This may seem like a cliche, but it really is more important than ever to trust your feelings as a guide to clarity and self mastery. And I’ll tell you why. We are all going through loss, fear, growth, challenges, and set-backs in different ways. While the details of our personal experiences are unique, we have an opportunity as a global community to step into this universal slow down and actively reset how we align feelings and actions. This includes any … [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...]
Making it Through a Creative Desert to the Other Side
November 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
It takes guts to admit when we are in the middle of a creative desert, especially if we aren’t sure how to get out of it to the other side. The experience can start out innocently enough. Distractions become more engaging than looking at what’s “dried up”, and why. Drama inflicted by others takes on a new level of importance, and there’s always lots of excuses about timing and inspiration. We might also focus on what isn’t working to a fault, instead of what we can … [Read more...]
What Do You See as Barriers to Success? Why?
October 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Even when we are successful by a variety of standards, our mindset can continue to focus on barriers in our career, relationships, or life. Some version of these questions might also pop into our head... When will I be seen and noticed for my true value and talents? How will this get me closer to what I see as “making it?” What is wrong with me that I find it so hard to keep good friendships or relationships? And so … [Read more...]
Facing, and Dismissing, the Inner and Outer Critic
October 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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...]
Do You Embrace or Suppress the Creative Storm Brewing Within?
July 31, 2017 By 1 Comment
There’s a creative storm brewing within you right now. Yes, you. It might not feel like much of a storm. Perhaps it seems more like a collection of thoughts, desires, emotions, and experiences circling about, building momentum. Churning. Brushing up against each other, causing a little friction and fire as they dance together. But that’s how the creative spark works. It’s not a mind thing, it’s an inspiration thing. A feeling thing that’s unique … [Read more...]
What Would You Create If Time Didn’t Matter?
February 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
I don’t know about you, but the element of time definitely plays a role in what I choose to create. It takes time to connect with an idea and it’s possibilities, gather resources and shift into “creative mode”. In addition, creativity requires us to feel like it’s “worth it" to start on a project and consistently follow through until it’s finished, whether it’s for yourself or a client. And there’s also that perfection part of us that can slip in, wondering … [Read more...]
Routines and Why you Can Stop Longing for “the” Creative Zap
May 14, 2015 By 1 Comment
Routines and the seemingly elusive creative zap of inspiration you long for do co-exist. Really, they do. Actually noticing the creative zap is about your perspective from within the routine. It’s not about completely changing what you do and who you are, but being willing to look at where your routines are more protective than supportive, more evasive than empowering. Do you understand why you do it "your" way? Look at … [Read more...]
Creativity Kick-Start: Identify your Creative Crutch
October 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Sometimes a creative block isn’t really a block as much as a worn out creative crutch. It may seem harmless, just part of your routine, but it can also be the reason you feel too comfortable, unwilling to stretch beyond your comfort zone. A creative crutch serves as a very effective distraction that straddles the line between contentment and limitation. It keeps things moving along in ways you know, in the familiar grooves and patterns. The tricky part is that just beyond … [Read more...]
Can you Tell when Judgment Creep Snuffs Out your Creative Spark?
September 25, 2014 By 1 Comment
Have you ever dealt with judgement creep? It’s the naggy, negative self-talk that drips with comments about unmet expectations and snuffs out your creative spark. On the low end of the spectrum, judgement creeps starts out as a subtle sense that some of your creative projects or work feels “off”. You are unsatisfied with what you’ve created or place your focus on “getting it right” next time. It may take a little time, but after some space you can see the value in your … [Read more...]