The House That Joy Built : The Pleasure and Power of Giving Ourselves Permission to Create

An uplifting, positive and powerful book about breaking through fear and finding joy through creativity, from bestselling author, Holly Ringland. The House that Joy Built is about the transformative power of finding joy through creativity, and offers a jump-start for anyone whose desire to create is flattened by fear. Fear of feeling vulnerable, of criticism and judgement from others, of not being good enough, of having 'bad' ideas, of being 'too much'. This book is for everyone who has ever felt stuck creatively. It is for those yearning to write, and also for anyone who longs to create but doesn't know how to find a way into, or back to their imagination. Uplifting, powerful and inspiring, The House That Joy Built is an exhilarating, openhearted clarion call to experience the joy and freedom of creativity. 'A joyous gift from the heart, practical and wise. Blasts those I-can't-do-this terrors with both barrels.' Susan Johnson, Aphrodite's Breath 'I adored The House That Joy Built - it's readable, relatable and raw. A gentle call to action for creatives. This book is my new talisman for a creative life - it will hold my hand when I'm drowning in self-doubt and fear. Holly lays her heart on the page and encourages readers to do the same.' Amy Lovat, Mistakes and Other Lovers Amy An uplifting, powerful and inspiring book about breaking through fear and finding joy through creativity, from bestselling author, Holly Ringland. The House that Joy Built is about how to give ourselves permission to be creative. It explores two big forces: the fear that can block our creativity, and the permission we can meet that fear with - to not just create, but to revel in the life-changing wonder and joy of doing so. It offers a jump-start for the nervous heart of anyone whose desire to create is overruled by fear. It is a book for those people who yearn to write, as well as people who find their creativity elsewhere: gardeners, carpenters, sculptors, jewellery-makers, florists, songwriters, dancers, cooks, painters... anyone who wants to make something but doesn't because they're afraid. Afraid of feeling vulnerable, of criticism and judgement from others, of not being good enough, of not having enough, of having 'bad' ideas, of being too much. It is for everyone who has ever felt stuck creatively, for those who don't know how to begin, for those who feel they have so much welling up inside and are just trying to find a way into themselves. This book is an openhearted clarion call to experience the joy and freedom of creating. Dedication PROLOGUE: A Light Left On INTRODUCTION: Our House 1 FEAR + PLAY Raise Your Sword 2 SELF-DOUBT + SELF-COMPASSION An Ancient Beauty 3 FAILURE + NOTHING IS WASTED The Door to the Wild 4 PROCRASTINATION + PRESENCE An Overgrown Path 5 INNER CRITIC + INNER FAN Stay Gold 6 OUTER CRITIC + RESILIENCE We Can Be Starfish 7 CREATIVE BLOCK + DAYDREAM MACHINE Sniffing Pink Flamingo 8 IMPOSTER SYNDROME + YOU BELONG HERE There’s No Place Like It EPILOGUE: Homecoming ENDNOTES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AUTHOR’S NOTE RESOURCES About the Author Praise for The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding Praise for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Copyright