A-Muse-Ing Inspirations: --- by Jeanette M

A-Muse-Ing Inspirations: — by Jeanette M. Pintar

Lesson 10

What one thing did you do from your Master Plan last week?

Have you needed to update your plan to add new tasks or break bigger ones down into smaller ones?

Have you been surprised to find you’ve unconsciously completed things that were on your list? I love checking something off from my list I didn’t even realize I had intentionally done!

So many times when we put our intentions “out there,” whether in writing, the spoken word, or a simple focused thought or prayer, the universe (including ourselves) will respond to our needs. Last week I made a list of people I needed to e-mail and had to laugh when I turned on the computer to discover they had already e-mailed me! (The funny part is that I had just checked my e-mail before making my list and there was nothing there!) Then I was thinking of some old friends, wondering how they were doing as I haven’t heard from them in 2 years, and couldn’t find their new address. Like magic, they sent a card in the mail… with all their current information!

That’s how it works. We focus on our intentions and activate energy that will help make them happen. As we continuously experience these kind of positive outcomes, we come to both expect and rely on what we desire to actually happen.

Some of you may have been surprised that chapter six of The Artist’s Way dealt with our ideas about money. What’s money got to do with creativity and dreams? The author encourages us to examine where we spend our money compared to what we say matters to us, pointing out how we often piddle it away on things that don’t matter and then tell ourselves we can’t afford the things that do. By doing the exercises in this chapter, we bring out some surprising underlying notions we’re not even aware we have. There’s a lot of insight to be gained in examining our thoughts about money and abundance (or lack thereof) in our lives. Once we become aware of these blocks, we can start breaking through them and empower ourselves to reach our goals more effectively.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from doing The Artist’s Way, especially in chapter six, is to shift my thinking from that of denial to expected abundance. I grew up like many people… Our parents worked hard to make ends meet and “luxuries” simply were not afforded. We put others first and ourselves last. Where there’s something to be said about helping others, we must learn to fill ourselves up first so we can have something give.

Author, Julia Cameron, suggests doing things which give us a sense of luxury. One item mentioned was buying fresh raspberries. That one took me by surprise. When it comes to food, I pride myself in two things: cooking vegetarian with a gourmet flare and keeping to a pretty tight budget. When Ms. Cameron mentioned buying fresh raspberries, I surprisingly realized how many times I had put those raspberries back and bought something which cost a little less but I didn’t truly enjoy. I’ve since changed my approach… Not only with raspberries, but by changing my notion of what I deserve or don’t deserve.

At one time, I didn’t think I deserved to be top dog, or live the life of luxury. I simply wasn’t born that way. I thought I deserved to work hard and earn my way by struggling. Now I believe I deserve the best by following my heart’s guidance and providing myself with the tools I need to succeed. And yes, sometimes that includes something as silly as fresh raspberries – and a dollop of real whipping cream! I also deserve respect, and to be the best possible person I can be. I do not deserve to be taken advantage of, to feel sorry for myself, to stay stuck in anything, or to deny my higher calling... even if it seems out of reach at times.

When I follow my Soul, life flows smoothly and there is no struggle. There are definitely challenges, but I know God is on my side because I’m following His directive for my life and I know He created me to live fully, abundantly, luxuriously and creatively. And you know something? Since I’ve shifted my beliefs, my life has followed suit. It will for you, too.

What little thing did you do last week to give yourself a sense of luxury and abundance? If you haven’t done it yet, why not? Do it now! Enjoy it, embrace it, and know that you are accepting the abundance meant for you.

Now let’s move on to this week’s assignment!

Week 10 Assignment

Use your day planner! Begin by scheduling the following:

Read The Artist’s Way—Chapter 7: Recovering A Sense of Connection, Pgs 117 - 128 Perfectionists please pay attention! And for anyone whose ever struggled with jealousy, please read this chapter – it will set you free!

As you read, look for the main points and underline anything that speaks to you or sounds like it would make a good quote. (If you’re afraid to mess up your book, use pencil, you can erase it later.)

Write down the directions for The Jealousy Map and use as warranted.

Do the Archeology and Positive Inventory exercises on Pgs 125-126.

Pick and do at least 3 of the 10 exercises at the end of the chapter. You can do more! The more you put into doing this, the more of yourself – and your dreams — you will get out of it. Have fun.

Do the Check-In on Pages 127-128.

Schedule, plan and take a date with yourself. It’s so important to allow ourselves to relax, have fun, and enjoy life! Even God rested on the 7^th day, it’s OK for us to take an hour a week to do something to help us feel like a kid again and be more enthusiastic about life. You can pick up whatever responsibilities you have when you return from your (Artist’s) Self Date.

Write 3 pages of long-hand in your journal daily. Often when things get hectic or we feel a sense of stress or anxiety, we shy away from writing because we just don’t want to deal with it. By not writing it down, we hold it inside and it keeps eating away at us. Letting the words transfer from your thoughts to the page releases their energy from your consciousness and frees up the mind to focus on more important things – like following your dreams and accomplishing your goals! Or enjoying the time with friends and loved ones, or simply taking in the beauty and abundance that surrounds you.

Pick a task from your Master Plan and do it! Sometimes we look at the world around us and wonder what it all means. Our dreams can seem so insignificant in the grand scheme of things or when we see the troubles others are facing. But we’ve all been created to follow our dreams and pursue that which matters to us. Even something that seems little, like losing 10 pounds or taking an evening course, can be significant when it comes to our own well-being. Stay focused on your Master Plan. Chose one or more of the tasks from your list of goals and do it, do it, do it! In doing so, you’re fulfilling your destiny. You’re also inspiring others, and accomplishing something positive.

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