The Quarantine Chronicles: Day 6

Hello, Dear One!

We are going to be creating something a little different today.

We are going to be creating a place. Stay with me.

Creativity is discovery and invention.

It is an act of exploring the heart and the spirit - an adventuring into the center of who we are and a beautiful, never-ending journey of uncovering the treasure that lies within.

As I sat on my couch last night, in my sweats, that I'd been wearing for the last few days...I realized my emotional discomfort was coming from a place that, truth be told, is pretty familiar to me.

I'd been feeling uncomfortable and unmotivated all day long. I had work online that needed to be done and my entire being was in rebellion.

Unlike places like Spain, in Germany, we are fortunately allowed to go out and take walks, but I did not leave our apartment yesterday, I tried and tried to turn my focus towards inspiring, captivating, and exciting things to no avail. I was down and felt the resistance within me not only of frustration, but of being frustrated with myself for feeling frustrated.

I was experiencing full blown self-judgment and, for most of the day, I had been in denial about it.

A lot of us, as artists, are performers. Maybe some of us are drawn into the creative realm because of the accolades that performing well or creating something unique to display can bring. And unlearning this need to receive our sense of self-worth from what we 'do' or how we 'perform' is (for a lot of humans and not just artists) really a life long lesson in the learning.

However, quarantine? Quarantine is definitely giving us all a big slice of 'learn this now or become more miserable' pie.

It's not just about what you do. Who you are is extraordinary and entirely unique in all of time and history in the whole frickin' wide world.

So today, I want you to do what I challenged myself to do this morning - I want you to write an encouraging, kind letter to yourself. It can be in the form of a poem or a song as well if you want, but the important thing is to write yourself a letter, affirming all the qualities you love about who you are - not about what you do, or what you have done.

The beautiful essence of who you are does not change if you don't shower for a week, stay in the same pajamas or sweat pants, or have a sore tummy from more trips to the pantry than usual because #quarantine. The extraordinary essence of who you are does not change if you are feeling unmotivated, unfocused, paralyzed with uncertainty or worry.

Who you are is so precious, so sacred, so indescribably beautiful beyond compare - but I want you to try to describe it.

Write a letter to yourself and see if you can list at least 50 qualities in your unique spirit that you know to be true. You are creating more than a letter here - you are creating a place where you can truly rest, a place you can breathe. You are creating a place of acceptance and compassion for yourself - a blanket you can wrap yourself up in. You are creating a safe space for yourself to be, outside of trying to meet anyone's expectations, including your own.

You are creating a reality for yourself.

It's been true since the day you were born but it might need to be rebuilt in your mind.

Who you are is enough.

Who you are is more than enough.

There is so much love for you here,

JennyRebecca