Friday, 28 February 2025

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is more than just a book—it’s a 12-week course designed to help people reconnect with their creative source and let it flow freely. Since its first publication 33 years ago, it has inspired countless readers, many of whom swear by its method. And now, after all these years, I’m ready to embark on this journey myself.

Once upon a time… New Year's Eve 2024

Whenever a new year is around the corner, I take the opportunity to pause and reflect. Where am I? Where do I want to go? And what stands in between? How can I shape the upcoming year, and where do I need change?

The more the merrier.

This year was no different. To meet new people in Montreal, I had signed up for Meetup, an online platform for connecting with like-minded individuals. Just before New Year’s, I stumbled upon an online group: Accountability Club and their invitation to a Zoom meeting on January 2—something about strategies for New Year’s goals. Perfect, I thought, someone else has already done part of the thinking for me. And just like that, I was in.

What started as a one-time meeting quickly became a routine. I found myself in a community that didn’t just set goals but actively supported each other in achieving them. Over time, different focus areas emerged—mine led me from physical health to mental health, and eventually to coaching. Alongside my still very fresh psychology studies, I began learning coaching strategies and immediately applied them to my own life.

Know thyself.

A core theme in coaching is identity. So, I started diving deeper into mine—questioning my patterns, reflecting on my behaviors. And I realized something: The moments when I feel most aligned with myself and the world are those when I create. Whenever I bring my ideas to life, it fills me with deep satisfaction. That’s when it hit me: I need more of this in my life.

The Artist’s Way—A Familiar Stranger

I had known about The Artist’s Way since childhood—it had been sitting on my parents' bookshelf for as long as I could remember. Years ago, I had even started reading it and recommended it to my best friend. But back then, I never made it past the first chapter.

In the Accountability Community, some members were deeply involved in art and creative expression, and the book kept coming up in conversations. My curiosity grew, and before I knew it, I co-founded the Creativity Circle with another nomad and became the host of the group.

A Group Journey

In our first meeting, we decided to read The Artist’s Way together—at our own pace, without pressure, but with plenty of exchange. I’m excited to see where this experiment takes me and how my creative identity unfolds.

Writing about it here is both an additional commitment and a tool to apply what I learn along the way.