Close your eyes and envision the last amazing piece you made.
Think about how you felt.
Ohhhhhh do you have goose bumps and that funky feeling in your tummy? Can you see yourself at your bench, with all your tools and the music is playing just the right tunes.
The idea for the piece came to you effortlessly and you confidently executed it. You were on fire as each part of the design came together. Joy and energy radiated at each step, all the way to final outcome.
You were proud and amazed at what you created! Like giving birth to a part of your soul!
Yet there are times we are “blocked” or just can’t seem to find any creative spark. This is usually because we are overwhelmed and exhausted. It’s just time to clear away the excuses and clean up the old patterns.
Here’s a great list of 15 Creative Practices to Employ in Your Life:
- Practice gratitude. Start off each day or end each night with a list of things you are grateful for.
- Take time to play each day whether it’s at your bench or outside. If this is hard for you to do, start with 15 minutes.
- Teach and learn. This will take your talent to the next level.
- Read new stuff and learn a new skill. It’s even better if it’s something you don’t agree with or aren’t really interested in. Turn your box upside down!
- Rest! No one can be creative when they are tired.
- Stop complaining or the universe hears you ordering more stuff to complain about.
- Watch your language. Change negative remarks about yourself or others into positive ones.
- Embrace criticism as true love and care.
- Be silly and full of whimsy
- Systemize your schedule and stick to it. Include exercise daily.
- Break down your goals into doable action steps. No more than 3 a day.
- Have an accountability partner for support and to help you embrace savoring time off.
- Shed the mental burden of your clutter. Repair broken things, toss trash, donate unused items.
- Set an intention daily. Then try setting one for each task in your day no matter how big or small. Tell the universe how you’d like it to play out. It’s amazing what you’ll get when you ask for it!
- Surround yourself with positive people and situations where you can thrive.
Don’t forget to leave a comment and get entered to win a F*R*E*E give-away from Whole Lotta Whimsy! Drawing is July 31st, 2012!
Thank you for posting this! I’ve been in a ‘dead zone’ for months now, not wanting to create anything or even think about creating. I hope that some of these ideas will be what I need to get me going again!
Love your list – it’s printed out and on my fridge!
Hi Tonya,
Your list is great, so many things to consider. I’m printing this out and putting where my DH can see it every day.
Blessings,
Robin
Thank you, Tonya. I dearly love that creative buzz. You nailed it on your description of what it feels like when you are in the flow, and just go with your heart, your intuition. I greatly appreciate the tips and will write them in my art journal. I’m flowing with you, girl~<3~
Thanks so much for posting this. I am printing a copy to keep on my fridge and also one to keep on my desk at the office.
As always a wonderful post, printing it out to hang on the wall.
Tonya thank you for reinforcing your positive messages I keeps me looking forward and thinking. You are so generous to the art community and you are one of my gratitudes.
What a great list! I am printing it out and plan to refer to it every day —
thank you so much for creating it and posting it!
Tonya, Thanks for such a great list. I am looking forward to your class starting this next week.
I have just declared today as “Clear the Clutter” day for my studio. Thanks for all you do for the creative community !
Tonya,
I was determined to take a break this summer but can’t seem to stay away from my workspace. I need to set a schedule. Thanks for the list, it will help me to stay focused.
Tonya,
I was determined to take a break this summer but can’t seem to stay away from my workspace. I need to set a schedule. Thanks for the list, it will help me to stay focused. I’m really looking forward to your class next week!
Oh no, not something else to add to the list! Seriously though, thank you again for posting more helpful advice. Now let’s see if I can put it into practice.
I’m printing this one out and posting it where I can see it daily. I tend to get into “work mode” at the expense of everything else, and my husband keeps reminding me to take time off. Thing is, I consider time at the workbench on new projects as “playing”. He helps keep me balanced when I forget to come out for fresh air!
Dear Tonya, Thanks for the reminders – – I get distracted and into too many things at once. Your list helps me keep some discipline and keeps me focused!
Dear Tonya,
Thanks for the reminders – – I get distracted and into too many things at once. Your list helps me keep some discipline and keeps me focused!
Repeating #10 over and over to myself…
Think I had better work on #13. Thanks for distilling such a wonderful philosophy.
Wow, you’ve summed it up beautifully. Not just for the creative flow, but for the flow of life itself. Thank you so much!
I love this so much. I am gonna try to do at least one a day.
Love the list. Sometimes we just need a little reminder now and then to take care of ourselves so we can share our joy with others. Thank you.
Thanks Tonya! I really need to take these on board.
This is fantastic! As an artist, we always think we are already “thinking out of the box.” I tend to forget that “life imitates art,” and when I am frustrated I don’t go beyond my “art space” and look at the rest of my life. There are many things on the list I am already pursuing, because I know they make me feel better as a person. Now it makes perfect sense- all of this will improve my outlook on my abilities and get me more motivated to create! It all does come full circle, because what we create is truly part of us. Thank you Tanya!
I meant thank you TONYA!
This is so fantastic. I’ve been so burnt out lately, working more than full time, dealing with challenging relationships and trying to be creative all at the same time. This is a great, simple list that will be easy for me to focus on, especially when I’m feeling so overwhelmed. Thank you!
Love the list! Have to print this one out and put on my mirror. I get so excited about so many fun things I want to try and then let life slow me down….definitely have to work on the gratitude journal….thanks so much.
Thanks, again, for helping me organize and focus my abundant life! I especially appreciate the reminders to exercise daily and to rest, since I have chronic fatigue syndrome and sometimes resent the time I need to recharge in the middle of the day. The scale of my life might be smaller than others’, but the quality can be just as rich as I choose to discard all that is not beneficial! I love the spiritual aspects of your list that reflect some of the practices I’ve been incorporating into my life for several years. This list is a great fusion of the creative, the spiritual, and the physical.
thank you for the reminder on these things!!!
i need to see this list daily and since im trying to cut back on paper usage i guess ill just have a good reason to visit your blog more often!!! 🙂
What a wonderful list! Thank you!
I am so glad you started the list with gratitude. I think it “colors” everything else. I already practice several of these items in my life, but having a list that I can see, touch and read will really make a difference. Too good to keep it to myself in the studio, this will have to be posted in a “common” place. I have trouble with silly, playing and whimsy, but am going to try working on these this week. Thanks again, Tonya. I know it takes a lot of time to always post worthwhile information for us on your blog. Blessings to you for all you do.
Thank you for such a wonderful list!
Something to read regularly. I often find myself just looking at my tools without any inspiration. I shall remember the advice about the Universe. Thank you.