(Part One of a Three Part Series)
Have you ever done this?
Had a crystal clear idea of where you are going and then bam, life gets in the way?
So that happened.
Last August, I sent you an email introducing a new direction that I was very happy about. In fact, it was called the Happiness of Creativity. My intention was to focus on the benefits of establishing a creative practice specifically using visual journaling as a tool for self-expression and self-discovery.
Then, life + traveling + holidays + new information all came together to change the trajectory of my life and work. I am still in love with visual journaling and I’ve used some of my quick collages here.
BUT what came next was too big to ignore.
Normally, when one year comes to an end and a new one begins, I take a look at where I am and where I’d like to be. And as always, the one area that I am rarely happy about is my weight.
For most of my life, I’ve struggled with a general pattern of over-eating and a constant battle to keep my weight within a normal range. I’ve been able to lose weight when I finally decide it’s time. But the moment I stop dieting, it comes back and then some.
Sound familiar?
Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2017
Maybe it’s not weight you struggle with. Maybe you have a different bad habit or compulsive behavior that is totally interfering in your life. No matter how much willpower or discipline you manage to muster, you find yourself frustrated and stuck with this unwanted behavior.
And maybe, like me, you’ve reached a point in your life where you’re just plain tired of limiting or putting restrictions on yourself. Personally, I want to enjoy my life. In France, eating is elevated to an art form. I no longer want to deny myself any of the pleasure that revolves around our daily meals.
At the same time, I don’t feel all that good about carrying these extra pounds. Or continuing to do what obviously hasn’t worked.
So now what?
As someone immersed in the field of human potential, I am continually reading, studying and researching tons of ideas + concepts on how to live fully and richly as we become our best selves.
Looking at the big picture, we humans have come so far in so many ways. Yet we continue to experience way too much pain and suffering, buckling under the weight (excuse the pun) of our many problems.
Why does this seem to be getting increasingly worse instead of better? Why are more and more people turning to unhealthy habits and behaviors that end up causing them even more pain?
Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2017
How can we retain our health and wellbeing in the midst of all the temptations and distractions?
While there are many outside considerations that I’ll leave for another time, my primary interest lies in what we can do personally to alleviate our own suffering.
What I’ve come to understand is that there is an effortless path to freedom that does not rely on willpower, disciple or positive motivation to release bad habits.
Amazingly, this path is completely aligned with and includes the creative principle that I’ve been working with in visual journaling.
Imagine an effortless way to free yourself from the bad habits and behaviors that are keeping you from doing what you want to do, from being who you want to be.
Imagine a way to naturally connect to your innate wisdom and health.
Imagine having a clear + stress free mind, going about your daily life with confidence + clarity.
This might sound impossible but you don’t have to imagine it, it already exists.
(Part One of a Three Part Series. Part Two: Could this all be just a simple misunderstanding?)
Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2017