When was the last time this happened to you? | Why I'm on fire

Each week I send out a Creative Container email.

Each week I include a challenge for subscribers.

It can be anything from cleaning out a drawer on your desk to making a playlist that fires you up to leaving a good review for a recent purchase you made and loved.

Well, this week’s challenge is taking over my blog and it’s a good one.
I think it’s so important. Ready?

I want you to get rejected.

That’s right. I want you to go put yourself out there and get denied.

When was the last time it has happened to you?

Let’s roll up our shirt sleeves, grab a pen and make a little list.

What’s something big or small, that would be so freaking cool if it happened but maybe you don’t feel ready for or qualified for or maybe you’re procrastinating because you’re afraid of hearing the word no.

Write it down. Write a few things down. Mind dump about it.

Maybe it’s sending in your resume for a position out of your comfort zone. Maybe you want to ask your partner to eat vegetarian with you for the week. Maybe you want to ask a local shop to start carrying the calligraphy cards you’re making. Do you want to submit to the Call for Art in your favorite mag? Are you dying to reach out to someone you admire for a collab?

Pick one, pick two if you want.. because we’re doing it.

You and me. Me and you.

I’m asking you to go for it.

And iIf you get denied, well, was it really that bad?
No not really. It happened to me last week. And the week before that.

I’m doing this more and more. It feels good because once you get rejected once, the second time is easier. And easier. Until you don’t take it to heart, you just smile and say welp, that wasn’t for me right now and you move on.

Don’t be too scared to try.

And if someone hasn’t told you no recently, then you’re living too safe, baby.

Get out there.

Get rejected.

Keep going.

Oh, and it’ll all make sense when instead of a no, you surprisingly get a YES.

I’m letting the nopes roll off my back and the yes is why I’m on fire.

Join me?

And as always, tell me about it >> email elyjokinen@gmail.com or DM me.

Onward!

MORNING PAGES - A Practice Worth Starting

I’ve been promising a post on morning pages for a good month now. When my pen ran out of ink this morning as I was scribbling away in the faint light coming from my closet, I knew it was time.

I grabbed a new pen, and in my notebook, this post wrote itself.

That’s the magic of Morning Pages.

So what exactly are Morning Pages?

Morning pages, a beloved ritual of creatives all over the world, is from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Upon waking in the morning, you grab your notebook and pen and you write. And write. And write.
It’s a stream if conciousness filling three whole pages.
You pretty much let whatever you think/feel come to the surface and snatch it up, it and write it down.
It doesn’t need to be poetic or artsy or even mean anything.
You can write about your week, why you’re pissed off or a wild dream you have for the future. You can write a to-do list, a rant on your president or all of the magic that has touched your life to this moment.
As long as your clearing out all of the junk from your mind, you’re doing it right.

Trust me, when the kids were waking me up, fussing, at 4:30am each morning I wasn’t writing anything positive for the entire first page. But it was a good way to get it out and I really did feel better starting the day.

Lately, The boys have been sleeping in a bit and I’m up before the house. With my hubby so cutely sleeping next to me, that half hour of writing is truly one of the most peaceful, productive and creative, parts of my entire day.

Do I need to do them in the morning?

Cameron says that morning is best (because you can access your subconscious right as you wake), however you can do them anytime. I was just listening to a podcast and the host said she did hers midday. I’ve tried it and if you have kids I don’t recommend it. LOL

I have done them at night a couple times and felt really good about them. I’ve even started them in morning and finished at night which is probably not what you’re supposed to do but anything to get them done and keep me going.

What if I can’t think of anything to write?

Well, for me, I never run out of things to write, maybe it’s connected to the fact that I never run out of things to say, either! LOL Sometimes you pause but man, trust me, things come up. Allow them up. Allow them out.
You must fill three pages. If you’ve never done them before, you’re going to be so surprised!

Alright, I think that’s what I have to say about your morning pages so don’t wait! Grab a good notebook, your favorite pen, write the date and place it next to your bed.

If you can somehow make the extra 30 minutes, I promise you it’ll be worth it!!

If I missed anything, drop a question in the comments or better yet, grab The Artist’s Way and make your way through it with me!

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