“I just SAW my project as A big chocolate chip cookie! It was real and sweet”
– Anna, Gilbert, AZ
This is a “first-thought = best thought” exercise, and so there’s no right or wrong way to do it so just stay loose and let the answers to the questions bubble up from the bottom of your belly.
I know some people have a hard time “visualizing,” and if you are one of those people, no worries – just see if these questions spark anything for you.
Step One: Plug In To Your Intuition
First, get into a comfortable position and take a few deep breaths to clear your mind and plug in to your intuition.
Once you are feeling focused and relaxed, allow an image of your project to appear in your mind.
This image might be sort of abstract, or perhaps it’s literal or maybe some of both. Whatever jumps to mind first is perfect, even if it seems a little weird : )
Step Two: Noticing Your Project’s Unique Image
Holding this image of your project in your mind’s eye, ask yourself the following questions:
What does your project look like?
Does it have a shape? A color?
Is it shiny? Dull? Sharp-edged? Soft?
Reach out and touch it – what happens?
Does it glow? Does it move when you touch it? Does it bend?
Notice some of the special details – whatever it does or doesn’t do.
Step Three: What Does Your Project Want To Tell You?
Now listen carefully – does your project have anything to say to you? Let it speak. Don’t argue – just listen.
Good.
When you’re ready, take another deep breath to ground yourself again, and make some notes about what you noticed.
Share below what your project told you. I would love to know!
Whatever you learned today about your project, I hope it’s information that will move you forward –
Play along with me and let’s see what happens in this visualization exercise.
Take three deep belly breaths and imagine yourself walking somewhere pleasant.
As you walk, you realize that you are near a large creativity center where all kinds of artists are working, playing, performing, practicing. . . and you are welcome to go exploring.
Notice what your creativity center looks like.
Is it a warehouse? An old brownstone? A Renaissance Fair–type atmosphere? Hear the sounds of people working, and as you walk through the space, notice what’s around you. What draws your attention?
Now, coming across the way and waving wildly at you, is your Creative Twin.
Your Creative Twin is like you, but also different. First of all, your Creative Twin is rich. Really rich. Super-crazy rich. And your Creative Twin is also a bit impulsive and free-spirited.
Your Creative Twin has been known to do things like buy a villa in Tuscany sight unseen and then lend it out to a friend of a friend. Your Creative Twin has gone off for six months to study traditional Japanese dance and has created art installations in the desert that can only be seen by helicopter.
Notice what your Creative Twin is wearing, and how your Creative Twin walks and moves through the world.
Your Creative Twin greets you with great enthusiasm and perhaps calls you by a special nickname. Together you walk around the creativity center, admiring the artisans and catching up.
Suddenly your Creative Twin stops short — inspiration has struck! Your Twin says, “I know! We must do a project together! This is perfect!” And your Twin begins to outline the project. Notice how you feel about this idea.
The day is winding down, and it’s getting time for your Creative Twin to jet off. As you say good-bye, your Twin gives you a word of advice. Then your Twin gives you a gift that you didn’t know you needed.
Notice how you feel about the advice and the gift. Place the gift somewhere for safekeeping, and wave good-bye to your Twin.
Take one last look around your creativity center, noticing any final thoughts or niggling feelings. Take another deep belly breath and come back to the present moment.
Now complete the following sentences about what you noticed. Perhaps one small idea will bubble up, or maybe the ideas will percolate and tomorrow you might have some blazing insight. Or maybe not. Either way, just let your mind stay blank as you write down your thoughts. My “creativity center” was: What caught my eye was: My Twin was: My Twin’s name was: The project my Twin suggested was: My reaction was: My Twin’s gift to me was: My Twin’s advice to me was: A real-world version of this project might be:
Other things I noticed were:
Some students have wept with relief at encountering this freer, wilder version of themselves. Others have felt a little put-off, or just plain jealous that their Creative Twin had so much money and was so blithe about it.
There’s no right or wrong way to feel.
Take the parts of this exercise that inspire you, tickles you, or maybe seriously annoys you and play with them. See what comes up.
Perhaps your Creative Twin will lead you down an unexpected path toward a glorious new future.
