Wednesday, September 27, 2006
A chance to refresh
This past weekend I did something I have had on my life list for at least five years. I spent a weekend at a monastery on the Central Coast.
Mt. Calvary is a small, beautiful guest house high in the foothills overlooking the coast. A feeling of serenity and acceptance suffuse the very walls. I spent the days hiking, meditating, praying, reading, napping, and having fascinating conversations with the monks and others on retreat. For three days I was able to put aside all the stress and worry that has been my constant companions.
I had hoped that during my stay I would come up with my next writing project. It didn't happen, but I had such a great experience that I wasn't too disappointed. But then, a few days after I returned to "the real world", a remark someone had made during my stay resurfaced and the more I examined it, I realized I had the seed for a new writing project! It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes, the best thing to do in our creative life is to let go, do something else, and just give our creative energy its own time to bloom.
Mt. Calvary is a small, beautiful guest house high in the foothills overlooking the coast. A feeling of serenity and acceptance suffuse the very walls. I spent the days hiking, meditating, praying, reading, napping, and having fascinating conversations with the monks and others on retreat. For three days I was able to put aside all the stress and worry that has been my constant companions.
I had hoped that during my stay I would come up with my next writing project. It didn't happen, but I had such a great experience that I wasn't too disappointed. But then, a few days after I returned to "the real world", a remark someone had made during my stay resurfaced and the more I examined it, I realized I had the seed for a new writing project! It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes, the best thing to do in our creative life is to let go, do something else, and just give our creative energy its own time to bloom.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
"The Creativity Book"
I like to "test drive" books by first checking them out of the local library. Most of the time I read them or leaf through them and then return them. But every once in a while, I come across a book that I just have to have in my personal library of "books for the journey."
The Creativity Book by Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is one of them. Dr. Maisel provides a series of exercises designed to encourage creativity in everyone, from artists and writers to leaders and managers. The exercises range from writing a 2500 word autobiography to just getting up and going directly to work on a creative project. I really liked Dr. Maisel's belief that we all benefit from enhancing our creativity, regardless of whether or not we consider ourselves "artists".
The Creativity Book by Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is one of them. Dr. Maisel provides a series of exercises designed to encourage creativity in everyone, from artists and writers to leaders and managers. The exercises range from writing a 2500 word autobiography to just getting up and going directly to work on a creative project. I really liked Dr. Maisel's belief that we all benefit from enhancing our creativity, regardless of whether or not we consider ourselves "artists".
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious
I've been working on transcribing the first draft of my book (handwritten) into a Word document. It was pretty slow going-- my job has been extremely demanding lately-- and I was getting discouraged at the lack of progress.
And then one day, it hit me. I had been getting up at 5:30 to catch the early bus into work and I started questioning why I was putting so much energy into something that I know is not what I want to do longterm. I decided to "flip" my day-- still get up at 5:30, but instead of catching the early bus, using that very first hour of the day to work on my own projects. In a sense, I would be doing what financial advisers always recommend-- paying myself first, only in time instead of money!!
I've been doing this for nearly a month, three to four times a week. I'm amazed at what an effect it has on my general mood-- the days I sleep in I find myself vaguely grumpy, the days I get up early I feel centered and satisfied with the progress I'm making. And I've made astounding progress on my novel. I have rearranged my day so that my evenings are devoted to preparing for the next day and relaxing and I don't have the guilt of feeling I should be doing something when I'm tired from all the rigors of the day.
I hope you find this suggestion helpful.
And then one day, it hit me. I had been getting up at 5:30 to catch the early bus into work and I started questioning why I was putting so much energy into something that I know is not what I want to do longterm. I decided to "flip" my day-- still get up at 5:30, but instead of catching the early bus, using that very first hour of the day to work on my own projects. In a sense, I would be doing what financial advisers always recommend-- paying myself first, only in time instead of money!!
I've been doing this for nearly a month, three to four times a week. I'm amazed at what an effect it has on my general mood-- the days I sleep in I find myself vaguely grumpy, the days I get up early I feel centered and satisfied with the progress I'm making. And I've made astounding progress on my novel. I have rearranged my day so that my evenings are devoted to preparing for the next day and relaxing and I don't have the guilt of feeling I should be doing something when I'm tired from all the rigors of the day.
I hope you find this suggestion helpful.
