The world is yours.

Today I didn’t plan to make any podcast, or blog post. I didn’t plan anything, actually.

This day is mine. I can do what ever I want. I really like that. But I remember for some years ago, It made me uncomfortable, I didn't like not to have a plan. I always knew what to do. I made a to do list, the night before, or even the week before. So I knew exactly what I needed to do, to reach my goal. What I wanted.

But I don’t work like that anymore. I can’t do it, I have to go with my energies. Go with the flow. So I need to become aware of what is the right action. How can I use my energies in the best possible way? In a way that I feel really empowered. Instead of feeling that I have to do this..I have this on my “to do list”, so I have to go check, check, check.

I call it the hard way, the struggle way. If I do this, it drains me. I can’t do that anymore. I go for the easy way.

Today, I was sitting in the sun enjoying a coffee on my balcony. Enjoying the moment. But to be honest, I wasn’t quite enjoying it. I was a little worried , a little doubtful…it was very subtle…like a quiet nagging feeeling. I felt I had to go to the studio. I have an upcoming exhibition, but I haven’t really been diving into the process. It’s very open still. It’s have been very open for a long time. So I thought I had to go to my studio, the whole day, and really get it going. But I felt a little resistant, not so inspired.

Actually I felt fearful and doubtful because I have this open day, and I didn’t know what to do. Eventhough I’am quite used to go with my feelings, to tap into my body, and go with my energies and what I want….Today I was just not so grounded in that. But instead of going with my fears, and what I thought I had to do…I pulled my energies within.

I go within. Collect myself. Being present in my body. Because when you are in your fear mode, you are only centered in your mind. If you take action from that place, it will be full of fear. When you are in your mind, you are always in the future or in the past, trying to fix things from that perspective. But you can’t really fix anything which is rooted in this mind based fear. So I center myself. Pull my energies inside. Filling myself up, with my own energies. Sometimes if you give yourselve away to projects, ideas, other people, and situations. You will feel totally drained, because you are not rooted in your own reality. In your body.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Alignment of energies” 70 x 100 cm. Naked heart. Swim Gallery. 2018. San Francisco. U.S.A. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

So I go within, just feeling my body. Sometimes it helps to go to my feets…when I go to my feets with my consciousness , with my thoughts….I go deep deep within. It’s grounding. I begin to relax, being still. My thoughts stops racing. In this relaxed state I start to pull my energies in.

But how do I do it? If there is a situation…for example I thought I had to go to the studio, but I didn’t felt like going. So I have given this situation a lot of energy, by thinking about it. I then take the energy back, by seeing the situation before my inner eye, taking my energies out….I always see my energy as a color. So I pull this energy out, by seeing this color leaving the situation, and taking it back within. I take it back. My energy.

It will feel very good, because it’s your energy, so it’s okay to take it back. When you are focusing on all these things outside of you, all these things you think you have to do, worrying about money, other people and their opinions, social media, projects.

Take your energy back from all this, and you will really feel how you recharge. You will feel so empowered by your own energies. When I do this little exercise, I feel really good. I’am coming back to myself. From that place I can take some action, that is rooted inside of me. From what I want, and not from worry or fear.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “My energy” 54 x 42 cm. Acrylics and paper cuts on paper. 2018. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

So I was sitting on my balcony, doing this little exercise, because I felt this doubt. Then I felt so much better, but I still didn’t know what to do today. I have a lot of options, cause I have always a lot of things going…

I went inside the apartment, and I noticed a magazine on a table. On it’s front cover it was saying “The world is yours”, with big bold letters. Wow, so strong. The world is yours, this sentence just got my energies in motion. Because it just reflected what I was at. So I grab a piece of paper, and started writing down some ideas. This sentence, and this episode/blog today I have named “The world is yours”

It’s so important, the world is not outside yourself. (It’s within. It’s my experience, you can disagree, of course.)

But I think the world is inside of you. Your world is inside of you. Everything you are experiencing in the outer world, is actually you.Your perception of the world. So, if the world is really yours…you don’t have to go out and do anything out there, that is not rooted inside of you. Because you create your outer wold inside of you. The world is yours inside of you.The world is inside of you. So start the action inside yourself, and you will see how everything will fall into place, with you taking the right action. You will feel really good.

You don’t have to worry, because you come from another place. You don’t come from fear, or doubt. You will not give all your energies away, to something outside of you. You are taking your energies back, so you can create your world from inside of you.

I noticed this sentence, and I got the spark, the energy the idea for this podcast/blog. It came from within.

I have just started this podcast, I’am usually writing here on my blog. But one day I just wanted to do something else, to shake the energies out of repeating mode. I have made 5 episodes, so far, every time reading aloud from a manuscript. Actually I wanted to speak more freely, but it was a little hard for me to keep the track. But the original idea with the podcast, was to be more direct, to be more alive. But today coming from my grounded vibrant energy, I just wrote down some notes…and spoke without the usual manuscript.

It was so freeing.( If you are only reading, try to lisen’t for a change, it will make you perceive differently. )

So to come back to the sentence “The world is yours”. You have to go within. To be centered inside. Feeling your energies. Take your energies back from the outside world. Instead of separating you and the world, you become one with the world. You are the world. The world is not separated from you. it’s in you. You have total control, because the world is inside of you. It’s you. it’s the only thing you can control, it’s you. So when the world is inside you, it’s actually very easy to be in control.

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Release" 29,7 x 21 cm. Acrylic markers on paper. 2017. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

So don’t freak out, if you don’t know what to do, or what project to work on today. Try to go within, instead of following your “to do” list. We all have all these things, we think we have to do. If you have this feeling of obligation, I have to do this, I should do that, even though you don’t really feel like it. Just try this experiment. Instead of going with this energy of fear and doubt, go within. Feel your body, feel your feets. When relaxed, take back your energy from all the things you think you have to do. From all the people you think you have to please. Take it back, and fill yourself up.

Then you will feel energized. You will feel boosted, and centered. From this place you can ask yourself. “What do I want to do”? What do I really want to do today?” Not “What do I have to do today"? It’s your world. you decide. Allow yourself to go with that energy.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Have a very nice day. :-)

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-)

Donate

Turtorials and tips
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
- Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
- Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
- Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
- Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
- Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
- Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
- Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
psycological aspects
- May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
- May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
- Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
- Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
- Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
- Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
- Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
- Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
- Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
- Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
- Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
- Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
- Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
- Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
- Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
- Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
- Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
- Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
- Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
- Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
- Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
turtorials
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
video
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

Source: www.mariejengelsvold.me

Let your heart decide.

How can you use your mind more constructively? And why is it sometimes sabotaging your creative process? Your joy and playfulness?

It's about knowing who is in charge. Very often we let our minds control it all. But in reality, it just needs to be used to back up your own creative power, that is centered in your heart. You must let your heart decide. And this is where we often stumble. Our brains and control mechanisme are so trained to step in, sabotaging our process, making us doubt, making us feel we are not good enough.

In your creative process, the brain should not be allowed to control. Here it can only be used for practical purposes. And to set the framework for the process.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “My heart, my soul” Yarn, photo, wood. 2020.

The most important thing is to allow yourself. You have to take the lead, and tell your mind to let go as long as the creative process is in progress. When you have told the mind what to do, it calms down. Show it that you are in control. It’s you. You are acting from your core. Supported by your heart and feelings. You decide. Only you. You have to be very clear about that. If you want to express yourself from that inner wholeness and excitement. That feeling of aliveness. You can’t play any mindgames. There are no room for fear. You can’t allow any kind of fear.

Marie J.Engelsvold. Sculpture play in local park. 2020

When you listen to your heart and your body you are grounded.

You could also say that when you operate from the heart, you are grounded in yourself and your emotions. You take your own feelings seriously, you take your own inner experiences more seriously than your external world. You believe in yourself.

When I am grounded, I am present with myself. I listen to my body, my heart, my inner child, my higher mind. Not fear, not worry. Not the things that everyone else tells me is the right way. It is only me who knows what makes me present, and at peace. It's about trust. It is about trusting oneself. Then I'm grounded. It has nothing to do with how busy I am with the materialistic world. It has nothing to do with how big an income I have.

It has to do with how willing I am to be my own leader. Be my own guide. To take ownership of my life, and listen to my own needs and what I really need. Taking care of myself. Defend myself. Being whole and honoring all my aspects. That is, dare to change direction.

It's not like standing in the same place all your life, like a rock. I'm not a rock. It is to be open and to dare taking risks. To play with life. Life can be an adventure if you trust it. When we have no confidence, when we worry, we tend not taking risks. We do not go out of our own comfort zone. We remain limited, because the slightest movement from what we are used to is making us afraid.

You must be rooted in your own reality.

It is the only reality you are meant to be in. There is no reality outside of yourself, everything is a mirror of you. Because you can only experience reality through you.

We all have our own unique way of interpreting our reality. We can be in the same place, we can maybe do the same things, meet the same people. But our experiences is completely different, or more accurately, our emotions are different. What we notice is different. Our inner experience is completely different. We may agree that the grass is green, but the emotions around the grass are different. We have different memories when we see grass. When we smell grass.

When I’m not grounded, I tend to live in a limited version of myself. I'm not really in touch with everything I am. With my wholeness. My core. I tend to live only on what I accept in myself. Because of this, I become very vulnerable. I become very unstable. I'm not really comfortable with my own diversity. Sometimes it feels like I'm afraid of myself. Because I don't feel safe, I don't feel like I can trust who I am.

When you're only in the mental, it's a way to keep track of yourself. You control yourself. It's not a nice place to be. Constant concern. Comparison. Self-criticism. Selvsabortage. You are not supportive of yourself because you are not listening to yourself. You do not feel your feelings. You are only focused on the outside world. Of what you should be. Who you should be. You live in a mental picture. The key is to listen to your feelings. Thrust in yourself. Listen to your body, what does your body want? What do you really want? When you honor your feelings, you are grounded.

When I feel at peace, I can feel this grounded feeling in myself. It's like my roots are very stable. At the same time, I am moving. Constant movement. Constant in deep, intimate contact with my emotions, in every moment. It makes me more curious, more spontaneous and more alive. When I am alive, I am very alert and very grounded.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Heart home” 78 x 44 x 3 cm. Wood, foam, textile, yarn. 2019. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

It's about finding and keeping your own flow.

I have experienced that you get so much more done if you go with the energy. It may look chaotic at the moment, and for some time. But you expand yourself in ways that are not possible if you limit yourself. Or stick to a fixed defintion, and go into automatic pilot. You can actually get stuck for years this way.

Instead, follow your feelings and sensations, even if you do not know where they are leading you. If you just do things because you have planned it and feel obligated to maintain your intention, you will experience being very heavy. It will be boring, and will drain you, instead of lifting you up.

Why spend your time that way? Why not ask yourself what you want to do instead? Maybe you need a break.? Maybe a walk in the park will make you more inspired. Maybe it's your surroundings? Or you need to talk to someone? Sleep? You may be tired? Maybe the whole project is wrong? Maybe your relationship is draining, and negatively affecting you? Maybe your whole project, or your work, is not what you really dream of?

Marie J.Engelsvold. “New pattern” 15 x 10,5 cm. Yarn, paper cuts, acrylic marker and pencil on paper. 2017. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

Only you know it. No one but you.

How easy can it be? Why fight and make it tough? If you follow your desire, the place where you feel lifted, go in that direction. If you feel heavy and drawn down by something, or someone, leave it. Go in a different direction, and most importantly, nourish the feeling of excitement and play.

Perform the activities that make you happy. Don't think about the result, just absorb yourself into the activity. What makes you happy and excited? You will attract more happiness into your life the more you allow yourself to go with your energy. Why go against your own energy?

It all depends on your willingness to listen to your heart. To listen to your own truth, your own voice. Because you have to follow your flow, you don't have to follow other people's definition of flow, or your own definition. When you try to make a definition, it is your mental control that tries to settle. It loves recipes, so we can say "Then we do this"

That's what we're up against. Our need to make recipes and then keep repeating the same acts. And why do we need the repetition? because we feel fear.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Nature nurture” Photo. 2019.

You cannot stop the power, from your deepest desire in your heart. Sometimes we ignore this heavy feeling, we go against our own power, our own life force. Because we get scared to go with the flow. You need to float. But most of us don't like to float, letting go of our beliefs.

We get so scared of this force because it is actually a huge force. So we fight it. But the power of our deepest desires from our hearts cannot be ignored. At some point it will force you down the river. But this is only if you have completely ignored your own inner guidance, your inner voice. Because if you're used to shutting down the energy and putting it in a box, making it into a fixed recipe, you can't feel your flow. You cannot feel your heart. You've shut your heart down.

To follow your flow, you have to be open to all possibilities. It can be hard work to begin with, because we are so used to holding on to energy all the time.

Very often we lie to ourselves, we say, "Oh, I'm so happy about what I'm doing," even if we're not. Or we say, "Of course there are a lot of boring things, but that's life." Frankly speaking? When something is boring, it is actually a sign that we are not in our flow. We are moving against our own flow.

The heart is not interested in settling down.

I am coming to the conclusion that it has something to do with the heart. The heart is not interested in settling down, sticking to one thing being so bored. The heart is not interested in hard work. The heart is not serious. The heart is not interested in being wise and skilled. The heart is only interested in love. To love and be happy. The feeling of being light or heavy comes from the heart. It is a kind of heart language. It is not interested in having status in the community. It is not interested in putting things in boxes and categorizing things. It's only interested in how it feels. And wow! Isn't that so? You can make all the right choices from the outside, but if it doesn't feel right, it doesn't matter.

So listening to your emotions is the key to getting into your flow. Not other people's definition of happiness and success, but your own. So maybe that's why we're having a hard time being in flow? Very often the heart wants something completely different from our ego. It does not accept that you are lying to yourself. It does not accept pride, or status. It is not afraid of other people's opinions.

So if you are someone who has never really fit into a category. If you've done most things just because you wanted to. Could it be you have an open heart?

But it is not easy. Other people may not like your way of life. Why? Because it goes against the norm. You make other people uncomfortable. We have learned to shut our hearts down, not to listen to our feelings. We live in a society that loves hardworking skilled people who are bored to death. Fear is the weapon.

Maybe because of that, we think it is bad to change direction. Being open to all possibilities. To listen to one's own feelings, and follow one's own guidance. To live life the way we want. Be happy and feel alive. To be blown away by energy, excitement and love. Can you tame such people? No. You can't scare free people. You can only be in the flow if you listen to your own feelings and act on what you feel is right.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Inner knowing” Paper cuts, acrylic marker and pencil on paper. 2019. For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

You have to follow your emotions without seeing the whole picture. Yes, the emotions can change. Like the wind, like the waves. But it's only on the surface, down in the depths, it's your heart that decides. That's your captain. The ripples on the surface are the captain's messages. The messages from the heart that you can follow. You have to follow your emotions without seeing the whole picture. the direction appears to you little by little.

You might think it has nothing to do with creativity or being an artist. But if you're not free, you can't really create. That's my experience.

Use your mental skills to support your heart and flow.

In our society, it is often our brains and mental abilities that get overstimulated. We are generally very good at planning and structuring. But whay about playtime and the deeper meaning ? What about feeling alive? If we have to express ourselves. Our whole self. We have to be in balance between the heart and the brain. So we must spend extra time and attention on the ability that is under-stimulated, which is typically our ability to play, and follow our heart.

When you are in the creative process it is an interaction where you use your two abilities alternately. It happens completely automatically, but often the brain begins to interfere in the process and begins to sabotage, control and judge. Instead, use what your mental abilities in a constructive way. You need its ability to control and discipline, to support your own creative power. To define the space in which you can create. So you decide that now you want to play. You set the time and the framework, which of course must be allowed to be changed along the way.

But in the beginning you will feel most comfortable with having the framework of the process decided. For you are probably very good at following rules. So here you make your own rules, which you then follow.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Green portal” in the making. 2019.

Make a plan around the process.

It is a good idea to start with a plan around your process. For example, start by setting a stopwatch for 20 minutes. In the 20 minutes you do exactly what you want. Your brain sets the frame, but in the process itself, it must not interfere. If your thoughts go in and analyze, evaluate or judge, you must shut it down. Show you are in charge. If it is very provocative, then start with 10 minutes, next time 20 minutes. Practice how long you can stay in the process. How long can you be present in the flow?

But how do we create and maintain the flow?

And how do we shut down the comments, sabotage, and self-criticism of our minds? Very often, our minds /reason thinks it knows best. It will come with rules, and opinions and comparisons.

We have learned a lot of things about being creative and there are a lot of rules. But being creative is actually about breaking rules. To shift out of the black and white mindset, the notion of something being right and wrong. We have to empty ourselves of all that we have learned, to start from scratch. To create without judging. To be able to step into the present.

To make contact with the deeper layers of ourselves that scream to be expressed. Create a space around you where everything is allowed, and measure your success on how free you felt.

Remember to be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to play. Be curious about the process. When the time is out, you can go back being mental. Look at what you have done.

It doesn't have to be a long process and be careful not to get into self-criticism and start judging your work. Unfortunately, this is often what happens when we are coming from the mind , we are sabortaging ourselves. The brain generally wants a result reasonably quickly. It becomes uncertain in a long process, and does not understand the meaning of surrendering and letting go of control.

Try to pay attention when you are self-sabortaging. What can you do when that happens? Breathe all the way down to your stomach 3 times. Tell yourself and your brain that it's okay to be insecure. Accept the feelings that come up. Tell yourself that you are in a creative process, and it is normal to get scared. Tell yourself that you are in control.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “green portal ll” 84 x 54 cm. Pencil, textile, foam, paper cuts and acrylic marker on paper. 2019.For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold. — Marie J.Engelsvold. “green portal ll” 84 x 54 cm. Pencil, textile, foam, paper cuts and acrylic marker on paper. 2019.
For purchase. Contact: Marie J.Engelsvold.

Once you have reassured yourself, you go on to make your decision on how to move forward. Sometimes you have more ideas on how to proceed, and may have difficulty choosing. Write down all your suggestions on a piece of paper and select one of them. You may want to use the other suggestions later or in another process.

Primarily if you have any doubts, use your instinct. The most important thing, is to get past the doubt. When your mind is going in circles, then act. For everything you need happens in the process, you can't figure it out in advance. So embrace the process and don't be afraid because you have no control about the outcome. Trust your knowing in your heart. Trust your feelings and you will be safe.

If you want some more tips on how to silent your mind, and your inner critic read this previous blogpost:

What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-)

Donate

Turtorials and tips
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level. May 15, 2019
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out. Apr 30, 2019
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis. Apr 6, 2019
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process?? Mar 8, 2019
- Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition? Feb 13, 2018
- Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart. Jan 8, 2018
- Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger. Nov 20, 2017
- Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about? Nov 8, 2017
- Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!! Oct 31, 2017
- Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere. Oct 12, 2017
- Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines. Oct 12, 2017
- Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ? Oct 12, 2017
psycological aspects
- May 26, 2020 Holding your flow. May 26, 2020
- May 6, 2020 The world is yours. May 6, 2020
- Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide. Apr 22, 2020
- Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self. Apr 18, 2020
- Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature. Apr 4, 2020
- Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective. Oct 9, 2019
- Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded? Sep 20, 2019
- Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow. Sep 10, 2019
- Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment. Jul 28, 2019
- Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control. Jul 15, 2019
- Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process. Jun 1, 2019
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making. Apr 1, 2019
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream. Feb 20, 2019
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves? Feb 10, 2019
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO. Feb 1, 2019
- Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-) Jan 2, 2019
- Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures. Nov 22, 2018
- Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process? Feb 2, 2018
- Dec 20, 2017 Slow down Dec 20, 2017
- Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way. Dec 12, 2017
- Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn. Dec 5, 2017
- Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide. Oct 12, 2017
- Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-) Sep 5, 2017
- Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings Sep 5, 2017
- Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation? Sep 5, 2017
turtorials
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis. Apr 6, 2019
video
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level. May 15, 2019
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out. Apr 30, 2019
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making. Apr 1, 2019
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process?? Mar 8, 2019
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream. Feb 20, 2019
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves? Feb 10, 2019
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO. Feb 1, 2019

Source: www.mariejengelsvold.me

How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.

1) How to connect with your feelings, and feel them instead of being mental about it.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

Take a look at my video, where you can follow my own process while you lisen’t to my experiences. Or you can just read the blog post instead.

There is another layer to the topic I talked about in my last video. “What to do if you get stocked in the creative process.”

When we begin to criticize and judge ourselves, it’s because we are too much in our heads. We don’t now how to be present with ourselves. Because it can be hurtful to embrace all our feelings.

To be free in the creative process and in life, it’s so important to be present. And to be present you must connect with your heart and body. But why is it so difficult?? and so much easier to go to the head and be mental about it. I woke up last night, and was feeling really pain. And these words came to me “ You go to your head when your heart hurts”. We want to be happy and positive, and then it’s easier to suppress all the negative emotions. But the feelings don’t go away when you try to ignore them, they stay and they build up.

So to be present with yourself, it’s about being present with everything inside of you. Also the stuff thats hurts.

What to do??

My process. here I start with painting the paper black. I always start with a white paper, but felt like doing the opposite would balance the energies.

You have to go down in the deepht of yourselves, to say hallo to that part of you which is in the dark bottom of that hole. To accept it, and get it back up. Don’t begin to analyze it, or judge if the feeling is going to be there or not, if it’s good or bad. Just feel whatever is inside of you. In the beginning it can be a little frightening, to go down there, if you are not used to confront it. And you sometimes need to stay for a while, to acknowledge these dark feelings. To be there in the darkness for your lost friend. To give comfort, and acceptance to that feeling.

When I was a child, I sometimes felt it was not okay to be sad, to be angry to be grieving. My mother said, you just put yourself togheter now, and up on that horse again. You know you will soon forget all this. But then you just put that lid on, and that feeling will not be allowed it’s space.

Sometimes it can also happen that you are too long in that dark hole with your friend. That you just fall into total hopelessness and despair, even getting totally knocked out. Maybe you don’t accept and really getting yourself the comfort you need? We can be sad and angry, but if we at the same time feel that it’s wrong to have these feelings, they won’t go away. It’s really about owning these feelings, and comfort yourself as you would to a child.

When you have tried it just once, and being abel to stay with your feelings, and drag it up in the light with you, you don’t have to stay so long each time. Imagine there is a trampoline down there, and you just can jump up and down, in a balanced movement between the light and the dark. Because we are both. We can’t just be happy and light all the time.

I think thats why we are so afraid to get down there, because we never really learned how to get up. To get up renewed and full of new energy and wholeness. Just because you allowed yourself to feel, to let yourself be you. To accept all of yourself. It’s a very small act, but it’s not easy. Instinctively we tend to escape from all that hurts. All it really takes is to sit quiet for a moment with yourself.

Marie J.Engelsvold. My process: Working with Molotow acrylic markers and paper cuts.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

To be abel to stay present with all these feelings, it helps to release them through your creations. It helps to put them out on that paper, or any other medium you prefer. I just use the drawing as an example of an easy way to create without having to think too much about space and time and other practical things. The most important thing is to get started, to release the energy because it will help you to drag yourself out of that hole. And when you start it will develop in it’s own pace. You will by following your own guidance end up doing what will be the most beneficial way to express your uniqueness.

You can’t follow a must, a mental plan or an idea.

You can’t do it because you think you have to, you have to do it because you want to do it. But sometimes you can’t feel what you want, because you are so used to do what you have to do. Or what you think you have to do. When do you really ask yourself what you truly want from your heart?? If there was no limits?? Let your heart fly. Don’t plan it, do it and let it grow. Do just something a little thing you want to do. Then you will feel the energy, you will fell happier and it will grow in you. And it will grow out of you.

The more I dare to be in that space with my art, the more free I become. Drop the rules. Drop the limitations. It is all mental, it’s not you.

Every time you can drag yourself out of that hole, you will get more fearless. You will not be so afraid of the darkness in you, because you trust yourself to come up again every time. And not just up again being the same. No, you bring up new energy, from all the things you have accepted in yourself, and all the things you have let go of. The false notions, and limitations you have put onto yourself.

So don’t be afraid of going to your heart to feel all the hurt, the sorrow the anger and the abandonment. You have to do it, to set yourself free. To be free to express yourself, in all your true colors.

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Coming out” 29,7 x 42 cm. 2019

Here is a little tip.

Take a paper, and some drawing materials, paint what ever you want.

Then just start. Don’t have any agenda. Not thinking of a result. Just

try to empty yourself out on that paper.

Fell whatever is coming up. Allow whatever is coming out.

Don’t judge if it’s good or bad, ugly or beautiful.

Just let it be raw and what it is.

Create from a non judgment place, a no critic place.

Go with your nudges.

Hope this helped you. I wish you a very nice day, a day where you allow yourself to be present with all your feelings, and say it’s okay.

I’am teaching in “how you can free yourself in the creative process”, go to workshops, to read about my courses and workshops. Next ones is in Mai 2019.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

Donate

Turtorials and tips
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
- Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
- Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
- Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
- Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
- Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
- Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
- Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
psycological aspects
- May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
- May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
- Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
- Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
- Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
- Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
- Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
- Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
- Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
- Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
- Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
- Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
- Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
- Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
- Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
- Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
- Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
- Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
- Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
- Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
- Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
turtorials
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
video
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

Source: www.mariejengelsvold.me

Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.

Not expecting anything. Not wanting any specific result. Not waiting to arrive to a certain destination. You know very often we say, when I have done this and this, then I will just have fun. We think that we have to deserve it. First work and then play. We have learned to struggle and to fight our ways through life. To be strong. To tame ourselves. We make “to do” lists. We have so may goals. But what when we get there? Is it worth it? I think to be present in the creative process, is a kind of learning how to live moment to moment. To learn to be in peace and harmony with yourself, eventhough your outer circumstances is chaotic. Allowing yourself to be you. That all about you is okay. That is your reward. That is your freedom.

Sculpture experiments, from my own process.

Yesterday I had a day in my studio, where I didn’t come to any solutions. I played around with a sculpture the whole day, but it didn’t fall into place. It didn’t click. I’am learning all the time, and normally I would be a little unsatisfied with myself. But yesterday I was so happy on my way home. Because I had really had fun, and I had this knowing that everything will fall into place. The energy from the day was still in my body the whole evening.

The feeling of flow comes when what you are doing, is in harmony with where you are.

So I’am learning to enjoy the yourney, to relax in knowing that I can create more courageous, if I don’t fix my mind on a specific goal.

But I think the reason why we resist the moment, resist o be present, is that it triggers all our emotions. Because to be in the process is not just bliss all the time, you will meet all parts of yourself.

How do you forget the result ??

When we think of a result, it is often a mental picture of what we want. So instead of the mental picture, go for the flow feeling instead. The feeling of flow comes when what you are doing, is in harmony with where you are. For example, if you are sad, use that feeling and express it, instead of suppressing it, because you think you have to be happy. Every time you suppress an emotion, it builds up, and it takes a lot of energy. If you keep suppressing these more negative emotions you will eventually run out of space. Your body will be full. All the emotions will come to the surface, and you might get a serious breakdown. So release the feelings instead, allow them to be felt, express them in your art. Soon you will feel relieved because you are getting in touch with new aspects of yourself. Relieved because you have more energy, and more space inside of you..

Marie J.Engelsvold. “Don’t resist the moment.” Acrylics, pencil and paper cuts on paper. 30 x 30 cm. 2019

How do we go from the expectation to the dream ??

So one of the biggest challenges is to let go of the expectations of the result. If we always have a goal in mind, it is as if we are starting to hurry, and we reject everything that does not look like something that can lead to our goals.

Often the inner critic begins to beat us up. We begin to sabotage ourselves. It is not good enough. We try again and again, to get to the desired result but we fail. Sometimes we actually succeeds, and the result is satisfying. But often we have to cross both arms and teeth to get there. We can also have learned a lot of techniques, so everything we do looks okay, it is actually really nice and tidy and people like what we do. But you may not be completely happy, and you are dreaming of something else.

The dream you feel, is not the expectation. The expectation is that mental picture you have of yourself, that you have to feel and be a certain way. The mental picture of your outcome. The expectations will always get disappointed, and you begin to judge yourself if it is not met. So drop that mental picture, The dream cannot die. The dream is the one you think is unrealistic, the one that can't be done. The one who is only possible if you had lots of time and money and courage. But it is the dream that makes your heart beat, the dream that gives your life direction, and the dream which nourishes the flame in your passion. But how do we go from the expectation to the dream ?? It's a bit like the same mechanism as when we switch from the left side to the right side of the brain. And the harmony when we get all our parts to play together. I'm talking about the same thing, just in different ways. Because we constantly run into the same problems, but because the situation changes, we do not see it.

In the creative processes, you meet yourself head on.

The first thing you have to do is forget the result, go into the process, be present in the process and don't think about the end result. The dream is now, it’s not a destination. If you build a lot of expectations around the dream, the dream cannot come into your present reality. The dream is not a picture, it’s alive. That is what is the adventure, to enter into the unknown.

These are the same mechanisms as in your life, if you are afraid of the unknown (and we are all to a lesser extent), then you cannot be present in your life. So that's why I say that in the creative processes, you meet yourself head on. And if you dare to go into the eye of the storm, you can free yourself from your limitations and learn to accept and love yourself in your wholeness. Without cutting pieces of yourself out. This is also why we have such a hard time being present in the process, and accepting our own self-expression because we meet ourselves all the time. And we all have parts we don't like and don't accept. So the expectation of the result is also the expectation of yourself.

When you expect things from yourself and other people, you also judge if your expectations is not met. If you judge yourself, you tell yourself that you are not good enough. You do not accept yourself as you are, but only as the image of how you want yourself to be.

Release the expectations on how to get there, and surrender to the journey.

So when I say, go into the process and forget about the result, it sounds very easy. But it's not easy, it's really challenging for most of us. And so, it is something you learn gradually.

I, myself have been a visual artist for 20 years, and of course I also love to be in the process when I am in flow. And I think that is why I became an artist. When I was very young, I discovered that I could disappear from the world and go into my own dream. I could come in a state of true presence and joy. That is the flow. Forgetting time and place, being fully present in what you do. That is the price. And then you have arrived. When you live the dream, the dream is all there. Allow yourself to dream big, and allow yourself to trust it. But the dream becomes reality only when you follow your inner voice and allow yourself to rely on the process.

You still can't figure out how to get there ?? Take the first step, and that is your creative passion. You must turn on the spark, before you can burn. Release the expectations on how to get there, and surrender to the journey. And if your dream is more time to be creative and express yourself, take that time. Start with what you can today, and then expand slowly.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

Donate

Turtorials and tips
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
- Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
- Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
- Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
- Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
- Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
- Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
- Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
psycological aspects
- May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
- May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
- Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
- Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
- Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
- Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
- Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
- Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
- Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
- Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
- Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
- Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
- Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
- Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
- Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
- Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
- Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
- Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
- Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
- Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
- Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
turtorials
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
video
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

Source: www.mariejengelsvold.me

Want to find your own visual language ?

What is a visual language? You know, when you look at an artwork, and immidiately recognizing the artist? That is because it's an artwork, with a strong personal signature.

The visual language is the way you compose your artwork, the use of colors and shapes. How hard you press the pencil against the paper. Do you like a lot of details? or do you prefer big simpel shapes? All the elements in your drawings, are like the letters in an alphabet. When you have found your visual alphabet, there are endless possibilities on how to combine the elements, so don't think that you have to draw the same all the time. The way you combine the elements (letters in your visual alphabet) is the language. Actually one of the signs that you have found your own language, is that it allows you to dig deeper. Because your are narrowing down the spand of options, according to choice. And the deeper you go, the more you go into details, the more you will be open to the possibilities in the process. Another important thing to be aware of, if you want to attain your own unique signature, is to connect with your feelings. To create artwork which have a true voice. To create out of a need, to express something which is important to you. In my blog "Drawings from within," this will be my main focus. At the same time it will ressonate with all parts of you, and have a truly unique and authentic quality. You only find your visual language through praxis, create everyday or as often as possible, and you will slowly find your own unique expression.

**Marie J.Engelsvold. “Transformation of system” Acrylic tusch and papercuts on paper. 29,7 x 21 cm. 2015**

How to start?

1: Find your tools. Which kind of tools do you like??

I prefer acrylic markers (molotow) as my main tool, but like to combine them with more or less anything else:-), pencils, papercuts, watercoulour, textiles, yarn.....When I talk about drawings, I’am very broad in my definition, it could be anything on paper, actually.
Get your hands on a lot of different tools, and try them out. Or look at drawings you like, which tools are used? Maybee you want to combine different kinds of tools.? Like pencil togheter with crayons, or watercolor in combination with chalks?? Goache, color pencils and pen?? Or maybee just a pen in red??
As a start I will suggest you draw on relatively thick paper, like 220 gram. In that way you can keep on working, whitout everything falls into pieces.

Find a space

What I love most about drawing is how easy it is to find the time and space.

First of all you don’t need a big space, a studio or a lot of free time. You can begin to draw eventhough you have a full time job. In the beginning you can use a sketchbook, of quality paper.

The best option is to find a time in the day or evening, where you can be alone, somewhere with a table and a good workchair. If that’s not possible – you can use your transport time plugging some relaxing music in your ears to create a private space.
Another option is to go out in nature, a park, by the sea, your garden …or another outdoor place you like, and where you can sit by your self.

Use at least ½ an hour, 1 hour is better….or if possible longer spand of time. It’s not nice to have to look at your watch all the time, which gives a lot of tension and stress.

Spend some time to relax before you start, feel your body, take a deep breeth. And just think about having a joyful relaxing time for yourself. Look at this as a kind of meditation, where you are creating at the same time.

Try to find some time for drawing every day, it will make you more committed, and you will amaze yourself with your own progress, making it evenmore worthfull and fulfilling.

So why not start today?:-)

Can drawing be a kind of meditation?

To draw is for me a kind of meditation, it’s a way to stay in deeper contact with my inner space. I don’t plan anything, I just start. Sometimes it can be kind of scary, the white paper, and the sense of loosing control. But I know the feeling, and know that the scary feeling will turn into a fantastic feeling of joy and freedom. I just have to keep on drawing, and something unknown an magical will happen.

When I meditate, I come into another state of mind, and it's the same for me when I'am in the creative flow. I totally forget time and place, and I'am deeply focused in the present moment, feeling at peace and excited at the same time.

The energy of the creative process:

I also experience that the work I create when I'am in the flow, are more unique and have a special feeling connected to it. These works tends to make me excited, mirroring the same feelings I had when I created it. Eventhough I was kind of miserable before I started to draw, the whole process of creating often lifts my energy. I don't know if it's true, but maybe it doesn't matter as much how an artwork looks like, but as important the energy that is attached to it.? The energy of the creative process. For me it makes sense, because when I do some drawings or other artworks while I'am totally disconnected from the process, they will never have the same attraction. They might look bright and have a beautiful design, but they will not ressonate with my feelings.

Very often the drawings made in the meditated state, is the drawings that I can’t really make sense of, when they are done. My rational mind can't make sense of them, but it doesn't matter because they makes me smile:-)

This summer I made a whole little collection of drawings. Here are two of them. Have a look:-)

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Dancing chair" 29,7 x 21 cm.Acrylic markers on paper. 2017

Marie J.Engelsvold. "Release" 29,7 x 21 cm. Acrylic markers on paper. 2017

Turtorials and tips
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 13, 2018 How do you work with composition?
- Jan 8, 2018 Make a kickstart.
- Nov 20, 2017 Go bigger.
- Nov 8, 2017 What is your drawings all about?
- Oct 31, 2017 Wait!! Before you throw that drawing in the bin!!!!!
- Oct 12, 2017 Find inspiration everywhere.
- Oct 12, 2017 Experiment with shapes and lines.
- Oct 12, 2017 Want to find your own visual language ?
psycological aspects
- May 26, 2020 Holding your flow.
- May 6, 2020 The world is yours.
- Apr 22, 2020 Let your heart decide.
- Apr 18, 2020 Create from your self.
- Apr 4, 2020 Expand your own signature.
- Oct 9, 2019 How to shift out of the 3d perspective.
- Sep 20, 2019 What is it, to be grounded?
- Sep 10, 2019 How to follow your own flow.
- Jul 28, 2019 Releasing your resistance to the moment.
- Jul 15, 2019 Don't wait for life to be perfect, let go of control.
- Jun 1, 2019 How to raise your vibration, through the creative process.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.
- Jan 2, 2019 Let yourself shine in 2019 :-)
- Nov 22, 2018 Look at your obstacles as adventures.
- Feb 2, 2018 How to stay in the process?
- Dec 20, 2017 Slow down
- Dec 12, 2017 There is no "right" way.
- Dec 5, 2017 Why it's important to unlearn.
- Oct 12, 2017 Let your feelings be your guide.
- Sep 5, 2017 Don't be afraid of change:-)
- Sep 5, 2017 Express your feelings
- Sep 5, 2017 Can drawing be a kind of meditation?
turtorials
- Apr 6, 2019 How to start your drawing praxis.
video
- May 15, 2019 How to take your drawings, to the next level.
- Apr 30, 2019 Be bold, let your light out.
- Apr 1, 2019 How embracing all parts of you, will help you in your art making.
- Mar 8, 2019 What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??
- Feb 20, 2019 Don’t resist the moment. Live your dream.
- Feb 10, 2019 Why are we so hard on ourselves?
- Feb 1, 2019 It's okay to say NO.

Source: www.mariejengelsvold.me

When you listen to your heart and your body you are grounded.

You must be rooted in your own reality.

It's about finding and keeping your own flow.

The heart is not interested in settling down.

Make a plan around the process.

But how do we create and maintain the flow?

What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??﻿

1) How to connect with your feelings, and feel them instead of being mental about it.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

2) How it will help you to stay present in the creative process.

Here is a little tip.

Take a paper, and some drawing materials, paint what ever you want.

Then just start. Don’t have any agenda. Not thinking of a result. Just

try to empty yourself out on that paper.

Fell whatever is coming up. Allow whatever is coming out.

Don’t judge if it’s good or bad, ugly or beautiful.

Just let it be raw and what it is.

Create from a non judgment place, a no critic place.

Go with your nudges.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

The feeling of flow comes when what you are doing, is in harmony with where you are.

How do we go from the expectation to the dream ??

In the creative processes, you meet yourself head on.

Release the expectations on how to get there, and surrender to the journey.

I’am sharing this information to you freely, from my own experiences. Hope you can use it in your own process. Any donation, is deeply appreciated. :-))

What to do when you are stucked in the creative process??