follow your art with efte edited 041001 by lucie walker

7/23/2019 Follow Your Art With EFTe Edited 041001 by Lucie Walker

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Follow Your ArtFollow Your ArtFollow Your ArtFollow Your Art with with with with EFTEFTEFTEFT

A Creative-Block-Busting Workshopwith Emotional Freedom Techniques

using PAINT as a Happy Medium!

Developed by artist and AAMET certified EFT Practitioner, Lucie Walker



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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP 5ABOUT THIS MANUAL 6YOU CAN PAINT 7

FOLLOW YOUR HEART 9 SHOWING UP IS EVERYTHING 10PAINT IN THE QUESTION 12WHAT IS INSPIRATION? 13LEANING INTO IT 15YOUR STYLE AND WHY YOU SHOULD BRING IT 17WHAT IS EFT? 19DIAGRAM OF EFT TAPPING POINTS 20THE ONE COMMAND 21DIAGRAM OF THE 6 STEPS OF THE ONE COMMAND 22THE ONE COMMAND 6 STEP PROCESS 23

HO’OPONOPONO 2525 COMMON CREATIVE BLOCKS AND BELIEFS 2725 BLOCK BUSTING EFT SCRIPS 291. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PAINT 302. IT WON’T TURN OUT 323. I’VE RUINED THE CANVAS 344. I’LL WASTE MY SUPPLIES 365. SUPPLIES COST MONEY 386. I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE 407. I’M NO GOOD AT ART 428. I’M NOT COMFORTABLE MAKING A MESS 449. I’M STUCK AND I CAN’T START 46

10. IT HAS TO BE PERFECT 4811. I DON’T THINK I CAN BE ORIGINAL 5012. I’M NOT CREATIVE 5213. I’LL NEVER BE ANY GOOD AT ART 5414. I’LL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS _______ 5615. WHAT WAS I THINKING 5816. THIS IS SCARY 6017. THE PAINT POLICE 6218. WHO AM I TO CALL MYSELF AN ARTIST? 6419. I WISH I COULD PAINT 6820. OVER-THINKING 7021. I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START 7222. I USED TO PAINT, BUT… 7423 I KEEP HEARING _______’S VOICE IN MY HEAD 7624. MY ART TEACHER TOLD ME 7825. MY ART GOT LAUGHED AT 80PAINT FOR YOURSELF 82



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ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

I've developed a workshop called Follow Your Art with EFT. It is geared towards adultswho may have become creatively blocked over the years and need a little nudge tore-frame who they think they are, artistically speaking.

All levels and abilities are welcome, whether you're a master painter, or you've never setbrush to canvas. While you might pick up a tip or two, this workshop does not addresspainting techniques, nor does it expect you to paint something necessarily pretty or evenrecognizable. No EFT or painting experience is necessary. It is process-oriented. Whatit does address is how awesome you are now that you're free as an artist!

A 'Follow Your Art' Workshop is for you if:

• You used to paint but haven't in years•

You've always wanted to paint but . . .• You don't think you're any good at art• You're afraid to make a mark on canvas• You're all set up to paint but never start• You feel creatively stuck or blocked• You want more freedom in the art you create• You want to paint with wild abandon

This hands-on EFT & Paint workshop provides a safe place to explore and releasecreative blocks, while allowing for lots of painting playtime. Participants enjoy guided

painting exercises that free the mind and the brush, letting loose the creative spiritinherent in all of us.

We will address what you feel when you sit at a canvas ready to paint, and do somegroup EFT on the issues that arise. We’ll move on to some painting exercises to liberateyou and give you a wonderful sense of calm as you realize 'Hey, maybe I am an artist!'

This is your time-out where you get to leave with your canvas and a new sense ofcreative freedom.

The masterpiece you take home is you.

Let’s get to the heart of the matter… then paint it.

All you need is *paint, canvas, brushes, and willingness

To “paint without a map”, use acrylic rather than oil paint, since acrylic dries very quickly



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ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This manual outlines 25 common blocks to creativity, along with 25 EFT scripts

to set these blocks free.

Each EFT script is written in three rounds designed to get you started. At times,you may need to continue beyond the page until you feel complete relief withyour issue.

All the scripts end with The One Command, and the 4-line mantra fromHo’oponopono. While each is a dynamic, stand-alone technique and a worthyfield of study, I have found that they combine seamlessly with EFT, and create anespecially powerful healing trio.

There is a brief outline of all three modalities in this manual, and I can’t possiblydo them justice in a few pages. Fortunately, life has conspired to bring ustogether, and we will get to experience them in this workshop.

Happy Releasing! Happy Painting! Just Happy!



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YOU CAN PAINT

I meet so many people who tell me they wish they were creative, or that they

used to paint, but haven't in years. Some don't remember why they stopped,while others can't forget. Either way, with their natural creativity blocked, theylong to paint freely, yet don't pick up a brush.

While everyone has creativity and imagination, in a lot of us, it's all pent upinside.

There's hardly anything I like better than helping people unblock their creativity.In fact, I'm passionate about it. As an artist and certified EFT Practitioner, I helpthem do just that.

People may arrive at the workshop tangled in old beliefs that limit their creativeplay, but they leave with a true sense of themselves as artists.

Why is painting scary? Why is making a mark scary? Why is having a voicescary? It just is. We are tender hearts: sensitive and busting to be ourselves inthe face of having been laughed at our told we were too much or not enough. Ithink we all encounter this along the way, to varying degrees.

Let’s put our creative blocks together

and build something wonderful!



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FOLLOW YOUR CREATIVE HEART

Painting, and other creative pursuits, should transport you. Heaven is on Earthwhen you’re in that sort of time suspension that comes from being engrossed.Spirit moves through you as you just move your brush, as it answers the call ofwhat needs to be expressed. And believe me, it needs to be expressed.

The flip side of ignoring that inner nudge is loss of some sort, and usuallymanifests in either depression or general malaise, which I call 'flat-lining'. No onewants to flat-line through life, do they?

Here are some tips to give you permission to follow your creative heart:

• Approach a canvas with an adventurous, willing spirit• Let go of expectations. My favorite works are painted without a map.• If you get stuck, turn the canvas upside down and peer at your markings

as you would clouds. I’ve built entire paintings from a random mark thatturned into a leg.

• If you begin a painting and find that you don’t like the direction it’s taking,keep painting, and tweak it until you do.

• That said, don't get too attached to any direction a painting is taking. Bewilling to trust yourself, follow your instincts to paint over something andchange direction. It’s only paint! You have absolutely nothing to lose, andeverything to gain.

• Paint for *yourself*. If you paint with an “audience” in mind, you'll hear allsorts of critical noise and nonsense and there is no surer path tobecoming blocked. What if all criticism is a lie? What if all criticism youever received was just love and gentleness that someone wasn't able togive themselves, and had nothing to do with you?

• When you come to a point where you like where your painting is going,enjoy the feeling, but still, don’t get attached. Becoming attached leads toover-thinking, and over-thinking is the death of a good painting and thebirth of a tight one.

• Let the canvas be your wild inner life, expressed.



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SHOWING UP IS EVERYTHING

“Anything worth doing, is worth doing wrong because if you wait until you’reperfect, you will never get started” – Kathryn Perry, The One Command

I have great respect and admiration for the person who shows up. Shows up towhatever it is that calls them: the canvas, the page, the instrument. Hair incurlers, top pants button undone, no makeup, they just show up; come as theyare, and start. It’s even juicier to me if they are untrained, and bring only theirshy willingness. They are my heroes. They are the ones outside their comfortzones, saying, “Maybe I can do this”.

Without that start, none of it happens. Paintings stay unpainted, books remain inthe head, and music only on the inside, when really, it needs to live on theoutside, where it can be shared and heard. I believe that a life unexpressed iswhat leads people to depression. Showing up and starting turns into staying anddoing, which leads to all manner and levels of masterpieces and satisfaction.Doing this a few times leads to the delicious, ‘what else is possible?’What “Creative” hasn’t been stared down by a blank canvas or by a blank page?It can be intimidating as you resist the urge to let it take you down.

I recently read that in some circles, it’s considered “low-rent to go out with wethair”. Really? I just see a person who has things to do, and the impetus to get‘em done, regardless of perfection. I encourage it.

I was in a diner having breakfast, and there was figure skating on thewall-mounted television. The seeming ease and definite beauty and strength ofthese skaters put a big lump in my throat, as I thought, “They just kept showingup and showing up and showing up”. That’s an example of showing up leadingto mastery.

Putting off writing or painting or any other soul-thirsty pursuit is putting off yourinner desires. Has this happened to you? You enter your studio or craft roomwith intentions to create, and instead, find yourself cleaning and straighteningclutter. While this is not a negative endeavor, the timing of it is questionable.



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When you find yourself doing this, catch yourself and re-align with your originalintent.

Whether that inner voice is a whisper or a full yell, it doesn’t take to beingignored. It’s the voice of reason, after all. Listen to the voice that gives loving

direction; that tells you what action to take that will turn into a creativemasterpiece, or some such bliss. That is a voice worth listening to.



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PAINT IN THE QUESTION

There are times when you just can't bring yourself to paint. I've been there morethan once over the past few years. You know those moments when nothing hits

you, when nothing comes-- except maybe frustration and the conclusion thatyou're just not on that day. Or worse, you reach the conclusion that you've "lost"your edge.

For those of us who desire to earn a living through our art form, our patience forthis sort of thing is limited. Once in a while is no problem at all, but what aboutthose times when days turn into weeks?

How does one push on through that feeling and paint anyway?

I suspect it’s the same way one does dishes or cleans out a closet. By starting.

I don't know about you, but sometimes, only good old discipline will get me moving. Sometimes just setting up will create a momentum. Just like I know thatonce I’m into doing the dishes, I’m fine. It’s just getting going in the first placethat’s a little bumpy.

Maybe you're like that, too.

So what happens en route to that starting point, that stops us, or makes us haveto will ourselves through?

I believe it’s what we tell ourselves.

“I don’t know what to paint”. “I don’t have the energy”. “It’s too nice outside”.These could all be “the reason”, or they could be things we say until the realreason surfaces: “I’m just not inspired”.



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WHAT IS INSPIRATION?

Is it a flash of knowing? A vision? Being filled with this unstoppable feeling thatwe must create? Well, yeah, kind of. And wow, when inspiration visits us, it'samazing, to be sure. It's the ultimate. Paintings just pour out; just seem to paint

themselves.

But what if we sit at the canvas without that knowing, without that vision, andwithout that motivation? What if inspiration can't reach us that day? What if it'stwo doors down, partying with another artist, late for its appointment with us?

I'm of the belief that inspiration is like air: there is enough for all, at all times; it isalways available. Just how available, is up to us.

I'd like to suggest that inspiration is something we can tune into, like tweaking aradio dial to tune in a station. What if all we had to do was “receive” its signal?

In my experience, that is all we have to do. To “receive” is to “allow”. Thingstake a turn for the better when we allow inspiration, instead of sweating its notbeing here yet. It's a whole shift in energy, like letting go after hanging on withsweaty palms.

Here are ways we don't allow: (or, how we keep our radio dial set to “static” )

• By hanging on tightly to our ideas• By needing things to go a certain way• By being invested in the outcome• By expecting things (anything!)• By directing or controlling the flow

How do we let inspiration find us at those times we need it most?First, let's notice that the heaviest word in that question is “need”.Nothing will weigh a wish down more than having it drip with need. It is aboutfinding a way to become neutral that will move us out of the way, lettinginspiration come.

How do we allow?

• By letting go of our ideas and keeping an open mind• By allowing things to unfold as they will• By being neutral about the outcome• By releasing expectations• By receiving the flow and staying in gratitude of where it takes us



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While inspiration is a breath of air, a sweet relief, an answer, a welcome visitor,the expectation of inspiration is like pinching off the hose to have it flow a certainway, and leads to frustration, dead-ends, and giving up.

So what DO we do? (Or, how DO we tune into a station?)

What if we sit at that canvas with only questions? No answers, only questions.That might look like us sitting there, all set up to paint, but with no idea where totake it. In other words: no inspiration.

How uncomfortable, right? I’d rather vacuum, you say, understandably.

But what if we just sit there and be. Be in the question with the canvas.

To take this idea a step further, what if we question the canvas itself? Literally.

Next time you sit at the canvas with no idea what to paint, try this:

1. Take a pencil and write a question directly onto the canvas. It could be aquestion you've wanted an answer to in your life, such as “Should I leave mycurrent job?” “What can I do to improve my health?” “Should the kids go tosummer camp?” “Should I color my hair?” “Should we buy that house?” In otherwords, it is your question. Big or small, it's valid.

2. Paint the answer.

Ooh . . . now it gets more interesting. Write a question and paint the answer.

And of course, it’s not about finding any particular answer, or a literal answer. Infact, what if we stay in the question the whole time?

Keep your focus on the question as you paint, never seeking answers. That way,everything remains possible. Just stay open and let the brush lead you. Justkeep the question in mind. Let the brush select the colors, let the brush lead thedance on the canvas, let the brush figure out any answers.

Gently stay out of the way, your attention solely on the question, only tuning inenough to hear the sweet song of inspiration.



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LEANING INTO IT

If you’ve ever ridden on a motorcycle, you’ll know that it’s important to lean into

the curve. No good can come of resisting a curve by stiffening up and trying toavoid it, or by leaning the other way. The same can be said of leaning into alearning curve.

What if you relaxed into painting? There’s hardly any other creative pursuit thatis more forgiving than painting. Don’t like what it looks like? Paint over it!

Surrender into the energy of not knowing what to do. There is no panic. And ifthere is, use that energy to paint.

There will, of course, come a time when you paint something that holds your

attention; that you become attached to, want to expand upon, and see through tothe end.

It could come at any time, from sitting down inspired to re-approaching the samecanvas a couple days after painting without a map. But it will come. Otherwise,you’d have only framed, map-less paintings on your walls.

1. THE ¼ TURN

Start painting, just painting…lalala… any color, any topic, no topic, no thought towhere you’re going with it. Do that for a while, then turn the canvas a ¼ turn andlook at the paint you’ve laid down in the same way you would look in clouds forimages. Just like a cloud can look like a poodle, so can paint on canvas take onthe shape of a tree, an eye, or a chimney, for example. Expand on what you seefor a while, but try not to get attached to what you’re doing. Just paint and followyour brush wherever it leads you.

After another few minutes, turn the canvas another ¼ turn and look again. Whatelse do you see?

2. TAKE A PICTURE!

Take a photograph of your painting in its early stages and upload it to aphoto-editing program on your computer. Seeing your painting on the screen willlet you know in short order what may need tweaking (as in the Mirror Image ,page 79.) It can also serve as inspiration with contrast and color, as you canplay with the image by selecting different colors or saturation in your editor. Thisis a great way to see your painting in a different light and may set you off in an



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entirely new direction. In order to explore, it’s important that you remain open tonew possibilities all the way through your painting, and be ready to changedirection. Trust me, you will know when you absolutely love it and can’t possiblythink of changing a thing. If you’re listening to your heart and not your head asyou paint, if you’re really letting the brush lead, and getting lost in the moment, it

will hit you like a ton of bricks. Your intuition will not only guide you through theprocess, but it will tell you in no uncertain terms where the painting needs to go,and when it is absolutely finished. In the beginning, it’s easy to overlook this tinyvoice, but as it gets clearer, it will be almost impossible to over-paint past thepoint of a painting “telling” you it’s finished. If you’re unsure, ask it. Go on: ask it.It knows. You will get an irresistible urge to PUT THE BRUSH DOWN.

3. MIRROR IMAGE

Hold a small hand mirror and look back at your painting behind you. Whateverhas not been sitting right will become very apparent. Let’s say you painted a

face and something is not quite right about it, but you can’t put your finger onwhat needs changing. Often, you’ll be convinced this is the best face you canever come up with. This is where the mirror trick comes in handy. By looking at amirror image of your painting, whatever is “wrong” will jump out at you. It willsuddenly become obvious what needs fixing. Sometimes you need to keeplooking at your painting in the mirror as you fix it, and this is not a bad thing; thisactually will train your brain for next time.

4. LAYERS OF SEEING

The more you paint, the more you will know that there are many layers to seeingsomething. When we first look, we see the obvious; what everyone else sees.But of course, everyone else has a slightly different view based on their angle, sothey actually see something different than you. Once you look long and hard atsomething, and really study it, you may begin to see the object in shapes ofdarks and lights, which becomes really effective for painting depth and shadow.Another layer of seeing an object will bring you to its texture, and yet another willshow you how it sits in its environment. Looking past the obvious and into all thelayers will take you “down the rabbit hole” of “really seeing”, and what you takefrom that will enrich your art.



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YOUR STYLE AND WHY YOU NEED TO BRING IT

There’s no other person on the planet who can paint from your point of view. No

one has the exact set of circumstances that brought you here today. You have avoice and expression unique to you.

IT’S ALL BEEN DONE

You may be thinking it’s all been said and done before. True, millions of artiststhroughout time have already painted nudes, fruit bowls, and landscapes, butthat is actually good news. Imagine if painters had to re-invent the wheel everysingle time they sat down to paint. “Dang, I was going to paint that!”

WHO, ME?

It’s part of the human condition to not perceive ourselves as others do. Have youever looked at old photo of yourself and thought, “Hey, I look better than I thoughtI did at the time”. It’s only in retrospect that you can really see yourself. That’sbecause there’s the advantage of distance between yourself now and yourselfthen, and your perspective has changed. It’s hard to see the tree when you arethe tree. Others can truly see and hear you simply because they are not you.

Perhaps you think your voice is not important, or that nothing you have to say isworth hearing. After all, it’s easy to dismiss something we think or say, since it’s

so common to us. We are so used to our own slant on things.

But since everyone else is not you, they may not have thought to expresssomething in the same way. Or, maybe they thought the same thing, but you’rethe one who put it in a painting.

So rather than assuming you are thinking ordinary thoughts, consider the ideathat your art is relatable. It’s like hearing a love song and thinking, “I wish I’dwritten that!” because it expresses what we all think about when we’re in love.The reason it strikes a chord in us isn’t because the songwriter used big,impressive words everyone had to look up; quite the opposite. The art is in the

creative assembly of commonly felt feelings.

You don’t need to know anything you don’t already know in order to create arttoday.

Start where you are.



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Of course, be open to learning everything that comes your way, but be wise tothe trickster within who tries to extinguish your fire before it gets going. Someonemay look at your art and say, “I wish I’d painted that!”

YOUR PERCEIVED WEAKNESS MAY WELL BE YOUR STYLE

If you decided to sit down with someone else’s painting of a woman drinking teaand set out to replicate it, it would still turn out in your own “voice”. You have astyle all your own. What you bring to the table makes it so.

You may believe that you paint a certain way because of a lack of training. Whileit’s true that your style will evolve, it is only true if you take it there by showing upto the canvas time after time. Imagine if Picasso had not painted because hecouldn’t get the mouth in the right spot.

What if there is a viewer out there wishing the art you’ve yet to create, existed?

Or, of equal weight, what if it doesn’t matter? What if there is no viewer and you just need to create? What if expressing yourself is that important? I believe it is.

Sure, life will go on without your paintings on the walls, but unexpressedcreativity is like a dog that doesn’t get walked, day after day. Sure, it’s still goingto be a dog, but it could be such a fully expressed, joyful dog.



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WHAT IS EFT?

EFT is short for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It is a quick, simple process that justabout anyone can use to release painful emotions.

The foundational statement for EFT is: “The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system”.

A brief explanation: EFT uses light tapping along the body's meridian points -- thesame points used in Acupuncture, but with fingertips instead of needles. An EFT clientfocuses on a bothersome issue while moving through a tapping sequence, and canusually experience relief in minutes on something that may have been an issue formonths, sometimes even years. Even though I’ve personally experienced some amazinglife changes, and have guided clients through some dramatic shifts with EFT, I still canhonestly say it seems crazy that it works. But it surely does! EFT has quickly become

mainstream, as everyday folks like you and me from all over the globe are changingthemselves and their lives for the better.

Start your EFT session tapping on the Karate Chop point while repeating your Set-Upphrase three times.

Set Up:

Even though I _________________, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself (3x)OR Even though I _________________, I deeply and profoundly accept myself (3x)

These are interchangeable options. Some people don't want to say the word 'love'.That's okay. Use what fits for you.

After the Set-Up, begin at the Top of the Head point and proceed to tap through the pointsoutlined in the diagram on the following page.

In a Follow Your Art workshop, participants alternate between painting, and"tapping out" issues as they arise. The release of limiting beliefs, combinedwith the experience of painting, make for a deep and lasting "letting go",leading to a reclaimed sense of artistry, and the outright joy that this brings.

As you’ll discover, Art & EFT go together beautifully!



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Diagram of EFT tapping points used in this manual



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THE ONE COMMAND

There are 6 steps to The One Command. The complete process takes onlya minute or two.

1. Ground 2. Align3. Go to Theta4. Command5. Expand6. Receive with Gratitude

Try this now: Close your eyes and think a negative thought, then simply say, “I don’tknow how”. This will instantly interrupt your negative thought, as well as give yoursubconscious mind permission to “not know how”, meaning it’s okay to not know how to

fix the negative thought. This thought interruption causes a shift in attention and energy,making way for what we desire instead.

The One Command, developed by Asara Lovejoy, is a streamlined technique

for tapping into our powerful subconscious mind. Using the *Tibetan Eye Rolltakes us into the relaxed Theta state . From this state, we bypass the ego, or“gate keeper”, and we can “command” a new reality.

At the end of each EFT script in this manual, you will see a command pertaining to thecorresponding creative block. You’ll notice that each command begins with “I don’t know

how” ____________and ends with “I only know that” ___________”and I am grateful andfulfilled” .

For example, your negative thought could be “I never know what to paint” and this thoughtdiscourages you from ever trying. Your Command could be, “I don’t know how I knowexactly what to paint, I only know that I express with paint fluidly , and I am gratefuland fulfilled.”

Saying, “I only know that” allows you to create what you want instead. State itaffirmatively, and in present tense.

Even though The One Command calls for having our eyes closed and in Theta, you willlikely experience an energy shift or release simply by reading the commands at the end ofeach script. Once you are more familiar with the phrasing of each command you canproceed with Theta. And, once you’re familiar with this powerful energy technique, youcan make your own commands to suit your needs.

*Since ancient times over the last 2000 years, Tibetan Llamas and spiritual masters have practiced theTibetan Eye Roll to access different states of consciousness – from commandingwealth.com



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THE ONE COMMAND 6 STEP PROCESS

1. Ground – get rooted

With closed eyes, imagine tree roots reaching from the soles of your feet down to the center of theearth. You are grounded once you feel connected, solid, and perhaps a little heavier in your chairthen when you first sat down.

2. Align – connect with your vision With your eyes still closed, focus on your heart region. Align with the vision of your Command.When I do this with clients, I take earth energy from grounding and surround my heart with it.

3. Go to Theta – roll your eyes upward Reach a mild state of Theta by rolling your eyes up so that behind closed eyelids, you are“looking” at the top of your head. This will cause your eye muscles to flicker, and that’s normal; it

gets easier as your eye muscles strengthen.

Theta is the meditative state in which your brain slows almost to the point of sleep, but not quite.It is the gateway to your subconscious, and is most commonly associated with intuition, memories,and deeply relaxed states of meditation.

4. Command – “I don’t know how…I only know that…” Recite the command you read at the end of the EFT script. “I don’t know how _________, I onlyknow that __________ and I am fulfilled.” To find another Command, it’s sometimes easiest if youstate what you don’t want, and flip it to its opposite. Let’s say you wish you had more braverywhen it comes to showing your artwork to people. Your initial statement could be, “I hate showingmy art to people, it makes me shy”. So your Command might be, “I don’t know how I can easilyshow my art to people, I only know that I feel comfortable and confident showing them now, and Iam grateful and fulfilled.”

5. Expand – allow for even greater With your eyes still closed and your Command stated, imagine what you desire reaching you in aneven bigger way, allowing for even better than what you asked for in your Command. While inTheta, allow your Source mind to create even more for you than you can imagine for yourself withyour Beta mind.

6. Receive with gratitudeWith your eyes still closed, lower them to look inwardly at your heart.Imagine unwinding the DNA that held old beliefs. Watch the old, limiting beliefs dissolve and floataway. Rewind the DNA to contain the newly stated Command.

Take a deep breath and when you feel ready, open your eyes.



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HO’OPONOPONO (Ho’o- what?) HO-OH-PONO-PONO

There’s a mouthful, right?

In Hawaiian, Ho’o-pono-pono means “to make right” or “to correct”.

This word is made up of three parts:

Ho’o - meaning to “cause” or “make”Pono – has many meanings but in this context means “right”

So putting this together, Ho’oponopono means “to make right right ”. Since Ponois repeated, it means to make doubly right, or very right, because doubling aword increases its intensity.

The premise of Ho’oponopono is that we take 100% responsibility for everythingoutside ourselves, since nothing is in fact outside ourselves. When weexperience or see something in our lives or even on the evening news, we havedrawn it into our existence, and it becomes ours to “clean”. It’s important to notethat being responsible is not the same as being guilty or having something be ourfault.

What we are cleaning are the memories and programs that get activated withinus. For instance, if you see or experience something you don’t like, it would beyour responsibility to clean what gets activated inside you. Maybe it’s anger orsadness. By cleaning this old program, we strive to achieve a clean slate. Why?

Because with a clean slate comes room for inspiration, new ideas, inner peace,freedom, intuition, and miracles.

So how do we clean?

Begin by simply repeating these four phrases together: I’m sorry. Pleaseforgive me. Thank you. I love you. Make these ten words the engine thatalways runs in the background of your life. Repeat the mantra as you walk,



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drive, run errands, even as you deal with people. Let them become thesoundtrack in your mind, replacing the usual chatter of your ordinary thoughts.Over a bit of time, you will come to feel a sense of peace, freedom, and you willexperience miracles, small and large. Life becomes free and magical as yousurrender and humble to the phrases.

If you notice that you tend to replay past injustices, loop an argument you hadwith someone, picture old hurts and criticisms, or find yourself complaining andblaming, you can instantly refocus by repeating, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,thank you, I love you”.

Whenever I am looping a memory I feel stuck in, or aligning with a judgment thatis so worn it has turned into a belief about myself, these four phrases arrest thisprocess and clear the energy every time.

I’m sorry, please forgive me:

You are not apologizing to a person, or admitting you are wrong. Rather, you’retelling Source, “I’m sorry for whatever is going on in me that I perceive the woe acertain way”.

Forgive me for whatever is going on in me that I do not experience people theway *You created them.

Thank you, I love you:

Your thanks is the gift of recognizing the old memory, program, or negative

thought replaying within you, and for the relief and release that came when youchose to apologize for it.

Your love is an appreciation for letting go of the negative, for allowing healing,and to receive the cleansing of it from your mind. I love you opens up thechannels to gratitude as well as forgiveness.

*I have adopted the phrase the God of your understanding.’ It doesn’t matterwhether you think you are saying the mantra to God, Source, the Universe, yourHigher Self, or your inner mind. Just say the mantra sincerely, from your heart.

At the end of each EFT script, and after The One Command, simply repeat themantra “I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you” to end each session.



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25COMMON

CREATIVE BLOCKS

AND BELIEFS

1. I don’t know what to paint2. It won’t turn out3. I’ve ruined the canvas4. I’ll waste my supplies5. Supplies cost money6. I should be doing something else (working)7. I’m no good at art

8. I’ll make a mess9. I’m stuck10. It has to be perfect11. But I have to be original12. I’m not creative13. I’ll never be any good14. I’ll never get as good as _______ (comparing)15. What was I thinking16. This is scary17. The paint police will come18. Who am I to call myself an artist

19. I wish I could paint20. I over-think everything21. I don’t know where to start22. I used to paint, but…23. I keep hearing _______’s voice24. My art teacher told me

25. They all laughed when ______



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Wouldn’t it be nice to be rid of those blocks? Just one of these can dampen

creative endeavors until they never get off the ground, and most people carrymore than one of these.

The good news is, when we use EFT to flatten out an issue, it often takes downother, connected issues with it.

(Flatten: to turn a once-existing issue into a non-issue)

For instance, “I don’t know what to paint” may be connected to “This is scary” orto “Who am I to call myself an artist,” which may be connected to “My art teachertold me____. “ So by flattening one issue, we flatten others in its wake,

shrinkingour list of issues down quickly. EFT has been known to produce “one-minutemiracles”, and it works well with what I call stubborn stains. You know, thosedeep-down, ingrained issues we all have.

These EFT scripts are examples of common blocks, and are listed in noparticular order. Start anywhere on the list that feels right for you. The scriptsthemselves can be expanded upon, and are meant to give you a good start intoan issue. They are written in 3 rounds, starting with the top of the head. Youmay repeat and re-word these rounds as you progress.

After completing your 3 set-up statements, begin at the top of your head, gentlytapping about 5-7 times per point as you recite these EFT scripts out loud.

Ready?



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25

CREATIVEBLOCK-BUSTING

EFT SCRIPTSTO MAKE AN

~ARTIST~OUT OF

YOU

YET



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1. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PAINT

Not knowing what to paint can stop any artist in their tracks, regardless of skilllevel. I believe that not knowing what to paint is a mindset rather than a fact. It’sall in the approach. The trick is to paint through that feeling. Don’t know what to

paint? Paint that. Paint anyway. Paint anything. Just paint. Literally, just dipyour brush in paint and make a mark, any mark. It’s one thing to stare at a blankcanvas if it’s coming to life in your mind’s eye, but quite another to stare at ablank canvas in confusion and frustration.

It’s okay to not know what to paint. That is a good time refer to the Paint in theQuestion exercise on page 77. When you write your question, it sets up a quietspace within you, shifts your mindset, and gets your brush moving. Making amark is a great way to tame that canvas and shrink down any blocks. It is justpaint. So let’s tap on that.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I don’t know what to paint, I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Even though when I think of painting something, I draw a blank, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I can’t think of a thing to paint, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Top of the Head: I don’t know what to paintEyebrow: I’m stumpedSide of the Eye: this canvas is just staring back at meUnder the Eye: and I’m drawing a blankUnder the Nose: I have no ideaChin: nothing comes to mind Collarbone: this is feeling uselessUnder the Arm: I’m wasting time

(Take a deep breath and continue.)

Top of the Head: I should know what to paintEyebrow: others know what to paintSide of the Eye: why don’t I?Under the Eye: I wish I knew what to paintUnder the Nose: everything I think of painting is stupidChin: or it’s been done



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Collarbone: or it won’t turn out rightUnder the Arm: arrrgh!!


Top of the Head: What if I just started?Eyebrow: I could always paint over itSide of the Eye: it’s just paintUnder the Eye: maybe if I start, something will come to meUnder the Nose: I do have some ideas … Chin: what if I just start paintingCollarbone: before I get an ideaUnder the Arm: what if that’s the ideaTop of the Head: I’m just going to paint and see what comes of it

(Take a deep breath and a sip of water.)

With your eyes closed, look up to the top of your head and say silently:

“I don’t know how I can paint even when I don’t know what to paint, I only knowthat I trust that the painting unfolds beautifully, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)

Open your eyes, take a deep breath, and say silently:

I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. (Ho’oponopono)



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2. IT WON’T TURN OUT

You’ve painted before; you know how it goes. You remember it doesn’t usuallyturn out the way you hoped. Maybe this time will be different, but you don’t reallybelieve that.

What if we turn these beliefs on their ear? What would it take to re-frame thebelief that it won’t turn out? What if we decided that having it turn out isn’t thegoal? What if we were to consider the idea that how it turns out is irrelevant?

I know this is a stretch in our goal-oriented world, where we are rewarded whenthings turn out well.

In art, however, straight lines are not necessarily rewarded over curves, andblack isn’t better than white, and the sky isn’t always blue. In painting, havingsomething not turn out can turn out to be the best thing. Maybe you thought you

were painting a tree, but that one branch looks like an arm, so maybe it’s aperson… ooh….

EFT SET-UP:

Even though it won’t turn out, so it doesn’t even matter if I try, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though it never turns out, so I don’t know why I bother, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though there’s no point in trying, because it won’t turn out - it never does - Ideeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: it won’t turn outEyebrow: there’s no point in tryingSide of the Eye: I know what’s going to happenUnder the Eye: it’ll be awfulUnder the Nose: it’ll be all wrongChin: it won’t turn out rightCollarbone: it won’t turn out at allUnder the Arm: it’ll be a mess


Top of the Head: I don’t know why I botherEyebrow: why try, when I know it’ll be bad?Side of the Eye: it won’t turn out



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Under the Eye: what if it’s really bad?Under the Nose: can I handle it?Chin: maybe…maybe notCollarbone: it’ll be a jokeUnder the Arm: not sure I want to go there

(take a deep breath and continue)

Top of the Head: what if I tried and it turned out?Eyebrow: what if I tried and it didn’t turn out?Side of the Eye: maybe I’d be fine with itUnder the Eye: I don’t knowUnder the Nose: maybe I could try and seeChin: who knows, maybe it’ll turn outCollarbone: maybe it doesn’t matterUnder the Arm: maybe I could just have fun with it

Top of the Head: maybe I’ll try when I feel ready



“I don’t know how I’ve released my need for paintings to turn out a certain way, Ionly know that I paint with openness to the process, and I am grateful andfulfilled.”(The One Command)





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3. I’VE RUINED THE CANVAS

Were you that child who crumpled up and threw out a piece of paper becauseyou didn’t like how you wrote the date? Threw out the second piece becauseyou noticed your line of writing went upwards instead of straight across? Since

crumpling a canvas is more challenging, we have a hard time starting at all, incase we ruin it. Making a “wrong” mark may feel like such a letdown. The greatexpectations of a blank canvas, dashed. Yep, that first mark can make or breakeverything, at least until now. What if I told you that the best way to combat thatfeeling is to make a mark, even if it’s wrong? I know, breathe. And tap with me.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’ve ruined the canvas, I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Even though as soon as I put paint on it, I felt as though I ruined it, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I feel so let down since I know I’ve ruin the canvas, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’ve ruined the canvasEyebrow: there’s no turning backSide of the Eye: it feels awful to have a wrong mark on the canvasUnder the Eye: I can’t clean it upUnder the Nose: it’s all wrongChin: I’ve ruined this nice white canvasCollarbone: now it doesn’t feel special anymoreUnder the Arm: I’ve ruined it


Top of the Head: I just want to throw it out and start overEyebrow: I’ve ruined it with the wrong colorSide of the Eye: it wasn’t supposed to look like thisUnder the Eye: I knew I couldn’t paintUnder the Nose: now I’ve gone and ruined itChin: it used to be clean and whiteCollarbone: and now it’s ruined with all the wrong colors and shapesUnder the Arm: there’s no turning back


Top of the Head: it has to be perfect



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Eyebrow: it was perfect beforeSide of the Eye: this stretched white canvasUnder the Eye: it’s supposed to have paint on itUnder the Nose: but I expect so much more from myselfChin: maybe I can paint over it

Collarbone: maybe it’s not ruinedUnder the Arm: there will be more canvasTop of the Head: this feeling that I’ve ruined it is passing



“I don’t know how I view every canvas as an exploration, I only know that I am at

peace with every mark I make, and see my art as a series of happy accidentsnow, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”

(The One Command)





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Top of the Head: I’m wasting all these suppliesEyebrow: what if I run out of paint before I’m finished?Side of the Eye: what if I ruin this canvas and have to get another one?Under the Eye: who am I to waste paint?

Under the Nose: who am I to even have art supplies?Chin: what if it’s not a waste?Collarbone: what if I can use up as much paint as I want?Under the Arm: maybe I can just get moreTop of the Head: maybe I deserve to have art supplies



“I don’t know how I freely use my art supplies, I only know that when I run out of

anything, I love visiting the art store now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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5. SUPPLIES COST MONEY

Supplies cost money, it’s true. Like the idea of wasting supplies, its rarely aboutthe money, and speaks more to what we are willing to spend on ourselves.

Especially on something we may have, until now, considered frivolous, if weconsidered it at all. Give in to a little treat for yourself, and as you grow into theidea of yourself as an artist, you’ll put art supplies on a shopping list with thesame ease you write a grocery list. Once you give yourself permission to spenda little something on your soul, you will delight in shopping for supplies. Artstores are filled with inspiring eye-candy. If money truly is the issue, rememberyour local dollar or thrift store has a craft section.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though supplies cost money, I deeply and profoundly love and accept

myself

Even though I bought supplies and I’m not even an artist, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Even though supplies cost money, and they’re expensive, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I bought all these art suppliesEyebrow: they were expensiveSide of the Eye: I spent a lot of moneyUnder the Eye: I’m not even an artistUnder the Nose: not a real oneChin: I’m not even any good at itCollarbone: but I went and spent all this moneyUnder the Arm: I don’t want to use them up and lose all this money


Top of the Head: I can’t believe I went and bought all this stuffEyebrow: I’m not sure I should put my money on things like art suppliesSide of the Eye: when I can’t even paintUnder the Eye: all this moneyUnder the Nose: what if I don’t even end up being any good?Chin: what if I don’t even continue with art?Collarbone: just like pianoUnder the Arm: all this money wasted




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Top of the Head: I could find a cheaper sourceEyebrow: or I could just buy a few things to get startedSide of the Eye: to see if I like itUnder the Eye: maybe it’s not even about the money

Under the Nose: maybe I could get a couple of good brushesChin: maybe some student paintsCollarbone: maybe I can give myself a break here and try it for funUnder the Arm: maybe I’m worth a few bucksTop of the Head: maybe I deserve art supplies



“I don’t know how I’m happy to support my artistic endeavors, I only know that

everything I need comes to me with ease, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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6. I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE (LIKE WORKING)

Painting is for kids or artists, right? Not for normal, grown-up, serious people. Ofcourse, I am being facetious. Painting is for anyone who chooses to paint. “But I

should be doing housework!” “I should be…” - fill in the blank. I hereby grantyou permission to hang out with your art supplies today! Maybe you get a senseof guilt about sitting down to paint when there are so many other things to do.Devoting time to a hobby is not something you’ve put attention to in years.

Oh sure, before the kids, but now … Okay, tap, tap, tap.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I should be doing something else, like working, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I should do something more serious, like my housework, I deeplyand profoundly love and accept myself

Even though painting is a frivolous activity, and I should do something moreworthwhile, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: painting is sillyEyebrow: there’s so much I could be doing insteadSide of the Eye: there’s so much I should be doing insteadUnder the Eye: I don’t have time for thisUnder the Nose: painting is just frivolous

Chin: painting is for artists and I’m not an artistCollarbone: this is just a hobby and I’ve got other things to doUnder the Arm: I should be doing housework


Top of the Head: I should be working on something more seriousEyebrow: this is taking up my time and cutting into serious stuffSide of the Eye: I should be doing something else, like workingUnder the Eye: this is just playtime in the middle of the afternoonUnder the Nose: why should I get to do this when others are working?

Chin: it’s hard to take this seriouslyCollarbone: I should be working since this is just a hobbyUnder the Arm: I’ve got other things nagging at me but I’m sitting here painting


Top of the Head: I can’t give myself the time to paintEyebrow: but I would like to



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Side of the Eye: but I’m so busyUnder the Eye: still, maybe I can take some time to paintUnder the Nose: I do enjoy it, it relaxes meChin: what’s wrong with that? I always work hardCollarbone: maybe I deserve a little painting break

Under the Arm: I’ll work again but right now I’m paintingTop of the Head: it’s getting easier to accept this painting time



“I don’t know how I have permission to spend time on my art, I only know that Iam completely at peace and enjoy taking this time for myself now, and I amgrateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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7. I’M NO GOOD AT ART It doesn’t take very much at all to come to this conclusion: “I’m no good at art”.Maybe your natural aptitude lies elsewhere. That’s okay. But the fact that youhave this book in your hands is an indication that you are interested in art, evenwith this belief about yourself. Guess what? You don’t have to be any good at

art.The secret is out! Who’s to say what is good? Is there a Good Art Police? Haveyou ever been to an art gallery and seen art you don’t understand? Maybe therewas a circle and a line and that’s it. You know, there could be a certain freedomin making art not everybody understands. You don’t even have to understand itas the artist creating it. Art just needs to be expressed. What if there is no goodart or bad art? I wonder what would happen to your art if you let go of the ideathat you aren’t any good at it, or that you have to be. Doesn’t it feel lighter toremove that idea from yourself and just paint? Take a deep breath and tap it out:

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’m no good at art, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though I’ve never been any good at art, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I’ve got plenty of proof that I’m no good at art, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’m not any good at art Eyebrow: I’m rather dismal, in factSide of the Eye: even my Mom thinks soUnder the Eye: my teachers thought soUnder the Nose: I’ve been laughed at and teasedChin: it’s no useCollarbone: I’m just not any goodUnder the Arm: some people have it, I am just not one of them


Top of the Head: I know myself, and I have other talentsEyebrow: but art isn’t one of themSide of the Eye: don’t ask me to try since I already know I’m no goodUnder the Eye: I can’t draw a stick manUnder the Nose: it’s just who I amChin: and who I’m notCollarbone: I’m no artistUnder the Arm: I’m no good at art




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Top of the Head: since I know I’m no good at art, I have nothing to proveEyebrow: since I know I’m no good at art, I have nothing to loseSide of the Eye: might as well do it and do it badly, just for funUnder the Eye: what if it’s not fun because I’m no good at it?

Under the Nose: what if it’s relaxing because there’s no pressure to be goodChin: what if I just enjoy the process of putting paint on canvas?Collarbone: I’m not a great dancer but I go dancing and it’s funUnder the Arm: what if it’s okay to paint even though I’m not a great painterTop of the Head: what if painting anyway is the path to being a great painter?



“I don’t know how I’ve come to see myself as ever-expanding in the arts as in all

other areas of my life, I only know my old judgments and beliefs are dissolvednow, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”

(The One Command)





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8. I’M NOT COMFORTABLE MAKING A MESS

Clean your room! Wipe your feet! Wash your hands! Do your laundry! Pick upyour clothes!

Is it any wonder we are not comfortable making a mess? Or is it the cleaning upthat we don’t like? If we set ourselves up for success, making a mess won’t be abig deal at all. Cover your table with an old sheet, or towel; lay some plasticunder your easel. Get a man’s over-sized shirt at the thrift store and roll up thesleeves. Wear that over your clothes, then, paint up a storm! If you get acrylicpaint on your hands, it will wash off with soap and water. Acrylic dries veryquickly, and leaving it on your hands a while is fine. Go out for coffee with painton your hands. You are, after all, an artist.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’m not comfortable making a mess, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though I hate mess, and I hate having to clean it up, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though messes overwhelm me, and I prefer order, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’m not comfortable making a mess

Eyebrow: I’m just going to have to clean it up againSide of the Eye: I don’t have time for messUnder the Eye: I hate getting dirtyUnder the Nose: I hate it when things are all over the placeChin: my mother hated messCollarbone: and her mother probably hated messUnder the Arm: and I hate mess


Top of the Head: maybe a creative mess is different

Eyebrow: maybe I can keep it containedSide of the Eye: maybe I can make a big mess and shut the doorUnder the Eye: mess overwhelms meUnder the Nose: I don’t like it when things are out of placeChin: what if I keep up with the mess?Collarbone: what if the mess is worth it?Under the Arm: what if I enjoy myself so much I forget the mess?



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Top of the Head: I might make a messEyebrow: what if that’s okay?Side of the Eye: maybe I could start with a little mess

Under the Eye: maybe I can create neatly and avoid messUnder the Nose: what if I just create and see what happens?Chin: what if I make a deal with myself that I’ll clean up right away?Collarbone: what if creative mess allows me to let go?Under the Arm: what if this kind of mess is fun?Top of the Head: maybe I’ll allow creative mess



“I don’t know how that making a mess while I paint is not a big deal at all, I onlyknow that all my concerns about making a mess are floating away now, and I amgrateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)Open your eyes, take a deep breath, and say silently:




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9. I’M STUCK AND I CAN’T START

This is a good EFT script if you just can’t get going, and you can’t put you fingeron “why”. Maybe you’re sitting at the canvas and suddenly find yourself stoppedand unable to move forward in your painting. Or perhaps you haven’t gotten that

far, because there’s a “traffic jam” in your head: you’re replaying old messagesabout yourself and it’s dragging you down and keeping you “stuck”.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’m stuck, and I don’t know where to start, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Even though I’m stuck and don’t know how to start, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though I’ve never felt this stuck, and I don’t have a clue where to take this, Ideeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’m so stuckEyebrow: I don’t have any idea how to beginSide of the Eye: I don’t feel like beginning because it all feels wrongUnder the Eye: I don’t know which way to turnUnder the Nose: I’m just stuckChin: I need more informationCollarbone: I hate thisUnder the Arm: this is hard and I hate being stuck


Top of the Head: where do I start?Eyebrow: how do I start?Side of the Eye: what if I stay stuck?Under the Eye: what if this is it for me?Under the Nose: what if it never gets better?Chin: I’ve been stuck before, but not like this. This is differentCollarbone: I’m as stuck as stuck getsUnder the Arm: I’m going to be stuck until I’m not


Top of the Head: I’m not stuck at everything, just thisEyebrow: sometimes I’m in the flowSide of the Eye: and sometimes I’m stuck, like nowUnder the Eye: I don’t know what to do firstUnder the Nose: what if I did something in any direction, just to move



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Chin: it doesn’t have to be my final decisionCollarbone: what if I just get moving a little bit?Under the Arm: maybe it will get easierTop of the Head: I’ll move when I’m ready



“I don’t know how my art flows freely, I only know that everything I paint comeswith ease and joy, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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10. IT HAS TO BE PERFECT

This is a big one for people. After all, most of us have this ingrained in ourpsyches from an early age. Who among us hasn’t heard the Hunter S.Thompson quote, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right”?

It’s natural that when we are taught something, we are taught to do it the “rightway” and are corrected over and over until we get it “right”, at which point we arepraised or rewarded.

Not nearly as much celebration is given to the effort or the journey, when in fact,showing up when you don’t have it “right” is the first key step in any of ithappening at all. (See Showing Up is Everything , page 73) While this is thescary part, it’s also the part that really builds your muscles. In a perfect world,this is where the celebration would really begin.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though it has to be perfect, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though I’ll be so disappointed if it’s not perfect, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though a part of me finds it unthinkable to paint unless it’s perfect, I deeplyand profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: if I go through the trouble of painting, it should be perfectEyebrow: I don’t want to do it if it’s not going to be perfect

Side of the Eye: I don’t do things I’m not any good atUnder the Eye: there’s so much pressure to be perfectUnder the Nose: if you can’t do it right, don’t do it at allChin: I’ve heard something like that all my lifeCollarbone: it has to be perfect or why bother?Under the Arm: it can’t just be for fun


Top of the Head: if I’m not good at it, it won’t be funEyebrow: I have to get it right for this to be fun

Side of the Eye: I expect to get it rightUnder the Eye: it’s so disappointing when I don’t get things rightUnder the Nose: my goal is always to do things rightChin: I don’t know how to paint and make it perfectCollarbone: so I don’t want to paintUnder the Arm: I don’t want to paint if it’s not going to be perfect




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Top of the Head: I bet I wasn’t like this in kindergartenEyebrow: does everything have to be perfect?Side of the Eye: what if perfect is someone else’s idea and not even mine?Under the Eye: what if this is a throwback to coloring inside the lines?

Under the Nose: what if I made it imperfect on purpose?Chin: what if I paint with a new goal? What if my new goal is to make it mine?Collarbone: what if I paint for fun and freedom of expression?Under the Arm: what if it’s okay to be not perfect in this one little area of my life?Top of the Head: maybe painting is where I can test out being imperfect



“I don’t know how I’ve released my need to have a perfect result before I even

start, I only know that I feel ready to start where I am now, and I am grateful andfulfilled.” (The One Command)





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11. I DON’T THINK I CAN BE ORIGINAL

Sometimes, we feel like we are cheating if we use inspiration as our springboard.We feel we didn’t really come up with an idea on our own, because we sawsomething like it in a magazine or on television. You can bet that whoever

created what you saw, saw a piece of it somewhere else, too. Happily, instead ofcheating, there is a gentler word for it: inspiration.

While it’s easy to look around and feel that everything has already been said anddone, it’s important to note that it’s not about the output as much as it is aboutthe expression. Books need to be written, songs need to be heard, and paintingsneed to be painted because people need to express. It may already have beendone, but never in your voice. Your take on things is completely original, and weneed to see it.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’m not very original, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though I tend to only paint one thing over and over, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Even though whatever I paint, it’s been done before, and probably done better, Ideeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’m not originalEyebrow: I’m okay if I get to copy, but then, that’s not artSide of the Eye: I can’t come up with ideas on my own

Under the Eye: maybe once in a while, but I probably got it from somewhere!Under the Nose: I don’t have original paintings in my headChin: I only seem to paint one or two things and that’s itCollarbone: others have original ideas, but I just copy themUnder the Arm: I always just paint faces (or dogs or hearts or women)


Top of the Head: I can’t just paint the same thing all the timeEyebrow: it has to be original!Side of the Eye: every time!

Under the Eye: what if I just paint the same theme over and over?Under the Nose: that’s not very originalChin: what if it’s original because it’s my expression of it?Collarbone: there are lots of paintings of the same thingUnder the Arm: they are someone’s original expression




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Top of the Head: I bet I can be original sometimesEyebrow: besides, is it copying or is it inspiration?Side of the Eye: can I run with an idea in my own original way?Under the Eye: I bet I can come up with my own ideas

Under the Nose: what if I just paint because I need to express something?Chin: what if I don’t worry about being original?Collarbone: what if I let go of having to re-invent the wheel and just paint?Under the Arm: what if I trust myself with what needs painting?Top of the Head: I choose to be inspired, what ever that looks like for me



“I don’t know how I come up with inspired, original ideas, I only know that I paint

from trust and inspiration now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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12. I’M NOT CREATIVE What do you think makes someone “creative” and someone else “not creative”? Irecently attended a conference with Brian Thwaits, author of The Big Learn. Heasked the group, “How many of you think you can draw?” In the large crowd,only a few hands went up, and tentatively at that. He said that this was a typical

response among his audiences. He then said that when he asks the same of aGrade 2 class, all the hands in the room shoot up, some kids stick two hands upand say, “Me! I’m a great drawer! Me! Me!” So what happens between Grade 2and adulthood?

We know. Let’s tap on that.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’m not creative, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though others are creative and I’m not, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I’ve never been creative and just don’t think of myself as such, Ideeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’m so not creativeEyebrow: I don’t have a creative bone in my bodySide of the Eye: well, maybe in some things, but not artUnder the Eye: I’m just not creativeUnder the Nose: you have to be creative to do artChin: and I’m not creativeCollarbone: everyone knows I’m not creativeUnder the Arm: and I don’t think I will be


Top of the Head: being creative is just not one of my giftsEyebrow: some folks have it, and good for themSide of the Eye: but it’s not meUnder the Eye: I’m good at other things, but creativity is not one of themUnder the Nose: I hate it when people try to argue that I am creativeChin: as if they know me better than I know myselfCollarbone: it makes me defensive until I don’t want to be creativeUnder the Arm: not that there’s anything wrong with being creative


Top of the Head: what if I am creative?Eyebrow: maybe I was when I was a kid



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Side of the Eye: maybe I was told I wasn’t creative, and I bought it as my truthUnder the Eye: seriously, what if I am creative and don’t know it?Under the Nose: what if it doesn’t matter if I am or not, and I just have fun?Chin: maybe I’m not creative, but maybe I amCollarbone: maybe it doesn’t matter

Under the Arm: maybe one day I’ll feel more creativeTop of the Head: maybe I’ll feel creative when I’m ready



“I don’t know how I’ve come to know that I am creative, I only know that I ambursting with creative ideas now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.” (The OneCommand)





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13. I’ll NEVER BE ANY GOOD AT ART

This is different than “I’m no good at art”. “I’ll never be any good at art” is aheavier conclusion that you may have reached.

What if that’s just a dusty, old decision that you can toss out now? What do yousay? Are you ready to let this one go?

Nothing says “subject closed” like adding the word “never”. I invite you toreconsider this one, as we tap down all the ways this door has been kept shut,and tap into the possibility of letting in a little bit of light.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’ll never be any good at art, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I’ve never been any good at art, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I’ve got plenty of proof that I’m just not cut out for art, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I’ll never be good at art Eyebrow: I’m not cut out for itSide of the Eye: everybody knows that

Under the Eye: it was decided years agoUnder the Nose: that’s just not where my talents areChin: I’ll never be good at itCollarbone: not good enough for it to amount to anythingUnder the Arm: I’ll always be bad at art


Top of the Head: it’s in my DNAEyebrow: it’s my identity to be bad at artSide of the Eye: I can’t be good at art now because I never have been

Under the Eye: it’s always been true that I can’t draw or paintUnder the Nose: that I’m never going to be one of those creative typesChin: I’ll never be good at paintingCollarbone: I’ll never be good enough to be an artistUnder the Arm: everyone knows that




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Top of the Head: there’s no reason to think this can change nowEyebrow: but here I am so I might as well go with it and paintSide of the Eye: it won’t be any good because I’m terrible at thisUnder the Eye: ah, you know what, who cares?

Under the Nose: what if I’m terrible?Chin: there’s lots of stuff I’m not expert at, but I still do themCollarbone: maybe it’s absolutely fine to be bad at itUnder the Arm: maybe I’ll never be great, or maybe I’ll improve and surprise myselfTop of the Head: I actually have nothing to lose here



“I don’t know how I’ve come to see some hope in myself as an artist, I only know

that when I think of art, I feel open and expansive, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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14. I’LL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS __________ (comparing)

We are sunk the moment we compare ourselves to others. What good can comeof measuring our own worth against someone else’s abilities? It’s one thing toadmire someone’s work to fan the flames of inspiration, and quite another to useit as fuel to run yourself down. Besides, our real goal is to be as good as we canbe, not be as good as someone else can be. It’s important to remember thatthere is no competition. No one else in the whole world gets to be anyone else.No one gets to be you, and you don’t get to be them. And no one else gets to bethem, either. We are all gifted in a myriad of ways. If we focus on not being asgood as someone, we are dancing with lack, which keeps us empty. Danceinstead with a bellyful of self-acceptance. Start where you are, and be as goodas you can be right now.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I’ll never be as good as ___________ I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though ___________ will always be better than me, so why try, I deeplyand profoundly love and accept myself

Even though I’ll never be as good as ___________ and it makes me not want totry, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: ________ will always be better Eyebrow: so why bother?Side of the Eye: there’s hardly any point to itUnder the Eye: I need to be as good as _______Under the Nose: __________ will always be better than meChin: why try?Collarbone: I don’t want to do it if I can’t be great at itUnder the Arm: I don’t want to do it if I can’t be as good as ______________


Top of the Head: it hurts knowing I’ll never be that goodEyebrow: ________ will rub it inSide of the Eye: and even if _________ doesn’t rub it in, I’ll always know itUnder the Eye: everyone else will know it Under the Nose: I’m just not cut out for this, and ________is a naturalChin: how maddeningCollarbone: I wish it came easily for meUnder the Arm: I wish I was as good



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(Take a deep breath and continue)

Top of the Head: I wish I could be betterEyebrow: just this once

Side of the Eye: I wish I could be as good as ___________Under the Eye: I know it’ll never happenUnder the Nose: it takes years to get that good, yet __________ was born that goodChin: that’ll never be meCollarbone: I suppose I could get better, but I’ll still never be as good as _________Under the Arm: maybe that doesn’t even matterTop of the Head: what if that doesn’t even matter?



“I don’t know how I am completely neutral about whether I’m as good as ___________, I only know that my only concern now is having fun with my owncreativity, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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15. WHAT WAS I THINKING? There’s hardly a more withering thought than ‘What was I thinking?’Perhaps you’ve decided to try painting, to flex your creative muscle. But thenyou find yourself sitting amid your new art supplies, stuck in a holding pattern, notmoving forward and thinking to yourself, “What was I thinking?”

Conversely, you’re mid-way through a painting and you’re not sure where to takeit, and every direction you can think of seems wrong. You think to yourself,“What was I thinking?”

Or maybe the thought grips you once you have finished your piece of art, or, andmaybe this is the worst of all, you have finished a painting and you shyly show itto your loved one and they seem underwhelmed . You groan, “What was Ithinking?”

No matter what the scenario, you just knew you were out of your depth, over yourhead. You knew it wouldn’t be any good; that it would be hard; that it wouldn’tturn out. You just knew it. But you went ahead anyway. What were youthinking?

Well, I for one love what you were thinking.

Here’s what you were thinking: you were thinking about trying something new.You were reaching for something bigger with your thoughts.

That, my friend, is a good thing. It’s really okay if you don’t recognize yourself asyou try new things. It’s actually really, really good. Let’s make room for more ofthat. Let’s tap on it.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I don’t know what I was thinking, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I can’t imagine what I was thinking, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though I’m not sure what I was thinking when I decided to paint, I deeplyand profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: OMG what was I thinking? Eyebrow: I’m out of my depth here!Side of the Eye: I don’t know what I was thinking



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Under the Eye: it’s me! I’ve never been any good at this stuff!Under the Nose: what possessed me?Chin: where was I going with this?Collarbone: This is so not me Under the Arm: I don’t know what I was thinking


Top of the Head: What was I thinking when I decided to try painting?Eyebrow: what made me think I could come up with anything good?Side of the Eye: what made me think I could do this?Under the Eye: I feel so dumbUnder the Nose: I lost my headChin: I don’t know what I was thinkingCollarbone: this isn’t me at allUnder the Arm: everyone knows that!


Top of the Head: I don’t know what I was thinkingEyebrow: seriously, what was I thinking?Side of the Eye: what made me think I’d be any good at this?Under the Eye: what on earth was I thinking?Under the Nose: I don’t recognize myselfChin: hey, maybe that’s a good thingCollarbone: what if I don’t have anything to prove?Under the Arm: what if I can do this just because I want to?Top of the Head: what if it’s okay that I was thinking I’d try this?



“I don’t know how I am at peace with trying my hand at painting, I only know thatI’m glad I am trying something new, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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16. THIS IS SCARY Sitting in front of a canvas can be scary because it brings up all this stuff that iseasier not to feel. It can be scary to be vulnerable. All the judgments you’vetaken on and believed about yourself seem to be staring back at you. What ifyou make a wrong move? Choose a wrong color? Mess up the canvas? What ifit doesn’t turn out? All those things can crash around in your head as you sit,ready to paint. Let’s get right to it:

EFT SET-UP:

Even though this is scary, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though it’s scary to be this vulnerable, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I’m really scared right now, I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Top of the Head: this is so scary Eyebrow: I don’t know what I’m doing hereSide of the Eye: I’m no artist!Under the Eye: what if it’s awful? What if I’m awful?Under the Nose: this is scary

Chin: I don’t like being this vulnerableCollarbone: I’m very uncomfortable right nowUnder the Arm: I find this really scary


Top of the Head: It’s so much easier to just go back to what I knowEyebrow: I want to go back and forget about thisSide of the Eye: this is nonsenseUnder the Eye: this is stupidUnder the Nose: I’m not into this at all

Chin: I don’t want to be hereCollarbone: this is so far out of my comfort zoneUnder the Arm: I hate this feeling(Take a deep breath and continue)

Top of the Head: this is scary



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Eyebrow: I don’t know why I wanted to do this in the first placeSide of the Eye: I’m so not into thisUnder the Eye: I just want to go back to how it wasUnder the Nose: I just want to go back to who I wasChin: what if this is who I am now?

Collarbone: what if this is as scary as it getsUnder the Arm: this isn’t so badTop of the Head: I can live with this; it’s not bad at all



“I don’t know how I am at peace with my feelings about creativity, I only know

that I’m completely happy and calm now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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17. THE PAINT POLICE

What do you mean, there is no “Paint Police”? You mean I can just … paint? It’sokay? It’s allowed?

Not only is it allowed, it’s highly encouraged!

Of course, we all know there is no actual “Paint Police”, but it can sure feel like it.We feel that if we take time for ourselves to play, the shoe is going to drop,somehow. We feel this vague sense of disapproval, like we’re getting away withsomething.

No one is going to shut you down if you decide to paint, or choose red overyellow in your painting. Nobody will get in your way. There are no rules. Irepeat, there are no rules in art. Your painting can look any way it looks, and turnout any way it will. There is no right or wrong in art. Is that not the mostliberating thing ever?

Go on, have fun. You can even make a mess. You’re all grown up, now. The“Paint Police” are not on their way. This is your one life. Paint!

EFT SET-UP:

Even though it feels like the Paint Police are going to shut me down, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I just feel like it’s wrong, like I’m wrong, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though I’m scared to do this in case it’s not okay, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Top of the Head: the “Paint Police” Eyebrow: such a silly conceptSide of the Eye: but it feels real!

Under the Eye: I feel like I’ll be shut down somehowUnder the Nose: like I’m not really allowed to take this time to paintChin: like I don’t deserve to playCollarbone: why should I get to play?Under the Arm: I can’t take that kind of time



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Top of the Head: someone somewhere will be annoyed if I get to paintEyebrow: they will disapproveSide of the Eye: I don’t get to do this stuff

Under the Eye: I don’t get to play like thisUnder the Nose: I feel like I’m getting away with somethingChin: it feels wrong to take this kind of time for myselfCollarbone: besides, I can’t even paintUnder the Arm: so why should I get to do this?(Take a deep breath and continue)

Top of the Head: the “Paint Police”Eyebrow: maybe I am the “Paint Police”Side of the Eye: no one else is stopping meUnder the Eye: I’m the only one in my own way

Under the Nose: what if I get out of my own way?Chin: what if I am the “Paint Police”?Collarbone: it’s kind of funny when I look at it like thatUnder the Arm: maybe I’ll write myself a ticketTop of the Head: maybe I’ll blow the whistle on myself for having fun



“I don’t know how I know the “Paint Police” are not coming, I only know that I’mallowing myself to enjoy painting, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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18. WHO AM I TO CALL MYSELF AN ARTIST?

Okay, this is THE BIG ONE. Only artists get to call themselves artists, right? Ohyeah? Tell me this: who is going to argue with you if you call yourself an artist?Seriously. Who?

Maybe you’re thinking you’re not good enough at art? What does “good enough”mean? Good enough for who? I’m sure you’ve seen art that was technicallyperfect, yet didn’t evoke any real feeling in you, and you’ve seen art that wascrooked and lovely somehow, and it made your heart swell. Well -- both werepainted by artists. Minimalists are no less artists than are Realists, than areImpressionists. They are all in the creative soup, which is where you should beheading right about now.

Remember that each of us has our own taste in art, as we do in food, televisionshows, colors, clothes, or people. That doesn’t make what we don’t like “wrong”,it just isn’t our cup of tea. And I long ago learned that you simply can’t beeveryone’s cup of tea. It’s just not possible. Some things ”do it” for us, and otherthings, while good and everything, just don’t “grab us”. It will be that way withyour art, as well. Some people will be your biggest fans, while others can look atthe same painting and not “get it”.

The beautiful thing is, it doesn’t matter. Paint for yourself rather than for anyfuture audience. Paint because you need to, because it feels good to dip yourbrush in color and make bold splashes or small circles or yellow squiggles or biglips or a green sky or pugs or landscapes.



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Back when I first started painting, I was invited to an art opening at a coffee shop.A friend had convinced me to check out the place, since she thought that I mightlike to show my paintings there one day. I was so new at painting, I was pretty

sure my art wouldn’t be “good enough”. I agreed to quietly go and see. When Igot there, I was stunned to see a series of framed stick figures painted onwooden panels, hanging on all the walls. Milling about the room were dozens ofsmiling people holding wine glasses. There were also lots of red “sold” dots onthe art.

I just blinked at everything a couple times and thought maybe I could show myart here, after all. The stick-man painter called himself an artist, and he did me agreat favor that day.

I get it now: You paint to express, because you have something to say, and your

voice deserves a mode of transportation in order to express. Hop on the brushand ride.



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EFT SET-UP:

Even though I don’t feel worthy of calling myself an artist, I deeply and profoundly

love and accept myself

Even though I haven’t earned the title of artist, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I wonder who I am to call myself an artist, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Top of the Head: OMG, me? An artist? Eyebrow: that’s for “real” artists, isn’t it?

Side of the Eye: don’t you have to go to school for that?Under the Eye: I’m no artist!Under the Nose: it’s not like I’ve ever painted before! Not much, anywayChin: I’m not an artist, I’m a_____________ (teacher/mother/accountant)Collarbone: and they don’t paintUnder the Arm: I’m not an artist!


Top of the Head: who am I to call myself an artist?Eyebrow: what would people say?Side of the Eye: they would agree with me, I’m not an artistUnder the Eye: I’m not even any good at artUnder the Nose: I’m not even creative!Chin: it feels wrong to call myself an artistCollarbone: maybe I could call myself artisticUnder the Arm: maybe I could start with that


Top of the Head: I’m going to try saying itEyebrow: I’m artisticSide of the Eye: I am artisticUnder the Eye: maybe I’ll work myself up to saying artistUnder the Nose: maybe I wouldn’t recognize myselfChin: what if I called myself an artist just for fun?Collarbone: I am an artistUnder the Arm: what if it’s okay to say that?Top of the Head: I’m open to having this idea grow on me



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“I don’t know how I can call myself an artist, I only know that when I call myself

an artist, I feel authentic and at peace, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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19. I WISH I COULD PAINT

Where did we get the idea that we have to be good at painting before we even tryit?

Tappity Tap Tap . . .

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I wish I could paint instead of having a learning curve, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I wish I could paint right now and know that whatever I painted

would be good, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though I wish I could paint with confidence and skip doing it badly, I deeplyand profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I wish I was good right from the startEyebrow: wouldn’t that be nice?Side of the Eye: I sort of expect to be but it doesn’t happenUnder the Eye: I wish I could paint like I can see it in my headUnder the Nose: but it comes out differently

Chin: it comes out all wrongCollarbone: I know I haven’t painted much, but I expect more from myselfUnder the Arm: I should be good at it


Top of the Head: I hate not being good at stuffEyebrow: it makes me not want to do itSide of the Eye: it makes me not want to tryUnder the Eye: I wish I could paintUnder the Nose: I actually wish I didn’t care

Chin: it would be so nice to just paintCollarbone: and not worry about how it looksUnder the Arm: what if I paint badly on purpose?

(take a deep breath and continue)

Top of the Head: What would be so wrong with painting badly?



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Eyebrow: I wish I could paint but I’ll never get better if I don’t at least trySide of the Eye: I want to paint but I can’tUnder the Eye: it’s not even about my abilityUnder the Nose: something in me stops meChin: but I’m tired of that

Collarbone: I’m ready to tryUnder the Arm: I’m ready to have a go at itTop of the Head: I’m ready to release my old beliefs and just go for it



“I don’t know how I’ve come to see that I can paint, I only know that when I dopaint, I feel relaxed and free, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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20. OVER-THINKING You know when you drive somewhere and you’re not consciously thinking ofanything to do with driving, and you let your mind wander, then find yourselfwhere you were going? Well, that sums up what painting feels like when you letit happen. By letting painting happen, you loosen your grip on the brush, youorganically reach for the colors that work, and you allow for happy accidents tofind you. There is such freedom in letting go -- you’re making way for great art tounfold. If you think your way through it, you block the natural flow, and turn whatcould be fun into what feels like stress.

Let’s break it down. Just as in driving, where we steer more easily with a loosehold on the wheel, so it goes for the paintbrush. What is the worst thing thatcould happen when you paint? Why is a seemingly bad painting something to beso ashamed of? Once we tap down all these old messages, you’ll hopefully seethat it really isn’t.

Over-thinking can stop us before we begin. We can talk ourselves right out ofpainting, or, if we are already under way, we can stop ourselves from taking itfurther. Have you ever felt that almost child-like frustration that comes beforescrapping something? That’s usually from over-thinking something.

Getting your thoughts out of the way is the first step to allowing the flow.

Magic happens when we just paint without thought to what we’re painting. Thepainting takes over when the mind is quiet. If someone ever harped and nagged

while you painted, saying things like, “Why did you use red there?” and “Why isthat line crooked?” and “You missed a spot,” then you will not be all that eager topaint. Not because that person is still in the room, but because that person is stillin your head. That voice has been there so long, it’s turned into your own self-talk, the very basis of your over-thinking.

So how do we quiet that voice? By tapping it out and replacing it with what youwish you’d heard, instead. It’s not too late to erase the old program and makeway for inspiration.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I over-think, and it’s usually negative, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though I have a way of over-thinking until I don’t want to paint, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself



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Even myself though I over-think myself into not painting at all, I deeply andprofoundly love and acceptTop of the Head: I over-think Eyebrow: it’s usually negativeSide of the Eye: I like to think I’m just practical

Under the Eye: but honestly, it’s just me being negativeUnder the Nose: I think too much instead of just paintingChin: I wish I could be Zen about itCollarbone: but all these thoughts come into my headUnder the Arm: until it’s all I can think of


Top of the Head: I just want to paint but I talk myself out of itEyebrow: I think about not being any good at itSide of the Eye: I think that what I want to paint is stupid

Under the Eye: I think others won’t like itUnder the Nose: I think of what others might sayChin: I think of how it’ll turn outCollarbone: I over-think what colors to useUnder the Arm: I think more than I actually paint


Top of the Head: I don’t know how to shut off my thinkingEyebrow: I want to shut off my thinking while I paintSide of the Eye: what if all these thoughts are just habits?Under the Eye: what if I just let the paint happen?Under the Nose: what if I just took a back seat to the process?Chin: I’d sure like to try relaxing into itCollarbone: what if I just give myself a break and just paint?Under the Arm: I’m willing to let my thoughts come and go without resistanceTop of the Head: I’m willing to release the need to make every thought important



“I don’t know how I can shut off my mind and allow the paint to flow, I only knowthat when I paint now, I witness a painting taking shape with no interference, andI am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)




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21. I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START

Sometimes you just don’t know what to paint. Not knowing where to start canstop you in your tracks. What if you just put paint on the canvas. Any paint.Even just a light wash of solid pale blue or pink, or whatever color you choose.Putting anything down is not ruining it; it is starting. I know how it feels to look ata pristine white canvas and think that any mark you make will ruin everything. Buthonestly, it shrinks that vastness down. It makes neutral what you’ve madeoverly significant. A blank canvas is only useful as something to paint on. It iswhat it was meant to do. Start anywhere. Just start, my friend.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I don’t know where to start, I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Even though it feels like it will be ruined if I start, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even myself though I can’t seem to start, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept

Top of the Head: I don’t know where to start

Eyebrow: I think I do, then I can’t seem toSide of the Eye: I feel stuck at the place just before startingUnder the Eye: I want to start, but I can’t get goingUnder the Nose: I don’t know what to do firstChin: I might make a wrong markCollarbone: and ruin everythingUnder the Arm: I feel let down once I’ve started


Top of the Head: I wish I knew where to start

Eyebrow: If only I knew what to paintSide of the Eye: but even then, I would be afraid to make a markUnder the Eye: I’m afraid to ruin it so I don’t startUnder the Nose: I am stuck at the starting gateChin: I know it would be better to startCollarbone: maybe I can just dip my paint brush in waterUnder the Arm: maybe it doesn’t matter what color I choose



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Top of the Head: I want to paint but I’m stuckEyebrow: I want to relax but I don’t know where to startSide of the Eye: what if I paint anything?

Under the Eye: I can always paint over itUnder the Nose: it’s just paintChin: paint is very forgivingCollarbone: if I don’t like it, I can just paint something else right on top of itUnder the Arm: I am ready to release this stuck feelingTop of the Head: I just want to paint now



“I don’t know how I know exactly what to paint, I only know that I express withpaint fluidly, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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22. I USED TO PAINT, BUT… Many of us used to paint as children, and some of us took it up again at somepoint. Maybe you used to paint before your kids came along. Maybe you evenfelt good about your art. As time went on, you let it go, it went by the wayside,and now it’s one of those things you don’t think of doing anymore. Well, untilnow.

Maybe you feel it’s been too long and you no longer identify with that part ofyourself. I understand. But the fact is, you’re reading this, which makes me thinkyou’re ready to reconsider this and dust off the old paints. It’s perfectly all right topaint, even if it’s been years between your last painting and this one. You canpick up where you left off, and enjoy yourself even more because now, you arearmed with EFT, which unearths within you the luxury of freedom and fluidity in

your art. You’re going to be unencumbered of old baggage. Doesn’t that soundgood?

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I used to paint but I stopped, I deeply and profoundly love andaccept myself

Even though I used to paint but I stopped making time for it, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself

Even though I can’t remember why I stopped painting, I just don’t anymore, Ideeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I used to paint, but I stopped a long time agoEyebrow: I’m not sure why I stoppedSide of the Eye: it was quite a while agoUnder the Eye: maybe I stopped because I got busyUnder the Nose: maybe I stopped because it got hardChin: maybe I stopped because I wasn’t any goodCollarbone: it’s okay that I stoppedUnder the Arm: but maybe now I want to start again


Top of the Head: I don’t know who I am as a painter nowEyebrow: it’s been so longSide of the Eye: I’m a bit intimidated to start againUnder the Eye: I don’t know where to startUnder the Nose: I don’t have the proper supplies



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Chin: It takes commitment and I don’t have much spare timeCollarbone: I keep wanting to, thoughUnder the Arm: maybe I could paint a little


Top of the Head: I have kind of missed itEyebrow: I keep thinking I want to get back into itSide of the Eye: whenever I see a nice painting, I wish I was painting tooUnder the Eye: maybe I could start againUnder the Nose: why not?Chin: it’s not too late to startCollarbone: I can start any timeUnder the Arm: It’s never too lateTop of the Head: maybe the time is NOW



“I don’t know how I easily paint again, I only know that I have caught up with wholife has caused me to become, and that is an artist, and I am grateful andfulfilled.”(The One Command)





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23. I KEEP HEARING ________’S VOICE IN MY HEAD It can be hard to forget someone’s snide comment. After all, we likely replayed itmany times over, to the point where it stopped us from forging ahead with our art.All it takes is one comment when we are engaged in something vulnerable likecreating art. The next time you think about painting, you wilt at the sound of theirvoice in your head, and you decide not to paint. Let’s overcome this one,because it’s high time you took the reigns again.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though I keep hearing _______’s voice mocking me, I deeply andprofoundly love and accept myself.

Even though when I think about doing something new, I hear ______’s voice

saying, “Who do you think you are?” I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Even though ______’s voice drowns out my own voice, I deeply and profoundlylove and accept myself

Top of the Head: I keep hearing that voice putting me downEyebrow: it’s saying, “Who do you think you are?”Side of the Eye: every time I try new stuff, I hear itUnder the Eye: so I just don’t try too much new stuff

Under the Nose: it’s easier that wayChin: I want to paint, but then I hear _______ say, “You? Paint ?”Collarbone: I wish I could let go of that voice in my headUnder the Arm: I wish I could hear only my own voice in my head


Top of the Head: but I can just hear _______ now if I tell them I’m paintingEyebrow: maybe I won’t tell them. Maybe this is just my thingSide of the Eye: maybe it’s none of their business, like it wasn’t in the first placeUnder the Eye: maybe this can be just for me

Under the Nose: or maybe it doesn’t matter what they say this timeChin: I’m an adult and can choose for myselfCollarbone: their voice is getting dimmerUnder the Arm: maybe I can start to let it go


Top of the Head: I’ve been hearing that voice for years now



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Eyebrow: it’s just a habitSide of the Eye: it says more about them than meUnder the Eye: it’s losing its powerUnder the Nose: I have my own voice to deal withChin: I don’t need anyone else’s on top of that

Collarbone: this is my thing and nobody else’sUnder the Arm: I am ready to let go of this voiceTop of the Head: I’m releasing their voice. I no longer need to hear it.



“I don’t know how I override _______’s voice in my head, I only know that I paintwith only my own gentle thoughts now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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24. MY ART TEACHER TOLD ME… Teachers are a powerful force in our lives. Art teachers, though usually wellintentioned, may have commented the creativity right out of you. I once took apainting class that left me feeling like wilted lettuce. Gone was my bravery,replaced by a critical eye. It made me creatively constipated.

It’s okay to learn techniques, but I would encourage you to get acquainted andcomfortable with showing up and painting first. It takes courage to paint whenyou’ve been holding back. Putting a sensitive and vulnerable part of you outthere takes guts. The last thing you need is someone telling you that you need to“color inside the lines”. That’s what got you reading this book in the first place.

Art is not the place to be told what to do, at least not at first. Not until you haveyour creative armor on from having made peace with, or friends with, the canvas.

But maybe it’s past that point already, and your art teacher told you something

that you just can’t shake.

EFT SET-UP:

Even though my art teacher told me __________, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though my art teacher told me __________, I deeply and profoundly loveand accept myself

Even though my art teacher told me __________, I deeply and profoundly love

and accept myself

Top of the Head: I wish I could return to my artistic braveryEyebrow: I am afraid to lose my bravado in artSide of the Eye: I don’t want to paint stuff that doesn’t mean anything to meUnder the Eye: I don’t want to hear critiques in my head when I paintUnder the Nose: I want to paint with abandonChin: I wish I could un-hear the teacher’s wordsCollarbone: now I don’t even feel like paintingUnder the Arm: they were supposed to guide me, not squash me!


Top of the Head: the things my teacher told me took the joy right out of paintingEyebrow: it made me want to quitSide of the Eye: I never wanted to paint againUnder the Eye: I sure never wanted to show it to anyone again!Under the Nose: it wasn’t fun anymoreChin: I thought my art was fine, until that comment!



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Collarbone: now it’s all I see when I paintUnder the Arm: I keep hearing the teacher’s critique


Top of the Head: I’m not having fun like thisEyebrow: I keep thinking of what the teacher would say about this paintingSide of the Eye: it has taken the fun out of itUnder the Eye: I want to paint with freedom againUnder the Nose: I’d love to not care about what the teacher thinksChin: after all, it’s my artCollarbone: it’s my expressionUnder the Arm: I would like to release the teacher’s critiques of my workTop of the Head: I’m so ready to paint freely again and I’m open to it



“I don’t know how I’ve let go of my art teacher’s comments and critiques, I onlyknow that I paint with abandon now, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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25. MY ART GOT LAUGHED AT

This could have happened at age 6 or 26; it felt the same: lousy andembarrassing. Need I say more?

EFT SET-UP:

Even my art got made fun of, I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Even though my art got laughed at, I deeply and profoundly love and acceptmyself

Even though I did my best, and I thought it was pretty good, I still got laughed at,I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself

Top of the Head: I got laughed at when I showed my artEyebrow: I got laughed at even though I thought it was fine…pretty good, evenSide of the Eye: it was so embarrassingUnder the Eye: I don’t want to risk that againUnder the Nose: it was awfulChin: it hurt my feelingsCollarbone: I didn’t expect to be laughed at; I thought it was pretty goodUnder the Arm: but they thought it was funny


Top of the Head: I sure didn’t think soEyebrow: I felt pretty stupid after thatSide of the Eye: won’t be doing that againUnder the Eye: in fact, I don’t remember trying sinceUnder the Nose: and I sure don’t want to show it to anyone!Chin: you don’t have to tell me twice!Collarbone: mama didn’t raise a fool!Under the Arm: I’m not putting myself out there again!


Top of the Head: I’m not painting for them, but stillEyebrow: I don’t want to show anyoneSide of the Eye: in case they laughUnder the Eye: they would, you know, because they did last timeUnder the Nose: it was embarrassing, but I’ve come a long wayChin: maybe not in art, but in how I handle life



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Collarbone: what if it didn’t matter how they respond?Under the Arm: what if I paint and don’t show it?Top of the Head: what if I paint for myself?



“I don’t know how it no longer matters that my art got laughed at, I only know thatthe feeling is completely neutral now, and I can express and paintwhatever I want with ease and joy, and I am grateful and fulfilled.”(The One Command)





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PAINT FOR YOURSELF

You’ll rarely get “everyone’s” approval and it’s exhausting to try. A painting willmove a viewer for mysterious reasons. There is no accounting for what oneperson thinks is wonderful, while another just scratches their head. As artists,our creativity is unique because we are. Remember that the viewer also brings a

distinctive point of view.

Also remember that the viewer should stay out of the equation, meaning, yourmind, until your art is up on a wall somewhere. The viewer is not part of thecreative process. In fact, painting with the viewer in mind can mess with thecreative flow.

A lot of the creative blocks in this book focus on thinking that one shouldn’t darepaint because of a perceived lack of ability or “invitation” to the arts. Yet thereare those reading this right now who paint beautifully and humbly know it, andwhose paintings sell. Yet the process of painting is just no fun for them because

they are so clouded with what someone is going to think.

Just paint what you need to paint. Paint what The Muse is whispering at you topaint. Trust a painting into being. Any time you run into any limiting belief, useone of the EFT scripts in this book to tap it out. You’ll recognize a limiting beliefnot only by its density, but by the fact that it acts like judge, jury, stop light, andfire extinguisher before you ever get to painting.

Imagine if only trained and perfect dancers went to nightclubs to dance, and onlytrained and perfect bowlers went bowling. Personally, I’m glad I don’t live in aworld where I’m not allowed to be exactly where I’m at with something.

In a normal day, you may see an infant learning to roll over, a baby learning towalk, a toddler learning to run. You don’t think less of them.

Babies have to master all those things, and we honor all their stages of learningand levels of ability.

What if you allow yourself that same level of understanding? What if yougrant yourself the permission to start from exactly where you are? What if youpaint something today? I’ll hold you.

What else is possible?



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It doesn’t have to be perfect.It has to be expressed.

Life is messy, paint is messy,and all of it is yours to muck around in!

Follow Your Art!



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Artist Lucie Walker’s canvases capture moments intime, usually with a retro feel.

Deeply stirred by a recent, lengthy stay in Hawaii,

Lucie’s inner landscape is forever changed, reflectedin the happy, vibrant scenes she paints.

Sometimes painting from memories, sometimes fromphotographs; always, from the heart.

An AAMET certified EFT Practitioner, Lucie accessesher insightful intuition to accompany you to the heartof every matter with her popular Follow Your Art WithEFT workshops.

www.HappyAccidentArt.com www.RockinLifeEFT.com

To book a Follow Your Art Workshop:Contact: Lucie WalkerPh: 226-224-2076 email: [email protected]

This manual is an excerpt from the upcoming book,“Follow Your Art with EFT”by Lucie Walker. Due out in Fall 2013, available for pre-order.Discounts for bulk orders.

follow your art with efte edited 041001 by lucie walker

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