What if

 The author of The Courage to Create, Rollo May:

“The opposite of courage isn’t cowardice. It’s conformity.”

I agree.  People are always telling me I am brave and I am most definitely not a conformist.  When outside forces try to make me conform my backbone gets all the stronger.  Some might call that stubbornness.  Call it what you want.  I rather enjoy having the strength of character to stick to my convictions.  I am willing to change when I recognize that I need to change, or that I am wrong.  I also will not hound someone or demand they agree with me.  

The problems we collectively face won’t be solved by conformity. They will be solved by artists who create in the name of all of us.  Sorry, I don't know to whom to attribute that quote.  I don't know if my art solves any problems.  At least not for the great masses.  It certainly solves problems in my own mind.  The mere making of art sets me free.

What if

 “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.” – Carl Jung

What if we really let ourselves play?  One of my favourite playgrounds is my art journal.  Page after page of happy creating is good for my soul.  Sometimes the thought 'what is this good for?' creeps into my head.  Well, what if it is good for no other reason than it makes me happy?  My play instinct is definitely a necessity.  I believe it is for everyone.  The actual play may be different for each of us but it is there nonetheless.  I give myself permission to indulge that instinct.  I give you permission to do the same.  Not that you need my permission.

What if

 What if we start recognizing our patterns of thinking and interrupt them?  Those patterns that we have carried with us most of our lives.  The ones that truly do not serve us well.  We must become aware of them before we can change them.  Yesterday, I found myself going down a familiar path.  I was annoyed by a family member who made a disparaging remark about another family member.  I was annoyed because I love the disparaged family member very much.  I was annoyed because I don't particularly care for the one who made the comment.  I found myself making up a story about how rude this woman is.  She is so old fashioned and unchanging.  Well, how are those thoughts any better?  So, I am happy to say that I stopped myself.  I sat and did a loving-kindness meditation.  May she feel truly loved.  I repeated as needed.  The love felt so much better than the negativity.  I am actually a little proud of myself for taking the higher road.  Way to go!

What if

 You have power over your mind - not outside events.  Realize this, and you will find strength.  Marcus Aurelius

I am not sure when this notion became real to me.  It feels like I have known this most of my life.  With meditation, it has become even more clear.  Just because a thought has popped into my head does not mean it is worthy of rumination.  When I find myself making up a story about something said or a deed done I stop and consider do I know that to be true.  Going into the great dreamland of what if rarely is a healing journey.  More often it is taking us down the well worn path of fear.  I prefer the road less travelled.  One where I am full of joy and confidence.  One where I build myself up.  The road that leads to gratitude that spills into every area of my life.  After all, it really is my choice.

What if

 What if there is nothing wrong with you? What if the inner critic is just an excuse maker?  What if we choose to see the good in ourselves as well as others?

It never hurts to see the good in someone, they often act the better because of it.  Nelson Mandela

How much good we would do in this world by believing in ourselves?  What if we stop holding ourselves back?  We all have something to offer!

What if

 What if we were to ask why me?  But, not as a victim.  Often when I hear the why me question it is really someone asking why are they a victim.  I believe you can be a victim or you can be powerful.  It is up to you to choose which.  Personally, I like to reframe a story so that I come out a winner.  I like to mine that story for all the good, all the lessons I am meant to learn.  I genuinely believe every story has a silver lining.  It may take a lot of looking to find it.  If you are asking why me then you must have experienced some trauma.  Whatever form of trauma it was there is a way to heal from it.  Both our minds and our bodies were designed to heal.  There are many therapies we can use to heal our minds.  My favourite is art-making.  It is scientifically proven that we form new neuropathways in our brain while engaging in art centred around healing.  What a gift!

What if

"Wisdom begins in wonder." ~ Socrates

 “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

~ Lao Tzu

 "The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it's to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel that they're valued."

~ Ken Robinson