Busting the Myth of Creativity

Jonah Lehrer was interviewed by Michael Krasny today on KQED Forum about his new book, Imagine: How Creativity Works.  Lehrer is a science writer by trade who has turned his attention to the intersection of brain science and creativity. He offers a feast of research busting the myth that creativity is rare and possessed by the gifted few.  Nice to know that science has caught up with what we already know to be...

Lovin’ those Constraints

In the Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp tells of two of experiences in her vast repertoire of brilliant choreography that are a sharp lesson in appreciating creative constraints. In the first she was given unlimited resources:  any dancer she wanted  from the New York City Ballet – some of the best dancers in the world, all the rehearsal time she needed, and whatever musicians she wanted.  To sum up a good story: “…it’s...

Find Your Own Way

When our daughter was young it was agony getting ready for school in the morning. Dawdle and distraction were constant playmates.  I wish I could say I was the picture of the cool, calm and collected parent but many days the sight of my hair standing on end would indicate otherwise. One such morning after the endless refrains of:  “Grace, are you dressed yet?”, I went to see for myself.  Charging down the hallway,...

Follow the Juice

    There are times in our lives when we feel stuck, bored, or uninspired. We know we want something different but don’t know how to get it.   We spend lots of time hanging out in our minds trying to figure out either what’s causing the dis-ease or the fastest way to be relieved of it.  It isn’t useful to wait around for a nice, inspiring epiphany to fall into your lap.  The issue is we’re not feeling any...

Ask Dumb Questions

My current juicy question – What would it be like to make a ten fold increase in my contribution and fulfillment in the world? – recently took me to Phoenix, Arizona to participate in Lift Off, a retreat for entrepreneurs who want to take their creative business to the next level. Ideas are not my shortcoming.  I needed help getting them launched. Masterfully guided by Pam Slim and Charlie Gilkey, Lift Off promised...

Where the Magic Happens

This graphic has been making the rounds on Facebook.  When I locate the original source I will happily credit the creator. I love the message. We’re all familiar with comfort zones – safe, predictable, nothing that rocks the boat.  When we’re in the midst of chaos, they are the oasis we thirst for. They’re okay as a resting place from time to time.  Stay there too long and things feel stagnant, unimaginative and...

But First…

One of the ways we sabotage our natural creativity is a pattern I call “but first.”  Though it feels and looks like we’re being productive, it’s resistance in disguise. Remember those draw-the-line-to-the-right-answer questions in school?  In this one any combination of the pairs is a match.   Take any item from the 1st column and pair it with any item in the 2nd column.  Feel free to make up your own. I want...

Look Up. Look Down. Look All Around.

It’s confession time.  Occasionally when there is something tasty in the fridge that I want to savor before the family devours it, I hide it. It’s easy enough.  Depending on who I’m hiding it from, I stash it on the higher or the lower shelf.  Daughter doesn’t look high.  Partner doesn’t look low.  More for me. Let’s leave my trust issues aside for the moment.  There’s something to learn here about how we see...

Progress Not Perfection

A new cast member has revealed herself in my Gremlin ensemble.  Tall and lanky with a thin face and hawk-like nose she bears a striking resemblance to my elementary school principal.  No surprise that she goes by the code name: Mother Superior. The Gremlin ensemble is made up of those voices of judgment and criticism that arise to sabotage our best intentions. They are sneaky and clever.  Mother Superior’s script...

What Are You Arguing For?

In case you missed it, I am on a crusade to fire up your natural creativity.  What finally set my torch ablaze to take up this mission was hearing yet one more person state with conviction, almost with pride, “I’m not creative”. “I love what you do but I can’t draw.” “My sister/brother/parent/friend is SO creative.  I’m just not.” “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” “I can’t draw a straight line.”  (Uh, no...

In a Snit with my Creativity

I’m in a snit.  I was intrigued by an idea I’ve seen floating around the blogosphere that suggests choosing one word to work with for the year.  It’s the same principle I wrote about last week – choose a great question and have an adventure with it for the next year – only this is with a single word. The idea stuck.  It stuck like gum to the bottom of my shoe. The way an idea I’m meant to pay attention to sticks. ...

The Adventure of a Great Question

This is the time of year when  people are making resolutions for the New Year or have already broken them.  Most of the focus is on things we don’t like about our lives or ourselves and want to change – or think we should.  Research indicates a small percentage of people actually carry out what they resolve at the dawn of a new year.  I don’t say this to be a downer but to suggest that perhaps our attention...

A Blessing For the New Year

              As we draw the curtain on 2011, I give gratitude to you, the readers of these posts.  I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to practice consistency in this new vehicle of self expression.  Without you, there would be no motivation or accountability — key to my creativity.  For those of you who have offered comments either here or privately, your words bless...

Let it Flow, Let it Flow, Let it Flow

Recently I accepted an assignment from my mentor.  She suggested that for a month I give up striving, driving, initiating, or instigating; all the active, dynamic energies that are my natural first impulse and without which I don’t always trust that I’ll get what I want. The invitation was to explore living in receptivity, the state of allowing – a dance with the magnetic energies.  In other words: stop...

My Year in Review

As a self-employed entrepreneur, I get to plan my own year end traditions.  This includes everything from a holiday party to performance review. The beauty of being self-employed is that I have a choice in what I want to pay attention to. This can also apply to retired people, those between engagements or those who don’t have to work. Here are the elements of my year-end review. Reflection       The typical...