Castles in the Air

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." --Henry David Thoreau

This is one of the greatest lessons I learned in my coach training! I wish I'd known it when I was a freelance children's writer. From my viewpoint now as a coach and Reiki Master, I can see how I failed to provide a solid foundation for myself. I did well in terms of learning the ropes and staying up with changes in the field. I knew the foundational stuff for my sole proprietorship, but I forgot to take care of the proprietor!

Soon I became the weakest link in my own chain, often dealing with creative blocks and stress-related illnesses that led me away from being the "principal" of my business and toward being the "principle" reason it failed!

I did not take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or energetically! It was like walking on stilts, which was certainly not a firm foundation for my "castle"!

Even if your creative activity is a hobby rather than a business, if you've been walking on stilts, where are you going to find the energy and inspiration to create? Keeping your values in mind, take a look at these three areas:

Simplify

• What routines can you institute to lessen your stress?
• What positive energy resources can you cultivate for yourself? Maybe a walk in nature?
• What boundaries do you need to set with others to lessen your stress?

Clarify

• What strengths can you leverage?
• What kind of people do you want to surround yourself with?

Amplify

• What is your vision or mission for your life, and how does your art fit in?
• What goals support your vision or mission?
• What's one small step you can take today to start building a firm foundation?

Please share your comments on the step you choose and your results to inspire the rest of us!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary introductory tele-coaching session for more help on this topic or most others!

Creative Community

Diversity and Choice

I'd like to start with a few things that creative community is NOT. First of all, it is not limited to what we normally consider the "arts." Putting together a rewarding life for yourself is the creative framework for all else that you do! This can include the arts, but could also include many other things such as parenting or running a business.

Secondly, creative community is not limited to traditional networking at breakfast meetings, etc. Some folks love these and find them very helpful. Others find them to be an unnatural fit for their style.

Technology's Role

If you found your way to this blog, you probably already know what a boon the Internet has been for networking and support communities of all types. And you can often enter into joint ventures with no concern for your JV partner's geographic location!

Modern phone technology, which allows for inexpensive conference calling, can be used for all sorts of group experiences, including brainstorming, classes, Q and A, interviews, and demonstrations.

The Right Fit

Having fun loosens you up and opens the door to your creativity, so be sure to choose a community that provides this for you. Forget about what you've heard you "should" be doing, and involve yourself with others in ways that you feel enthusiastic about.

What I love about community is the amazing synergy that comes out of a group in which the individuals have moved past "What's in it for me?" and have shifted as a group to "What's in it for us and for those we serve?"

Other Things to Love About Creative Community

• companionship
• advice and mentoring
• circulation of information, methods, ideas, and techniques
• feedback
• encouragement
• inspiration
• intuitive input from others
• a safety net
• a venue for beta testing
• sounding boards

Dig-In Days

My friend and fellow entrepreneur, Mary Beth Krawchuk and I set several hours a week aside to "dig in" to our work while supplying structure, accountability, focus, and support for each other by phone at the beginning and end of each work hour. Many months ago when we first began, Mary Beth said, "I got more done on this project in this hour than I have in the past month!"

Give it a try with a friend or email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. I can always use another accountability buddy!

Start Our Own Community? Why Not?!

Please scan this post again to see what kinds of support you need and how you might support others. Please leave a comment or email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com with your ideas, questions, quandaries, etc. My goal is to have creative4life become a nurturing community for those of us in any creative arena. (That is, just about all of us!)

Thank you,

Susan

Why Do We Resist Creating Our Art?

See if you recognize any of these culprits:

Confusion
We have a lack of clarity about what we really want from our work. This can be the result of conflicts between what we consciously want and what our limiting paradymes and beliefs are telling us unconsciously. These limitations are passed down from many aspects of society, and as kids we take them right in without a thought. We need to clean out our mental closets of such phrases as "starving artists," "artists are flakes," etc., and replace them with positive beliefs that will better serve us. Which brings us to the next culprit....

Lack of Knowledge of the Law of Attraction
Please check out my 6/11/07 post on how I created my products using this law. With a little faith, combined with positive thinking and inspired action, we can use the Law of Attraction to get into the creative flow. If you haven't seen the movie "The Secret" yet, check it out at www.thesecret.tv.

Fear
This is big one for all of us. Author Susan Jeffers tells us to "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway," because if we wait for it to go away before we start anything...well, we simply won't start anything! Our fears can include stage fright, fear of change, risk, criticism, and/or jealousy. And the fear of jealousy can lead to feelings of...

Guilt
Even if others don't act negatively out of jealousy, we may still feel guilty about outshining our peers. But if we all felt that way, who would be our mentors...and how might we inspire others by our examples? Mature individuals will learn from us rather than despise us for the trails we are blazing.

Perfectionism
I have heard that glamour is a function of distance. We are all out there putting our best foot forward, so sometimes we forget that other people's paths have been just as curvy and messy as ours have been. This can even make us feel like frauds at times. But we're not; we're just human! What's more, perfectionism leads to...

Overthinking
We want to cover all the bases (not to mention our butts!). Overthinking is time-consuming, exhausting, confusing, and very unwelcoming to our creativity and intuition. When we get used to using the Law of Attraction, we find it easier to let go of overthinking, so don't forget to check that out, as I mentioned above.

To your productivity and success,
Susan

P.S. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for a complimentary exploratory coaching tele-session on this topic or most any other!

Giving What You Love, Loving What You Give

To my mind, it's the highest of honors to be able to help others using my creativity. The best jobs I've had in my life have allowed me to do this, and it's certainly true for the creativity coaching I'm doing now. Even more general personal coaching, which I also do, is greatly enhanced by using my creativity.

Have you ever come to this wonderful intersection where the world benefits from what you love to do? If so, please tell us about it in the comments section!

Perhaps you contribute in this way as a gardener, parent, teacher, writer, artist, therapist, designer, or creative problem solver. Even toddlers and kids brighten our world with their amazing creativity!

Do you see a need that's calling to be filled? What solutions are you uniquely prepared to provide? What help and resources will you need? Do you recognize the resources that are right under your nose? What other questions do you need to ask for your particular situation?

If you are contributing or planning to contribute in this way, I want to say this to you: thank you! The world is changing very rapidly, and the old quick-fix solutions to many of our issues just don't cut it anymore. We need you! This is not marketing hype; it is our reality. Look and see for yourself.

Your creativity is a sacred trust. If you would like guidance on delivering on that trust in a way that will be fulfilling to you, please email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up an initial complimentary coaching tele-session.

To your success,
Susan

P.S. Looking for an accountability buddy to work with as you share your gifts with the world? Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com so we can nudge each other along by phone. Coaches have been using this method with each other for years...because it works! :-)

Ups, Downs, and Overwhelms

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

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:

• 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!***

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!