When we can’t let go of our past, old relationships, repetitive thoughts, and self-limiting beliefs, we struggle. Too painful to deal with, we often put things on mental shelves in a dark, dark closet. Distracting ourselves or dissociating to remain functional day-to-day, we move on.

Yet moving on isn’t moving forward. It means carrying invisible burdens as we move unconsciously through life. That’s right, 95% of our actions stem from our subconscious mind. What we’ve hidden from, it’s in the driver’s seat. While insisting that we’re over it, our life quite visibly disagrees as those burdens impact all we say, think, and do. 

Eventually though, that dark shelf collapses. We notice feelings of unease. Unhappiness. Being unfulfilled, feeling lost, alone, or numb. Intuition whispers, “pay attention,” as our hearts plead, “let it go.”

Letting go comes in many shapes and sizes. Art-making offers a fun and freeing way to get there. Using intuitive painting techniques that anyone can do, it’s a practice of letting go on the canvas. Releasing perfection, lost in color. Releasing overthinking, lost in the flow. Releasing all that’s holding us back, lost in the wonder of co-creation. 

Our creative sides, our right brains, are so underused. This makes for a clean and open path to higher consciousness. Integrating mind, body, and spirit practices with art medicine (aka play) we clear burdens from the rear-view mirror of our minds. By letting go on the canvas we ignite new energies of acceptance, growth, and wisdom. Our subconscious now driving forward with free reign into a sweet freedom that our conscious self loves. 

Michelle Lee is an artist, coach, and catalyst for change; a workshop facilitator empowering transformation throughout Northeast PA, the Harrisburg area, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. For details visit www.MichelleLeeArts.com