This week is the equinox – a moment of balance, the beginning of spring and the return of the light. If you’ve been reading this newsletter or my blog for a while you’ll know that this is a key seasonal moment for me. But this spring doesn’t feel like others. There is no denying that the usual optimism of the light is tinged with doubt and anxiety.
The last 3 months have been tricky for me navigating my seasonal affective disorder. It’s been worse than other years; I suspect Brexit, Climate Emergency and now Covid19 haven’t helped. Normally I’d be anticipating a lightening of my mood along with the lengthening of the days, but it’s not been happening. Worries for the health of loved ones, and concerns about how we as a society will cope, have meant that I’m still struggling to see a way out of the winter blues.
Luckily (or not, perhaps) with social distancing being more acceptable I must admit I’ve been relieved to be able to use this excuse to scale back on work, to effectively continue to hide away from the world. But this takes its toll; I don’t do well in isolation. And, because I derive a lot of self-worth from how useful I can be to others, this keeping my distance doesn’t allow me to connect meaningfully to my wider community of makers and creatives.
I want to rejoin the world but I’m not sure how. My regular work focuses on things that may not be high on people’s lists right now, understandably. So, how to offer support that is wanted?
I’ve been thinking about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (something I often use for myself when I’m trying to understand why I might be resisting something or feeling the strong urge to do something). Health and security, food and shelter, work and money are all at the bottom, they’re basic psychological and safety needs. When these things feel threatened it’s hard to consider things higher up the pyramid. And, for me, most of the work I do with makers on developing their creative practice sits right up there in the esteem and self-actualisation sections.
But, worrying times also offer us the opportunity to identify what is most important to us, fundamentally important. That may be the realisation of the deep need for self-actualisation and personal fulfilment, it may be the longing to make the world better, or it may be the acknowledgement that strong personal relationships are all that truly matter to you. What you learn about yourself in these situations is unique to you and needs no explaining. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what matters most to me, the things I would regret not doing, the people I need to surround myself with, the work I need to be doing to feel ok as a human.
Spring is always a great time for reflecting and looking forward with hope, and I think we can all do with that right now. The shoots of new growth that I’d like to nurture this season are for my wider maker community. To do what I can to support you through this unsettling time, with the skills I have and the time I have to listen. What I have decided to do feels right for me and is something I have the ability to give:
I am offering everyone who wants it a free 1:1 coaching session with me this spring.
From April to June I will be available for a 1 hour session via Skype or on the phone to talk about anything in your Creative Practice or business that you need space to explore right now.
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It does not need to be about developing your Creative Practice or applying for funding/opportunities or writing a new artist’s statement, any of the things we might usually do together (although that’s fine, of course!)
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It will be a space for us to address your concerns, your needs and your priorities right now. We’ll talk about the challenges you’re facing and see if we can find a way to address them that works for you.
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As always I’m here to help and support you (and your creative practice/business) in whatever way you need. Please do get in touch if you think this would be helpful.