The Power of Small Gifts – Small Gifts to Yourself, part 1 at The Creative Instinct

The Power of Small Gifts – Small Gifts to Yourself, part 1

10 Comments Published by Andrew Leigh October 30th, 2008 in Happiness, Mind Power.

Creative Development for Artists, Writers and all Artistic Creativity

There’s lots to write about on this topic. Small gifts to yourself can be mundane (boring?) yet profound – those every-day details that offer your future-self practical help. This has been a big benefit for me and I’ll say more about it soon.

But one of the more deeply beneficial ways of offering small gifts to yourself is simply to treat yourself in the same kind and generous way that you can treat everyone else. Sadly creative people can be particularly prone to doing exactly the opposite.

As I was working on explaining the consequences of this it came out in verse – don’t know why. I hope it gets the point across nicely – though if you judge it as poetry that’s a different matter entirely.

No Friend to Yourself

If you stand by your friends
But crucify yourself

If you are kind to others
Yet cruel to your soul

Do you cut them some slack
And tighten your chains?

Are they lovably odd
To your hatefully flawed?

You help them to shine
but smother your flame

See things go wrong
Know you’re always to blame.

Then, there can be no ease in your world
No balance, no love without fear
No laughter unstained

Then, you are no solace to your friends
No friend to yourself

***

Hmm… a bit gloomy that – and after several re-writes I still don’t feel happy with it. The creative process of writing a peom is so, so tough. Hats off to all you poets.

I’ll write more on this soon, in prose, and I promise I’ll focus on the brightness and the cheer. In the meantime, if you aren’t already giving yourself regular small gifts of kindness and generosity, think about how you can do so today.

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Please also read:
The Power of Small Gifts – Gifts from the Universe
The Power of Small Gifts to Create a Better World

10 Responses to “The Power of Small Gifts – Small Gifts to Yourself, part 1”

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1 Lynda Oct 30th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

A very poignant poem, yes a little gloomy perhaps, but it really does make you think. We all see good in others, but can be too hard on our selves. Now is the time to see our selves in the same light. Thank you for this gift.
2 jeni starfish Oct 31st, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Struck a chord with me too, Andy, particularly the “lovably odd v hatefully flawed.” I’m only just beginning to realise what a perfectionist I am for myself and yet how tolerant I can be for other people. In fact, it is so often the flawed humanity that draws us to others – the mis-steps and vulnerablity – so why so hard to love ourselves for the same?!

And hats off to YOU for your poetry – which, true to your own message, is garnering admiration from others but maybe not from yourself…go figure!
3 Andrew Leigh Nov 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 am

Thanks Lynda and Jeni – much appreciated.

I wasn’t meaning to denigrate my own work – but isn’t it interesting how we do these things. Yes – even me!
4 Jozef Nov 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am

Dear Andrew,

please, do forgive me to be so off-topic, but I thought it’s the easiest way to ask your permission to include your blog in my blogroll. Would you mind if I’d do that?

Best Regards:

J.
5 Andrew Leigh Nov 5th, 2008 at 11:17 am

Hi Jozef

I’d be very pleased for you to add my blog to your blogroll. Thank you.

I’d urge anyone reading this to check out your blog. I like your writing and I’m listening to your song ‘Angelheart’ as I write this. It’s beautiful, and you’re wrong about not being a singer. If you don’t mind, I’ll add your blog to my blogroll too.

Warm wishes – Andrew
6 Jozef Nov 5th, 2008 at 11:27 am

Thank you Andrew,

I’d be pleased if you’d include my blog in your blogroll too.

Angelheart was a hard one to write and I am aware that it has it’s flaws. The vocal is… hm, poor at least. Yeah, I am a perfectionist among other things, but believe me, the final version will be so much better being singed by my brother. He do can sing. I really don’t. )

Anyway, thank you for your compliments, it’s nice to know that this song finds its ways.

Best wishes:

J.
7 Jozef Nov 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am

Dear Andrew,

I think you’ll like my latest song. Click-click )

Cheers:

J.
8 Andrew Leigh Nov 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

Hi Jozef

Yes, that’s really good too. Very relaxed. I would have been happy for it to be much longer.

Andrew
9 Kenneth Cutts Mar 13th, 2009 at 12:12 am

Hi Andy,
The Love -Thy-Neighbour-but-hate-yourself-syndrome seems to be widespread amongst the very people, who do more good for others. I do see why the topic lends itself to poetry mainly because it is so thought-provoking! Hope you don’t mind my little ode!

Little Me

If you give a little smile to poor old little me
Or just a nod or a wink for all to see.
Perhaps a little cuddle, when I’m feeling down
May help to relieve my little frown.

If you give some hope to little me
It may help set me free,
Perhaps I’ll stop talking to myself
And smile with honesty.
10 Andrew Leigh Mar 13th, 2009 at 10:38 am

Thanks for that Kenneth. Your poem expresses the topic nicely.

More poems anyone?