Creative Transformations: From Doormat to Diva

Doormat or Diva? Which word describes your life more accurately? Are you standing up and embracing your life with power and joy? Seeing yourself with what Merci Miglino calls “Diva Vision” or lying down on the job and feeling walked on?

If you have been feeling more like a doormat it’s time to make a few important changes. After all, a doormat’s main purpose is to be walked on. Feeling walked on leads to despair and the only way out of despair is action. So get up and stand up for your life and become a D.I.V.A.

The root of Diva is Divine and comes from the Latin diva meaning goddess. Being a diva doesn’t mean demanding outrageous things. It means recognizing God’s divine presence within us. It means finally understanding that if we can’t love ourselves even a little, it’s awfully hard to love anyone else at all. I see the word Diva in this light . . .

D ivinely    I nspired     V ictorious    A rtist

D is for Divine
Merci Miglino reminds us that Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” So, obviously, he assumed we would love ourselves, not with an I’m-better-than-you-are kind of love but with the kind of love that reflects the fact that we are created in God’s image. How, then, can we be so cavalier about criticizing the miracle of our own lives, even if we can’t fit into size five jeans?

I for inspired
Find time for yourself  away from your job, your friends and family. Use this time to tune in to what you want and need. Don't feel that you're being selfish; you have a responsibility to yourself to take care of your needs. Go on an artist date! "When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break through their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”  ~Patanjali

V is for Victorious
Champion your own life by setting some personal boundaries. Life coach Cheryl Richardson teaches that creating stronger boundaries is the number one way for most women to improve their lives.  Too often, women neglect to stand up for themselves by avoiding confrontation. One of the reasons that women take things personally is because they have weak "internal boundaries." An internal boundary is like an invisible shield that prevents you from taking in a comment without checking it out first. For example, when someone accuses you of being arrogant, stop and consider the statement before taking it in. When you use this internal shield, ask yourself the following three questions:

• How much of this is true about me?
• How much of this is about the other person?
• What do I need to do (if anything) to regain my personal power or stand up for myself?

”Power is available to each of us every moment of every day but we have to ask that that spiritual switch be turned on, prepare ourselves by gradually growing into our talents one creative challenge at a time with each accomplishment that is personally acknowledged and celebrated, our self confidence increases and we begin to trust our abilities” says Sarah Ban Breathnach

and finally…

A is for Artist
Here are some wonderful quotes on being an artist!

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. "~ Henry Ward Beecher

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." ~Pablo Picasso

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one." ~Stella Adler

"Art is your emotions flowing in a river of imagination." ~Devin, Los Cerros Middle School, 1999o

"Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul - and you answer." ~Star Richés

So once more, let's get up off the floor of frustration and embrace our inner D.I.V.A. !

If you are interested in signing up for Katheryn's "Creative Transformations from Doormat to Diva" Webinar Workshop - email katheryn@embracingyourcreativespirit.com

Visit Katheryn at her blog: www.embracingyourcreativespirit.blogspot.com