The Artist's Way

more spontaneity. Freed from our constant demands for
more and more reassurance, our fellows are able to love us
back without feeling so burdened.
As we have listened to our artist child within, it has begun
to feel more and more safe. Feeling safe, it speaks a little
louder. Even on our worst days, a small, positive voice says,
“You could still do this or it might be fun to do that....”
Most of us find that as we work with the morning pages,
we are rendered less rigid that we were. Recovery is the
process of finding the river and saying yes to its flow, rapids
and all. We startle ourselves by saying yes instead of no to
opportunities. As we begin to pry ourselves loose from our
old self-concepts, we find that our new, emerging self may
enjoy all sorts of bizarre adventures.
Michelle, a hard-driving, dressed-for-success lawyer,
enrolled in flamenco dancing lessons and loved them. Her
house—formerly a sleek, careerist’s high-tech showcase—
suddenly began filling up with lush plants, plump pillows,
sensuous incense. Tropical colors bloomed on the once-
white walls. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to
cook a little and then to sew again. She was still a successful
lawyer, but her life took on a rounded shape. She laughed
more, looked prettier. “I can’t believe I am doing this!” she
would announce with delight as she launched into some
new venture. And then, “I can’t believe I didn’t do this
sooner!”
By holding lightly to an attitude of gentle exploration, we
can begin to lean into creative expansion. By replacing “No