Allowing space for creativity, for rest, for quiet moments is more than just self care. It is an essential ingredient for thriving. For bringing your best self to your life. For being able to show up with your whole heart in everything you do. A colleague recently sent me this poem by Judy Sorum Brown, and I think it illustrates this point perfectly.
Fire
What makes the fire burn
is the space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too many logs
packed in too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.
So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.
When we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and absence of the fuel
together, that makes fire possible.
When we cram our schedules too full, and don’t allow space for creativity, rest, self care, we burn out. We run out of energy, enthusiasm, health. So allowing space is not just a ‘nice to have’. It is an essential ingredient of fuelling ourselves.
Allowing space can be as simple as choosing to write in a journal or take a walk along the harbour, or getting together with a friend over coffee. I’ve written more about how to allow space in these blogs Holding space for self and others – three essential elements and Allowing space for … .
How can I help?
Are you ready to make a change, reinvent yourself, make time for self care and want the company of other like-minded women who are making space for self and creativity?
Are you on the cusp of seeing your potential to be a better version of yourself and you want to know how to do this?
Creating Space is my online community that provides a safe, encouraging and fun experience for doing just this. I send out weekly prompts. Plus, we have a one hour, live session on Zoom once a month where we work on a journal prompt together, share our creative projects, talk about creativity and self care and encourage one another. There’s always time for questions or suggestions.
Here’s what others are saying:
“Oh Meryl, I love being a part of this community. I love the prompts to make us dig deep and search within. Looking forward to some down time to really look inside on this one … Looking forward to our next live session.”
“I felt heard and supported. It has had an impact that is rippling out into other areas of my life.”
Check out Creating Space and join today!
- Judy Sorum Brown, the author of this poem is a “leadership educator, author, poet, speaker, and coach whose work revolves around the themes of leadership, change, dialogue and creativity.” She sounds like a kindred spirit!
