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 with my creative dreams. Here's what I came up with.

1. Being grateful to be in my car, pointed in the right direction and moving (however slowly). Some days I don't accomplish as much work towards my creative dream as I set out to. Other days it seems like I'm moving backwards.

And I know that as I:

~ Get in the car (show up every day),

~ Point it in the right direction (have positive intentions and goals that I've expressed, written down and shared with someone), and

~ Keep moving (spending time on my creative dream every day, even just five minutes),

I'm doing the right things to protect my creative dreams and keep them alive.

2. There will always be someone in front of me and there will always be someone behind me, and where I am is just perfect.

When I come upon a person who is living out a version of my creative dream, only they seem to be farther along with it than I am, I need to let go of any feelings of jealousy, fear or discouragement that may come up.

I need to learn from them, admire them, connect with them and offer them my support. And I can do the same for the person who's just starting out and for whom my almost two and a half years in business seems like a lifetime.

I need to accept that my fate is already happening, and it's happening at the perfect speed, even if I don't always see it at the moment.

3. If I try to do more than one thing at a time I risk derailing myself ? and my very survival. A winter storm day is not the time to open a water bottle, make a phone call or jot down my grocery list while I'm driving.

I have many creative dreams and many things I want to accomplish everyday, every week and throughout my life. I can do them all. And I can only do one at a time. Spreading myself thin makes it harder to be effective and I risk giving up on one of my projects.

One worry is that I'll "lose something" ? completely forget about a project or my excitement for it. I have to keep faith that the really special projects won't be forgotten.

And that if something is jumping in front of me and distracting me from the task at hand, maybe the truly exciting thing about it is that it's taking me away from the "drudgery" of completing what's in front of me. I need to complete what's in front of me.

4. I have to keep my reservoir full. By practicing healthy self-care habits every day, my reservoir of energy (adequate nutrition and enough sleep, rest and activity) will get topped up.

It's when my reservoir is full that I'll be the most creative and the most open to my muse and to spiritual guidance.

And as I use it I need to constantly replace it.

Because any change we make needs to be reinforced with our actions every day. And every morning is a brand new start and the beginning of a whole day's worth of choices to make.

5. God's in charge (and I'm not). I can make all the plans in the world, and, as we all were reminded on December 26, 2004, plans (and lives) can be washed away in an instant.

So while I set positive intentions, create goals and practice positive visioning of what the future holds, I also aim to be open and accepting to whatever God's plan is for me and for my creative dreams.

Prayer, meditation, talking things over with someone I trust, all of these help me to separate *my* plans from what God seems to be telling me.

And last Wednesday God planted the seeds for this article by providing a winter storm, extra time in the car, a good dose of inspiration from my muse, and the willingness to listen to it.

(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: 5 Ways to Start Today

Self-care is the path to creative expression. By paying closer attention to your self-care, you can have easier access to your creativity, to your muse and to... Read More

Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?

The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions? or answer them now! They'll give you... 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

Creative Thinking The Secret Key To Lasting Success

What is creativity anyway? Well, let us look at the word. Creativity means the capability to build, create something. It does mean to build something new but... Read More

Finding A Little Adventure

I have had more than my share of exciting times and I'm grateful for every one of them.There was the time the bear came into camp at... Read More

Achieving Limitless Creativity

There are many out there who wish to help individuals achieve limitless creativity. Such a noble endeavor to help fellow man; some creativity coaches are indeed working... Read More

7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

This was a very easy article to write. I was late in getting started this month, and as my publication deadline got closer and I could no... 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

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

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

Becoming More Creative -- What We Can Learn From Disney

When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us, do talking mice and a multigizillion dollar company come to mind? Actually, those are only the products... Read More

Creativity Management ? Finding Your Voice

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

You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative

Imagine that a block of ice has been set on your desk. Now describe it. Square, clear and cold, right! Next, consider it from different points of... Read More

Why Creative Visualization Works

Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite possible to prove that circumstances and events follow thoughts. Take any situation or happening in your life,... Read More

7 Techniques to Supercharge your Creativity and Solve your Problems

Do you ever encounter problems, challenges or obstacles in your business? If you answered 'no,' then you can stop reading and continue to rake in the fortune... Read More

Sleep and Creativity

In my life, sleep is the number one way that I can either enhance my self-care and nourish myself or defeat my self-care and deplete my energy,... Read More

Art, Artists and Money

Practical money tips for people in the arts.1. Sock it AwayIf you are in the arts there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. Money usually... Read More

Problem Solving Techniques For Business And Life

Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your bottom line and your life.Do you ever run out of good ideas, or go around in circles... Read More

Creativity Management ? Don?t Write, Rewrite

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

Ideas

While the inception of penicillin brought a bit of a stir, and the television warranted some focus, it is somewhat easier now to fashion an idea into... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

There is no sure fire route to commercial success but the probability of success can be increased. This is important for at least two reasons:a) Resource Management.... Read More

Think Orange! Creativity and the Sacral Chakra

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just flick a switch and turn on your creativity? Sadly, at times, tapping into your creativity can feel like trying... 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

Creativity, Innovation, and Science ? Separate and Distinct or Not?

There is a pervasive belief that creativity and innovation are separate and distinct from the concept of science. That creativity and innovation cannot be scientific. This is... Read More

Creativity: The Key To Getting More Done In Less Time

If your to-do list seems as long at the end of the day as it did at the start (or worse yet, longer!) then you could definitely... Read More

Creativity Management ? Overcoming Blocks

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