Mindful Practices for the Creative Life

It has been four months since I decided to leave my job and be a farm intern while following my creative calling to paint. In the past, I took pride in being able to accomplish a lot in a small space of time. I would perform one task while thinking of the next five or six to knock off my list. I was a multi-tasking wizard! My behavior amplified a life of stress, resulting in tight muscles and a feeling of unpleasant fatigue. I was actually robbing myself of any pleasure I could have experienced. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I was a multi-tasking fool living in the future and never in the now.

I decided to try to live in the moment and stop the madness. The first step in my quest for mindfulness was committing to making my bed every morning. I only made my bed sometimes (actually almost never) in my hurried productive life. Why make it? I just get back in it and mess it up!

Today I find that pulling the sheet and blanket into place each morning, smoothing them out, and fluffing my pillows awakens my sense of touch as I feel the softness of the fabrics. My slowed-down life has afforded me the time to wash my sheets and hang them on the clothesline to dry. I had forgotten that bedding dried in the great outdoors smells divine. Each morning I smell the fresh air.

I have been applying mindful living while I chop vegetables, garden, and especially while I paint. Just like anyone else’s journey, not everyday is easy. There are highs and lows. There are those days when a person’s self-worth could use a cheerleader with some pompoms and a couple of cartwheels! My commitment to make my bed reminds me that each morning is new. I made a choice to follow my passion to paint. Making my bed reminds me to put one foot in front of the other for the sake of pure creative joy.

What practices help you in your creative journey or help you to be mindful?