what if everything you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for?
Title: it will all make sense one day. Medium: acrylic on board. Size: 5*5 inches, (2021). Artist: gaurangi mehta shah
it will all make sense one day
Author: gaurangi mehta shah
slowly but surely
Slowly emerging from a burnout
If you had read my November 2020 blog post you would know that I had a huge creative block with a severe burnout. In case you missed reading that blog post, kindly Click here.
The reason for this dreadful burnout was that I pushed myself beyond my limits and capabilities, solely to quench the desire of my inner critic which was aggressively feeding on me. I did not pay any heed to it and suffered the consequences to such an extent that my mind and body behaved like a numbed zombie.
With strong determination, I decided to stop and pause which did not go well with my inner critic. Regardless of that I picked up a book and since mid-November till date, I have finished reading 6 books and now have my hands wrapped around the 7th.
I distinctively remember, on my 4th book, my inner critic poked its head up again. I was flooded by guilt. Guilt of not doing anything, guilt of wasting my time, guilt of not finishing tasks, guilt of not checking emails, guilt, guilt, and more guilt. To be honest, I was swayed by the assault but did not yield to those colourful guilts playing their part on my mind. I held strong, firm and resumed reading. I won a tiny battle which felt amazing. Something good did come out from this burnout.
In the end I can say two things from this insight, one – I have accepted my capabilities and limitations and two – I will not allow guilt to faze me again. Though I do not know how long this will last; it might pop its head up again but on a positive side, recollection of this experience and its repercussions will be a good forewarning.
a creative block has attached itself to my body
Since the beginning of November, I feel my body has attached itself to a block. It is perched on my shoulders and travels with me whenever I go. However hard I try to shake it off, it refuses to change its shape or even leave me.
My head has been replaced by a huge creative block accompanied with immense fatigue and exhaustion. Even writing this blog is a difficult task for me (I made a commitment to myself to publish a blog every month and I intent to stick by it).
What brought this on? Mid October I had an idea for next year’s series, and I decided to act upon it without realizing that I have not yet healed completely from this year’s 2 series – Integrating, disintegrating only to integrate again. Repeat. And The third space. Though both these series have helped me understand my relationships with others and myself including, I feel extremely vulnerable. I needed the time to ‘Just Be with Myself’. But I did not listen to my heart and body, I lunged on painting. Bad idea.
Then came a time when, even if I wanted to do something meaningful, my body and mind refused to act in response to that. It refused to budge. So, keeping everything aside I grabbed a book – a gentle book and read on like I was obsessed. I finished 2 books in a span of 3 weeks (yes, there was guilt that I am not focusing on my art, but I did not let that overpower me). This healing period was necessary.
I have always said to myself, learn to relax. This time I experienced the importance of that phrase.
just felt like writing something today
It has been 3 years now since I last updated this blog.
Much has happened in 3 years like in everyone’s life. For me it has been a test of how-well-will-I-be-able-to-adapt-to-change. I choose 3 jars to represent that transformation (these are pastel and charcoal sketches).
Shifting from 3 different countries, adjusting to their diverse cultures and societies, trying to be part of communities, failing and succeeding, integrating and disintegrating, this has been an eternal battle for me. But a transformation, both inner and outer, was visible to me.
Involved in some deep introspection, through my art, meditation, journal writing, dream analysis and daydreaming, I am emptying the jar slowly but surely.
Go and peek at my portfolio section to see what I mean.
Thank you for reading this. 🙂
are you being played?
you can’t always be nice, that’s how people take advantage of you. sometimes you have to set boundaries.
overlooking the obvious
we ignore truths for temporary happiness.
point of no return
you cannot heal in the same environment where you got sick.
trust the process
we all have cocoons. it’s the struggle to free ourselves that makes us whole and gives us the strength to fly.
going around in circles
whatever I do I keep coming back to where I started.
karmic katha 