October 2024 Museletter: Transcending Survival Consciousness: Learning to Take Action from our Creative Mind
Supporting you to free your mind so you can live from your heart!
“When we quit thinking primarily of ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.”
- Dr. Joseph Campbell
Transcending Survival Consciousness: Learning to Take Action from our Creative Mind
Do you ever wonder why it can feel so hard and out of reach to create your next level life? You know, the one where you are not just surviving, but thriving? And thriving in a way that is creatively authentic to you and your deepest desires?
I did too. So I have devoted my life to answering this question, and being the answer. (I am a work in progress:) And I want to share it with you.
Our survival brain, also known as our Monkey Mind attaches our creative pursuits and desires to our worth. Instead of letting us create for the pure joy of it, it makes everything about whether we’re good enough. It tells us that if we don’t succeed, we’re a failure, and that failure will confirm our deepest fears about ourselves—that we’re not worthy, not capable, or not lovable. So we avoid taking action altogether, and then label ourselves as lazy, stuck, overwhelmed or procrastinators.
But the truth is, we are none of those things. We're trying to keep ourselves safe.
Your brain is doing its job—seeking to avoid discomfort, fear and the potential for failure. The problem is, it’s keeping you from accessing the creative part of you that knows exactly what you’re meant to do. In coaching we call this your Voice of Wisdom.
This is where the struggle lies. Our creative mind, which has the ability to learn and create and evolve which is linked to our heart and soul—wants to express itself. Our soul sends us nudges, ideas and desires to create. We feel this in our hearts, through our Voice of Wisdom, guiding us toward what we would love to experience and be. And then the survival brain kicks in with fear, doubt and excuses. It tells us, “This is too risky,” or “You’re not ready,” or “What if you fail?” And suddenly, your creative ideas get hijacked by the ego and you don’t follow through. It’s important to understand that this inner conflict is totally normal. There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling stuck or afraid when trying to move forward. It’s how our brains are wired.
The survival brain views anything new or uncertain as a threat, while your soul just wants to create freely, without an agenda. This tension can make it feel like there’s a tug of war going on inside—between the part of you that wants to evolve and create and the part that’s trying to protect you and keeping everything the same.
Some of the most important work we can do in our lifetime is to learn how to shift our mindset and recognize that our worth isn’t tied to what we produce.
When we unravel our worth from what we create we unlock the freedom to create without pressure. Nothing has to change for you to be worthy. You don’t need to prove anything. You are already whole and enough, just as you are. You can create simply for the joy of creating, without needing validation or a specific result to feel worthy.
The key to moving from survival mode into creator mode is awareness. Start by noticing when your survival brain is trying to protect you. Thank it for doing its job, and then gently choose to take a step forward anyway.
When I notice I am having survival thoughts, I will put my hand on my heart and say “I hear you, I understand you are worried and I want to let you know that in this moment you are OK".
Usually this simple acknowledgement of my fearful thoughts and doubts are enough to quiet them down and allow me to shift my focus on what I want to create.
Even a small action in the direction of your heart’s desire can begin to rewire your brain to embrace the unknown as well as let go of the need for validation or worth from what you create. Over time, as you practice this, you’ll find that your fear and discomfort lessen, and the flow of creativity opens up.
Here’s a radical truth: You are not stuck. You are not procrastinating. You are not lazy. You are in a process of growth, navigating the tension between your survival brain and your creative higher mind. By becoming aware of your reactions and shifting from fear-based thinking, to creative heart-based thinking, you can break free from old patterns and live a life of greater ease, fulfillment, and contribution.
To start breaking this cycle, observe how you react to challenges, new opportunities, or even small tasks. Those reactions often reveal the limiting thoughts you have about yourself—thoughts your survival brain uses to keep you in familiar territory. But once you can identify these thoughts, you can start to question them. Are they true, or are they your mind’s way of keeping you from taking a risk?
As humans we are here to evolve and desire our next level of growth. It's inherent on our nature. Desire and wanting more is a good thing! It's our attachment to the results looking a certain way and tying what we desire and create to our self worth that can muck up the channels.
I Affirm: Today I embrace my desires and urge to grow as a healthy sign of my humanity. I see that I am whole and complete no matter what!
Step by Step,
Jessie
