This is an AI-free blog.

NOTE: These posts are inspired by The Artist’s Way, a 12 Step Process to recovering your creativity by Julia Cameron. You can read all about it here.

CREATIVE ABUNDANCE

In my post The Problem with Writers and Money, we talked about relinquishing the old poor, starving artist cliché. Today we talk about living a life of luxury.

And it’s not what you think…

FROM THE ARTIST’S WAY

All too often, we become blocked and blame it on our lack of money. This is never an authentic block.

The actual block is our feeling of constriction, our sense of powerlessness.

Art requires us to empower ourselves with choice.

At the most basic level, this means choosing to do self-care.

by Julia Cameron

Authentic Luxury

We don’t have to book a 5 star hotel or buy the a $300 bottle of wine to get a sense of luxury.

We can take a mundane task and turn it into a moment of luxury.

Instead of rushing through your daily shower, bring a blue-tooth speaker and a scented candle with you.

It is surprising how adding a few more sensory delights transforms mindless routines into a luxurious experience. (You will probably get some great ideas too. Great ideas always pop up in the shower).

Or, try this—next time you’re at the store, buy one small thing for yourself that isn’t on your shopping list. Nothing practical or needed. Pick out something out of the ordinary and frivolous.

A while back, I bought a wine-colored wool fedora. Not practical in scorching Panama, but I like owning it, and it could be used for a future author photo.

Before that, I ordered two Klimt prints for my office from Great Big Canvas. I can’t tell you how luxurious and inspiring it is to write surrounded by my favorite fine art.

There are endless things you can order online purely for your own pleasure.

Ship them to your home, and it’s like receiving a gift from yourself. How thoughtful of you!

Your turn to luxuriate

You can create a sense of creative abundance all around you by becoming intentional about how you shape your experience.

Treat your life as a work of art. Get creative.

What would your weekend look like if you could design it?

Because you can.

Let’s do it right now.

CREATIVE LUXURY CHALLENGE

For this coming weekend, write a list of 10 things you could do to feel luxurious, like …

  • Order a fancy fountain pen.
  • Buy yourself a bouquet of roses.
  • Order new athletic gear.
  • Luxuriate in an afternoon of unstructured time.
  • Go out for a gourmet gelato.

Pick one or more items and enjoy.

Work your way down your list in the coming weeks.


Would you like to join us for more exercises like these? Treat yourself to becoming a better writer. Sign up here!

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