The Artist's Way, Week Seven: Cultivating a Different Story

This week’s Artist’s Way chapter was about turning my old boring story into a proactive new plan.

And in a moment of synchronicity (something we Artist Way savants are always watching out for) I was complaining to a friend who I haven’t seen in ages and she said, “Oh shut up, your story is so boring!” (Thank you Amy, love you!)

My story IS boring. To myself most of all. I think we all feel that way, on some level.

The trick is to figure out how to shift it.

The particular story that Amy was referring to is my story about how I am always so poor, never going to have any money, whine, cry, complain. Every time I hear myself say “Oh I wish I could, but I can’t afford it,” I want to roll my eyes at myself. I can think of a handful of times this week alone that I’ve said those words.

The thing is, I really can’t afford it. It’s not just crazytalk that I’m making up for attention.

But there has to be a better way to approach this story. Maybe it’s true that I am resigned to a lifetime of struggling around money. But I could stand to have a better attitude around it.

In an effort to shift my vision (thanks for that platitude, Walter)—and out of another task we did this week in the Artist’s Way where we mapped our jealousy issues (good times)—I am working on having a different attitude.

So next time you ask me out to dinner, instead of saying “Oh I wish I could, but I can’t afford it” please expect me to say “I already have some soup on the stove at home. Maybe next time!”

And check me if I don’t.