This is the second in a series of posts exploring Julia Cameron’s basic principles. To recap quickly, the principles are all based on becoming one with your creative self.

I’ll admit that sometimes I become consumed by the “pain body” (a term I just recently learned from the wonderful Eckhart Tolle). For clarification, this refers to what you experience when you are in an abnormally hopeless and negative mood, and feel like you may never be happy again. Sorry for the melodrama, but that’s what it feels like. I experience it as a block in my chest. It actually makes it hard to breathe, and although I know, to get out of it, all I need to do is smile and/or laugh… I just don’t want to. Eckhart says that in this state you basically become addicted to unhappiness. It’s bizarre, but I totally understand where he’s coming from.

Anyway, when I get into one of these states there are two “things” that help get me out of it: (1) my wonderful boyfriend Greg. After 5 years together, he has learned exactly what to say to me to get me out of one of my moods. (2) If I’m by myself I generally turn to either meditation or affirmative reading. I love reading books on positivity and the law of attraction, and searching for quotes or sections that click with my brain and allow me to breathe. Occasionally I’ll happen upon a quote that I get really excited about, and I’ll tell Greg all about it when he gets home. This is occasionally met with exasperation as he replies “that’s what I’ve been telling you forever.” Oops. The moral of this story is that sometimes you’ll hear something over and over again, but it takes just the right combination of words to speak to your soul. We’re all different. What works for one person, isn’t always going to work for another.

That’s what I like about these 10 principles. Some of them are repetitive, but each one is going to “speak” to a different kind of person. I believe more in an “energy” than a “God,” so the one’s which refer to God mesh with me less than the ones that don’t.

Anyway, here is the 2nd principle.

2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life- including ourselves.

Just like with yesterday’s post, let’s start with the definitions (again, courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary). I found that looking at the meanings of the words really gave me an “in” when it came to exploring principle 1.

Underlying: (1) be the cause or basis of (something). (2) lie or be situated under (something)

In-dwelling: be permanently present in (someone’s soul or mind); possess spiritually:

Creative: relating to or involving the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something:

Force: (1) strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement (2) mental or moral strength or power

Infusing: (1) fill; pervade. (2) instil (a quality) in someone or something

I know, I’m sure you understand the meanings of the above words… but you don’t know what you don’t know. I was actually very interested to learn what in-dwelling really meant.

Here’s my interpretation of the principle:

The creative force I believe she is referring to also goes by the name of “source energy” (for any Abraham-Hicks fans), God, and MANY other names. When I was a kid I used to have a poster up beside my bed of two young kids walking across a rickety bridge. Behind them was a glowing and beautiful guardian angel. That’s one way of looking at it. A grand power that is always looking out for you. I like to personify it, and imagine that close relatives which have passed watch and help me as I work through my journey.

There is another quote from “The Artist’s Way” that explains the energy in a different way (a way that really resonated with me, so maybe it will resonate with you as well):

“If there is a responsive creative force that does hear us and act on our behalf, then we may really be able to do some things… Anyone honest with you will tell you that possibility is far more frightening than impossibility, that freedom is far more terrifying than any prison. If we do, in fact, have to deal with a force beyond ourselves that involves itself in our lives, then we may have to move into action on those previously impossible dreams.”

“Is it any wonder we discount answered prayers? We call it coincidence. We call it luck. We call it anything but what it is – the hand of God, or good, activated by our own hand when we act in behalf of our truest dreams, when we commit to our own soul.”

– Julia Cameron

I thought this section of the book was absolutely beautiful. It brought such a smile onto my face. I don’t know about you, but it makes me feel really safe to think that there is someone/something “up there” that wants me to succeed, and that wants me to realize my full creative potential. It really doesn’t have to be so hard. I think if you allow it to be easy, it can be.

Nothing in nature strains to realize it’s full potential. The seed doesn’t wonder if it will grow into a flower, it just does – because that’s its obvious path. Try thinking of yourself in the same way. Everyone has something which they love to do, and you’re wasting energy if you’re spending it on worrying if you’re good enough to actually do that thing which you love. What’s the point? Acknowledge what makes your soul sing and just go for it. Don’t let your mind get clouded with negative self-talk that impedes your progress. Thoughts can be so poisonous if you allow them to infiltrate your head. Believe in yourself, and don’t doubt your abilities. Results will follow.

You were born with special gift, and it’s up to you to share that gift with the world. The universe is behind you. You are the only force that is holding you back.