Friday, August 24, 2012
This'll get you thinking too...
This is a wonderfully thought provoking book, available on Amazon. 100-WHATS of CREATIVITY
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Five Most Important Things You Need to Know about Living Your Passion
You need to be doing what you are passionate about, but how do you know what that is? Your passion is that thing you do that makes every one around you light up. Your passion is the thing people come to YOU for. I have a couple of things that applies to: sharing what I know and making connections between diverse concepts. Add those together and you can see why I teach creativity!
I get excited by new things, I have to figure out how they did that, and when I figure it out, I tell everyone. I want to know why people do what they do, so I try to understand that. I want to know everything (nearly) and then I want to make everything into something else. So, I teach creativity.
With that in mind, what do people come to you for? Is it auto restoration advice? Cooking tips? Relationship advice? Help picking out the perfect outfit? How to get better at a sport? And when they come, what topic makes you drop everything and answer? That's your passion. And if you're doing something related to your passion, then you shine almost effortlessly and you glow because your soul is on fire!
There's a couple things you have to know about living your passion. First it takes courage. It takes courage because so few people actually do it that when you start, you're like an alien at a good ole boy convention. You get some folk nattering at you to stick to the safe, predictable job you already have. You get some folk telling you are setting yourself up for failure. You get some folk telling you that you're depriving your family of stability. So, it takes a hell of a lot of courage to stick to your convictions and do what makes you happy.
Second, it takes courage. Yes, I said courage again. Because you have to break your bonds. You have to go out on a limb - just a little, but still. You have to start. And starting anything new is scary as hell, even if you want it so bad you'd die for it. So, you have to step out of your comfort zone and we need to talk about that. What is your comfort zone?
It's the RUT you've been running around in for years. It's the circle you've carved into the ground with your daily, monthly, yearly routine. It's not really a comfortable place, it's just what you're used to. So, you've got to climb up out of that rut and look at a new horizon. And this is where it all gets a little hairy. Because the rut is easy but it isn't the least bit comfortable, and your real comfort - the place where you'll be happiest and most fulfilled - comes from living your passion, which we already admitted is a scary place to head for.
But this is the most important thing I can tell you, so listen up: Your true comfort zone is your passion.
What is comfort? If your clothes are comfortable, they fit well, right? If you comfort someone, you make them feel better. If you live comfortably, your needs are fulfilled. And what about your passion? It fits you, doesn't it? And you feel happier when you are actively engaged in your passion, don't you? And, yes, you are fulfilled at those times when you are involved with something you love doing, aren't you?
Your Passion IS your true Comfort Zone. Going there will bring you joy and satisfaction. So go. Your passion awaits.
I get excited by new things, I have to figure out how they did that, and when I figure it out, I tell everyone. I want to know why people do what they do, so I try to understand that. I want to know everything (nearly) and then I want to make everything into something else. So, I teach creativity.
With that in mind, what do people come to you for? Is it auto restoration advice? Cooking tips? Relationship advice? Help picking out the perfect outfit? How to get better at a sport? And when they come, what topic makes you drop everything and answer? That's your passion. And if you're doing something related to your passion, then you shine almost effortlessly and you glow because your soul is on fire!
There's a couple things you have to know about living your passion. First it takes courage. It takes courage because so few people actually do it that when you start, you're like an alien at a good ole boy convention. You get some folk nattering at you to stick to the safe, predictable job you already have. You get some folk telling you are setting yourself up for failure. You get some folk telling you that you're depriving your family of stability. So, it takes a hell of a lot of courage to stick to your convictions and do what makes you happy.
Second, it takes courage. Yes, I said courage again. Because you have to break your bonds. You have to go out on a limb - just a little, but still. You have to start. And starting anything new is scary as hell, even if you want it so bad you'd die for it. So, you have to step out of your comfort zone and we need to talk about that. What is your comfort zone?
It's the RUT you've been running around in for years. It's the circle you've carved into the ground with your daily, monthly, yearly routine. It's not really a comfortable place, it's just what you're used to. So, you've got to climb up out of that rut and look at a new horizon. And this is where it all gets a little hairy. Because the rut is easy but it isn't the least bit comfortable, and your real comfort - the place where you'll be happiest and most fulfilled - comes from living your passion, which we already admitted is a scary place to head for.
But this is the most important thing I can tell you, so listen up: Your true comfort zone is your passion.
What is comfort? If your clothes are comfortable, they fit well, right? If you comfort someone, you make them feel better. If you live comfortably, your needs are fulfilled. And what about your passion? It fits you, doesn't it? And you feel happier when you are actively engaged in your passion, don't you? And, yes, you are fulfilled at those times when you are involved with something you love doing, aren't you?
Your Passion IS your true Comfort Zone. Going there will bring you joy and satisfaction. So go. Your passion awaits.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Fear of Anonymity and Fear of Recognition
I was reading a post about creativity blocks. The number one block listed was fear of ridicule, which, ahem, got me thinking...
I'm not particularly afraid of ridicule. I don't like it, but I guess I've been exposed to enough critique of my artwork to know that some people are just going to hate what I do and others will love it. What I realized is that I'm afraid no one will notice and I'm afraid they will notice. Say what? you may ask. I'll explain.
I write this blog aware that about 2 people ever read it. I had a grand opening for a business once - two people came, one of whom is probably reading this blog (Thanks, Phyllis!) I know a lot of people who have held some event and worried that no one would come. I've actually experienced that, which should explain the fear of anonymity!
In a weird way, I'm used to going unnoticed, so I'm also not used to much attention being focused on me. In some ways, that's very liberating. Oddly, I can stand up in front of 400 people and talk, no problem. But let heads turn when I walk into a room and it terrifies me.
The end result is about the same as if I were afraid of being ridiculed for my efforts. I have wonderful ideas and I put those into action, but I have no idea how to get them out into the world. I don't have that infinite network of friends and associates that seems to help other people launch. I'm afraid to say Hey, semi-stranger, what do you think about this? because first, I am afraid they won't respond and, second, I'm afraid they will!
Maybe that translates to fear of rejection? I'm afraid they won't respond, that they'll dismiss me as not worthy of their time and attention. And if they do respond, I'm afraid they'll decide they needn't have bothered. What makes that all totally whacked (instead of just somewhat whacked) is that I'm not at all afraid that they'll reject my work. My work is valid. It's my worth I doubt.
The blog post I linked to above, the beast that started this introspection, is short and to the point. It made me think. Perhaps the revelation it caused will make me grow. Knowing, as they say, is half the battle - but acting on what you know - that's the hard part.
I'm not particularly afraid of ridicule. I don't like it, but I guess I've been exposed to enough critique of my artwork to know that some people are just going to hate what I do and others will love it. What I realized is that I'm afraid no one will notice and I'm afraid they will notice. Say what? you may ask. I'll explain.
I write this blog aware that about 2 people ever read it. I had a grand opening for a business once - two people came, one of whom is probably reading this blog (Thanks, Phyllis!) I know a lot of people who have held some event and worried that no one would come. I've actually experienced that, which should explain the fear of anonymity!
In a weird way, I'm used to going unnoticed, so I'm also not used to much attention being focused on me. In some ways, that's very liberating. Oddly, I can stand up in front of 400 people and talk, no problem. But let heads turn when I walk into a room and it terrifies me.
The end result is about the same as if I were afraid of being ridiculed for my efforts. I have wonderful ideas and I put those into action, but I have no idea how to get them out into the world. I don't have that infinite network of friends and associates that seems to help other people launch. I'm afraid to say Hey, semi-stranger, what do you think about this? because first, I am afraid they won't respond and, second, I'm afraid they will!
Maybe that translates to fear of rejection? I'm afraid they won't respond, that they'll dismiss me as not worthy of their time and attention. And if they do respond, I'm afraid they'll decide they needn't have bothered. What makes that all totally whacked (instead of just somewhat whacked) is that I'm not at all afraid that they'll reject my work. My work is valid. It's my worth I doubt.
The blog post I linked to above, the beast that started this introspection, is short and to the point. It made me think. Perhaps the revelation it caused will make me grow. Knowing, as they say, is half the battle - but acting on what you know - that's the hard part.
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