Sustaining the Vis: Once the Vis is set into motion, we need tools and resources to help continue the momentum. Whenever we become inspired, there is an initial burst of energy and motivation. Unfortunately, this energy often fades as we begin to encounter or create various obstacles. If we have the tools to keep the momentum going, we won’t need as much energy to get the ball rolling again; change becomes easier and more sustainable.
The soul craves expression. It particularly longs for different types of expression. There are moments in our life that just one form of expression cannot possible capture the essence of all the emotions we feel. Whether the emotion is sadness, anger, rage, joy, etc, they need different outlets for expression. When our emotions are given the opportunity to fully present themselves and are given a voice, our spirit, our internal Vis, comes alive. One form of expression may be great for a particular emotion, but not all emotions can be expressed by just one particular form. Meditation for example, can be a great tool for calming the mind and helping alleviate stress, but the problem arises when we try to use meditation for all other emotions for an extended period of time. What begins to happen is that our soul gets bored, The Vis fades, and we begin to lose interest in meditation. We write it off as not effective. Then we are told that we weren’t trying hard enough, or didn’t do it long enough. But the truth is our soul needs to be engaged. It needs many different types of expression: via singing, dancing, drawing, journaling, painting, through musical instruments, poetry, etc.<br /> Our anger and rage especially need expression through creative means. We have such a negative relationship with these emotions. They are frowned upon, something to seek therapy for. Consequently, their expression tends to come out in destructive means. What if the powerful energy that anger possess can be transformed into something beautiful and constructive? Emotions such as anger and jealousy are considered to be secondary emotions, as what underlies them is often sadness. The challenge is finding ways to accept these emotions, to see beyond the superficiality of them, to have compassion for them, and to express them.<br /> Instead of expressing emotions such as anger and depression and giving them a voice, we suppress them with pharmaceutical drugs. This is particularly the case with depression. We are told that they are a pathological disorder, a genetic defect. Genetisists and psychologists are teaming up to track the human genome in such a way that will give them;”>The type of outlet and how it is expressed does make a difference. Many people think that they can just vent their emotions and get it out that way. And while this may be extremely helpful at times, it becomes more problematic when the same story is told over and over and over. It becomes problematic when it becomes the only mode of expression. It becomes problematic when the story takes on the role of the victim. The ultimate goal of expression is to enliven The Vis. You should feel more alive, inspired from the expression, not drained and depleted. The goal is not to deepen the wound any further. The goal is to move out of the emotion, to transform the emotion, but not get stuck in a rut and dig a deeper hole. Different means of expression may take some time to navigate, but it is important to also explore other means.
Another important rule of thumb for creative expression is expression from your own inner world. When I say to take on art, singing, and dancing for example, your own style must be expressed. Sometimes you may need some inspiration, a foundation of sorts, but the end product should be a result of your own creativity and expression. The power is yours, and the moment we think that we are not good enough, and try to take the expression of someone else, we don’t fully lend a voice to our own expression, our own power. We give our power away to someone or something we think does a better job. Be patient with yourself, as finding the voice to your emotions can take some time and exploration. Remember to be kind to yourself and have compassion for the feelings we often don’t like and want to get rid of. They have a voice too!! No one has to approve or like what you have done. The point is that you like it and feel better from it. Listen to the subtleties your body is trying to convey. Ask each emotion how they can be creatively expressed.
