CREATING FROM JOY

Ever since I started writing for Naked Woman, there's been a sensation within me of creating from joy. It's not the same as cooking a meal just because you have to eat, compared to crafting a delicious dish with the enjoyment of cooking.

Many of us have found ourselves creating to pay bills, to meet the demands of company goals at our workplaces. Many have forgotten to connect with their own creativity, the one that resides within them. Others create from ego, traumas, or wounds. Have you ever wondered what motivates you to create what you desire? What encourages you to establish that new exercise routine? Is it the pleasure, the delight?

Yesterday, while I was at Waterstone (a bookstore in the UK), I picked out two books that caught my attention. The first was titled "The Capitalist Manifesto: Why The Global Free Market Will Save the World," and the second was "The Art of Balance." I went to the second floor, sat on the floor, and began to read the chapters that interested me, all with a sense of enjoyment and happiness—grateful for having that time for myself, for connecting with the joy of knowledge and the ideas of other writers.

Being there invited me to connect with the sensitivity and needs of readers. A girl exclaimed loudly, "It's horrifying how neglected the theater is here."

I started to observe other books and look for some cards I needed for the women's circle happening next Saturday. I had an energy of joy and delight.

I've been tapping into this energy ever since I started this blog. I'm thoroughly enjoying creating the women's circle and transforming that space into a sacred, safe, and intimate place for those who attend. I'm filled with immense joy on this co-creative journey I'm embarking on.

From that place of joy, yesterday, I had a creative idea for the book I'm writing. I remember Ken once told me, "Amazonia, we need spaces to connect with joy, to play around, in order to create."

I invite you to answer these questions for yourself: Where are you creating from? How much do you connect with joy in your life? Does what you're doing bring you happiness?

“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”

—Mother Teresa

I have a great teacher at home, who reminds me of the importance of enjoying the simplicity of life. Thomas enjoys his walks so much, entering the mud and rolling in it. He enjoys the sunlight, cherishes his moments of rest, and revels in being petted. He simply knows how to savor life.