The Way
Last night he told me he had hired a career coach to help guide him in a new direction. When S. told him his personal narrative, the coach pointed out how much of S's story was intertwined with the opinions of others. S. wants to be a good boy but is afraid that doing something creative will jeopardize the opinion others have of him. It's a familiar story.
One of the suggestions I made to S. was that he buy a copy of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Everyone has heard of this book and many people own unread copies. I'm not much of a self-help book kind of guy but I can say, without equivocation, that the contents of this book changed my life. The cornerstone of the program are the Morning Pages, a discipline that requires you, almost immediately after waking each day, to fill three pages with whatever words come in to your mind. These words are not meant to be read by anyone, not even by you. Yet they give you a chance to skim the crapoff your mind, the doubt and self loathing, the apprehensions and obstacles, and begin each day with a creative act.
I take issue with parts of the book. I think it assumes too much that most people had lousy, oppressive childhoods that sapped the creativity out of them and forces the reader to confront these issues, whether they are central or not. I think it also assumes too much that one's goal is to become a professional creative person, rather than just infusing one's life with art. But these are small caveats and so I urge the book on many people.
Almost none of them take me up on it.
My mum did. Like me she has gone through the course several times on her own. Since incorporating the program into her life, she has moved away from here market research business and written a screenplay, a novel, a memoir, and created her wonderful art form, Leafages. She has been invited to speak to many groups on creativity, had one woman and group shows, and her work sells from coast to coast. She even teaches a workshop on The Artist's Way in her home, spreading the truth that anyone can become more creative to others.
I am not, as a rule, a joiner. Nor am I a believer in much. So please take what I say with a healthy dose of salt. Still, whether you begin this program or another or invent one for yourself, I'm fairly certain that you will find that when you give yourself permission to be creative, your life will change. You will either leave or transform your job. You will open yourself up to new people. You will develop new relationships. You will find that serendipity plays a very active role in your life. You will worry less and appreciate the universe more. You may not lose weight but you'll enjoy food more. Your body may not look better but your taste in clothing will improve. You may not become wealthier but money will matter less. You may not improve your health but each day will matter more.
As for S., he's a very nice man, enormously intelligent, and I'm sure his brain will eventually grant him permission to find his calling. As the Buddha said, "There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the Way."
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
That's wonderful about your mother! Her artwork is gorgeous!!
I am a firm believer of The Artists Way as well, and have only been through the process fully one time (last year), even though I've owned the book for 5 years!
I guess people resist it because of the discipline it involves. I got past that by not giving up on it when I failed to do one or two tasks. I just kept at it, and tried my best. I've done the morning pages even when not going through the process because they give such clarity to my thoughts. And the tasks are really "play", like she suggests, if you take the right perspective.
I'm glad to hear from you, and other people I've talked to, that it can enhance creativity even more when you use it several times. Yesterday I started on Vein of Gold, the companion book.
Here's to your friend finding his happiness! It does sound like he's ready to...
Posted by: Amy | April 2, 2004 11:15 AM
I have owned this book for years, read it several times, but never committed to actually doing the exercises. Over the past year, however, I have spoken with several highly productive, nationally known artists who have credited their success (personal and professional) to doing those morning pages. Your essay today may have been the nudge I needed to actually start. Thanks!
Posted by: Jan | April 2, 2004 12:38 PM
Do it, Jan!
Read Chapter One tonight in bed. Do your first morning pages tomorrow. It's Saturday! It'll l take fifteen minutes (which you'll get back with daylight savings time anyhow!) You won't regret it.
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: Danny | April 2, 2004 12:43 PM
This rang so true to me, thanks. I kicked and resisted my way through the course - 3 times! I kept thinking I was done with it, even gave the book away and then bought it again, and again. My arrogant intellect kept telling me I didn't need these simplistic exercises, but they changed my life. I recommend the book without reservation, just asking people to have an open mind, and let whatever it is that works, work on them.
Posted by: Nell | April 2, 2004 12:43 PM
The Way sounds great. There's only one thing about the morning pages I don't quite understand. Are the words that fill three pages just words by themselves (no particular syntax), or is it all right to fashion them into sentences? Would a kind of written "refrigerator poetry" count?
Posted by: Dan | April 2, 2004 01:06 PM
Dan:
No, the idea is that you write stream of consciousness, whatever blah blah pours out of your mind, like a diary but less considered..
You should look at the book, for the best explanation. There's more to it than just the Morning Pages
Posted by: Danny | April 2, 2004 01:20 PM
Danny -- coincidences. I also rework The Artist's Way (I'm on my third round) which I just started yesterday. This post seemed like a serendipitous (tm, emdot) shout of encouragement -- I'm glad you wrote it.
Posted by: Marya | April 2, 2004 03:29 PM
WOW! This was such an inspiring entry. That book has been collecting dust on my shelf for, oh, three years. Thanks!
Posted by: penelope | April 2, 2004 04:55 PM
ive been curious about this book. i really enjoyed reading your post and am even more curious about the book now, and will be visiting amazon.
Posted by: azura | April 3, 2004 01:35 AM
Jan try and do it with a friend and meet in a cafe once a week to do a few of the exercises talk about any insights, celebrate changes and MOST IMPORTANTLY COMMIT TO DOING THE ARTIST DATES! I find that most people want to wriggle out of them and they are the thing that makes the most difference.
I say this as an Artist' Way group facilitator on sabattical who has had to go back to doing the process in order to move myself out of the creative/life blahs!
Posted by: m | April 3, 2004 06:38 AM
For anyone who can't quite stomach the artist's way's tone (which was the problem I had), I highly recommend CREATING A LIFE WORTH LIVING by Carol Lloyd. Julia Cameron actually encouraged Lloyd to write the book, and there are lots of similarities between then -- including morning pages, only it's called the Daily Action in Lloyd and can be anything, not just writing. (Drawing, dancing around the room, etc.) Lloyd's book really does take you through the process of setting goals, establishing better work habits and greater commitment, figuring out how much money you actually need to survive on, and on, and profiles successful artists in a number of fields. Great book, and she's a better writer than Cameron, for what that's worth.
Posted by: Bondgirl | April 3, 2004 11:42 AM
Thanks for posting that. I started reading The Artists Way last year after a friend recommended it. I remember that as I was reading it and doing the exercises, I kept having the feeling that it was changing the way I think about things (in a good way). I think the reason a lot of people don't finish the book is because it can be scary to change like that. I stopped reading when I started writing a novel and wanted to work on that instead of the morning pages, but now I think it's time to go back and try again.
Posted by: Lisa | April 3, 2004 12:00 PM
Lisa,
I hadn't thought about that. (Feeling that the change was too scary) It makes a lot of sense!~
Bondgirl,
The Carol Lloyd book sounds good, too. I may check it out somewhere down the line.~
Even though some of the way in which the Artists Way is written doesn't resonate with me either, I found that when I got past those things and just did the stuff, it really did work!
I don't think I've ever heard someone say they've regretted doing this course either. Any review I've heard from someone, included the fact that it had some kind of positive effect in that person's life.
And I also don't think Cameron tries to limit your creativity to one or two areas. Maybe it's just the examples she gives which are a little confined?
Posted by: Amy | April 3, 2004 10:30 PM
Thanks for posting that entry! I've been doing the Artist's Way course and had been wondering whether doing it meant that I was kidding myself or being a bit of a kook. If you recommend it, then it doesn't seem so foolish...
The problem I have with the book, though, is the assumption that everyone has some kind of spiritual belief. Atheist for 20 years, not likely to change now. Is a belief in a 'higher power' really necessary to get the most out of the book?
Posted by: Anna | April 5, 2004 04:07 PM
Think of it as a relationship with the Universe rather than God. Its shorthand for the way you see your relationship to the wider world. Is it against or for you?
It works fine for athiests - promise!
Posted by: m | April 6, 2004 09:05 AM
Dolly:
I am a hard-boiled atheist too and had a similar issue. My solution was to believe in something I call 'Art' and to practice it as a religion.
Paint and go to museums every Sunday. Draw before bed each night. Study the food on your plate before you eat it. Spread the Word. Tithe to cultural groups, etc.
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: Danny | April 10, 2004 07:37 PM
thank you for this post! i needed to read something like this today.
Posted by: amanda | April 13, 2004 08:53 AM