Archive for March, 2011

March 4th, 2011

How to Use Creativity to Inspire Your Life

{flickr photo courtesy of Meredith_Farmer}

Creative Obsessions

I once read a riveting article in Whole Living magazine about creativity and obsession. It was called, “Perfect Brainstorm: How to Tap Your Inner Genius.”

The article itself was brilliant. In my eyes, it exemplified the title. It was the writer Frances Lefkowitz tapping into his own genius.

Essentially, the article discusses all the time zappers in our lives (the worries, the insignificant tasks) that prevents us from doing the really important things-the things that really matter.

It was a reminder of my Get More by Doing Less Challenge. It reminded me about my essay that’s been collecting dust on my computer since summer. What have I been doing in the last 6 months?

It got me thinking about all of you out there who are also like me and the author. You’ve got all these BIG dreams. But several months and years later, you wonder what happened to the dream?

It seems as though little insignificant things took it apart and killed it.

All the attention you’re spending on everything and everyone else stole it.

So what’s the remedy?

Creative obsession baby.

Transforming Your Passion Into an Obsession

Do you remember how you felt when you first fell in love? Do you know how you get when you want something REAL bad?! (Think those pair of shoes you couldn’t stop thinking about, the career you’ve been dreaming of since infancy, etc.)

Choose your passion as your object of affection and then immerse yourself totally and completely into it.

For me, it means obsessively talking, thinking, reading about (yes I’ve already had my eye on 2 books and 1 course on personal essays) everything personal essay.

It means I’m devoting every day to reading it and revising it.

It means that when I’m window shopping or watching a television show, I’ve got one eye on the prize at the same time.

I’m bringing it with me to the doctor’s office-along with a pad of paper and a pen for easy note-taking.

If you think this is all a little…well OBSESSIVE, you’re right! It is. But that’s the whole point.

Try it. Be creatively obsessed and see if that doesn’t just inspire all the things you dream of for your life.

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March 3rd, 2011

We’re All Okay

{photo courtesy of: Rickydavid}

Are you sitting their feeling uncertain and filled with self-doubt?

Stop online shopping, updating your Facebook page and RTing that post on Twitter and read this.

You don’t need to have all of the answers right now!

It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up.

It’s all right if you’re not making a 6 figure income.

And your dream job?

It will still be there tomorrow so don’t fret over not finding it today.

I understand the urgency. There are too many websites and blogs these days that are spreading anxiety around the web so that you will invest in their product.

But I think anything real (real change, purpose, success) takes patience and time.

Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t discovered your dream yet. Don’t worry if you haven’t rose to the top. You will get there.

But all of this anxiety and fear are not helping to make the situation better.

The Major Hump

{photo courtesy of: h.koppdelaney} Right now, I’m reconfiguring my business. I’m working on creating a new website. I’m thinking of new articles ideas and ways to increase my business. But while I’m in the process of change, I need faith. I also need to maintain a positive, hopeful attitude so that I can get through this major hump.

If you have a business and you’re working on building it, don’t just sit there and pray it will grow. Do what you can to invest in yourself.

  • Invest time in marketing.
  • Invest time in understanding the market.
  • Invest time in researching your ideal client/business.
  • Invest time in yourself.

This could mean surrounding yourself with positive people who challenges you and wants you to grow.

I realized that in 2011, the only thing standing in my way is myself. I’m starting to take my business seriously. I’m doing what is necessary to foster my own growth as I work on growing my business.

You may feel far from where you want to be. But you have the “now.” What steps will you take to ensure your future? What things will you begin changing in this moment so that you will see changes in tomorrow?

Start slowly and do it today. Then do it again tomorrow. Eventually you will get there. Eventually your story will inspire others. Eventually, you will be the inspiration.

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March 1st, 2011

Major Lessons Through Life’s Major Challenges

Just when I thought I was over being sick, I was hit with the worst case of stomach flu of my life. I was riding the waves of illness for awhile and the repercussions shook me up so that I am still weak after a week of recovery.

I know that we’re only given as much as we can handle, but I found myself praying one night asking for mercy, willing the pain and discomfort to stop.

After I started feeling better, I begun to think about the “why” in the “why did this happen?”

Several days of staring off into space with nothing to do, I began to see the irony of what I was going through. I had been on a challenge for 21 days to do nothing. And now here I was forced to do just that. This time illness bound me to bed and I really could not do anything, even if I wanted to.

Reflections

After sickness cleared out my stomach and body, I went through a series of lessons. The first was compassion.

Compassion for those in pain.

As I lay in bed, I thought about all of the people who were sitting in their bed and could not move. I thought about my grandfather who stricken with severe diabetes and who spent the remaining years of his life there. I thought about my grandmother who could not escape from the confines of confusion and memory loss Alzheimer’s brought.

I thought about mothers caring for their sick children and sick adults trying to take care of themselves.

I thought about every single person who felt pain, was enduring sickness or going through a difficult time. It was a heavy moment. But I had nothing else to do so I inhaled it in.

Purpose

The second was purpose. While I sat there, I thought about my purpose. I thought about stripping away the trivial things of my past and emphasizing and intensifying my passion.

I remember being in grammar school and having a portfolio. In it, there were cut up magazine ads and story boards I drew with grandiose ideas to sell ordinary every day products. I was a copywriter at heart, but I let the dream die when I became an adult.

Part of that was realizing a few obstacles that got in the way. One was all the obsessing I was doing on what others were accomplishing. Doing so made me abandon my dream. I vowed to start obsessing on my own life.

Patience

When it takes you twice as long to do the things you normally do, you grow patience. Patience is something I needed to develop. I am the type of person who loves to check things off her to-do list. I enjoy seeing finish products, not projects in process. But after this past challenge, I learned how vital patience is. I need patience so I can heal 100% from my illness. I need patience so I can grow my business. It takes patience to get through the hard, unfruitful and challenging times. Being sick with lots to do and no energy to do them, reminded me about that.

Elevating the Little Things

The little things made a big impact on me while I was sick. I had to find gratitude in the small things. I looked forward to bath times so I could feel the comfort of warm water on my cold skin.

If you can find small things to feel joyful, you can get through anything.

If you can do small things every day to get you towards your goals, you will eventually change your life.

The Gift of Illness

No one likes to be sick. But I’m grateful for the lessons I discovered during a moment of temporary illness. They have been an unexpected, though appreciated gift.

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