Stories of Myself
Your journey of self-discovery through storytelling, mindfulness, movement, and creativity practices
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“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” ~ Carl Jung Your authentic self is how you truly feel when you are not distracted by the external environment. It is what makes you unique and underpins how you relate to the world. This often-unconscious higher state of our being connects us to the oneness of life, provides a quality of continuity, and sparks our sensitivity and creativity. It is frequently in the background as we experience daily living. On the other hand, our personality is how we appear to others and is based on the image that we project into the world. This façade can sometimes be different than our authentic self and consists of mannerisms and our imitation of others. It is driven by habits and is characterized by predictable behavior. We create this veneer to protect our vulnerability as we negotiate how to fit into societal norms. To command a situation or complete a task, we can bring forward either authentic or conditioned personality traits. In any case, we navigate a multi-faceted array of roles that radiate from and are influenced by our authentic core. We will explore the many faces you present to the world and bring awareness to the effects of culture on how you navigate daily life. By using creative projects to depict these roles visually, there can be an illumination into those that are most valued and others that have become obsolete, and it is time to let them go.
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About the Book
This guidebook will take you on a journey to step out of your day-to-day routine into an exploration of discovering your authentic self. Connect to your inner voice with storytelling, mindfulness and movement exercises, and creative play that requires no previous art experience. Immerse yourself to cultivate your intuitive awareness, identify your strengths and inner resources, and create awareness of what no longer serves you. As you work through the exercises, you will build an art journal that captures your story as it unfolds. Photography and examples from my journal are sprinkled throughout to inspire you on your path to personal growth and transformation. This book will empower you to curate a more meaningful life from within.
About the Author
Melinda Parkhurst is an author, artist, tribal fusion dancer, and avid gardener who revels in all things creative while being kind to the earth. She has a B.S. in Information Systems, an M.A. in Transpersonal Psychology, and is a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator (VLCE). She believes that everyone who desires to find their authentic self, develop their creative voice, or live a more healthful lifestyle can do so even with limited resources. She is certain that it is never too late to start the journey—it takes letting go of expectations and enjoying the process.