The Creative Stretch: Be Intentional

As part of the free workshop offered this week by Andrea and Minette, I did a deep dive into the meaning of the phrase “be intentional” (as it applies to me) in this season of life. And I realized my deep desire to slow down.

What normally would have been a 20-30 minute journaling session ended up being a journey I savored well over 90 minutes. As the page evolved from being a journal of my desires to becoming a smorgasbord of colors and shapes, I sat back and relished the transformation.

I looked inward and held space for my feelings. It is not easy for me to slow down. It is, in fact, very hard for me to keep pace with all the ideas buzzing around in my head all the time. If the number of hours in a day were doubled, I’d probably still be scrambling to get everything done.

But what am I missing out on when all I am doing is jumping from one thing to the other? Am I truly being present and enjoying the process? Or, after a point, am I just going through the motions?

As I did some deep breathing, I could feel a shift…a sense of relaxation. And from that point on the page became playful, exuberant and free.

Have you joined The Creative Stretch?

Published by mansimakes

Hi there, I am Mansi, a self-taught artist based in Silicon Valley. I was a full-time communications professional for two decades, with a desk job and a six-figure salary until I decided to become a mom. Motherhood, as many will attest, can be extremely exhausting, especially in those first years. Art became my quiet place. It restored my sense of self. It gave me renewed energy. It helped me become a better mom. I was led down the path of creation by instinct and “discovered“ in early 2019 by a fellow kindred spirit at one of my art pop-ups who asked me to join her entrepreneurial venture. While I immersed myself full time in the role of CFO and co-founder of this women-led venture supporting local women makers, I missed experimenting with mixed-media. So, in 2021, I've decided to focus my energies full time in finessing my craft, producing more online tutorials and offering in-person art workshops for both adults and children. Thank you for joining me on this adventure as I experiment, learn and continue creating custom pieces of joy.

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