Greetings...
As I mentioned in my May 2, 2007 post about embracing your style, many creative folks are also ADD folks and/or highly sensitive folks as well. Some aspects of these two latter traits actually help us express our creativity because we tend to notice and feel things that others may miss. They also tend to make us more intuitive, which is a great boost for our creativity!
But here's the rub...the downsides of these traits need to be managed if we are to thrive in a creative lifestyle, as some of you know all too well, I'm sure.
I believe that ADD and high sensitivity are closely related, because there are many overlapping characteristics. To read up on them, check out the work of Edward Hallowell (for ADD) and Elaine Aron (for high sensitivity). Their work is eye-opening and inspiring.
While it can be wonderful to be open to such a breadth of life's experiences and such a depth of feeling, it also makes us more vulnerable to mood swings, fatigue, anxiety, depression, overwhelm, and burn-out. If you have ADD traits that cause you difficulty in managing your environment and/or time, these issues might be compounded for you.
Feeling more deeply as a highly sensitive person can be quite painful if you have any type of trauma in your history. Depending on your relationship with your ADD or high sensitivity traits, you may need to seek the help of support groups, therapy, coaching, and/or medication.
A good coach can help you sort out the kinds of help you might need. Most importantly, she will not hesitate to let you know if your issues are outside of her area of expertise. I offer initial complimentary exploratory coaching tele-sessions during which I can help you get started making the most of your traits while mitigating the downsides. Please email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a phone session.
Also I'd suggest reading or re-reading last week's post (6/19) on saying "no," because setting boundaries can go a long way in helping you avoid anxiety, stress, overload, fatigue, depression, resentment, and burn-out! It might be helpful to check out or review my post from 5/2/07, about embracing your unique style with the help of your ADD and/or high sensitivity traits.
Please feel free to send any questions in to the comments section below.
To your health and success,
Susan
Monday, June 25, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saying "No" Benefits Your Creativity and Health
Can you say "no" clearly, firmly, kindly, and without guilt or excuses? This is a crucial survival skill for the twenty-first century, especially for those engaged in creative work or play.
Because I have a passion for life-long learning, I love the information age. But, as with anything else, we need to learn to manage the down side. People's expectations have risen along with the speed of communication and the ready access to information. Chances are it has increased distractions, requests, and demands on your time and attention. Learning to say "no" to the inner and outer pressures this creates is absolutely essential.
Here are some other areas where saying "no" is indispensable:
Because I have a passion for life-long learning, I love the information age. But, as with anything else, we need to learn to manage the down side. People's expectations have risen along with the speed of communication and the ready access to information. Chances are it has increased distractions, requests, and demands on your time and attention. Learning to say "no" to the inner and outer pressures this creates is absolutely essential.
Here are some other areas where saying "no" is indispensable:
- Say "no" to overspending and keeping up with the Joneses, so that you have the financial freedom you need to pursue your creative interests.
- Say "no" to behaviors that make you feel out of integrity, such as agreeing to lie for a friend.
- Say "no" to perfectionism, not just in your art, but in all areas of your life.
- Say "no" to 24/7 open-door policies and letting work seep into your vacation time.
- Say "no" to clutter. (I'm still working on this one, but I'm getting better!)
- Say "no" to boundary violations involving your time, space, privacy, unwanted opinions, etc.
- Say "no" to procrastination.
- Say "no" to negative self-talk and outlooks.
- Say "no" to blaming others. It hinders your ability to change the situation.
- Say "no" to striving and trying to control everything. Go with the flow!
- Say "no" to drama...yours or that of others.
- Say "no" to busyness as a status symbol.
- Say "no" to guilt trips.
The Dangers of Not Learning to Say "No"
- Overload, or worse: burn-out
- Resentment that can lead to passive-aggressive behavior in an attempt to get out of what you grudgingly agreed to
- Compromised integrity
- Damaged self-esteem
- No room for the wonderful creative surprises that are waiting around every corner for you!
How-To Tips
- Clarify your values, goals, and priorities so it's easier to decide what you need to say "no" to.
- Remember the oxygen mask protocol: put your own on first before attempting to help others.
- Decide right now that you will no longer allow yourself to be put on the spot. If you need time to think about it, take that time. If the person needs an immediate answer, then it will have to be "no."
- Remember that we teach people how to treat us. Are you teaching "Respect 101" or "Doormat 101?" Trust me, those around you are quick learners in this regard!
- Ask yourself, "Have I made physical, mental, and energetic space for creative seeds to grow?" Say "no" now, and save yourself a lot of weeding later!
Here's to your creativity and health,
Susan
***Need help in this area? Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for a complimentary exploratory tele-coaching session!***
Monday, June 11, 2007
How I Created My Products Using the Law of Attraction
OK, Law of Attraction fans! On several occasions, I've suggested that you use the Law of Attraction, and I've directed you to www.thesecret.tv. Today I'm going to get specific about a few of the ways I use it in my work.
If you're not a fan of the Law of Attraction yet, come along for the ride anyway, and become one! The Law of Attraction is a natural law that causes the frequencies you are sending out with your thoughts and feelings on any subject to come back to you with manifestations that match those frequencies. This is why affirmations, rituals, and guided imagery are so effective!
About three and a half years ago, I decided that I wanted to write some kind of inspirational book. I started saving quotes and other good bits of information in what I call my "book box." At that point, I had no format or specific subject in mind.
I liked the title, "The Whispering Heart," so I made a mock-up of a book cover using collage, and I hung it in my walk-in closet where I would see it every day. I didn't struggle to move forward on the project. I just kept looking at the cover and tossing things in the book box.
After about two years of this, the idea came to me to write a guided journal using that title and quotes from the book box. I developed questions for the reader to reflect on for each quote I used, designed a format, and self-published it. Everything fell into place very easily, and soon I needed a real cover. I ended up using the mock-up cover as the basis for finished cover. Done!
That's the kind of effortless effort that your work becomes when you use the Law of Attraction to draw to you what you want!
Just recently, I finished my second product, "Food for Thought: Thirty Delicious Quotes on the Law of Attraction." A year or so ago, I knew I wanted to make some kind of inspirational card deck. I wrote the idea down in what I call my "Idea Queue." Again, I did not strive to find a theme or anything else for the project.
Soon, ideas started to bubble up, such as using business card blanks for the cards, and Chinese food take-out containers for the packaging.
One day when I was in the craft store looking for something else, I found packages of pastel take-out containers. I still had no focus for what exactly would go on the cards, but I took a leap of faith and bought several packages of the boxes. I also went to the office supply store and bought the cards. This was a way to affirm to myself that I believed that this project would come together, even if I didn't know how yet.
The Law of Attraction often delivers via synchronicity. One day about a month ago, I was looking for something in my book box, and I realized that I had a whole envelope of quotes on the Law of Attraction, and I was inspired to use them to create the product!
The take-out boxes inspired me to use a food theme, and I put the first set of finished cards in one of the boxes, along with two fortune cookies to complete my prototype. Effortless effort! (And fun, too!) The Law of Attraction is like the Law of Gravity in that if you work with it instead of against it, it makes life much easier. So lighten up, stop striving, and go with the flow!
These two products, "The Whispering Heart" guided journal and the "Food for Thought" card set, are both available for $10 US each. They both make great gifts! Please contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to order. Shipping and tax will depend on where you live.
Thanks!
I would love to hear your experiences with the Law of Attraction! Please post them in the comments section so we can all be inspired by them.
To your success,
Susan
P.S. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary exploratory coaching tele-session!
If you're not a fan of the Law of Attraction yet, come along for the ride anyway, and become one! The Law of Attraction is a natural law that causes the frequencies you are sending out with your thoughts and feelings on any subject to come back to you with manifestations that match those frequencies. This is why affirmations, rituals, and guided imagery are so effective!
About three and a half years ago, I decided that I wanted to write some kind of inspirational book. I started saving quotes and other good bits of information in what I call my "book box." At that point, I had no format or specific subject in mind.
I liked the title, "The Whispering Heart," so I made a mock-up of a book cover using collage, and I hung it in my walk-in closet where I would see it every day. I didn't struggle to move forward on the project. I just kept looking at the cover and tossing things in the book box.
After about two years of this, the idea came to me to write a guided journal using that title and quotes from the book box. I developed questions for the reader to reflect on for each quote I used, designed a format, and self-published it. Everything fell into place very easily, and soon I needed a real cover. I ended up using the mock-up cover as the basis for finished cover. Done!
That's the kind of effortless effort that your work becomes when you use the Law of Attraction to draw to you what you want!
Just recently, I finished my second product, "Food for Thought: Thirty Delicious Quotes on the Law of Attraction." A year or so ago, I knew I wanted to make some kind of inspirational card deck. I wrote the idea down in what I call my "Idea Queue." Again, I did not strive to find a theme or anything else for the project.
Soon, ideas started to bubble up, such as using business card blanks for the cards, and Chinese food take-out containers for the packaging.
One day when I was in the craft store looking for something else, I found packages of pastel take-out containers. I still had no focus for what exactly would go on the cards, but I took a leap of faith and bought several packages of the boxes. I also went to the office supply store and bought the cards. This was a way to affirm to myself that I believed that this project would come together, even if I didn't know how yet.
The Law of Attraction often delivers via synchronicity. One day about a month ago, I was looking for something in my book box, and I realized that I had a whole envelope of quotes on the Law of Attraction, and I was inspired to use them to create the product!
The take-out boxes inspired me to use a food theme, and I put the first set of finished cards in one of the boxes, along with two fortune cookies to complete my prototype. Effortless effort! (And fun, too!) The Law of Attraction is like the Law of Gravity in that if you work with it instead of against it, it makes life much easier. So lighten up, stop striving, and go with the flow!
These two products, "The Whispering Heart" guided journal and the "Food for Thought" card set, are both available for $10 US each. They both make great gifts! Please contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to order. Shipping and tax will depend on where you live.
Thanks!
I would love to hear your experiences with the Law of Attraction! Please post them in the comments section so we can all be inspired by them.
To your success,
Susan
P.S. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary exploratory coaching tele-session!
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