I can’t put this any simpler; we all face a judgy inner critic that drones on in our mind, and an outer critic (the world) that sprinkles our eyes and ears with nonsense and comparisons. It’s what can turn our self expression into an age old battle between ego (what makes us look good to ourselves and others), and heart (what we really feel and want to express.) This struggle is the discordant energy that shapes us as people, like wind against beautiful sandstone in the … [Read more...]
To Improve Creative Output, Go Inward
October 10, 2016 By 1 Comment
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase improve creative output? A spark of prolific creative ideas and hours of non-stop writing? A clear vision of the strides you are making on a business or passion project? Good progress on a life goal or building healthy habits? Or something else entirely? Clearly knowing what creative output means to you and why it’s valuable sets the stage for how you can open up to more, and increase your energy as a creative … [Read more...]
Redirecting the Mind’s Relentless Review of What We Create
March 28, 2016 By 1 Comment
The mind is only one aspect of who we are, but it tends to run the show a lot of the time. Take the power of the mind and combine it with our “inner software” - fears, challenges, old patterns and varying levels of confidence and it runs off, rethinking, reworking and trapping us in a relentless review of what we create. Sometimes it can seem like the mind just loves to dig back into spots we thought were a clean slate, dragging us into a previous version of ourselves or … [Read more...]
The Ego, Creative Identity, and Tuning into a Healthy Balance
December 14, 2015 By 2 Comments
The evolution of your creative identity is one of the most fun aspects of being human. You get to experiment, play and build something, over and over, in new ways. There are opportunities for healing through self-expression, and chances to bust out of a comfort zone and really test your potential. On the flip side, you have an ego with basic human needs that wants validation, a sense of connection and safety. To balance these forces within you takes a … [Read more...]
Tips for Tapping into your Inner Creative Advisor
February 27, 2014 By 2 Comments
In the thick of a challenge it’s easy to forget you have the best, most informed ally in your own back pocket - your inner creative advisor. Not only does this advisor know you better than anyone else, but understands the deepest, rawest, real-est parts of you and the tricks you use to avoid feeling certain things. So while objective insight from others you trust is absolutely enlightening, do you still struggle with trusting your own insight, first? By my definition, the term inner … [Read more...]
Balancing Human-ness and the Ego in Business
July 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In the last few weeks I’ve noticed the struggle for the expression of the individual identity in my business dealings, meetings and on social media outlets. Or perhaps as I move through my own personal challenges, it’s something more apparent just to me. Whatever the reason, this blog topic was screaming at me to be expressed. Although it’s a bit different than what I normally cover I couldn’t ignore it. Or perhaps, I just wanted to get a better sense of how others feel about it, too. The … [Read more...]