The Art of Unlayering

I learn so much from you guys. Seriously, you challenge and teach me new things every day.Recently I posted this photo on Instagram and shared how I watched a man sitting in the park - doing nothing - for a LONG TIME. It completely freaked me out and I made a list of reasons why he could be sitting there ranging from a murderer looking for his next victim to a guy who's been stood up for a date. You guys added your hilarious reasons also and it was a real fun conversation.But many of you also commented about this idea of him...just...being. Much like the art of mindfulness, but instead of using an app and sitting in your special place and doing all the ritual things like lighting a candle and being so purposeful and Instagram worthy of your 'being', this guy was just doing it without the fanfare and frills.That freaked me out more than the serial killer vibe I was originally picking up. Then we continued the conversation in messages and other posts about this idea of just being, of doing nothing, of slowing down, of not being so busy, of not layering.

I realized recently that I feel frantic.

I have so many things to do but am frozen in the wave of anxiety ALL THE THINGS creates. 

Enter: The Art of Unlayering

Instead of washing dishes and listening to a podcast, you just wash the dishes.Instead of watching a show and updating the letterboard - you do each separately.Instead of trying to multitask, you do one.Instead of layering each activity with a second one to make yourself feel more productive, you do one. Instead of avoiding the silence, you embrace it.Instead of refusing stillness, you sink into it. 

Unlayering provides the slowing of time, the ability to think, quiet, the reordering of thoughts, rest, the finishing of thoughts, the solving of problems, deep breathes.

Unlayering helps calm my frantic thoughts and fully focus on one task, one problem, one thought. I've been practicing this lately, instead of listening to a podcast episode after a busy day with friends on the bus on the way home, I just sat. I let my thoughts of the day and the future plans we made have my attention. Instead of listening to a podcast while I clean, I put on some music and let myself enjoy the company of it and allowed my brain to fully focus on the sorting and cleaning and decision making. Just taking walks and enjoying being outside and letting my thoughts and ideas roll around. Instead of reading at dinner alone (eating alone in public completely freaks me out), I just sat and ate and enjoyed my meal and, again, my thoughts.I realized as I began doing this that I spend a LOT of time layering activities, even with others - instead of just chatting over a meal, we're planning an event or going over a to-do list or making a decision.I was never allowing myself to be fully immersed in an activity and only giving half of my thoughts, energy, and self when I layered in another activity.  

I do it out of fear - of missing out, of being quiet, of being vulnerable, of being alone.

But the layering doesnt serve as a companion or a teacher or a solution. It only serves to distract and add anxiety.The effects of layering might look like: 

• anxiety, feeling frantic, mind racing, overwhelm
• struggling to make decisions
• inability to sit still
• constant scrolling
• easily distracted
• unfinished projects
• lack of inspiration
• loneliness
• fear
• tiredness
• FOMO - fear of missing out

I'm a 7 on the enneagram, so this comes pretty naturally to me, the FOMO and desire to do EVERYTHING. I'm having to actively work against it and refuse to layer activities and allow myself to be still, alone, focused.I know it's affecting my creativity, as well as my mental health. This weeks podcast episode is all about it. If you've been feeling the same lately and are ready to calm those frantic thoughts down, join me in practicing the art of unlayering. You don't need an app or star chart. You simply need to slow down, only do one thing at a time and allow yourself the gift of just being.

Here's your creative challenge this week, I bet it helps your art and your soul:

Practice the Art of Unlayering by focusing on only one thing at a time.

Need more than an hour of unlayering? I'm going to be spending the whole week October 16-20 focusing only one task a time, creating and only creating, going for walks in nature, morning yoga, meals with friends filled with fun conversation.

You're welcome to join me. We'll be unlayering and making art and it's going to be good for our creative hearts and souls. Leave a comment and let me know if you struggle with layering and what you do to help remind yourself to slow down and unlayer.