EASYHARD: Reflections on the Practice of Creativity     Publisher: Wordclay     Date of Publication: 2009 SYNOPSIS What keeps us from our creative life, and what keeps us from healing, is doubt. We doubt ourselves, and deeply. We doubt our dreams. We doubt our desires. We doubt our own sensations, feelings, thoughts. So in order to create, we must first banish the doubts. In order to heal, we must first banish the doubts. We must come face to face with what worries us, what keeps us from being, doing, writing, living as we really want to do. How do we do this? With the breath. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position, hands at the heart. This brings together the opposing forces in your body and spirit. Now begin to breathe in through your nose, slowly, deeply. Let your breath sink down and fill your belly. This ignites your fire, your will, and your womb, your receptivity. As you breathe out, let all tension melt away. Keep breathing these deep belly breaths until you feel centered and relaxed. Now marry the breath with the voice. Take a deep breath in through your nose, let it fill your chest, your heart, and your belly. Then open your mouth and chant OM four times. Let the sound come from your depth. Let your voice go where it want to go. Feel the vibrations, how they connect your inner world with the outer world, how you are connected to everything. When you are finished, sit quietly. Breath normally through your nose. Notice the changes. Welcome them with gratitude. This exercise links the belly—will and receptivity—with the heart and throat—intention and communication. It prepares you to write from a centered place—a place without doubt. ~~~ Practice: Warmup Fill in the following sentences as quickly as possible. Do not mull. There are no right or wrong answers. I think creative people are....... I also think creative people are..... And creative people are....... I don't create because......... And I also don't create because...... What I really want is......... I am afraid of ............ If I had one dream, it would be....... I am........ I feel........ I want........ I want to be......... I am going to ............ I promise myself that.......... By this time next month I will have.......... back