Acknowledging Your Creative Self

Your creative self is alive and waiting for your invitation to evolve! Dare to embrace your creative self and manifest your dreams. Recognizing your creativity leads you into a life of self-expression, fulfillment, and contribution." ~ prelude to Secret 1

Here we are - the first chapter of "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin. The good old Barnes and Noble at the mall came through and the book arrived Friday just in time to get started with the rest of the folks in the book club.

I'm very excited about this! I'm choosing to make my posts before reading anyone else's, so that I will try to express my own vision. We'll see how that goes! Can't wait to see what others are thinking too.

Jamie Ridler who is leading the group asked us to start in this way:

"Let's start by celebrating that simply by being here, by signing up and putting your name on the blogroll, you have acknowledged your creative self! You have stepped up and stepped in and said, yes, to your creativity. What a great way to start 2009!"

A bit about how the book is laid out. The book is divided into four gateways. The first is Engaging Your Creativity. This Gateway includes four secrets. Each week we will be reviewing a chapter.

This Chapter and the others to follow provide us with keys to unlock the gateway. I think I'll plan to share my thoughts on each key...

Responding to Creative Callings: I had never really considered myself 'artistic' but I had known that I had a wonderful sense of the creative. Seeing beauty where others didn't. I was a young thespian and have always enjoyed crafty things. I have always been one to notice the world around me, the beauty of the sky, changing of the colors, how things flowed together or did not. One of the blogs I read regularly, Magpie Girl, has a banner tag line which says, "distracted by sparkly things since 1969" a kindred spirit! I do love the shiny! Would an ordinary person stop to take a photo like the one above? I love a good distraction!

At no time however, did I consider this gift particularly valuable. Sure - I could put together a lovely board for the science fair, and the stage does prepare one for public speaking and networking, but I wasn't particularly good at ART. Just ask my teachers. Actually, that's not fair. Senior year in high school I took Freshman Art (I had already taken every science class and math class, study hall would have been a waste of time what with all the kids taking it to hang out, and all the good office and library jobs were already taken and besides, an art credit makes one look well rounded on the college applications right...?) Mr. Nicholson gave me an "A" each term. Perhaps it was because I sat still, was quiet, and didn't chew gum. I turned in every assignment complete and on time. But, perhaps he did think I had talent too.

Of course confusing art and creativity may be at the heart of that issue.

Problem solving is generally all about being creative. Finding solutions. Looking at things new ways. Stimulating new ideas.

Work in the laboratory is all about charts, record keeping, data, control, but also problem solving. When I look I look at my hobbies, they are all about being creative. It started with scrapbooking. Then when I found a copy of Artful Blogging it was out of control! Now it's art journaling, jewelry making, photography. I'm busting out all over. I had been questioning whether this was a real manifestation of my own self, or a desperate need to seek a common bond with my son, the real art student. Probably I am allowed to own it.

The author cracked me up when she spoke of noting the publications she was reading being about beauty and creating a change... if you could see my google reader and my bookshelf... I'm owning that one too!

Experimenting With New Processes: I think I have been taking on many new challenges. Also, dropping some other ones. Some of you may not realize the significance of that last statement. I dropped some other ones. I must say that allowing myself to quit something without guilt was clearly the highlight of my personal year last year. There are a few more things I need to work on quitting. That process is probably going to be the key to my happiness. Allowing myself to see the things which are not adding to my success and discarding them is one of my goals.

Life is about the choices we make. Mine have often been made based on the path of least resistance. My son and I had a conversation early in his college career in which I was trying to explain that most adults still don't really know what they want to be when they grow up - including me. I like my job. I'm good at it. The people are mostly great. It is stimulating, but not exactly fulfilling. I need to find a path that is. I'm tired of saying I don't want to go to work each morning. Kind of like the bird in the photo above - some choices may not be all they seem!

Seeking Success Stories: I'm excited to read the words of the women in this book. I agree with the author that not enough women's voices are heard. Those that are, we find a way to tear down. It doesn't matter how smart you are if you aren't pretty enough or thin enough. If you are pretty, you can't possibly be smart. Powerful? Bitch. Rich? Greedy or shallow. Talented? Undeserving for any number of reasons. Oprah Winfrey. Rosie O'Donnell. Caroline Kennedy. Paris Hilton. I can't even name any role models I have because I have fallen prey to this school of thought. Time for some changes.

Learning the Secrets: That's why we're here!

Won't you join us?!

On the Nightstand

In an effort to focus (there's that word!) on some things I want to focus on, I've gathered some reading material... Here's what's on my list!

The Tao of Pooh - Benjamin Hoff. I've wanted to read this for some time. I bought the tapes maybe ten years ago? Couldn't focus on listening to them in the car - too many other voices crowded it out (see book number four!) This time I'm gonna be ready!

The Tarot Bible - Sarah Bartlett. The universe is often trying to tell us things. Perhaps I need to listen. Perhaps this is the language I can use.

Soul Coaching - Denise Linn. Looks like an interesting way to get ready to welcome change. I plan to use a resource here to help me in the process.

Taming Your Gremlin - Rick Carson. Saw this book over here and wanted it as soon as I read about it. The voices need to hush up! Hear me!? Also, I hope that the illustrator doesn't mind, but the line drawn images in this book are calling out to be colored in! I think that it would be a great meditative exercise. Yup. Don't you agree?

Life is a Verb - Patti Digh. I've talked here about '37 Days' before. I read this book while we were in Canada, but did not actually attempt any of the exercises. This time I'll focus! Living intentionally is the goal.

Journal Revolution - Linda Woods & Karen Dinino. What a fabulous way to learn more about art journaling. I really have been excited about the Soul Journal Project and this will be a fun way to continue the progress in this area. Many good ideas for prompts and techniques.

1000 Artist Journal Pages - Dawn DeVries Sokol. Beautiful! Check out D'Blogala the blog of the author. She has compiled 1000 examples of wonderful art. Although I know I'll find my own style, I love looking at these pages and getting ideas.

Life Artist - Ali Edwards. Some great ideas here for scrapbooking outside the box. I love her style and this book has terrific approaches to memory keeping.

Digital Scrapbooking for Dummies - Jeanne Wines-Reed & Joan Wines. This one was a gift from The Boy for Christmas. (Why is it not in the stack? Must have been reading it in the other room!) He thought it would help me create better pictures for sharing here on the blog as well as scrapbooking. I'm not ready to go all the way digital, but I've been wanting to try some hybrid stuff for a while so this is great!

Last but not least, I'm joining an online book club called the next chapter which will be reading The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin. That one had to be ordered so hopefully it will arrive before we begin this Friday! See the link on my side bar to join along with us. So glad I saw the link for this over at Adventuring Through Life - thanks Diana!

So what should I read when I'm done with these?

Suggestions?

Another F Word

A new year brings a new word of power. This approach to life is advocated by two folks I enjoy reading: Christine Kane and Ali Edwards. I have no idea where the concept originated, so I will direct you to both of them. The each have their own way of looking at things, both of which are inspiring.

Last year my word was FIRE. I think selecting a word really did guide me in my thoughts and actions throughout the year. I lost 20 pounds, started a soul journal, took a class and began jewelry making, took on my advisory role with sorority, started a book club, traveled, and was nicer to myself.

The idea is that if you chose your word carefully, and reflect on it when making decisions and actions, that you will end up where you want to go. It was interesting how once I selected the word, images of fire kept coming to me in the most unlikely places. Seeing them was the key I suppose. Wonder what images this year will bring?

This year I've chosen yet another F-word: FOCUS.

Main Entry: focus

Part of Speech: verb

Definition: aim attention at

Synonyms: adjust, attract, bring out, center, centralize, concenter, concentrate, convene, converge, direct, fasten, fix, fixate, get detail, home in, home in on, hone in, join, key on, knuckle down, meet, move in, pinpoint, pour it on, put, rivet, sharpen, spotlight, sweat, zero in, zoom in

Antonyms: ignore, neglect

Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2008 by the Philip Lief Group.

Now that I've become more aware of myself, I really need to begin to FOCUS more on what I'm doing while I'm doing it. Why am I spending so much time on things that don't enrich me? To FOCUS on what my inner voice is telling me. And I still need to deal with some of those demons I'm trying to keep locked up in the closet of my mind.

I need to FOCUS on not being afraid to finish things I start. To let my light shine - because I am good enough (Yes Stuart, we do rock). Stretching my limits and my comfort zone.

A FOCUS on learning and growing more. Really dialing in on what I need help with. Actually asking for help. Going back to school.

Now that I am on the path to weight loss, I need to FOCUS on better health. Strengthening my body. Cleansing my body.

I need also to FOCUS on strengthening my spirit. The Boy tells me repeatedly that I need to meditate. Perhaps I need should be listening. Why the heck do I have so much stress anyway? Is it really self inflicted? Why on Earth do we chose to do that?

I will also FOCUS on relationships. I fell short in this area last year. We need connections in our lives and so many of mine have been stretched so far. I miss the friends that are far away, both in distance and in spirit. I think of them daily, but am too afraid to reach out. I'll FOCUS on conquering that fear.

Will you pick a word? Will it change you, help to shape you into what you dream of?

Maybe! So make it a good one!

Welcome to 2009