Joy Diet #4 - Creativity and GPP #34 - The Dark Side

Warning: I took creative liberties with how I responded to the material in this chapter. Children should not attempt to do this with their school textbooks. The author of this blog will not take responsibility for the wonton destruction of other people's property.

I found a couple of golden nuggets in this chapter on creativity in Martha Beck's book, "The Joy Diet." The first nugget is Martha Beck's suggestion to conceptualize and write down at least one new, concrete idea that will help you obtain something your heart desires. This is a great idea for if you don't take any steps, how can you make things happen?

The second nugget is a truth I discovered on my own around six years ago when my ex-husband and I separated. We really weren't a good match and to make matters worse, he had some serious anger management issues. What I take away from all of it was how much of what "I took" -- you see I permitted it. In some way, I created the situation. Now this doesn't take him off the hook for his behavior but I now see how I didn't have to live with it as long as I did, nor will I *EVER* give up my peaceful life to such behavior.

I have a confession, I really can't stand Martha Beck's writing style. I'm particularly peeved any time she makes a list and it never fails the last item on the list is something random. It appears that the random item is selected to be far out, cute, funny. Her awkward sense of humor doesn't work for me.

Now I'm a highly creative person, one who regularly taps into this infinite well of creative ideas. As I read through Beck's suggestions, I grew so irritable that I decided to name her writing style (and some of her ideas) as the enemy.

I pulled out my black gesso, white gesso, scissors, and glitter. You know I felt so much better as I was defacing the pages that had ideas that I hated. I'm laughing so hard right now thinking about the irony -- how this book on finding *JOY* illicit such a dark response from me. Oh this is too much.

I'm not likely to look at these pages again, unless I did something about it.

This is just it, Beck's list of activities are only suggestions. They may work for you and I'd love to hear if they did. For me pulling out some paint and getting messy is a great way to work out my ideas and feelings.

Ironically, I didn't participate in the "Wreck this Journal" blog book group this summer. I bought the book and was all set but I didn't feel moved. I'm laughing as I write this because you know it felt so great to wreck the pages of this chapter.

I feel a bit justified too, for you see there is evidence...

...that this is a workbook. Who said that we had to stay within the lines?

I hope I didn't offend any of my fellow Joy Seekers who are participating in Jamie Ridler's blog book group. I do think there are great ideas throughout the book. I hope if you don't like an idea that you take the good parts and then get creative with how you want to adopt it. I can't wait to hear your reaction.

If you are looking to get your creative juices flowing one place I *HIGHLY* recommend is Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Challenge Blog. Just looking at Michelle's suggestions and how each participant plays with the idea is sure to get your creative bones dancing. This month's challenge is to work with black journal pages. My headstone page started off pretty black but lightened with all of the layers of white gesso that I stamped on. CLICK HERE to visit the GPP Crusade #34.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Comments

[Shell]

I think this is hilarious you did this too the book. There are a few books which I feel I need to do that too.
I say rock on with wrecking The Joy Diet book. I do enjoy her books, I think Martha Beck herself would get a kick of how you showed creative flair with your criticisms of the book.

[LaWendula]

First: I like the book because it asks some real good questions and I like the step-by-step-charakter.
Second: I had the same thing in mind, sometimes, while reading. the great advantage I have is: this is not my mothertongue, it's a foreign language and I am so concentrated to get it right, understand it all, that I am not so aware about things like style or choice of words. These nuances in her writing, I cannot fully hear them, I bet, if I would read this in German, it would be totally different. I knew e.g. for "Eat pray love" that I would have hated this book in German. It was funny to read in English.
Third: I thought of the wtj, when I saw you doing this. Great! This is creativity.
Maybe you have got a good idea, how to deal with my enemies. (see blog) In fact I thought: This is total bullshit, what she is writing there. It fits like a glove on her problems, but not on mine.

[Bubbly girl]

I agree with LaWendula. I'm also not an native English speaker, and its true that I can laugh things away more easy and that I'm less aware of her writing style. I think it's great that you share your feelings about Martha's writing with us, and I do see truth in them.You really went all the way with wrecking,I see. Great!

[Melinda]

I LOVE your post and LOVE even more what you did with her book! I was using a library copy so I could not do anything to it even though I felt like it OFTEN! I AM THANKFUL I did not PAY money for the book though as it too has totally irritated me. FEW of the suggestions Martha gives appeal to me and instead just tick me off. So much so.....I really don't want to do the rest of the book. It has brought a very dark shadow over me......and I have had enough. TIME is an issue for me and I also did not want to continue working on something that just made me feel BAD all the time more than JOYful.

OH WAIT......I GET it now.......the JOY DIET! DUH...DIETs are when we RESTRICT things.....so perhaps she is supposed to be restricting our joy!

ROCK ON...I think you did a fabulous job this week! I made it ahead to the chapter on play......but by then I just felt like I wanted to puke reading her words.

[Kate @ Her Grace Reports]

I have to say that I am finding that The Joy Diet process speaks to me.

That said, I love what you did to the book. It is heartfelt and beautiful.

[Valarie Budayr]

Thank you so much for your very fun and creative look at creativity. In the beginning of the post it reminded me of Wreck this Journal. No offense taken, it is clearly, and authentically you. It brought some fun and joy to my day.
Your golden nuggets spoke to me as well as I was going through this chapter this week. It has my creative juices flowing as well. Here's to you, your journey, and wrecking, very beautiful wrecking, I might ad. Take care.

[Lucy]

Great Altered Book/Chapter. Thanks for sharing. And yes, kids - This is only allowed IF you own the book - meaning NOT your school books.

[Sara @Soulspackle]

Kathryn, I totally enjoyed this post. ;) My copy of The Joy Diet comes from the library, so there will be no defacing of property but I love what you did, and I love also that it pushed my buttons. I had this thought "You CAN'T do that to a BOOK!" I get irritated when someone musses up the corners or the spines of my books.. you GESSOED over yours! Oh I love it. I don't find MB's style that irritating and yet I know EXACTLY what you are referring to. It does grate a little after a while. Ha! Too funny.

[Kara aka Mother Henna]

You are cracking me up!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loooooooooooooooooooove that wrecking has spilled over into this book -- BRILLIANT! Gesso rules, irritation rules, heART rules, YOU RULE! (and I hope school children everywhere will take this as an example and do it to their textbooks! our education system -- well the public school system anyway -- needs a little book wrecking!) :)
xo
k-

[Darlene]

I enjoyed reading your post - and laughing along with you. Wrecking Works! Look at the breakthroughs that you came up with.

I putting the Golden Nugget up on my inspiration board. Thanks for sharing.

[Sherry]

Hooray for Kathryn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all, there are some golden nuggets and you found them. Then you did what I did and chose what works and what doesn't. And then you put the book to better use....and I'm so glad I'm not the only one finding this style b.o.r.i.n.g. and irritating.

I read the book years ago at a time when I was looking for joy, at a difficult time in my life. It's just not working for me now. I've grown beyond it. But I do think it might be of excellent help to others who are just starting to look for their joy.

High Fives to you for putting the book to good use!!!

[karen]

How fantastic that you worked so creatively with this chapter... I love it, loved how you wrecked it and re-did to suit YOU.. Perfect! Thanks for sharing this week of creativity.

[karen]

How fantastic that you worked so creatively with this chapter... I love it, loved how you wrecked it and re-did IT to suit YOU.. Perfect! Thanks for sharing this week of creativity.

[Lisa]

Bravo to taking what resonates with you and letting go of the rest.... and very creatively, I might add! :)

[michelle ward]

Kathryn - great post! Love that you honestly shared your reactions to this book (never heard of it) and love how you Made It Your Own *wink*. Evidence of a life plugged in, with an open mind, yet an opinion too. The blackish pages are splendid! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Street Team.

[leah]

LOL, Kathryn! While I don't find Martha's writing irritating, I got such a kick out of your response to it and the way you worked it out. Yay for creative responses!

[Dia]

It was a hoot to see what you did with the book - & I was intrigued that you didn't participate in Journal Wrecking - neither did I, but could see how observing others' process with THAT influenced yours here :)
I could have done that with E Tolle's "New Earth!!" . . .
I hadn't noticed that about the writing style, but do notice my own process seems different than hers

[gemma]

Great that you are liberated enough to wreck pages in this book. (I had trouble wrecking WTJ lol) Like Jamie mentioned in her post;This is your journey.
Personally I'm having fun doing a smattering of things differently as Beck mentioned. But I always pick and choose and rebel against what is suggested.

[stargardener]

Absolutely love it! I am still laughing out loud! You have boldly gone where I have yet to dance and stomp. I merely add color and Post-it® notes ...

Off to paint over a few pages of Martha's monologues ...

★★★★★!!

[Silky Hart]

Love how you morphed Wreck This Journal with this book! What a riot! Good for you for finding your own creative expression that works for you!!!

[Jean]

I LOVE your post! I am struggling with the writing style, too, and add that to the struggle to do it all - to incorporate it all through the challenging writing style...

I bought a brand-spanking new copy of this book and I am reluctant to wreck it because perhaps I can sell it back - but I was REALLY inspired, not only to create some art, but to find the NUGGETS in the chapters.

Thank you for this great, honest, funny, creative post!

[Angie]

This is a great post! Never thought of writing/drawing/highlighting on the book, what a fabulous idea. I have really taken to journal all my thoughts down in my new journal, so am expressing myself that way. Like some other participants I also just take and do what I like and kinda ignore the rest, like the enemy pages, couldn't write about it, so I left it blank, but am really enjoying the 'do one thing different', just to muck around a little and find my inner child again.

[Honore Francois]

I too have found MB's style not to my taste and have started North Star several times only to abandon about a 1/4 way in. Currently, I'm reading all 4 of her works, almost simultaneously and am re-appreciating her style ~ go figure. Just discovered "Next Chapter" book club y'day - 10/18 - so I'm playing catchup,etc.
As others have noted, your creativity with this chapter and altering the book are priceless! Unfortunately, I'm reading this on a Kindle and can't follow suit but I shall "wreck" in my accompanying journal.

[Gina]

I love your review of the book....what a creative way to release your frustration!
I am just starting this chapter and do find the lists annoying. But I like the overall concept and it gets me thinking and doing. So that's good. Thanks for the inspiration to wreck this book.

[Ellecubed]

Your post is like Wreck This Journal meets The Joy Diet. I absolutely love the way you approached creativity and how you highlighted the things that really worked for you.