A new season brings in fresh energy of a different flavor, which means how you spend your time on self-care changes, too. The weather shifts with the daylight and your focus becomes more inward or external depending on where you live around the world. We all feel the itch, a fresh infusion of change as the earth does her thing, so why not join in the creative flow by switching up your self-care routine a bit, too? Maybe you celebrated the most recent season by … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Release Outdated Goals
September 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment
I chatted with a few very creative, soulful folks recently about gaining traction towards creative desires, and we wandered onto the topic of setting and using goals as a tool to focus energy and efforts. Personally, I have a bit of a challenge with the word goal. It feels a bit restrained and limiting. I prefer terms like objective, vision or task - they feel more open and flexible, even though they are also used to describe something very specific. But alas, the word … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Identify and Release Background Noise
September 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
When creative projects or brainstorming efforts hit a long-term lull, it might be time to consider the impact of a stealth culprit called background noise. This indirect distraction slowly builds up steam to form creative blocks, but has long-term staying power because the source of the “noise” is not always obvious to you. The tricky part? It can take place inside your mind or in your physical space. Background noise can take on four distinct forms: Negative self-talk that won’t let up or … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Look Through Old Photos to Stir Imagination
August 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Looking through old photos is a fast, easy way to take a free trip into your imagination. The emotions rekindled by seeing friends and family or recalling how you felt at the start of a big life adventure release a seed of imagination that’s free to wander again, rekindled and fresh. There’s something fascinating about seeing a moment in time, soaking up the small details in the background or noticing a look on someone’s face in a new light. The current you sees … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Watch the Creative Magic of the Sky
August 18, 2014 By 2 Comments
It’s easy to keep your head down to power through life’s to-do’s or laser focus on your “end game”, but when was the last time you looked up, taking in the creative magic of the sky? I have to admit, I don’t take us much time to “look up” as I used to when hours and minutes were a toy rather than a timer. As a kid, watching the clouds and the story they played out was part of a typical summer day, part of experiencing the natural creative magic of the universe as it unfolded in … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Confess a Creative Fear
August 11, 2014 By 1 Comment
There is power in confession, especially when it comes to releasing the grip of creative fear. The little, niggly “fear rushes” you feel when you are close to the truth can be almost paralyzing, and serve as an invitation to distract yourself from the source of the fear with things that are breezy and light. The rub? Fear avoidance is fun for a bit, but it also keeps you doing the “running man” in the same spot for ages - while your creative self expression growth gets … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Review Old Ideas to Spark New Inspiration
August 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Inspiration is a beautiful, mysterious gift. It’s an unpredictable, illuminating and altogether tingly experience that sneaks up on you in interesting ways. While inspiration catches your eye and motivates your heart in the moment, what happens to that insight beyond the moment? Some ideas catch on fire right away and have a mind of their own. Other ideas stall, become frustrating or soon feel sticky or clunky, along with your creative drive. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that in order … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Change a Part of your Routine
July 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
A routine can be a double-edged sword at times. While it helps you focus creative energy and sustain momentum, it can also stall your creative flow when the routine never changes. If you’ve hit a wall and aren’t exactly sure when it started, why not mix things up and change part of how you approach the work day, personal time or relationships with others? Small, Mindful Changes Stretch into Big Awareness Huge sweeping changes may sound appealing when you want to shake loose … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Ask for Help When Creative Frustration Strikes
July 21, 2014 By 1 Comment
Creative frustration is not a four letter word, even if it feels like it. The “stuckness” simply offers you an opportunity to see the truth behind a challenge by finding a fresh perspective. New insight can come through hard work, connections, luck, faith, meditation or simply walking away and taking a breather. However, when your go-to inspiration tools fall flat, along with your belief in yourself, it's easy to toss-up your hands in frustration and walk away from what you’ve … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Take Photos to Expand the Creative Eye
July 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Your creative eye is a window into yourself, whether you realize it or not. Lifestyle, family, relationships, personal highs and lows all play a part (sometimes subconsciously) in what you see as beautiful and inspiring, negative or depressing. These are the real tools that shape what you see as picture-worthy and inspiring, acting as a connection point to your inner creative sense of self. That’s why a creative eye does not require lessons, artistic parents or an … [Read more...]