Attraction: What We Attract With Our Creative Choices

I used to be a jazz singer. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, they were wonderful and I strived to sing like they did. But no one impressed me as much as Billie Holiday. The tragedy and the talent meshed together into a musical offering unlike any I'd heard. I was inexplicably drawn to the drama and the heartache.

Louise Montello points out, in her book, Essential Musical Intelligence, that I was drawn to those songs for a reason. They corresponded with how I was feeling about myself and my life, and the real or imagined conflicts or unresolved issues that were going on for me.

Later, I found myself still listening to music that was at a different 'frequency' than me, simply out of habit. I either didn't notice that all the songs I was choosing were focused on 'negative' topics or content I didn't agree with anymore, or sometimes I was drawn to the music or musicality of the performers. Or it was simply habit.

There was sometimes a 'coolness' factor - maybe the performer emulated a quality I wanted to possess. Maybe it was their version of success I was after.

A common concept in the personal growth field is that whatever we put our attention on, we unconsciously manifest into our lives. This is the purpose behind the gratitude list - taking time each day to focus on what we're grateful for. It helps to balance out the time that most of us spend lamenting what we DON'T have.

Last night I saw the new movie, 'What the Bleep do We Know?'. My mind is still reeling from all of the scientific evidence that supports the notion that the possibilities, for all of us, are infinite - AND definitely within our control if we choose to think a certain way.

One of the most fascinating and concrete examples came from a Japanese researcher who documented how water crystals changed depending on which thoughts were directed towards them. For more information about the movie, see http://www.whatthebleep.com.

This is not to say that we shouldn't ever sing sad songs, that we should only paint with pink and yellow, or that we should use our computer to filter out negative words in our writing. It's not to say that we should in ANY way censor our authentic expression.

My point here, as it with many of the topics I speak about, is that we should consciously choose and be aware of what we're expressing. AND, as an experiment, we can choose to try and manifest what we want by describing THAT in our art, instead of focusing on expressing our feelings about what we don't.

Today I experiment with choosing songs, both to listen to and to sing, which evoke images of things I want to create in my life, or things I'm grateful for.

I have a very special collection of songs that I listen to every morning. Every song in there is very deliberate. Some of the songs remind me to be grateful, some songs remind me to celebrate and all of the songs connect me in some way to my spirituality.

(c) Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. To receive her free monthly newsletter, "Everyday Artist", subscribe at http://www.genuinecoaching.com/artist-n ewsletter.html

---

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 10 Reasons To Care About It

1. To be more comfortable in performance situations ? performance anxiety usually stems from a variety of causes ? physical, mental and emotional. Maintaining your overall health... Read More

Unlock Your Creative Secret Weapon

It seems like this week a ton of people have been asking me how they can become more creative. I even had one client jokingly accuse me... Read More

Produce Creativity: 4 Ways To Motivate Your Melon

It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall ? hard. But there was so much work to be done! And I just had to get... Read More

How to Make Time for Art

The key to making time for art is the ability to say "NO".If you say "yes" to everything that is asked of you, you will not have... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I hear.Well, I'm all for having a party, but it strikes me that you don't have to be... Read More

Macrovision

These days it's all about breaking things down into manageable pieces in order to be able to reach a goal and track your process/progress, and keep yourself... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak; they have in them all that force which expresses the transports of the heart; they have all... Read More

Brainstorming Effectively

BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions to a problem is brainstorming. To use the brainstorming process effectively requires following a prescribed set of... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this... Read More

Creative Dreams - What Winter Driving Taught Me

We had a winter storm the other day here in Toronto. And as I was driving, I started thinking about what my winter driving had in common... Read More

The Healing Powers of Journaling

For the past several years, I have found joy working as a motivational writer and speaker. One of my greatest passions has been the gift of sharing... Read More

How To Discover Hidden Talents Within You And Begin Appyling Them In Your Life Now

Have you decided it may be time to start creating some new excitement in your life? If you are now retired, soon to be retired, or just... Read More

Top Five Journal Exercises

Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that enhances the creativity coaching process. Keeping a journal develops emotional awareness, reinforces self-esteem and aids in problem-solving.... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is needed and when the process is done properly. There are different types of inventions. Some inventions are... Read More

Creativity Isnt Just About Art It Is About Healing

Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your hand and ask, " What can you do for me?" What do you hear? If you listen... Read More

Are You Creative?

Have you ever heard the saying, "The harder I work, the luckier I get?" Guess what? That's the way it is with creative inspiration too.Don't Wait For... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (part 2)

Once you are ready to start working again you will know it instinctively. All artists go through periods of 'creative block' - it's normal, but after one... Read More

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we habitually fail to use. There is no problem that we cannot solve, no obstacle we cannot overcome,... Read More

Creative Drought

For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's message, the words, "what will I write?" screaming in my ears. I've felt like the princess who... Read More

A New Discovery Of An Old Secret

Some years ago, when the world seemed to close in on me and I felt as though I was trapped between the sword and the wall, I... Read More

Courage and Creating

Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage may be defined as going ahead in spite of fear. But many creators not only live with... Read More

Magic In Your Spice Rack

Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are the stuff of magic! A spell, after all is really just a recipe and traditionally many of... Read More

Improve Your Bottom Line, Kens Idea Saved over $100,000

Engaged employees can show us the way to continuously improve. Customers want our products and services to be better, delivered faster, and produced less expensively. This means... Read More

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a successful life, a good life, a sculpture, a piece of art, a book? What is it that... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under the surface of my awareness. I'm resistant to a new idea, I'm defensive about holding on to... Read More

10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

Creativity is your birthright ? but can often be hidden in the everyday. To facilitate your personal development and self growth, here are some creativity tips you... Read More