Another Look at My Bookshelf

Here's some commentary on my Cameron collection favorites. If you're not a fan of Julia Cameron yet, take a look at these.

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

This book, which Cameron wrote with Mark Byran in the early nineties, is still in print and has become a modern classic.

Here's my history with it in a nutshell:

• 1994: I resisted it.


• 1995: I read it.


• 1996: I lived it. I loved it.


• 1997: I went to Omega Institute for a great workshop with Cameron.


• 1998 to the present: I recommend it whenever I can; it has been pivotal in my own development!

It has what was for me a whole new way of looking at creativity. It also has lots of great exercises. My favorite is called "Blasting Through Blocks," which is about how fears and resentments get in the way of our creativity.

Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance

This is a very personal account of Cameron's financial, emotional, and artistic challenges over the years, which made mine look small by comparison. At the same time, it is very instructive and inspiring. Sometimes we forget that we are not the only ones who have struggled to make our artistic lives work.

Supplies: A Pilot's Manual for Creative Flight

This is a playful book with lively illustrations by her sister, Elizabeth Cameron. It contains thought-provoking questions and warnings of pitfalls to avoid.

My only complaint is that Cameron's comments on the usefulness of therapy were somewhat one-sided. Almost by definition, creatives see and feel more deeply in this world. I feel that for the balance we need to function and feel at this level, many of us find therapy to be very helpful, and I would not want to discourage anyone from seeking the help of a skilled, compassionate therapist.

The Vein of Gold: A Journey to Your Creative Heart

Here Cameron uses the metaphor of a journey through the kingdoms of Story, Sight, Sound, Attitude, Relationship, Spirituality, and Possibility. It contains lots of activities that take you along this path.

Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity

This is the sequel to The Artist's Way, and it takes you through 12 weeks of discoveries. Again, there are lots of activities to assist you with those discoveries. I especially like the one called the "Ta-Dah!" List.

Please comment on your experiences with these books or others that you love!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. My guided journal, The Whispering Heart, makes a great holiday gift for Cameron fans or even for beginning journalers! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details.

Proactivity: Bubble Wrap for Your Creative Ideas

Just as Bubble Wrap is effective and versatile because it's comprised of many small bubbles, there is no one secret to preparing a nurturing environment for your creativity. Here are some of the "bubbles" you may need.

Bubbles in Your Physical Environment

"We don't accomplish anything in this world alone...and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something." --Sandra Day O'Connor

• Being a part of a community and other inter-developmental relationships.


• Having the staples consistently on hand that you need for your art, your life, and your business if you have one.


• Decluttering your environment to make space, literally and energetically, for new ideas and projects.


• Cultivating and using resources. One of my favorites is collecting quotes. I use them frequently on this blog, and I've used some of them for the framework for two products so far...a guided journal and a set of inspirational cards. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details, especially if you have a holiday gift list to fill!

Money Bubbles

• Savings, investments, retirement planning....You know the drill.


• A debt repayment plan.


• A budget and other expense controls.


• Possible employment to support you and/or your artistic dreams.


• If you are self-employed, check your rates. Are you undercharging or overcharging?


• Don't hesitate to hire professional financial planning help if you need it.

Intangible Bubbles

"If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." Meister Eckhart

• Express gratitude for what you have and for what you believe is forthcoming.


• Build a buffer of time into all your projects, and work toward pre-target deadlines.


• Do what you need to do to keep your health and energy levels at their best.

Bubbles in Your Psychological Environment

"The 'silly' question is the first intimation of some totally new development." --Alfred North Whitehead

• Ask silly questions, especially when you're brainstorming.


• Seek clarity around your values, and plan your actions around them.


• Defrag your mental hard drive by spending time in nature, meditating, taking time off, or getting a massage. (Shiatsu is my favorite!)

Bubbles for Your Emotional Stability

"Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment." --Maxwell Maltz

• Steady self-confidence.


• High self-esteem.


• Flexibility.


• Acceptance


• A sense of humor.


• Optimism.


• A "Plan B."

The Benefits of Bubble Wrap for Your Creative Ideas

"Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties." --Gail Sheehy

• Improved risk tolerance. It's a lot easier to take risks and experiment if you know you have, well...all your bubbles in a row. :-)


• It frees your mind to create. Remember Maslow? Bubble wrap reduces the number of small stressors that fly around your head like gnats. These gnats hinder you in reaching what Maslow called "self-actualization," by keeping your mind busy dealing with the more basic needs of life.


• Readiness. You'll easily be able to recognize opportunities, and you'll be ready to turn on a dime when they knock. As Louis Pasteur said, "Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind." And you'll even handle unwelcome changes more effectively; you'll be able to respond rather than react.


• The Law of Attraction can assist you more readily because you won't be so caught up the "how" and "when" of things.

"...the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred." --W.H. Murray

"Easier said than done," you may be thinking about all this. And you would be right. Be patient with yourself. And know that you are worth it.

My best to you,

Susan

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

"These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...."

Here are some of my favorite books that inspire creativity, along with my commentary:

Ayan, Jordan: Aha! Ten Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas
This small but comprehensive book has short and to-the-point subsections with lots of exercises called "mini workshops."

Badonsky, Jill: The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): Ten Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers, and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence
Who could resist a playful title like that?! And why the bodyguard? (Whose name is Arnold, by the way!) The author says it's "to unleash your best defense: your arsenal of passion and desire for your creative dream."

Bayles, David and Orland, Ted: Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
This is such an important topic, and the authors cover it skillfully. I believe that fear is often what is behind procrastination, creative blocks, and the temptation to trade our authenticity for conformity.

Carbonetti, Jeanne: Making Pearls: Living the Creative Life
The author has created this book around the creative cycle and how to flow with it. The phases of the cycle are waiting, opening, closing, holding, releasing, emptying, and sitting. The book is bursting with her beautiful watercolor paintings, too.

Ealy, C. Diane: The Woman's Book of Creativity
Women tend to approach creativity with a more holistic, process-oriented approach than do men, who tend to be more linear and product-oriented. There is much to be said for both approaches, but women do need to be aware that historically our educational system has been out of balance in this regard. (Remember outlining? It was a restrictive tool for many holistic thinkers.)

Fortunately, it's starting to balance out now. I'm thrilled to see a lot of teachers teaching Mind Mapping, etc., along with more linear techniques. But those of us who have been out of school a while need to give ourselves permission to use the approaches that work best for us.

Feel free to add your favorite creativity books in the comments section, along with why you love them! Thanks.

Have an inspired day,
Susan

P.S. I have recently joined the Creativity Coaching Association. Please check out my profile at http://www.creativitycoachingassociation.com!

Try an Art Marathon

National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, is not for the faint of heart. If you dare, check it out at www.nanowrimo.org. The object of the game is to write a 50,000-word novel between November 1 and November 30.

Why would anyone do this to himself?? The folks at NaNoWriMo say, "By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create."

You may think there's a madness to their "method," but take a closer look, and you'll see the method to their "madness."

"NaNoWriMo is all about the magical power of deadlines," say the NaNoWriMo folks. "...the glow from creating big, messy art...lasts for a long, long time. The act of sustained creation does bizarre and wonderful things to you....And changes, a little bit, your sense of self."

Here's what I'd like to propose. Scale this idea down to what's manageable for you and apply it to any art form you choose. It's a great way to get rid of that nagging editor or art critic, etc., that chatters in your head. You simply outrun him.

Then dig through the rubble to find the chunks of gold hidden within!

To your success,

Susan

P.S. Do you have a deep thinker on your holiday list? Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to order my guided journal, The Whispering Heart. ($10 US; plus tax and shipping depending on where you live.) See the sample exercise below:

Treasures

"Life is a spiritual treasure hunt--when we are paying attention, we see that there are clues everywhere we look." --Sandra C. Brossman

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What treasures are you finding in your daily life?

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P.P.S. A big thanks to my son, Dave, for telling me about NaNoWriMo!

Give Your Ego a Clear Job Description

Here's mine:

TO: My Ego
FROM: Susan
RE: Your Job Description

Position: Reality Coordinator; Your job responsibilities fall into three categories to ensure your successful collaboration with my creative side:

1. Support my creativity by collaborating with it on:

-my self-care.
-my marketing plans.


2. Back off and defer to my creativity while it's:

-brainstorming.
-daydreaming.
-interpreting dreams.
-cross-training in other artistic areas.
-journaling.
-working on projects in the early stages of development.


3. Take the wheel in your areas of expertise, including:

-logistics and technical considerations.
-handling rejection.
-pricing and other financial matters.


In Summary: Please hang this prayer over your desk.

The Ego's Effectiveness Prayer

Please help me to enhance Susan's creativity where I can,

Back off where I can't,

And have the discernment to know the difference.

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Readers,

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Please comment on the role of your ego in your creative work so we all can compare notes!

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A complimentary trial coaching tele-session is available to you on this topic or most others. Set yours up by emailing me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. With the holidays coming, you may also want to inquire about my gift-boxed set of inspirational quote cards on the Law of Attraction ($10 US plus tax and shipping that will depend on where you live).

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Sample Quote:

"What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible."

--Theodore Roethke

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Happy Halloween,

Susan

Shaping Our Lives, Imperfections and All

Being human is like throwing pots...very messy. A beautifully shaped piece on the wheel can turn into a wobbly mess in the blink of an eye. And glazing pots is like getting dressed in the dark. Until they're fired, you don't see the true colors and how they'll blend.

A potter's wisdom is in his body and results from lots of trial and error (on resumes we call it "experience.") We can't learn to throw pots by just reading about it or watching a demo. You have to do it. And at first, you have to do it badly.

As time goes on, the potter will surprise herself with what comes through her, because she has prepared herself as a vessel in order to create amazing vessels on the wheel! She's been shaping herself as she shaped the pots, just as we all shape ourselves through our art and the art of living.

Will others resonate with the art and life you have shaped for yourself? Some will and some won't, of course. But hold your self-styled art and life dearly to your heart anyway! The right companions will find you, and the right patrons will find your art. Love your life and live it to its fullest, imperfections and all.

Imperfectly yours,
Susan

P.S. To sign up for a complimentary trial coaching tele-session or to order my guided journal, The Whispering Heart, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

Tune Into Your Muse

Have you ever felt that you and your muse are on different wavelengths, resulting in a frustrating creative block? From a metaphysical perspective, that's exactly what happens.

The conditions in and around us during a creative breakthrough are those that foster a higher vibration that closely matches what we call the muse...that special blend of creativity and intuition that we've been wanting to tap into. So here are some ways to raise your vibration and that of your environment to reduce the mind static between you and your muse.

• Apply basic Feng Shui principles to your work area and to the area between your ears. Clear out physical, mental, and emotional clutter. If you can do this on your own, great! Go for it. If not, get a friend, coach, or personal organizer to help you with the physical clutter. For the mental clutter (long to-do lists, too much debt, etc.), set aside time to attend to each item, ditch it, or delegate it, as appropriate. If the issue or item looms large, you may need to put a system in place for step-by-step progress. For emotional clutter, try journaling or writing an imagined dialog between you and the issue. If you need help, do yourself a huge favor and find a good therapist to help you sort things out.
• Hug a tree! Communing with nature raises our vibration gently and pleasantly.
• Listen to energizing music. If your energy is really down, start with music that is slightly livelier, then move to progressively more energizing pieces.
• Clear out internal energy bottlenecks with Reiki and/or massage.
• Eat light meals consisting of fresh foods that haven't had the life force energy processed out of them. Bless the meal and express gratitude for it.

If you'd like to explore this idea of rising to meet the muse's frequency further, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary trial coaching tele-session.

As you experiment with these ideas, please post your experiences in the comments section!

Thanks,

Susan