One of my favorite repatternings (I have a few) is the Creative Self-Expression Repatterning taught in the Primary Patterns course. It is totally liberating being in touch with what creates beauty, thought, and perspective for yourself through a medium that gives you pleasure. Many will read this and exclaim “I wish I had something to do that sparked me.” It is a common complaint.

We all have creative genius within us and expressing our creativity contributes to a rich and satisfying life. However any number of depleting limiting beliefs about our self -expression can block us from fully realizing our potential. If you feel blocked perhaps you resonate with voices of the past that said:

-“don’t do that!”
-“you did it wrong”
-“who do you think you are?”
-“stop wasting your time”
… and more. I am sure you can generate a list of negative social beliefs that you bought into long ago that stop you from being a Rembrandt today.  These negative beliefs can then morph into unconscious patterns about our lack of ability.  For example:

• “I edit myself prematurely” or “I judge myself.”
• “I am afraid of the creative void.”
• “I have to copy others and fail to find my unique self-expression.”

I learned that creative self-expression was something to do when more important things were accomplished. Never to be done on a work day when there was precious little ‘spare’ time! The rural farm girl in me, with a duty to chores, managed to only engage in day dreaming about any number of creative projects I would like to do. I brought too few of them to fruition. Frequently I would invest in the materials and courses but found plenty of excuses to not start or finish them.

The Creative Self-Expression repatterning repeated over the years has brought me to a new place of identifying new passions (at the moment it is quilting), spending time planning projects but most important – completing them!! In addition to my own self-sessions I received a number of sessions on this topic with my pal and quilting coach Repatterner – Kathie Joblin.

The Twelve Days of Christmas quilt designed by Nancy Halvorsen.

I can’t remember a precise pattern that changed everything although one positive action in particular was very powerful. Kathie checked that it would help ALL OF MY GOALS to spend one hour each morning engaged in some activity to do with quilting. In this journey I noticed a few things. First of all it was easier to spring out of bed earlier to engage in my craft because I had a passionate purpose in mind .  Second, to my astonishment, I started knocking things off the inventory list and onto the “It’s Done!”List. Most surprisingly, on the days I took time with needle and thread, composing colors and shapes and discerning which patterns and textures to use; the transition back to computer work and administration was easier. It also  somehow sharpened other professional skills. The benefits of resonating with creative self-expression are innumerable.

If you have yet to study the Primary Patterns course, this is one of eight insightful repatternings to look forward to or see a practitioner for a session or two.

Carolyn