Pick an adjective that best describes your day today. Then pick one that describes how you want tomorrow to be. 

If a year from now, you could be living exactly as you want to be, how would your life change?

Project your current life path into the future. Is it what you want for yourself? Do you envision a positive or a negative outcome? If negative, are there changes you can make now in either your interior world or in your exterior circumstances that would lead to the kind of life you want for yourself?

Pick an adjective that best describes your day today. Then pick one that describes how you want tomorrow to be.  Do that for a month and you’ll notice that you are affecting your reality.

Imagine this process as deep-sea fishing. Cast the line as far and deep as you can. Don’t stay close to shore where the water is muddy. Cast for your deepest thought or emotion.

Ask yourself whether there’s anything important about your current life that you’re avoiding . . . Feeling vulnerable is a sign that you are writing honestly.

What changes would allow you to make your maximum contribution to others – not just those you are close to or even know -- but the widest circle of unknown people you can possibly imagine?

What are you doing in your life that is working well?

. . .

 My journal notes as example responses:

 A year from now, I’d be painting more, writing less, doing less admin, less website design, less book design. I want to go deep with my art. Words seem so empty most of the time.

Yes, I’m moving, however slowly, however disorganized, toward the future I want for myself.

Adjective that describes my day so far: discouraged, stressed by all the change that is about to happen in my life.

How will tomorrow be different: paint more.

Questions am I avoiding? Why do I think change is always necessary, important? Why do I think I need to work this hard?

How could I contribute more to others? Paint more. Get better at marketing, expand my circle of connections. Think more, work less.

What is working really well? Making time every day for a long walk in the woods.

What isn’t? My connections with others. I am stressed these days to prone to anger.

. . .

 For background, see Projects and Random Thoughts on the Heron Dance website.

A mockup of two pages of the new book, Meditations on Gratitude, Beauty and Mystery.

If you are not subscribed to either or both Heron Dance Art Studio Substacks, you can do that here:

  • Creativity as a Way of Life: The use of journaling as a tool in creative work; an exploration of the inner work underlying creative work.

  • A Pause for Beauty: a gratitude art journal celebrating the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and the gift of life.

    . . .

If you appreciate this work and can afford to support it, please do. In late October it will become a paid Substack:

  • $5 a month

  • $50 a year

  • $150 Founding Membership includes both Substacks and two upcoming books:

  • Meditations on the Beauty and Mystery of Life, A Gratitude Journal

  • Using An Art Journal to Probe Deep.

    . . .

    The cost of subscribing to both of my Substacks,
    A Pause for Beauty and Creativity as a Way of Life
    is twice that indicated above.

You can make a one-time or recurring contribution here.
Any contributions received prior in the months leading up to the launch will be credited against a subscription.

And thank you.

Recent Projects And Random Thoughts

  • Our new art journal, Nurturing The Song Within, explores the inner work that underlies creative work, and creating a unique life.

If you are not subscribed to either or both Heron Dance Art Studio Substacks, you can do that here:

Below, two sample pages from my recent art journal, and the related diary/planner
Nurturing The Song Within

There are a few copies of the first edition (hardcover, dust jacket, premium art paper) still available. After they are sold out, we don’t plan to republish, at least in that format.