It happens to the best of us when we create - the rise of pesky creative expectations! When tuned into the passion of the creative process and fully engaged, energy is high and we are immersed in building what we envision. Inspiration is flowing and the creative process is organically emergent and natural. What we might not realize is that we are also adding a few creative expectations to the mix, unconsciously. For example, we can create art, a … [Read more...]
Fine Tune Observation Skills to Fire Up Creativity
January 9, 2019 By Leave a Comment
There’s something to be said for amping up quiet observation skills. To actively listen to what’s just beneath the surface, or feel into the vibe of the room or situation before even one word is spoken. Call it “spidey sense”, intuition, or gut feeling, all of these factors tie into how you observe, what you “hear”, how you relate, and subsequently, create. The way you listen also changes with each experience. What you learned, how you may or may not have gotten burned, and a little sprinkle … [Read more...]
Notice and Leverage Useful Insight from Creative Crunch Time Behaviors
March 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Creative crunch time behaviors are something we all develop. Students, employees, entrepreneurs and creatives alike deal with the sense of dread that comes with looming deadlines and feeling the mental and physical pressure. We also have habits we return to again and again in crunch time that we can use to our advantage - if we stop judging ourselves about them. Take a moment to pause and think about it. When you have a deadline looming and start to feel the pressure, what … [Read more...]
Why It’s Time to Embrace the Unsexy Parts of Self-Expression and Creativity
September 26, 2016 By 1 Comment
A flash of insight, the burning desire to create and an outpouring of deep, honest self-expression are definitely part of the creative process. Also part of creativity...long hours, doubt, frustration, mundane tasks, starting over and feeling like you don’t know your own voice. This is not a bad thing, it’s just not...sexy. It's so much easier to live in the dreamy part of your vision! Yet, embracing the unsexy parts of self-expression leads to more honest … [Read more...]
What’s your Eye Candy? Use it to Spark Creative Inspiration
January 15, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The phrase “eye candy” is more than a silly euphemism, it’s a great way to describe how powerful images can spark creative inspiration. Colors, nature, pretty clothes, cuddly critters or pictures of mouth-watering food you can almost smell through the screen - each apply pressure to your creative nerve in different ways. Whether it’s a nudge or a full-body, zombie-like trance depends on how in tune you are with what inspires you, and if you are spending time in places that feed your creative … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: How to Rethink Creative Opportunities
January 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The new year is a built-in invitation to look at everything with a fresh set of eyes, but it’s also a chance to rethink creative opportunities left over from last year. Are there some half-baked ideas still hanging out in the back of your mind? Any current ideas that feel played out and uninspired? What about projects that involve collaborators and shared paths? Do they still feel like a fit? It’s human nature to want to scrap the old and start over once you get a whiff of … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Sharpen your Creative Edge
August 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment
For a creative edge to stay sharp requires attention. Notice I said attention, not work. The little mindful things you do to stretch your imagination, open your heart and shift how you see yourself connecting in the world are the real sharpening tools, and show you exactly where your creative edge lies. Sharpening it takes mindful action. To help crack open your defenses and habits to challenge yourself in a meaningful way, rather than max limits through sheer force to expand your … [Read more...]
Weekly Creativity Kick-Start: Tracking Inspiration
March 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Tracking inspiration is one of the easiest ways to ensure you have quality ideas for a creativity kick-start when your flow is feeling low and slow. With a busy life, inspiration often visits you at what I like to call the “in-between” times; during a walk, shower or while you drift off daydreaming over lunch. So before the “creative tingles” float off, what tools do you use to make sure you capture its essence? With so many high-tech AND low-tech tools to choose from, it’s not … [Read more...]
If You’re Ready to Dig Deep, You’re Ready to Get Creative
March 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The creative process is one of the most personal, intimate things someone experiences in their lifetime. It’s unique to you, and only you will know if it feels authentic or fulfilling. Doing what others do to "get into a creative space" may work to blow open an entrance into the rabbit hole, but the real gift is in the process -- how YOU as an individual feel and deal with what’s poking its head out of the sand, staring at you. What’s really happens during the creative process? It’s how we … [Read more...]