I heard this same idea on the NPR Life Kit podcast and am so glad to read someone else's thoughts about the practice! You've inspired me to actually go through with my own drawings (but you're putting our stick figures to shame)!
I also loved Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins when I was a kid, so this spoke to me! I haven't drawn stick figures to find my purpose, but I think my alter-egos would be Lauren (Stability) and Felicia (Meaning). Felicia was a runner-up on the baby name list that my mom loved, so I like to think of her as another side of me that exists in a parallel timeline, whereas my name represents the stable life I currently live. I believe that we don't need to wait until retirement to have freedom, but still find myself caught up in the hamster wheel of being safe and predictable while I'm still young, which creates internal conflict. This is a good exercise to figure out what it means to nourish the side of me that craves adventure, freedom, and spontaneity while also being responsible (whatever that means). I'll have to try it. :)
I love your perspective on duality! This has been a common feeling as I navigate my 20’s. Sometimes I can genuinely feel insane when my two selves (working on their names) want to be validated in my head at the same time. I always come back to my trust in the universe. Riding the waves of life may not always take me where I expected to go but finding the beauty in each adventure feels like the only sure way to keep me sane. Thanks again for sharing I’m excited to put more thought into my stick figures ;)
I heard this same idea on the NPR Life Kit podcast and am so glad to read someone else's thoughts about the practice! You've inspired me to actually go through with my own drawings (but you're putting our stick figures to shame)!
Yesss please share your stick figures!
heh, check it out here: https://blueskymind.substack.com/p/issue-2-finding-happiness-in-that
The slacks part had me chuckling!
Great post. I’m a bit of a Claudia myself.
I could’ve guessed that!
Ha! How'd you know? Ah, well. Claudias live a good life in our own way.
I also loved Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins when I was a kid, so this spoke to me! I haven't drawn stick figures to find my purpose, but I think my alter-egos would be Lauren (Stability) and Felicia (Meaning). Felicia was a runner-up on the baby name list that my mom loved, so I like to think of her as another side of me that exists in a parallel timeline, whereas my name represents the stable life I currently live. I believe that we don't need to wait until retirement to have freedom, but still find myself caught up in the hamster wheel of being safe and predictable while I'm still young, which creates internal conflict. This is a good exercise to figure out what it means to nourish the side of me that craves adventure, freedom, and spontaneity while also being responsible (whatever that means). I'll have to try it. :)
I hope you try it! I thought it was very thought provoking, even though it left me with more questions than answers.
I love your perspective on duality! This has been a common feeling as I navigate my 20’s. Sometimes I can genuinely feel insane when my two selves (working on their names) want to be validated in my head at the same time. I always come back to my trust in the universe. Riding the waves of life may not always take me where I expected to go but finding the beauty in each adventure feels like the only sure way to keep me sane. Thanks again for sharing I’m excited to put more thought into my stick figures ;)
I love that--finding the beauty in each adventure. It’s so true! Stability can be meaningful, after all.