films.
The last line of today's page reads, "I will now allow myself to rest in the middle..." so for today that is exactly what I will do. I have identified my procrastination and perhaps the reasoning behind it and so for today that will do. I have not resolved the situation but am just going to rest in the middle.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
1st January - "Procrastinating"
"You can unlearn procrastination just as you learned it".
SARK: "I notice how we inundate ourselves with huge goals and them berate ourselves when they don't occur. Remember that procrastination is rooted in over-functioning and low self esteem. What a doomed combination! Procrastinators are also tremendous perfectionists and relentless rehearsers. They rehearse over and over in their mind how they're going to do it perfectly - then when they do nothing it doesn't disturb their perfection vision ... you can now learn to be tender to yourself".
I couldn't think of a more fitted way to begin my Living Juicy 2012. I am a hopeless procrastinator ... actually no, I am a brilliant procrastinator. I did in actual fact procrastinate over starting this blog. Since 2010 I had had the intention of doing it - so I am proud today that I have embraced the living juicy mindset and I am going to unlearn procrastination. I think (as SARK mentions above) that at New Year many of us over face ourselves with big challenges, "resolutions" and goals and they become so intrusive and difficult that succeeding in them becomes a real chore - procrastination therefore seems a more attractive offer.
This year I have decided not to set any major goals preferring the more frivolous (such as spending a day at the seaside) and working my way daily through this book. As SARK mentions, much procrastination is a result of perfectionism and so I feel that doing this challenge that I cannot procrastinate too much over (as it will need to be completed daily) I will be forced to overcome my need for perfection and hopefully learn to live a little more loosely. With flexibility comes experimentation and this encourages creativity and ideas ...
An Introduction
Several years ago I was introduced to a wonderful book by a counsellor of mine at the time. This book "Living Juicy - Daily Morsels for your creative soul" is written by a wonderful lady known as SARK. "Living Juicy" has over time proven to be both a huge comfort and inspiration within my daily life and I have bought and passed it on to many friends over the years. Essentially the book is like a calender with a page for all 365 days of the year. Each page has something different to offer giving a daily task or idea to help enlighten your day and improve positivity and creativity.
As SARK would put it:
"Living Juicy is: jumping for joy on the inside! In the midst of our daily lives we must find the juice to nourish our creative souls. If we rush around, never look closely, or practice self denial, we will begin to feel dry and cracked, for the lack of sweet, wild moments that elevate us, and those around us. The name for this is Living Juicy"
So for 2012 I have decided that I will follow it day by day blogging on my progress and experience of a year of Living Juicy.
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