I came across an email I received a few months ago from Vlad at Simpler Life Today, which lifted my spirits tremendously. His email also reminded me of the chapter I was incidentally reading from The Artist’s Way: to stay away from “Crazymakers” but gravitate towards positive encouragement.
Vlad wrote, “Seriously, I want you to be confident that you will succeed. You are a very talented writer Noch!”
Hehe. Hehe. He he he. I giggled. After I calmed down from self glorification, I realized that this was exactly what Judith Cameron meant in her book, The Artist’s Way. A good friend of mine suggested I read and follow this 12-week course to expose myself to my inner creativity. At week 2, Judith talks about “Crazymakers” – those who destroy our mood just before a deadline or when we are about to face a challenge head on, such as criticizing us for a stupid move the night before a job interview. These are also the people who are negative about our new experiments in life and for making changes. They are the jealous people.
In one of the corresponding tasks, I first drew a circle on my notebook, and inside I was to write down what my budding creativity was, and what I needed to protect. My writing is again, at infantile stage. My confidence in this arena is fragile and delicate. Thus, inside the circle, I labelled these elements.
Afterwards, I was to name some Crazymakers who always made me feel bad about myself, especially at critical moments when I was about to challenge myself. These are jealous people who thrived on others’ failures. Unfortunately, there are quite a few around me, so I wrote their names down outside the circle.
But I had a fuzzy feeling when the next step was to write down names of those who encouraged me in the direction I’d like to go. I noted down the names of my husband, some friends, and then the few bloggers I’ve come to known well via cyberspace. These were the people I would surround myself with, for they are those who would protect and encourage my inner child.
What I’ve come to realize in this blogsphere, is how positive and generous everybody is. They just all want you to succeed. If you imagine being in Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve, with masses of people sardined around you, pushing you towards somewhere, and even if you wanted to resist, you couldn’t because the force was so powerful – that’s how it feels corresponding with other fellow bloggers out there. They are just pushing me to go where I’d like to go with their constant support and compliments.
These are the people we need to surround ourselves with all the time.
Stay away from crazymakers. Gravitate towards those who believe in us.
Many bloggers have encouraged me along the way with my writing, so Vlad’s just unfortunate I’ve put him on the spot here – sorry! Thanks to everyone who has put in a gentle word for me through my journey. You all know who you are.
Back to my making crazy dreams and indulging in what I believe is right and best for me!
What’s your dream you need to protect today? And from whom?
He he he… Thanks for the limelight 🙂
Perhaps those crazymakers never had anyone believe in them, so they just don’t know any better… Unfortunately, the negative energy they create has real consequences.
I know what you mean about all the positive people out there, cheering us on and giving us hope! It’s good that we all have each other to inspire and motivate. We must all nurture our inner child. Thank you for being there for me Noch! I’m grateful.
Stay confident!
Vlad
Can’t agree more with Vlad! It’s the world’s loss if we don’t get to enjoy more of your talented output due to the crazymakers trying to cocoon you away from blossoming.
Hey Syl
Haha same for you. I’m enjoying your travels and blogging from afar!
NN
Hi Vlad
How are you? Ahah sorry for taking the liberty to quote you!
And I agree, we shouldn’t let other people’s disbelief in us ruin our own dreams!!
NN
Hey Nochie
That’s a very good and simple advice that I’d agree with Vlad with – makes perfect sense actually =)
Some of the tools that help me to remain focused and on my vision is to have clear goals of where I want to go (goal-based), who I am and what values I value (value-based) and who I love.
I feel that it’s important to also know what/who/where to focus on, on top of avoiding those CrazyMakers (of which I’ve taken the liberty of walking – or running – away from)
You can do what you set to do, Nochie. You’re amazing. =)
Nigel
Hi Nigel
Thanks 🙂
Appreciate it. I guess when the goal is clear it’s a good day. Sometimes when it’s fuzzy and all these crazy makers around us cloud our confidence,then the going gets tough. So it’s good to have friends like you!
Noch Noch
Hey Nochie
If you’re finding that you have too many naysayers and crazymakers around you, then you probably would need to consider moving away from them and surrounding yourself with people who are the positive people and the lightworkers, who encourage, edify and empower you.
Consider this: if you have 100% power per day, how much is going to “battle” the crazymakers and naysayers negativity and downputting? It may be better to remove them, and surround yourself with people who build you up, nurture you.
Just food for thought.
Warmest thoughts and encouragement –
Nigel
Hi Nigel
That’s good food for thought. Haha I might make it a habit to consider whether someone is a crazymaker before responding to their emails and meeting them socially so I can avoid their presence!
Noch Noch
You go, girl! I just wandered upon your blog through (Life in Balance) and read “Just Marriend,” nodding my head all the way through (-: It felt like having a cup of coffee with a good girlfriend. Keep feeling healthy, surrounding yourself with support and love, and following your dreams! I look forward to reading more from you. Best always.
Hi Mich
Thanks! Glad we found each other 🙂
We can have coffee with each other over cyberspace haha. Hope you are pursuing your dreams too!
Noch Noch
Haha! I love that term, “crazymakers.” It has me envisioning how they truly cause havoc on my thoughts and life. =) The circle exercise sounds like a really effective way to visualize excluding those crazymakers and including the believers. Thanks for sharing this. I can and should definitely apply this strategy to my own life. =)
Hi Samantha
Glad it helped! It’s good to visualize who to block out indeed, and reminds us who to be near and who to stay away from. We gotta protect ourselves too 🙂
Hope you are well
Noch Noch
Totally agree. Wanted to add that our inner child and adult (inner self-parenting) selves – both have potential to grow and nurture and learn from each other. As a team. In fact, this can only happen when both these parts of us are – in all their various layers and behaviors and emotions – fundamentally undivided in our psyche. The result is inner joy, which facilitates romantic love and friendships. Our inner universe influences our external reality increasingly – and the company we keep will consist of fewer and fewer crazy makers – a sort of natural selection, guilt-free.
Hi Kate
Thanks for your insights into this – I like the concept of the natural selection and how the inner and external universes are all interrelated. It is so true, what we manifest from inside, we would attract those people! WE need to listen to both our inner childs and adults!
Noch Noch
Oh I can’t tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, because it completely validates the conclusion I reached about a month ago when I realized that the majority of my support comes from online. I went so far as to tell my extended family, “I get more encouragement & understanding from my blogging & Twitter friends than I do from my own family!” Their response was incredulous & further hurtful, referring to my online peeps as “those mystical magical enlightened people”… furthermore, I was told, “If they love you so much, why don’t you just stop talking to us altogether!”
You know what? DONE! I don’t need to be surrounded with nay-sayers & crazy-makers. I need to be surrounded by those who are excited by my work and who value what I bring to the table. Thank you, Noch, for this timely piece.
And just so you know… I absolutely love your blog & what you do to for people suffering depression. Hope you know you can count me among those who lift you up! 🙂
Hi Andi-Roo
I’m so happy to hear you found support online. I did too! And yes you are one of them who lift me up 🙂
Sorry to hear of your family and friends though, I hope they realize soon. Yes, do what you love and let those who encourage you support you!
I am happy to hear you like my blog too!
Cheers
Noch
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