5 ways to be creative when you think you’re not
Many times I’ll hear someone say to me, “Laurie, you’re a singer, you write songs, you’re creative, I can’t do that kind of stuff” followed by the notorious “I’m just not creative” as if they’re defeated before they even get started.
Think about some situations you’ve been in where you’ve felt powerless, frustrated, pushed in a corner, isolated, and confused about what you should do next. Do you think if you could write a song it would help you get out of that trap? Do you think painting a picture or writing poetry would be able to help you solve that problem either? When experiencing the problems just mentioned these are the times it’s most important to be creative. Consider these 5 ways to be creative when you’re feeling you have no innovative juice inside of you and tap into creativity you may have overlooked.
1. Reflect: We live in a reactive often unconscious society. By simply engaging in reflection and recognizing the moments in your life and what you’ve learned you’re tapping into that part of yourself that many never seek to know. Consider what parts of yourself, what answers you could discover if you simply made the time to reflect on your feelings, your thoughts, you gave yourself the space of silence to hear your own intuition. Get a journal and make time everyday to reflect and write.
2. Be vulnerable: The next time you feel as if you don’t know the answer or you’re confused about something simply say so boldly. Be that person who is willing to get the conversation rolling. Allow yourself to tell others what you’re experiencing instead of responding the way you think you should or by staying silent. Express yourself in an authentic and respectful way and you’ll soon be the go to person for creative solutions because you’re willing to be real, which not everyone is willing to do.
3. Be Flexible: When things are supposed to go one way and they don’t, tell yourself you’ve got nothing to lose even if you think you might. Consider at least two alternatives on how you might proceed and move forward. Model to others that you’re open-minded and be willing to receive feedback and adjust when necessary. Creative people welcome ideas and recognize there are ideas and opportunities everywhere. Be willing to see them.
4. Be Proactive: Recognize that there are times when we’re not able to plan, but in many cases we can prepare and be ready for what’s to come. Consider a potentially difficult client or staff meeting that always results with the same negative outcome. How could you proactively change how things go the next time. Possibly this would be to proactively at the beginning of the session state “This is what has happened the last 3 times we had this discussion, let’s make sure we don’t do it again. If it starts to happen I’m going to _________________” and establish your boundaries accordingly. Politely request their feedback as well and agree on how you each are going to respond when x occurs. Proactively address your boss privately when no conflict is present and say “every time I get called to your office I experience anxiety. It would really be helpful if you could let me know ahead of time what we’ll be discussing so I can prepare”. There are always exceptions and circumstances where this may not be effective, but just remember being proactive is about you being in the driver’s seat and in charge of how people treat you. If you’re not feeling respected or a situation is too great to deal with you always have a choice.
5. Support Creative/ Innovative people: Often times the few people who are willing to speak up or stick their neck out on the line are on their own. Those who don’t speak up may be thinking “thank goodness so and so spoke up and said exactly what I was thinking”. Just because it was said doesn’t mean it is going to have the same impact as it would if other people supported it as well. Connect with people who think like you, who you admire, who you respect, and practice supporting them fully. Surround yourself with the people who bring your energy up, who challenge status quo, who can help you tap into your own creative energies.
These are some examples of what creative people do. It doesn’t take any artistic skill to be able to perform these successfully, but it does take a commitment. When you’re drained or exhausted or thinking about what you’re lacking you’re not focused on your gifts and talents and getting them out into the world. Consider what a disservice this is and make the change to embrace your creativity today.
Let’s learn from George Clooney
Watching Up in the Air, I knew the overall concept of the movie and was interested in watching it, but didn’t think it would touch me personally per se. The basic premise of the movie is that George Clooney is hired by companies to fire employees for them. While George was talking to his young technology savvy recently hired protégé, he processed with her the reason this service needs to be provided face to face. As she accompanied him to his next assignment, she began to see the special touch that could be provided in person as opposed to doing this over the internet as she proposed to the owner of the company for whom George Clooney worked. Although, isolated and disconnected from his own family, George appeared to have a special touch for those going through this crisis and was able to help one of his soon to be unemployed victims see how he sold out years prior and never actually pursued his dreams. The conversation went something like this:
The gentleman began to discuss all the negative affects from this job loss including not being able to pay for his daughter’s medication, not having the respect of his children etc.
George inquired: “So your children’s admiration is important to you?”
Bob states back: “yeah, it was”
George replies: “I doubt they ever admired you bob”
Bob: “Hey Asshole, aren’t you supposed to be consoling me”
George: “I’m not a shrink Bob, I’m a wake up call, You know why kids love athletes?”
Bob: “Because they screw lingerie models”
George: “No, that’s why WE love athletes, kids love athletes because they follow their dreams.”
Bob: “Well I can’t dunk”
George: “No but you can cook, your resume says you minored in French culinary arts.
How much did they first pay you to give up on your dreams?
Bob states some nominal amount like $25,000
George: When were you gonna stop and do what makes you happy”
Bob: “Good question”
George discussed with Bob seeing man after man working for companies with no ounce of happiness. Encouraging the man to see the lay off as a positive and stated “If you’re not going to make a change for you, do it for your kids.”
I found this so very powerful. Don’t we all need a little bit of a wake up call? We all hope it won’t come in the form of being fired, but for many that’s the reality. The question is, are you doing what you love? Are you giving back to the world in the way you want to? If the answers are no, then start figuring out how to make that happen. Unfortunately, our current economic crisis is a significant social problem and is far from over. We’ve grown to realize that corporate America isn’t making the commitment to protect people anymore. If you’re lucky enough to have job security now, that may not always be the case.
Think outside your box. Have a plan B. Make a commitment to ask questions about vocations/ hobbies that interest you. Start doing something small and see what happens. Consider other ways to make money and to contribute to things bigger than you. Google what it is you’re interested in and people who are doing just that are sure to pop up. Contact them and ask questions. People will be delighted you’re interested in what they do. You are your own best advocate. Get out there and tell me what you find out!
Find your Butterflies
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Butterflies Pictures
The feeling of butterflies in the stomach, it’s a love hate relationship. You love the rush it gives you, but there is also that desire to be cozy in that safe comfort zone and you hate the idea of leaving it. Usually butterflies appear when something big is happening. Having butterflies means it matters.
Having butterflies is an important part to living with passion and purpose. So often I’m told, “nothing really gives me butterflies” or “I don’t get excited about anything”. My answer to that is, it is your job to get butterflies about finding butterflies if that is where you are. Be excited about getting excited if that’s all you have right now. Be excited someone reminded you having butterflies is an important part of life and you want to find some. Do you really want to go through life without having any butterflies? Once you find your butterflies, no one will be able to take them from you, which is a natural high that will drive you to find more of them. Imagine your energy and enthusiasm causing that same experience in other people, which is a very powerful thing to share.
You know what I’m talking about. You see someone that is excited and passionate about something and it stirs up something in you whether that is curiosity, interest, or desire to have “that” for yourself. If you have stagnant internal activity, that’s exactly what you’ll get more of in your life. Don’t be bored. Get butterflies.
Featured DIVAS
January 14, 2010 by admin
Filed under What's New
I’m all about celebrating awesome women who have amazing things to offer the world. If you know a Determined, Innovative, Vivacious, Achiever (D.I.V.A.) worth celebrating please submit a picture and quick summary of why and any other helpful information including website/ accomplishments/ personal traits/ personal stories/ etc. Please list NOMINATION in the subject line. We will be selecting a nomination each month and will announce it in our ezine THE DIVA DIRECTION.
Be sure you’re signed up for all the cool upcoming contests and announcements soon to come. Each winner selected to be the featured DIVA will win a copy of my CD “Call it a Feeling”. Please submit all formal nominations to DivaswithDrive@gmail.com Put that positive energy out there ladies!
Let’s hear it ladies… Who’s a DIVA that you know worth celebrating? Who will it be?
Divas with Drive: You ready to rock?
January 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under What's New
![3DLogo[1]](http://www.lifecoachlaurie.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/3DLogo1-300x230.jpg "3DLogo[1]")
Are you on information overload?
Itching for something more, but you’re not sure exactly what?
Feel like you should be getting things done but aren’t?
Always busy, but never productive?
Scattered and disorganized?
Have big ideas about what you want to do, but don’t know where to start?
Ready to stop bad habits and create new ones?
Want to make a difference with your life?
Trying to decide which program is for you?
Ready to live everyday knowing that you’re doing something worthwhile?
Determined to start creating a legacy you’re proud of?
If these questions resonate with you, the Divas with Drive journey has been specifically formulated to lead you to success FROM THE INSIDE OUT! Regardless of what you might have been told, clarity is our ONLY way to success. As many experts have quoted, our success is based on 80% of our psychology and 20% of our actions and behavior. Before I start throwing more “how to’s” at you, phase 1 of the DIVA kickstart plan is focused on ensuring you are prepared to take MASSIVE purposeful action and to operate at a new normal. If you’re not, you’ll likely continue to drown in negative self talk, take fear based action, and suffer from self defeating behaviors that prevent you from reaching your goals while maintaining your current status quo.
We’ve all been convinced there’s a quick fix to whatever pain we want to eliminate or whatever pleasure we seek, but we all know better than that, yet we fall for it over and over again. This program will support you to carefully create your customized next steps and the process can be repeated over and over again no matter where you’re at in your journey. No more reactive impulse buying out of desperation, no more buying something you’re not ready for, no more not having results. You’re NOW ready for D.I.V.A. living!! Take it from someone who’s been there done that!! About Me
My philosophy: “How To’s” are NOT ENOUGH and NEVER EVER will be!!
If they were, we’d all be Millionaires, we’d all have exactly the life we dream of, and we’d all want for nothing because there’s a book, a program, a seminar out there on “How to” for every one of the topics we are all so interested in mastering: i.e. Making money/ Starting a business/ Living with passion/ Finding love/ Being Happy/losing weight…. You name it!! So why aren’t we all “living the dream” so to speak?? It’s simple. We’re human and we’re complicated beings. We have multifaceted thoughts/ feelings/ behaviors and habits and it takes more than a few checklists and templates to create meaningful and lasting change.
Join us and:
• Proactively prioritize your next steps and walk away with your 2012 action plan
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• Move from being busy to being productive
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• Weekly modules in DIVA living assignments/ Worksheets
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