Follow-up Letters

Finding Your Own Creative Voice

When you know what you want you can express your unique creative voice much more easily. This activity can wake up your wanting and turn wants and desires into satisfying creative expression. As you move through the activity you'll gain tools to construct your internal map of responses-this will let you know HOW to find out what you want.

Each of us makes choices based on a unique set of internal experiences. For example, when considering where to go for dinner, one person may remember the taste of a favorite dish, another may picture the décor in a particular restaurant, and another may recall the level of noise and smokiness. Most people's awareness of these internal responses and connections are generally unconscious. That is, people don't know why they choose what they choose. This process will illuminate your internal body map so you can choose consciously from what a real experience of what you authentically want.

Another benefit of this process is to give you practice in making choices and noticing your responses. So many of us have had negative experiences around making choices that we give up, or suppress our wants so thoroughly we can't find them. Others develop secret strategies for getting wants and needs met or come to believe that there just isn't enough for their wants to be met. Or they think that wanting is bad, especially wanting something just for you. This activity will give you experience in dissolving old beliefs and strategies and connecting with the true experience of wanting. As you expand into wanting, you'll discover your own creative voice.

You'll need a notebook and pen or marker for this process.

• Begin saying “I want” out loud, pausing for two relaxed breaths between each repetition. Notice what thoughts, images and body sensations arise during the pauses. Say “I want” four to five times, then take two connected belly breaths…Now say “I want” again, and take another couple of relaxed belly breaths…once more…”I want”…breathing…
  
• Now write down or draw the images, thoughts and body sensations you noticed in your notebook. Do your best to write free of editing. If you get stuck, shift your pen to your non-dominate hand.
  
• Now experiment with different vocal tones and intensities. For example, say “I want!” righteously and emphatically… Try a whining voice and a breathy tone… Say “I want” as if you were royalty, and again in your neediest voice... Do your best to try on as many different voices as you can.
  
• Take a moment to write down body sensations you noticed, any words, images, memories that you noticed.
  
• Now think of something you actually know you want and imagine it in front of you. Say “I want” as you physically reach out to touch or grasp it. Take a couple of relaxed breaths to notice your experience. Do this again.
  
• Now think of something you know you really dislike and imagine it in front of you. Say “I want” as you reach out for this object. Pause and breathe into your belly as you notice body sensations, emotions or thoughts that arose for you.
  
• Take a minute or two to write or draw the differences you noticed in your experience of reaching for something you know you like and something you know you don't like . This is your process, so you can record your experience in a way that is satisfying just for you.
  
• Now ask yourself, “Do I want a drink of water right now?” and be aware of your internal experience very closely. If you decide you do want a drink, go and get one, noticing your reaction to acting on what you want. If you did not want a drink, notice how you knew that you did not. Choosing anything in life can be that simple.
  
• Now focus on your creative life. Close your eyes and ask, “What do I want to express in the world?” Pause for two relaxed breaths as you notice your body and mind responses. Then ask these questions, “What do I really want to express? …What is my unique creative voice?... What do I love to do that when I'm engaged with it time disappears.” Pause, breathe and notice your responses. Sometimes you won't get answers but rather an opening or a shift in body sensation, such as a release of shoulder tension. You are opening space in your bodymind for wanting and creativity.