THE VIRTUE-TRAP QUIZ The biggest lack in my life is ______________. The greatest joy in my life is ______________. My largest time commitment is ____________. As I play more, I work __________________. I feel guilty that I am ___________________. I worry that __________________________. If my dreams come true, my family will ________. I sabotage my

Because the antidote for shame is self-love and self-praise, this is what I did. I went for a walk through Rock Creek Park. I prayed. I made a list for myself of past compliments and good reviews. I did not tell myself, “It doesn’t matter.” But I did tell my artist self, “You will heal.”

Take your artist for a walk, the two of you. A brisk twenty-minute walk can dramatically alter consciousness.

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.

As I listen to my creativity I am led to my creator.

This cruelty only reinforces their status as shadow artists. Remember, it takes nurturing to make an artist. Shadow artists did not receive sufficient nurturing. They blame themselves for not acting fearlessly anyhow.

that in order to recover as an artist, you must be willing to be a bad artist. Give yourself permission to be a beginner. By being willing to be a bad artist, you have a chance to be an artist, and perhaps, over time, a very good one.

The act of making art exposes a society to itself. Art brings things to light. It illuminates us. It sheds light on our lingering darkness. It casts a beam into the heart of our own darkness and says, “See?”

We have this idea that we need to be in the mood to write. We don’t. Morning pages will teach you that your mood doesn’t really matter. Some of the best creative work gets done on the days when you feel that everything you’re doing is just plain junk.