As much as we want to stand out and be seen as individuals, we also desire to stand together as part of a community; feeling welcomed, supported and accepted (in some shape or form). This sentiment is by no means earth shattering, but here’s the tricky part; sometimes our hidden desire to connect with others really is silently guiding us to conform, keeping our creative fire small. This may lead us to make choices to fit in or try to make future decisions based on what we feel will be accepted … [Read more...]
Break the Code and Leave Behind Limiting Emotional Patterns
June 6, 2013 By 1 Comment
Feeling blocked or challenged comes along with the blueprint of being a human being. Getting stuck and spinning your wheels there, well, that’s by choice (even if it’s hard to admit sometimes). So to wiggle free and break the code to leave behind limiting emotional patterns, you have a choice; evolve or stay small. Easy to say, takes some new tools and perspective to actually do. No matter what kind of upbringing you’ve had, there are emotional patterns you’ve created from a very young age that … [Read more...]
Why you Need a Creative Change Tool Belt
May 30, 2013 By 3 Comments
What’s in your creative change tool belt? You know, the simple, go-to tools and practices that help you feel stable, grounded and clear. No idea why you need one? Then I’ll explain. A creative change tool belt is one of the most loving and effective ways to support yourself while you work through distractions and blocks in your personal, business and creative life. It’s the personal self-care tools in your tool belt that hold you up while moving beyond confusion or challenge into clarity so you … [Read more...]
The Power of Faith in the Creative Process
May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Faith is one of the most powerful parts of any creative process. I’m not talking about the spiritual kind (although that certainly helps) but faith in your ideas and ability to express yourself freely. And as easy as it might be to casually say to someone else, it’s one of the hardest things to actually DO when your creative babies are hanging out in the wind, waiting for acknowledgement. Any time you are putting something in the world that is new or pushing the envelope beyond your comfy, … [Read more...]
Why Creative Gratitude is Essential for Healing Creative Blocks
May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Creative gratitude is more than feeling appreciation for the AH-mazing creative insight you got in your dream last night or the “light bulb” moment that smashed into your brain while you were in the shower. I’m talking about a deep, conscious way of living that you carry with you in all you do, aware and grateful of how each experience or encounter (and subsequent reaction) shapes your life in a creative way. That shitty thing that happened yesterday? Turn it into a blog post that takes your … [Read more...]
Diminishing Creative Gains? Time for a Gut Check
May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Every creative has experienced a period of diminishing creative gains. You know what I mean -- it feels like you are producing a product or a result more than creating something beautiful from the heart, and it can start to weigh on you. Clients have needs (and demands) and since they are paying, they get first priority (says your mind). So when the line of creative joy and obligation are fully intertwined and your creative twinkle is waning, it’s time to hit pause and do a gut check. Stress, … [Read more...]
Stand Your Creative Ground With Others
May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Creative self expression can feel like a very personal risk, especially when you need to stand your creative ground with others. This exact feeling is what keeps so many people from fully diving into their creative passion or expressing themselves -- the fear of how to explain themselves to the world. The truth is you are absolutely not obligated to explain yourself to anyone regarding your creative pursuits, but will most likely need to stand your creative ground at a point when you least … [Read more...]
The Direction of Your Life is Never Direct
April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
One of the most important things I’ve learned in my life so far is that no matter what I think is the most “direct” way to experience or learn something, life has entirely different plans. But beyond this sentiment sounding like fodder for boring bumper stickers and endless motivational posters, there is a much bigger, often overlooked truth nestled in here. The direction of your life is never a direct, straight line so why do you expect it to be? You often don’t realize the limitations you … [Read more...]
Time to Update your Dreams to Match the Current You
April 11, 2013 By 2 Comments
Are you living the dreams of the current you, or the previous, working beta versions of the real you? Even though you have physically moved beyond childhood, a terrible relationship, crappy job or various other personal growth stages, it doesn’t mean you’ve taken the time to expand and stretch your creative dreams. It could also be one of the main reasons why it seems like things are stagnant or as if “nothing”is happening; your dreams don’t match the current version of you or aren’t yours in … [Read more...]
Stop Using Self-Criticism as a Creative Motivator
April 4, 2013 By 1 Comment
Self criticism. It can scream at the top of it’s lungs in your face, at which point you are unable to deny the presence of it’s steamy breath. Other times it’s such a faint whisper the negativity barely registers at a conscious level, doing all the dirty work on the down low. No matter how it shows up, I notice how often it’s misused as a creative motivator by those who feel guilty about neglecting their creative callings, or who don’t really feel their ideas are worth … [Read more...]