Have you ever seen yourself as a work in progress, or someone who was built on conditions outside of yourself? Have you attended to this external self-construct—tediously, or as an automaton—working round and round in response to the expectation of who you think you should be? These questions are explored in the performative burning of the fifth Timberella in the series Girl in the Woods.
My Story
I experienced these questions for the longest time, and it was like shouldering a huge burden. I realized how ridiculous it was, tending constantly to the minutia editing of my personal story lines.
Yoga philosophy awakened me to the understanding that I had built a shrine to the stories I had of myself -- stories good and bad—they were stories, and a tending-to that repeated in an endless loop through the various seasons and chapters of my life. I was unsettled because I knew they weren’t quite aligned with the True Nature of myself.
Catharsis At The Crash Site | Jodi Rose Gonzales
Mindfulness taught me to look at myself objectively from every angle. I noticed my flaws with self-acceptance. I appreciated the challenges I’ve overcome. I respected my strengths and values…and there came a time to let the stories of myself go. I said, “Self, I forgive you.”
I forgive you for your failures. I forgive you for your self-destruction. I forgive you for striving to be someone you though you should be, based on someone else’s labels and definitions, and I forgive you for critically corralling yourself into an idea called “me.”
Want to read this uplifting story in its entirety? Get there parables HERE.
ART & JOURNAL Prompts
Here are questions for consideration:
· Do you hold beliefs that you’re not enough?
· Does your inner critic keep you stuck?
· Do you feel like you’re living your life for someone else, or that conditions outside of yourself define how you live your life?
· What kind of encouragement or support would help you redefine your self-image?
ART PROMPTS: Set the intention of letting go by writing these words at the top of your journal page. Create an image of the first thing that comes to your mind. Journal with the image/object, asking: What wisdom does it have to share? What 1-3 specific actions can you take to let go of your limiting beliefs? Finally, ask the artwork: Does it have anything else to share? Answer these questions with your non-dominant hand.
Timberella 5 | Fine Art Print
Collect an inspiring image of Timberella for your office, studio or home! Images are printed on high quality archival paper, available in standard sizes for easy framing to match your decor.
SHOP PRINTS HERE
After the fire: On Letting Go
Now, I am free. When it came time to watch the old patterns of myself fall away, it was actually joyful—to see myself come into focus not by forcing or trying, but by allowing my story lines to fall away.
In peace, I understand now more than ever: the parts of ourselves we call our “shadow” are just left-behind imprints, frozen in yesterday’s stories about ourselves.
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Jodi Rose Gonzales ATR, NCC, ERYT, YACEP was recently celebrated in Times Square as the International Association of Top Professional’s Global Impact Artist of the Year. She is an artist, art therapist, author and yoga teacher who inspires her audiences through art and teachings intended to spread more hope and healing throughout the world. Get a FREE copy of the Girl in the Woods Parables, which explore the wisdom teachings associated with each of the six Timberellas, HERE.