Breaking the Chains that Bind Description:

This is the third painting in a series of pieces I did using Antelope Canyon as the inspiration for my subject.

This particular part of the canyon called to me because it reminded me of nature’s cradle:  the undulating lines seem to cup a figure perfectly and the overhang of the rock cliff above add a layer of protection from the elements, like a canopy. 

I positioned myself in a relaxed pose, leaning against the canyon wall.  My head is slightly bent and you cannot see my face.  I purposely concealed my face because I didn’t want to detract from my body language.  I am loosely holding a few links of a broken chain and the rest of the chains are around my feet and in a small pile to the left. 

The chains represent the constraints I put on myself to be perfect and to excel in all facets of my life.  Perfectionism is a part of having high functioning generalized anxiety disorder and while on the outside, it may look like I am juggling my many roles well, it comes at a great cost.  With perfectionism, comes a demand to be detail oriented and to overthink and overanalyze everything in order to control and calm racing thoughts.  

The broken chains represent my desire to stop the cycle of overthinking and perfectionism that keeps me tethered.  While I have broken the chains in this piece, I have not completely removed them from around my ankles or made an attempt to move out of my comfort zone.

Although I am not completely free of the chains, I am a little closer to letting go of paralyzing worry and kicking off the shackles of anxiety. By stepping out of the protective embrace of the canyon, I can step into vulnerability and the warmth of freedom’s light.