Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

Remember when you were a kid and there was something so scary about the dark?

You were afraid there might be monsters under the bed or in the closet.  It felt so real.  Your body tensed and you feared the unknown.

Somehow when the light was turned on, or in the light of day, the monsters in your imagination would recede and lose their power to hurt you.

The movie, Monsters, Inc. is a charming, animated tale that shows the monsters in the light of day as goofy, charming, caring, and sometimes frightened themselves.

Our emotions can be like these monsters.  When we hide them, ignore them, or push them into the dark corners of our mind, they become much bigger than life and raise the fear factor.

We’re afraid of what might happen and often the fear is much bigger than the reality.

Shining some light and bring the emotions out where we can see them, feel them, and release them can make them seem less frightening and mysterious.

I’ll admit that it is going to take a lot of practice for me because of a lifelong habit to put my emotions in a closet and double bolt the door.  I figured if I ignored them, they would leave.

In the Attraction Distraction by Sonia Miller, she says, “Emotions are healthy and all emotions are completely ok.  They are simply energy passing through your body and need to be released so your soul can speak to you.”

What a lovely way of putting it.  I believe that is true and the more we listen to our instincts, the signals from our body, and shine a light on the feelings we’ve hid in the dark, the less we’ll live and act in fear.

The book that I am reading now, and more importantly, doing the exercises, is The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin.

I am really enjoying the simple and effective methods that help release emotions, both old and new.

It’s like having a flash light to see there is nothing to be afraid of, it’s going to be ok.

Mark Twain may have said it best ;

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

“Transformation is not a future event.  It is a present activity.” – Jillian Michaels

This quote is from Jillian Michaels,  the well known exercise coach.

I like that it reminds us no matter what kinds of changes we want in our lives, the only way to make it happen depends on your actions now, in the present moment.

As you continue to take actions in the present moment, they add up and gain momentum.

The painting is by my talented husband, Greg Evans.

©Sally Evans Sunlight Through the Leaves

Each year I like to pick a theme for the year.  It helps me to focus on what I want and how I want to live.

I’ve been working on getting my life less complicated, less cluttered, and moving more toward spending my time in a way that feels fulfilling and enjoyable.

One of my big changes last year was to spend more time creating.  I am definitely moving in the right direction!

In order to spend more time enjoying making jewelry, art, projects for our home, and inspiring others to create, I have continued to work on ways to keep things more organizing.

My sister and I have been working together and experimenting with creating systems for work and home that simplify and make day to day tasks easier.

I look forward to tweaking and playing with that even more because I am really seeing a difference.

We both realized how creating limits has given us more freedom.

Examples of that include the number of projects I am working on at one time.

And while that may sound simple to some of you, believe me that has been a work in progress!

I just wrote a post about having a Fresh Start on my jewelry and art site.

I wanted to start the year but clearing my creative spaces which include my studio, the sewing room, and my office.  I include my office because that is where I write and it helps to not be surrounded by piles of things to do.

The idea is to continue to make choices that feel good and that allow me to simplify the day to day tasks and make things easy to maintain.

That allows me to enjoy having freedom to do more of what I want, whether that is to create jewelry, art, make a flower arrangement, play with my family and friends, or make some beautiful pillows for our bed.

And the most important part is practicing being in the moment and enjoying it, no matter what I am doing.

I think it is going to be a great year!

What is your theme for the year?  What do you want to practice?