Photo by TanteTati It's the time of year that we thinking of gratitude and giving thanks for our blessings. Expressing our gratitude is one way to keep a sense of inspiration for our creative gifts alive. However, did you know that there is a relationship between gratitude and creativity?
Research has proven that there a connection between happiness and innovative thinking. When we allow ourselves to experience emotions such as gratitude, happiness, and play, thoses emotions help us remember more vividly, and encourage us to think outside the box. Gratitude can open us to new ideas and approaches to our creative practice. It is easy to get lost in "lack" thinking i.e.....if only I got into that exhibition, if only that producer said yes to my demo, I wish I had my own studio, then I can create this or that. But when we look at the positives, the book that got published, the weekend that the kids were away and I got so much done, etc., that energy can move towards more creative wins. If we can practice gratitude everyday instead of special events like Thanksgiving or the holiday season, we can use that energy to stay inspired and more discipline with our creativity. Think about what you are grateful for and see how that feeling can move you into a more positive place with your creative work. Lori McNee of FineArtTips.com shared some thoughts from the fomer ForTheCreators.com blog:that I love: "BE THANKFUL FOR WHERE YOU’RE AT: Be thankful for the time you do have to create, however small Be thankful for the opportunity you have been given to learn your craft Be thankful for the friends and family who do show you unconditional support Be thankful for the materials you have that allow you to be creative Be thankful for the space you have to create in Be thankful for how far you’ve come" What and who are you grateful for today that helps you with your creative practice? .
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Ah yes, the Holidays……! The holidays are a wonderful time of year for reconnecting and celebrating productivity and blessings from the last eleven and twelve months. As creatives this season comes with mixed blessings….the ability to sell some of our wares depending on our creative practice for holiday gift giving is ideal. For others, time to work on our creative projects….can be compromised. If you are among the latter, it can get tricky to balance all of the demands that the season brings. But with a little advance planning and discipline, this season does not have to be unproductive. Here’s a few tips on how to navigate the holiday season to your advantage:
The holidays are indeed stressful but don’t have to be. With a little planning on the front end you can establish the priorities, the activities and your desired goals and actually meet them without feeling resentful or stressful. What tips or tricks do you use to maintain your creative practice or reach your goals during the holiday season? I am excited to announce that I am now a "published" author! I had the honor to be among 40 creativity coaches from around the globe to contribute to a book focusing on the first-ever case study examination of the art and practice of creativity coaching.
Inside Creativity Coaching, published by Routlege Books this week, was curated by one of America's foremost creativity coaches, Eric Masiel which includes rich narratives that examine how creativity coaches work with writers, painters, musicians, craftspeople, and other creatives on issues such as motivation, procrastination, blockage, and performance and career anxiety. Packed with concrete tools and techniques, the book draws on inspirational success stories to help coaches better understand and serve their creative clients. It will be a valuable resource to creativity coaches, coaches interested in developing a specialty, and creatives and performing artists looking to overcome their challenges. Covering a diverse range of disciplines, Inside Creativity Coaching is a must-have book for both aspiring and experienced creativity coaches, and anyone interested in helping creatives. I am proud to be able to participate in this book project and provide a chapter based on my own experiences as a creativity coach. Inside Creativity Coaching is available on Amazon.com, Vital Source, Book Depository, and other book sellers by request. |
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