Where joy goes, creativity follows

The Journal Muse #11: A Date With Your Creative Self

Reconnect with your inner artist through joy, curiosity, and a little time just for you.

Dear Reader,

Sometimes, unlocking your creativity doesn’t happen on the page—it happens when you’re walking in the woods with no destination. Or buying a ridiculous stuffed animal just because it made you smile. Or sitting in a café with a book and nowhere else to be.

This week, I want to invite you to something gentle, powerful, and possibly a little magical: an Artist Date.

What’s an Artist Date?

It comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way—a practice where you take yourself on a solo adventure, once a week, to refill your creative well.

No phone. No work. No productivity goals. Just you and a small slice of joy.

Your creativity doesn’t need pressure—it needs delight.
This is how we get unstuck, not by working harder but by remembering what lights us up.

My first artist date

The first time I ever took myself on an Artist Date, I was living in Malaysia. I had just discovered The Artist’s Way, and I decided to give this strange idea a try: to go out, just by myself—simply to feed my creativity.

So I went to Publica, one of my favorite spots in Kuala Lumpur. I wandered through art galleries and quirky shops until I found myself in Daiso, the Japanese store where almost everything is budget-friendly.

There, I bought a tiny orange hat with black tulle—just big enough to pin into your hair. It was funny and unnecessary, and I loved it instantly. I still have it. And you know what? It still makes me smile.

That day taught me something I return to often:
💛 You don’t need to spend much to make your inner artist happy.

Journal Prompts:

• When was the last time I did something purely for my own joy?
• What kind of experiences make me feel more alive, curious, or connected?
• If I were to take my inner artist on a date this week, where would I go?

Art Journaling Prompt:

After your Artist Date, create a journal page that reflects how it felt.
Was it playful? Surprising? Quiet? Free?
Use color, symbols, or even collected items (a ticket, a leaf, a receipt) to capture the mood.

Literature Thought:

"Serious art is born from serious play."​
— Julia Cameron

We are not machines. Creativity isn’t something we produce on demand—it’s something that grows when we give it space, warmth, and joy.

Closing Words:

This week, just take yourself somewhere your spirit has been craving.
Refill the well. The art will follow.

Did you do something playful, relaxing, or delightfully weird this week?
I’d love to hear what you chose for your Artist Date—just hit reply and tell me.

Cheering on You,
​Beata

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P.S.: I redesigned my website. Come and look around and let me know how it feels.

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