To view this newsletter in the browser, click here                 Issue #93       A newsletter from Creativegarh to help you live a life of passion, purpose and meaning.         The joy of playfulness.                     Every day, we are given a box of crayons by life. Either we can diligently choose one crayon and use it to create the painting of the day, not wanting to mess the painting or the crayon, doing all this for adulation, praise and always getting it right.           Or like a little child, we can throw all the crayons on the floor, break some into small pieces to use some sideways and choose whichever colour comes to us from pink to pale indigo, from flaming brown to cinder grey from devil green to canary yellow. The end result of it, a lot of inner joy.           When you have an option to choose between perfectionism and playfulness, choose playfulness because in playfulness lies humanness, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, lightness of being, free-spirited creation and joy for the sake of joy.           Creation is serious work. But it doesn't have to be done seriously. Create a new relationship from a space of freedom not from the guilt of the past or a fear of a lonely future. Create a new way of thinking not by being hard on yourself when you slip up but allowing compassion and humour to pull you back again. Create a new approach to life from a space of childlike playfulness and not from childish trauma responses that leave no space for magic, failures, miracles and just plain simple goodness of life. Create a new habit not as an army drill at a bootcamp but as a playful evening in the park with childlike enthusiasm. It's said that to build a new habit, you need to show up constantly for 63 days. But if you add playfulness to this habit, like a child would, that habit can be built in just 10 days.           Mess up. Allow space for mistakes. Let randomness rule your day. Let showing up not only be about building but about breaking as well, not about connecting the dots but creating the dots, not about disciplining the inner child to build good habits but freeing the inner child from the shackles of rules, expectations and the chains of ‘the only way is the right way’.           Playfulness is authenticity. Playfulness is a celebration of your fearlessness. Playfulness is an expression of being an active participant in your life. Playfulness is making joy a ritual.                 If there are hysterics, there is history.                     What gets your goat? What gets you angry to a point of no return? When is your reaction to someone's behaviour so extreme and over the top that more than anyone, it surprises you? When is your behaviour out of proportion?           Your hysterics are usually rooted in your history. Your dramatics usually find their roots when you metaphorically put yourself and your needs centerstage but were dismissed, denied, un-appreciated or ignored or simply ‘put back in your place’. Your reactions find themselves embedded in your past, your childhood.           We usually carry fear and anger within ourselves all the time and that comes from our own unresolved conflicts and problems, un-lived dreams and passions, denied needs and wishes and socially unacceptable behaviour.           When we judge people for simply being themselves, it may be something about ourselves we need to own up to. When we disapprove or envy another's behaviour, it may point to an unmet need within ourselves. When we feel judged by others, it may point to a judgement we have about ourselves. Whatever we judge in others is unresolved in us. What we admire in others is latent in us.           When the triggers happen, don't become the hysterics, the theatrics or the drama. Remove your attention from the situation and bring the focus to your inner world. Feel the emotion fully in your body as a heartbeat, tension, sweating or anything else. Let the emotion settle at some part of your body, and then, label the thoughts and feelings you are having. Try to have a conversation with the emotion and you’ll notice that it is a very articulate messenger that tells you about you. Let the emotion speak and once it's done, it’ll find its way out of your body. Follow this up with affirmations, deep breathing, grounding, journaling, going for a walk, taking a shower, being with animals, exercising, talking to a friend, or connecting with nature.           Thank the emotion. Let it go. Now you can respond to the situation from a deeply self-aware space instead of a fight-flight-freeze reaction.           Do the inner work, learn from your hysterics, own your history, create a present where you become whole, and write a new play in your life.             Our upcoming retreats                         Jodhpur Last 2 Seats Left 11th to 17th August     In a place of princely palaces and forts, travel back in time as we seek to relook into your life. Rediscover yourself amidst the undiscovered side of Thar at this retreat.   More details     Reignite conversation     Athoor Last 8 Seats Left 22nd to 28th September     Nestled amidst the serene Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, the picturesque village of Athoor will make for the perfect setting for relaxation, introspection and exploration.   More details     Reignite conversation     Mandi Registrations Open 7th to 13th July     Mandi’s tranquil environment serves as the perfect backdrop for personal metamorphosis, ensuring you return home with a revitalized spirit and fresh perspective of life!   More details     Reignite conversation           This week, let's revisit     Jodhpur August 2023                         Experience a life full of purpose                     The purpose of my life is to create art for abundance and serenity that brings peace, fulfilment and joy to the world.   Arti Machama Kasauli, September 2022         My purpose is to create powerful narratives through visuals to enlighten the world to be more humane.   Sujoy Kar Tirthan Valley, December 2022               For a daily dose of Creativegarh and our retreats, follow us here:                                 Watch All Episodes Here                   creativegarh.com             You are receiving this newsletter because either you have subscribed to it through our website, interacted with us by filling an invite form or because you have asked us to put you on the database. 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