Holding onto past beliefs
In her book, Who You Were Meant to Be, Lindsay C. Gibson writes about how people get turned around in childhood by family dysfunction making it difficult to see clear how to pursue dreams and live an authentic, fulfilling life. The ego masquerades as conscience, so that you will carry on, as an adult, the negative beliefs you learned about yourself in childhood.
Dreams are for adults too
Hopelessness, guilt, and learned helplessness are among the tools the ego uses to limit your ability to move forward in life, according to Gibson. Meditating and talking to like-minded individuals can be helpful for becoming more aware of the ways in which you hold yourself back. The ego wins if you never ask why you abandoned your dreams.
The bedrock of your creativity
As you emerge from emotional paralysis, you experience the richness of life. The guilt, grief, anger and “otherness” transmute into fertile ground for creativity. There is so much art out there born of deep, dark emotions. I’m thinking of, Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony, “Pathetique.” The emotions are so intense, yet beautiful.
Violinist Linda Beers is the creator of the Inspiration for Violinists, a 50 card deck. Each card has a unique image and text inspiring musicianship, mindfulness and spirituality.