Comments on: Art Every Day Month- Day 19: Toxic Comparison, Soul Sucking Creativity Demons and The Healing Power Of Napping http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/ Be Creative. Feed Your Soul. Love Your Life. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:44:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Sandra Mosley http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/comment-page-1/#comment-278 Sandra Mosley Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:25:16 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/?p=3282#comment-278 Aloha Chris, Great post! Comparison is toxic when combined with a value judgment. This awareness came home to me in your "Painting From The Wild Heart" workshop last spring when I realized that Comparison is what fuels my Inner Critic. It applies to all areas of my life. Thinking someone (or their work) is better or worse than me (or my work) separates me from my creative source. Thank you for providing a judgment and comparison free space where people can explore their creative identity. One of my favorite quotes is by Wayne Dyer (1940 - ) American teacher, author and lecturer who said, "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." Aloha Chris,

Great post!

Comparison is toxic when combined with a value judgment.

This awareness came home to me in your "Painting From The Wild Heart" workshop last spring when I realized that Comparison is what fuels my Inner Critic. It applies to all areas of my life. Thinking someone (or their work) is better or worse than me (or my work) separates me from my creative source.

Thank you for providing a judgment and comparison free space where people can explore their creative identity.

One of my favorite quotes is by Wayne Dyer (1940 - ) American teacher, author and lecturer who said, "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."

]]> By: Melissa http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Melissa Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:54:58 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/?p=3282#comment-263 Great post! Ugh, comparison, self-doubt, jealousy.....oh the damage I have done to myself through my art, which is NOT supposed to be about causing myself pain. duh. ;) My new "trick" in order to see my art through my regular eyes and not my jerky pain in the butt eyes: I think, "If I saw this on someone else's blog....what would I think, say, feel?" 99.5% of the time, I think....I'd love it and wish I made it. (I'm leaving .5 for error :) "Tricking" myself, in this way, works for me so that I can move on to another project feeling good. Now that I am creating art that I love, I don't fall into the above mentioned pit-falls as much. But every once in awhile...............I wake up on the bottom of the pit. "Ouch, my head....how did I get here???" This too shall pass is awesome - tis so true! Napping rules! ~magick~ Melissa Great post! Ugh, comparison, self-doubt, jealousy.....oh the damage I have done to myself through my art, which is NOT supposed to be about causing myself pain. duh. ;)

My new "trick" in order to see my art through my regular eyes and not my jerky pain in the butt eyes:

I think, "If I saw this on someone else's blog....what would I think, say, feel?" 99.5% of the time, I think....I'd love it and wish I made it. (I'm leaving .5 for error :)

"Tricking" myself, in this way, works for me so that I can move on to another project feeling good. Now that I am creating art that I love, I don't fall into the above mentioned pit-falls as much. But every once in awhile...............I wake up on the bottom of the pit. "Ouch, my head....how did I get here???"

This too shall pass is awesome - tis so true!

Napping rules!

~magick~
Melissa

]]> By: shannon http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/comment-page-1/#comment-244 shannon Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:10:58 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/?p=3282#comment-244 It's amazing, isn't it, how some days we're feeling on top of the world..."hello, world here I come"...and then the very next day that old and all too familiar self doubt can creep in. Ilove your honesty! I just recently taught some process painting classes and I was amazed at how much resistance there was to NOT comment. I agree with your description of why we want to keep the "good" and the "not so good" judgements out of our intuitive painting experience. I am constantly reminded by my almost 2-year-old that a beginner's mind is a wonderful practice, especially in the creative process.... It's amazing, isn't it, how some days we're feeling on top of the world..."hello, world here I come"...and then the very next day that old and all too familiar self doubt can creep in. Ilove your honesty! I just recently taught some process painting classes and I was amazed at how much resistance there was to NOT comment. I agree with your description of why we want to keep the "good" and the "not so good" judgements out of our intuitive painting experience. I am constantly reminded by my almost 2-year-old that a beginner's mind is a wonderful practice, especially in the creative process....

]]> By: Julie Jordan Scott http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Julie Jordan Scott Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:37:54 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/?p=3282#comment-243 The concept of beginning again and approaching everything from a space of the beginner really helps me. REALLY helps me. That toxic comparison thing is almost as bad as the Inner Critic thing... they are more than likely cousins or members of the same committee. Thank you for being so open with the stuff that shows up.... The concept of beginning again and approaching everything from a space of the beginner really helps me. REALLY helps me. That toxic comparison thing is almost as bad as the Inner Critic thing... they are more than likely cousins or members of the same committee. Thank you for being so open with the stuff that shows up....

]]> By: Diane M. McKnight http://creativejuicesarts.com/blog/art-every-day-month-day-19-toxic-comparison-soul-sucking-creativity-demons-and-the-healing-power-of-napping/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Diane M. McKnight Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:54:27 +0000 http://creativejuicesarts.com/?p=3282#comment-242 I LOVE this entry. Especially the part about a cup of tea, a good cry and a nap. Yes...YES...to all. I appreciate your candor and openness to write about something that we all face, at least I DO REGULARLY. This is dangerous stuff, but I agree with you that we allow it to have even more power over us when we just try and force the creativity to come of beat ourselves up about how we should be able to push through it and just create. Taking a break is good for us, and acknowledging what is happening is healing. I LOVE this entry. Especially the part about a cup of tea, a good cry and a nap. Yes...YES...to all. I appreciate your candor and openness to write about something that we all face, at least I DO REGULARLY. This is dangerous stuff, but I agree with you that we allow it to have even more power over us when we just try and force the creativity to come of beat ourselves up about how we should be able to push through it and just create. Taking a break is good for us, and acknowledging what is happening is healing.

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