The Amazing Dr. Maisel!

Who are the role models for your creative role models? Chances are, one of them is Eric Maisel, Ph.D. He's a creativity coach with a psychotherapist's background who has written over 30 books (fiction and nonfiction). How does he do it? I suspect it has to do with what he calls his "innate wackiness"!

I'll give you a quick look at just three of his many books on creativity. All three of these include great exercises.

The Creativity Book: A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance

For me, following the weekly format of the book would be like eating only one corn chip a week. I gobbled up the whole book within a few weeks!

Here's one of my favorite quotes from the closing paragraph of the book: "I pray that you couple your creative efforts with the other elements of a life worth living: intimate relating and compassionate action in the world."

A Life in the Arts: Practical Guidance and Inspiration for Creative and Performing Artists

This workbook addresses practical considerations that you might see in other creativity books, such as combining art and business, but Maisel also covers the grittier topics that we don't like to think about. These are topics such as depression, anxiety, isolation, and rage. I can tell you from personal experience how grateful many artists will be to see these issues covered so openly!

In this book, Maisel also covers a topic that I haven't seen anywhere else, and that is, how does a person leave (or scale back on) the arts if needed or desired. The reason could be physical, as with an injured dancer, or emotional, as with a case of burn-out. Whatever the reason, Maisel spells out a plan for easing your way out and dealing with the feelings of loss that go with it.

Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art

The coach in me found Maisel's explanation of appropriate and inappropriate clarity to be of particular interest.

If you've been actively creative for any length of time, you know that anxiety can't be ignored; it must be dealt with. The Appendix on "Anxiety Management Strategies" in this book provides many useful techniques for dealing with anxiety before, during, and after the creative process.

Check Out Dr. Maisel's site at http://www.ericmaisel.com/!

My best to you,
Susan

P.S. Last call for complimentary email support (once a week for four weeks) for your 2008 resolutions! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to get started.

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

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More Inspiring Resources

Check these out:

Falter-Barns, Suzanne: "How Much Joy Can You Stand? A Creative Guide to Facing Your Fears and Making Your Dreams Come True"

I love seeing the word "joy" in the title of a book about creativity! Thank goodness the "no pain, no gain" myth around creativity has been replaced by not only the possibility of joy, but the very real benefits of it in the creative process.

Falter-Barnes includes many exercises in the book. One of my favorites poses some very thought-provoking topics for the reader to make lists about, including "What I'm Afraid of Finding Out about My Dream," and "What Will Change If I Succeed at My Dream."

One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "Most failure is not an end in itself but a beginning disguised as an end."


Goleman, Daniel; Kaufman, Paul; Ray, Michael: "The Creative Spirit"

This book covers the inner workings of creativity, creativity in children and at work, and how creativity builds and benefits communities.

My favorite quotes from the book: "When both managers and workers adopt a creative outlook, a subtle but powerful change begins to occur in the workplace," and "Ultimately, a renaissance in creativity will depend on the actions of individuals." (That's us!)


The Imagineers: "The Imagineering Way: Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity"

Who better to learn about creativity from than the team that conceives and creates rides and displays that thousands enjoy at the Disney parks? Even the design of the book is exceptionally creative, inspiring, and fun!

Contributor Michael Sprout cuts to the chase about what we need to be creative: enthusiasm and faith. Another contributor, Bruce Vaughn, advises us to clearly define the creative challenge, and then to "...let go of all the possible solutions you are considering." This way we are not limited by pre-conceived ideas.


McMeekin, Gail: "Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor"

McMeekin has divided her book into three "gateways:" "Engaging Your Creativity," "Mastering Your Challenges as a Creative Woman," and "Actualizing Creative Results: The Power of Positive Priorities." In the section on results, she provides two helpful worksheets. The first one is for planning, and the second is for curing procrastination.

The author has interviewed 45 well-known creative women for this book. No wonder she calls it "A Portable Mentor." And this mentor is on call 24/7!


To your success,

Susan

P.S. Slots are still available for my personalized complimentary email support, once a week for four weeks. So if you'd like assistance with staying on track with your resolutions, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com!

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

Resolution Check-In

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." --James Joyce

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Sweet Victories or Sour Grapes?

Are you on your way to manifesting your resolutions, or is your enthusiasm sagging? Either way, I'd suggest that you go back to my December 11 post and brush up on the basics of carrying out creative resolutions. Then check out the common pitfalls discussed below.

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Pitfall #1: Trying to Swim Upstream

Have you ever seen the ads for a space-saving exercise pool? They are only about 8 ft. long, 5 ft. wide, and operate on the principle that if you try to swim upstream, you will likely end up staying in the same place. The pool sends a current of water forward and you swim against it.

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This is fine for space-saving exercise, but I don't think it's what you had in mind for your resolutions! The Universe can't help us if we are struggling to go the other way. We've heard it a million times because it's true: go with the flow.

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You'll have to decide what this means for you in relation to your own resolutions, but here's an example. Did you set up a resolution that forces you to focus on your weaknesses and fix them? Instead, rework it so that you are building on your strengths. It's easier, it makes you feel better about yourself, and it attracts more strengths, because that's what you're focusing on!

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Pitfall #2: Believing It Has to Be Difficult

We've been trying to swim upstream for so long, we've come to believe that where there's no pain there's no gain. Sure, you need to take action, but check in with your intuition first for help with your decisions and timing. It'll help you sail right around those pesky boulders in the river of life.

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Pitfall #3: Blaming Others

So, are you going to sail around the boulder, or are you going to blame nature for putting it in your way? Blaming others or blaming institutions or circumstances puts us in a powerless mindset, because it follows that we think there's nothing we can do to change the situation.

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This doesn't mean we have to blame ourselves, it just means that we have to accept responsibility for doing what is needed to get our resolutions back on the right track.

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Pitfall #4: Lack of a Support Structure on Which to Build Your Goal

Can your current life circumstances support the personal growth it'll take to get to your goal? How are your finances, health, relationships, etc.? Do you have accountability and moral support in place?

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I'm offering personalized complimentary email support, once a week for four weeks to the first ten people who request it. If you're interested, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

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To your success,

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Susan

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

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