chasing freedom

I have not really written much this year. It's been one of those years all round it seems and energies have gone else where, so hello reader, welcome! Here, I've been learning, growing and learning to enjoy the journey I'm on. As someone who is known for loving her freedom; the expansive open road, the spontaneous fluidity of travelling to the song of my heart, I've surprised myself recently.

I moved to London this year. Started to establish a business here, teaching yoga and running workshops. I've been in a relationship with my partner Jack for long enough to break through the 'honey moon period of wishful thinking' and I am training in Kundalini Yoga. It's been a landing process and one adapts even to London. Nevertheless I look at this and a part of me wonders how on earth did I get settled? How did the free spirited single lady world traveler appear in a city such as London and then tend to general domesticated life chores and not freak the hell out?!

Something occurred to me that I thought to share. My initial ideas of freedom were tied up in ideals around 'doing what I want, when I want' mentality that this attitude was a manifestation of freedom. In hindsight - though grateful to have explored it - I was immature. What I've learned about freedom, in my experience, is that true freedom starts internally.

It is the freedom to be me; without fear, without self-doubt.

Embodying my true self, without living (or buying into) a limiting box of social expectation is for me, freedom. Some of the most inspiring people I have met on the road have been confidently themselves in all their zany, beautifully honest and quirky ways. Their creative energy emanates freedom; free expression without judgement or frankly care for being anyone but themselves.

There are ways in which people are expected to behave and often rightly so (the kids might run amuck!). But nevertheless I encourage everyone to find their avenue for expressing themselves completely. As wildly - albeit safely - as they wish! Repressing emotions I've learned can lead to depression, disease and even illness. So journal, write, dance, sing, paint, converse and love yourself all the way through.

But most of all, just be you.

Yours,
Jess x

Props to Rob Campbell who dropped me the line 'keep being you' along while ago. I got it Rob.

how not to let the creative journey kill you

I write this from beautiful Cartagena in Colombia where I have based myself under a mango tree (that keeps on dropping them - fortunately not on my head) as a make shift officespace to focus on bringing some very special projects to fruition.

These projects are dear to my heart that I am delighted to invest my heart and soul in to. However with such an investment of my time, I have found old worker bee habits sneaking back from my past life in Adland where, at its worse, I would wake up checking emails on my iPhone and spend the whole day in front of my laptop, unconsciously eat lunches in front of a screen and even work over the weekend in 'always on' worker bee mode (tips and tools for surviving the daily grind here). 

Thankfully I have not been sick for a long time but I recall the impact the grind was having on my body, mind and soul that required I also gave loving attention to myself as I went on retreats, took up Bikram yoga and did detox cleanses (not ideal in an office environment especially when meetings with clients were often gastronomic and a little over indulgent).

I’ve found that this talk from Jonathan Fields a timely reminder on how we might avoid dying through the creative process while one makes something extraordinary from nothing (Marianna also talks wisely on the value of the emptiness of which creativity is born):

Balancing work with play on tour is a challenge.

I love this lifestyle and I have learned so many cool things; however I need purpose in life and that is to create.

These three 'secrets' are keeping me alive, engaged and turned on. I hope you find value in them too:

1. Ritualise the morning.
Checking emails first thing is not wise and can have one start the day in a responsive mode. Recently, while in love with my work, I slipped back in to this habit. Now I am back to a meditative sitting (or if in a dorm, lying) practice to provide me with a mind re-set to start the day. Personally, I enjoy pranayama breathing and connecting my body with my breath by lifting my arms above my head behind me and back down gently restoratively with breath. Note: if you are sharing a dorm - this looks strange to others. Play cool meditation music (playlist I made here) with headphones to be less of a distraction. As Jonathan explains, mindfulness can help remove the negative story-lines (such as not being good enough) that can hinder the creative process.
2. Move. Move. Move. I enjoy going for a walk with my beloved camera and listening to some fun tunes on my ipod shuffle. Should the climate not be too hot I may even go for a run. Yesterday, after a gruelling Monday, I created the time to visit the beach, do some yoga, meditate and have a massage while I saw my productiveness and sense of calm be restored upon my return. This was the first track that played on my ipod which gave me such a skip in my step.
3. Eat healthily. This is super challenging while travelling; sometimes I just have to humbly accept what I am given as a guest (and forgo vegetarianism). I really recommend applying the Ayurvedic principles and eating fresh fruit and veg! Sometimes I fast for the day and only have fruit fallen from mamma mango tree and I believe that the religious practice of fasting is actually born from intelligence (a modern day equivalent: 5-2 diet). I seem to love myself and my work that little bit more when my snack breaks are delicious pieces of fruit. Also for travellers who need grounding, having the same breakfast everyday is good practice as is a breakfast like porridge with grounding oats and grains.

I hope this gives you some useful tips and insights in to how to ensure the creative journey, with its dark night and all, ensures your mind, body and soul sit in a state of yummy goodness as you bring those beauties to life with a sense of grounding.