For this week's creativity kick-start tip I wanted to talk about the location of "your space". Where you decide to decompress or tune in to your inner creative guidance is just as important as what you do once you settle in for this special personal time. So where is yours? I have a few go-to spots, some indoors and some outside. I like to switch them up depending on the time of day and where I'm at in my mental space. If I'm too cued up and in my head, I go for a walk or sit out in the grass … [Read more...]
Opening Awareness to your Creative Flow in Daily Life
January 9, 2014 By 4 Comments
It’s easy to say you want to be more connected to your creative flow in daily life. Yet, if I ask most people what being in the creative flow looks or feels like, it’s not easy to explain. So, is it necessary to always “know” if you are in creative mode instead of just riding the wave of inspiration? Not at all. However, if you are feeling more and more disconnected from yourself, or if flickers of creativity seem to be missing from your life altogether, it can be a sign that your … [Read more...]
Weekly Creativity Kick-Start
January 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
When I was brainstorming new ways to support my readers in 2014, I started out by thinking about where people get stuck most when attempting to connect with their inner creative spark. The simple answer? The biggest challenge is being able to tap into, utilize and share our natural creative talents as part of every day life. Creativity is not a "special sauce" you take out of the cupboard once and a while when you need to kick-ass on a project or impress someone. It's a natural part of every … [Read more...]
Creative Power Lies in Your Personal Practice
January 2, 2014 By 1 Comment
At the start of the new year it can feel like you want to change everything at once to kick-start your creative power. The inspiration to change something, anything, is in the air and it can be very intoxicating. So when you feel the urge to switch things up and fuel your creative power, where do you start -- with habits visible to the outside world or by crafting and committing to a new personal practice? While there isn’t a specific magical balance of these two internal/external forces … [Read more...]
A Time for Creative Rest
December 26, 2013 By 2 Comments
I think the day right after a big holiday is one of the best times of the year to practice full-on creative rest. It’s just before the end of the year when your mind shifts into reflection mode and you are able to see what did and didn’t work for you with more clarity and objectivity. You are also looking ahead to see what seeds you may want to start planting in the new year, allowing yourself more permission to dream and explore. But before you jump right back into action mode, a small … [Read more...]
Cutting Creative Baggage Loose
December 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Do you know your own creative baggage? Where it lives, hides or how it feeds itself? How about when it likes to make an appearance? This slippery little minx can make herself pretty scarce, and then suddenly reappear, sending you into a bit of a tizzy with no clear cause and a mess to clean up. So if this sounds familiar and you really want to shift away from drama, the most important question to ask yourself is this... Are you really ready and willing to shake your creative … [Read more...]
Loving What you Perceive as your Creative Flaws
December 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Is it easier to point out your attributes or list your creative flaws? If I were to guess, I would say your list is a bit lopsided, and your ability to pick out what you would change is not only longer, but easier to write. So instead of looking at the points on your list as things to overcome or fix, why not take what you perceive as your creative flaws and learn how to love them? The willingness to see all of who you are and use it to fuel your self expression and creative projects opens up … [Read more...]
Self Appreciation and Giving Thanks for your Creative Gifts
November 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Thanksgiving always creates a flurry of focus on appreciation, but how often do we direct that love and gratitude into true self-appreciation? Loving yourself just as you are, learning and striving to be more and growing, even just a little bit, as you screw things up is all part of being human. It’s how you learn what is truly worthy of your gratitude and loving attention, and what you most value at a core level. Yet, most of us put self appreciation last on the list if at all, instead placing … [Read more...]
The Difference Between a True Connection and Connection of Convenience
November 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
There is a very distinct difference between forming a true connection with a person compared to creating an alliance with someone out of convenience. The challenge is that people struggle with discerning the subtleties of each, and this leads to misunderstandings, hurt feelings and relationships that are a mismatch in terms of the energy exchange. It doesn’t mean every connection is required to feel personally fulfilling all the time, but tuning in to how each connection plays out is like having … [Read more...]
When Starting Over is the Only Option and How to Be at Peace with It
November 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
There are times, despite your best efforts, that starting over is the only option. Your mind has covered every angle. Your heart breaks with each fresh review of the “facts”. There’s no sign of things changing for the better, and your creative inspiration is as dried up as a stale cracker. If things are looking (and feeling) charred and burned, succumb to sweet surrender. It's the first step to opening your heart for change. But once you do, can you let things flow to … [Read more...]