Do any of you follow Elizabeth Gilbert on Substack?…if you don’t I am sure you will at least know Liz Gilbert from her books Eat, Pray, Love or Big Magic.
On Liz’s Substack account, Letters from Love, she shares a practice she has been doing for many years that has helped her get through all the challenges that life throws her way. When going through a hard time Liz was inspired to write herself a letter with everything she wished she would hear coming from a place of love…as if Love were giving her the reassurance and guidance she needed.
This is now a daily practice for her, writing a letter that starts ‘Love, what would you have me know today? If you would like a full explanation from Liz take a listen to this episode here where she explains what inspired her in this practice. She also features Letters from Love from many wonderful guests.
Feeling inspired by this practice I have occasionally introduced it into my journalling, particularly on harder days. A dear friend is currently going through life's greatest challenge. There are no solutions or words of reassurance left...only love.
Creative pursuits have always helped me cope through the hardest times in life, painting always, but lately I feel drawn to write down my thoughts as a way of processing. I thought I would share this letter of mine with you that led me to the subject of Acceptance.
Love, what would you have me know today?
Life is hard…and life is beautiful…both are true. You can feel all the pain and injustice in life whilst also noticing the smell of Spring in the air or the way the light falls across the mill pond bay.
Why do you keep falling into the trap of believing that life shouldn’t be hard…that perhaps you could fix it. That if you just work harder, that if you keep making that effort to believe in yourself more, keep working on improving yourself, that everything will eventually magically fall into place and you will feel at peace at last. That life will feel easier when…dot dot dot. Deep down you know that isn’t true.
It is easier for you to think this way because it justifies your busyness. Busyness stops you having to feel that pain. Busyness stops you from having to accept the hard reality, but what is the alternative when there are no solutions, no words left of reassurance?
Acceptance. Ugh! To you acceptance feels like a place of nothing…what does a world of acceptance even look like?
To you acceptance feels like giving up hope.
Acceptance means letting go of the illusion of control, because you know control is an illusion right?
Acceptance feels like having to learn to like and love yourself just as you are.
Acceptance feels like having to be brave enough to allow everyone else to take you as you are. Acceptance is believing you are enough as you are…with no need for improvement, no need for fixing.
Acceptance is truly believing in the beauty of life’s imperfection…because you know it’s true, don’t you.
It is time to accept…take a deep breath and sit with that...you are loved and beautiful in all your imperfection. You are tired and overwhelmed by life sometimes, but you are doing your best and it's okay to rest. x
Books lately
Handbook for Hard Times: a monk's guid to fearless living - Gelong Thubten
I am picking this book up when I feel the need for a listen, rather than reading it in it's entirety and it feels really helpful. Great for listen on a morning walk to give the day a new perspective.
101 Essays that will Change the Way You Think - Brianna Wiest
This one was recommended by a lovely friend. It is free to listen on Audible and another great one for a morning walk. It's funny when I was pondering Acceptance, writing the letter above, a quote from the book spoke to me...'Suffering is the refusal to accept what is'...something to ponder for sure.
Tom Lake - Ann Patchett
I was drawn to this book by the cover and the fact that it was narrated by Meryl Streep. This book was a wonderful distraction for a busy head whilst painting. Meryl's calming voice and the author's wonderful story telling abilities took me back to when my mum used to read to us as children.
Finished paintings out into the world
Several new paintings will be finding their way out into the world this week via The Affordable Art Fair in Melbourne. Opening this Thursday 29th August I am sure it will be a wonderful show full of amazing artworks. The Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton is worth a visit alone and is a lovely space to wander over the weekend. Come and take a look if you are at a loose end x
You can find more details of the painting I will be offering with SOHOGalleries here
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