Inspired By: 3 Top Creative Living Blogs (a must for any artist)

 

Top Three Blog Posts in the Blogsphere delivering Museful Messages:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
~ John Quincy Adams

1. Courageous conversations :: working with right now

written by Kate Swoboda from Wish Studio Blog - give your wishes wings

Post delivers a poignant message to cease the time you have now in creating your dreams come true.

My favorite passage is as follows:

“The timing is rarely ever “right.” The timing is about what we make of it–not grasping and wrestling when we say now is the time, but rather, deciding something and getting behind that choice, and then watching the alchemy that follows.”

2. part of the light

written by terri st.cloud from bone sigh arts - honor yourself

This post speaks to the challenges that we all face in life, at one time or another. Sometimes life can be such a series of difficulty that it leaves us feeling broken and sad and wondering, ‘What happened to the light? To the good ole' days?” Have you ever felt this?  Have you ever asked, “When will it turn around - get better?” If so, this post is for you. Though it touches on struggle it doesn’t wallow. It’s message is of hope and a reminder that the light is there in the darkness.

YES. Life does and can get better.

I know this to be true having emerged from the shadow side of the starving artist into the illuminated light of a joyous creative being. No lie. It was a difficult journey. I cried a lot during that time. It did bring me to the edge of myself. Yet, within that difficulty I found inspiration. 

The stars do shine brighter against a black sky.

This is a reminder to keep on keeping on. I feel many artists are not willing to blog about their frustrations, the challenges they’re facing on the blank page, the ups and downs of a creative life as they strive to create a life of meaning, purpose and a soft place to place their heart. I mean, no artist wants to present themselves as having difficulty or as having a negative voice and so, the shadow side of the journey gets silence. I’m convinced that this silence is what perpetuates the darkness, for it’s our voice, our honesty that brings light, like stars, to the darkness.

Terri, is the perfect writer/example of how you can express the dark while allowing the light to shine and within that light is peace, hope and ability to persevere.

My favorite passage is as follows:

“...it's all one big glob.

you've got to have it all.

don't curse the darkness....

it's somehow part of the light.

i need to remember that.”

Life has shown me that too, during some of my darkest days I can remember feeling inspired by nature, or hope, or an artsy idea. Even if the difficulty lessons for a second during these inspired moments, it did lesson and perhaps that's what supports transformation. As I write this, I’m thinking maybe more true than I know. All the more reason to embrace what inspires you - it does protect you from “the nothing” from any despondency.

3. Promise #72: Cruise through life

written by Tracey Selingo from Twisted Pinky - promises worth making as you journey through life

This post reminds us of the benefits of traveling the road of life with a true friend. It urges the reader to make time for a joy ride - to simply enjoy life.

This post is illustrated with a photo of a street sign. The street is named FRIEND. After reading this gem I was inspired by the thought that what if your true friend was your Soul. What if your true friend was located deep within you, was the inspiration that kept you along the journey, thrilled by all the twists and turns and wide open skies.

What if you were consciously aware of your Soul friend?

I think it would change the way we talk and treat ourselves. I believe that conscious friendship could change everything. It would change Life as a whole, perhaps making people more tender, compassionate and unhindered with expressions of love, not only for others but most importantly towards themselves.

The Irish have a term for soul friend and it’s called, Anam Cara. I didn’t know what this word meant or even that existed until I heard it one day, in my head during a meditation. I wrote it down and forgot, until I saw it weeks later as the cover to a book by John O'Donohue. 

What I find inspiring about this Anam Cara, discovery was that I have Irish in my blood. Needless to say I bought the book immediately. John O'Donohue is one of those writers, that I swear, infuse their words with inspired beauty, an invisible embrace. That embrace envelops the reader with tender  healing energy that inspires, encourages and unlocks parts of the spirit ready to emerge - talk about the essence of a true friend, a soul friend.

This book changed my life and so does true friendship. Tracey is right, sometimes all we need is a good joy ride, to feel connected and little wind our hair to renew yourself. I know it helps me.

Though the road of life can be challenging, so is the journey to creating a thriving artistic life, finding the path of our authentic self, traveling the path of our true heart. Despite the challenges, the pain, the set backs, even plagues of doubt - it’s worth it.

It’s worth fighting for our friend, our Soul.

Partnering with our Soul is what helps us bring clarity, confidence, inner authority and self-approval, to bring focus to our work, to bring it to fruition, to understand the spiritual integrity of our heart, which we’re hoping to embody. It determines the quality of what we bring to work, to ourselves, to friends, to family - to LIFE.

It’s worth fighting for your friend, your Soul. Wouldn't you agree?