Featured Artist: Kylene Cleaver

Photographer Kylene Cleaver is the amazing talent that has brought Leave It to Me Photography (TM) to life in Elkton, MD, and surrounding areas. Yes, she is my daughter-in-law, so if you think I'm biased, see for yourself at http://www.leaveittomephotography.com/!


Kylene is a great role model for other entrepreneurial creatives who want to work primarily from home while their kids are small and beyond.


Her intuition tugged at her sleeve about four years ago when she realized that capturing moods and telling stories with her photos were in her blood. Two years later, her son was born, and
many of her friends were also starting families. Her intuition nudged her again as she took photos of moms-to-be and later their babies, as well as her own son.


Kylene has branched out into other types of photography while remaining true to her own style. I feel that this is one of the keys to her success. Once you have developed your style, competition is not much of a concern. You may be working in the same medium of creative expression as many others, but it's how you express yourself through that medium that clients are attracted to.


As you peruse Kylene's beautiful site at http://www.leaveittomephotography.com/, notice how she sets herself apart from other photographers. Her creative thumbprint is on everything she does!


An important strength I see in Kylene is that she truly enjoys her work. Her enthusiasm is contagious, making the client's experience a pleasant one from beginning to end.


Another cue you can take from Kylene is knowing when to ask for help. She belongs to Internet forums and meet-up groups to give and receive tips, support, and feedback. Kylene also asks for help and feedback from family and friends, and we are glad to be involved in her creative process!


Then she takes the step that a lot of creatives forget. She uses the feedback that resonates with her to improve her work!


Another strength I've watched Kylene develop is that she clearly spells out her policies, deadlines, etc., so that her clients know what to expect up front. It shows respect for her clients while helping her to set boundaries that prevent her from getting burned out or just plain "burned."


Please check out Kylene Cleaver's site at http://www.leaveittomephotography.com/ for a great example of an artist who has found a way to see with her heart ... and translate it for the rest of us with her beautiful photos!


My best to all of you,


Susan


P.S. Regardless of your medium of expression, I can help you smooth out the rough spots on your creative journey. Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching tele-session!

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

Getting Serious About Humor

It's 2008. Do You Know Where Your Sense of Humor Is?

Actress Cheryl Ladd says you must keep your sense of humor, even when you think "it's two towns over, in a ditch." Einstein explains why: "You can't solve a problem with the same level of mind that created it."

It's true, humor can change your brain chemically (by causing endorphins to be produced) and physically (by creating new connections of neurons). Humor can get you out of a thinking rut, often in a relatively short period of time.

''Good-humored" humor (without malice) contributes to our well-being holistically, with benefits in these areas and probably more:

Creativity

Have you heard the expression, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly"? Humor raises our vibration to make it easier to gain intuitive input. Creativity is also enhanced by new connections among the neurons in the brain.

Learning

Learning is more effective and long-lasting if it's presented in a humorous way.

Motivation and Morale

Humor helps us to draw on our intrinsic motivation. It helps pull us toward what we want to accomplish. Motivation from an outside source, such as a demanding boss, pushes us forward. Feeling pushed can cause the quality of our work to decline, and morale will suffer.

Relationships

Because humor raises our vibration, we are more likely to be drawn to others who have raised their vibrations, too, and you will find the quality of your relationships improving.

Health

All areas of your health can be improved by humor: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Laughter has been likened to an internal massage! Humor helps to dispel negative, lower energies, and replace them with lighter, more positive ones, which over time can enhance healing.

*****

Life Is Messy

Being able to laugh at yourself is very important. We make mistakes. There are things about ourselves we wish we could change.

Take a tip from Abraham Lincoln. His life was riddled with personal and public defeats. And his physical appearance was somewhat awkward and homely.

One day as Lincoln was speaking in public, someone called him "two-faced." Lincoln probably knew that this person's mind was made up, so instead of trying to reason with him, he chose humor for his response. Lincoln said, "Sir, if I had two faces, do you think I'd be wearing this one??"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Humor and creativity come very naturally to children, and it's a great way to communicate with them. Maybe some of that amazing humor and creativity that we were schooled out of will be rejuvenated!

So, when we think we're too busy for "fun and games," we need to reconsider our position. We often resist what we need the most!

The Conscious Mind Can't Go It Alone

We can shut down, hunker down, and try to create with the limited material in our conscious minds, but this is often a self-contained loop that gets us nowhere. Or we can lighten up, loosen up, and open up to the vast creative opportunities available to us when we allow the input of our unconscious mind and the collective unconscious.

Let Your Sense of Humor Bridge the Gap

Humor takes down the walls that are blocking your creativity and uses them for bridges!

Here's to a New Year filled with laughter and creativity,

Susan

P.S. 'Need any help getting the New Year off to a great start? See my Dec. 11 post on creative resolutions and/or email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching tele-session!

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

Tailor Your Resolutions to Your Lifestyle

Here's my recipe for Creative Resolutions:

C
Create mental imagery of what your life will be like after the goal is completed.
Example: My goal is to write a book, so I'm imagining good questions and supportive comments from comments via email, on this blog, and in person! I also have an image of the cover of the book, of which I'm going to make a mock-up so can I see and touch it every day.

R
Revise your plan when it's truly needed, but be honest with yourself here.
Example: I'm estimating that it will take two years to write my book, but books often take on a life of their own. I may have to adjust that expectation.


E
Set your intention each day for the next step in the process.
Example: A typical daily intention for my book might be to work on it for a minimum of 30 minutes. I often do more, but this way it moves forward, and still feels doable.


A
Set up an accountability system for yourself.
Example: I'm doing this right now by saying here that I'm writing a book. If a reader asks me in 6 months, "How's the book coming along?", I want to be proud of my answer! I also have a one-on-one buddy, who, like me, is writing a book while she has lots of other things going on. When I know I have to give her an update in an hour, it really helps me stay focused!

T
"The work will teach you how to do it." --Estonian Proverb
Example: As I mentioned above, projects do tend to take on lives of their own. I'm just following my book down the rabbit hole. I'm not concerned about how it's going to come together. I just trust that it will.

I
List the improvements that your project will make in your life and the lives of others.
Example: This list will keep me motivated for the long haul, and it will also serve as a list of intentions for the book.


V
Track your goals visually.
Example: I keep a chart of how many hours a day (and week) that I spend on the book. When the chapter titles start to take shape, I can also track which ones are complete. This may sound too simple to help, but it does!

E
Evaluate obstacles and make plans for overcoming them.
Example: One of my obstacles might be feeling overwhelmed, so I have the 30-minute
minimum in place. Another is setting aside the time. My accountability buddy helps greatly with this!


~~~~


R
Is the timing right for your project?
Example: For my book, the timing feels right intuitively, and I've been collecting material for it for 7 years.


E
As Laura Howard West would say, it's "easy, natural, and fun"? Check this out at
http://www.joyfulmarketing.com/.
Example: My book project does feel "easy, natural, and fun." I'm letting it develop organically, and it doesn't even feel like work! (At least not yet!) :-)

S
State a specific desired outcome.
Example: Since I'm letting the book take the lead, this can be a little tricky. This is where the list of desired improvements for others and myself will come in handy. Another way around this is to state your intentions, and follow them with, "or something better!"

O
Get help from others.
Example: My accountability buddy and other friends are cheering me on. Another option for me would be to assemble an R&D team for some helpful feedback on the book.


L
Look ahead. Will this goal help to propel you toward the future you want?
Example: My book will contribute greatly to the future I'm planning. Looking at the big picture, I see that the book fits beautifully with the other things I'm developing!


U
Pick a goal that "U" really want. (No posturing or "it'll look good" goals, please!)
Example: My book topic has grown out of my own interests and not from trying to figure out what the "market" will want in a few years.


T
Set a target completion date.
Example: I've set a two-year completion date to give myself some structure, even though it may have to be changed as the book progresses.


I
What will this project do for your integrity? Will it move you closer to wholeness?
Example: I'm eager to see how my book will turn out, because it will synthesize a lot of what I've learned and experienced over the last 20 years!


O
Is your project on target with your values?
Example: The values I have around creativity and being of service will be woven securely into my book.


N
Break your project down into non-threatening small steps.
Example: For 7 years, I threw interesting bits of information and quotes into my "book box." It's a habit that has served me well, and there is almost no risk involved. (Unless you have a fear of success! ) :-) Now, my 30-minute minimum keeps my fear level down.

S
Don't forget about self-care. Creativity is a holistic process, and all aspects of your being need to be as unencumbered as possible.
Example: In the past I neglected my self-care, and my creativity packed up and left until I changed my ways. What a joy to have it flowing freely again!


Wishing you a productive year in 2008,
Susan

P.S. Being coached was a huge help in getting me to this point. Do you need some support around these topics? Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for a complimentary coaching tele-session!

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

Small Changes, Big Results

I once heard an anecdote about a group of listless otters in a zoo who were brought back to their usual playfulness simply by having someone dangle a piece of paper in their play area. It caught the attention of one or two of the otters, setting off a chain reaction until all the otters were lively again. The dangling piece of paper was a small change that brought about a big result.

In similar ways, we can stimulate our creativity with small changes in our routines and environments, which encourage our brains to make new connections among neurons. Here are some to try, even if for just a day.

• Do something on the spur of the moment.
• Try a new type of physical exercise.
• Try a different art form.
• Try a new spiritual practice.
• Rearrange a room.
• Type when you would normally write by hand or vice versa.
• Try a new recipe.
• Dress differently.
• Style your hair differently.
• Listen to a different kind of music.
• Set up a small meditation alter (or rearrange the one you have).
• Create in a different room, in a public place, or outside. (This is the one I'm using at the moment.)
• Try a new kind of bodywork, such as massage or Reiki.
• Change your working hours.
• Take the bus instead of the train, or vice versa.
• Travel on new routes when walking or driving.
• Shop at some different stores.
• Try different colors of paper and ink, and change the font.
• Change your usual order of tasks or steps in a process.
• If you are around kids, ask for their feedback on your project.
• If you have kids, find a babysitter for an afternoon.
• If you aren't usually around kids, borrow a friend's kid for an afternoon.
• Try some new essential oil aromas.
• Take a bath instead of a shower, or vice versa.
• Try taking more frequent breaks, and experiment with the length of your breaks.
• Take an afternoon off from technology.
• Call an optimistic friend you haven't talked to recently. No whiners, please!
• Create in the presence of a friend or a group as they work on their projects.
• Devise a mini-retreat for yourself.

My friend Mary Beth and I set aside several hours a week where we check in with each other by phone to declare what we are going to work on for the coming hour. Then we check in with our reports and encourage each other to keep going. It's great! With this small change, we've had amazing results over the past year. If you'd like to give it a try, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com, and I'll do my best to set you up with a "Dig In" buddy.

Good luck experimenting with these ideas, and please let us know what happens. Remember, sometimes a change can be as good as (or even better than) a rest!

Be well,

Susan

P.S. My guided journal and inspirational card set both make great holiday gifts, especially for Law of Attraction fans! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details. Thanks!

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

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!