Creativity Management

Creativity Management ? Artists and Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Artists and Creativity

There is a common perception that being creative and being an artist are one and the same. That if you are one, then you are also the other. This is bad thinking:

a) What people are referring to is their perception of a creative type. In fact it is highly contentious that there is a creative type at all. Whilst some theorists argue that there are creativity traits such as tolerance for ambiguity and intolerance for conformity, others counter that these traits are hard to identify and are situation dependent. Further, motivation is more important than traits.

b) If creativity is problem identification and idea generation then we all have this ability. Further, we can all produce large numbers of ideas, numbers of diverse ideas and numbers of novel ideas. This is related to task competency.

c) Creativity is a cognitive ability. People may look "creative," but this is a bad guide to their actual cognitive performance.

d) There are many types of "artists." Poets and painters are two very different types. Bunching all "artists" together compounds confusion. The ability of painter, for example, is related to at least two factors. First, there is his or her cognitive activity ? what he or she finds aesthetically pleasing etc. Second, there is the mechanical capability of being able to translate those images onto a physical canvas with paint. This second ability is related to the hard wiring of the painter ? motor neurons etc.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com/

Kal Bishop MBA, is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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The 7 Simple Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving Incredible Success

The 7 Simple Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achieving Incredible Success


Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful andfundamental knowledge available to man:

"YOU CAN CREATE ANY ACTUAL PHYSICAL REALITY YOU WANT THROUGH THE INTENSE DESIRE, BELIEF AND PERSISTENCE OF YOUR MIND"

Your desire for success brought this knowledge to you atthis very moment, there is no doubt of that. But do youknow how to harness it? To wield the power it makesavailable?

Every great man and woman to ever walk the Earth harnessedthis knowledge and wielded a power that allowed them toexceed the limitations of regular humanity.

But if the power of creation is available to all of us, whyis it only a small few ever achieve greatness?

Because only a few know how to harness this knowledge andwield the incredible power it makes available.

Do you know how? No?

Well listen up because you're about to learn.

The information contained in the rest of this article hasthe power to change your life forever....

The 7 Steps To Harnessing Your Creative Power And Achievingincredible Success

Follow the 7 steps to the letter and I GUARANTEE, yoursuccess will exceed the limitations of regular humanity.

Are you ready? Here we go:

STEP 1: Decide exactly what or how much money you want, not just "a lot" or "heaps". For example my present goal is$69,300/month. It doesn't have to be money here, it can beanything you desire.

And who knows, perhaps by the time you read this article Ihave already exceeded this goal and set a new one. Notice my goal is specific.

STEP 2: Decide exactly what your willing to give in order toachieve your dreams; as in time, money and effort.

STEP 3: Decide on a specific date for achieving your goal.Month and year.

STEP 4: Decide on a specific plan. You must have a plan,without one you cannot TAKE ACTION.http://007WorkFromHome.com is a great place to start your education.

STEP 5: (IMPORTANT) Write a clear "Promise" of:

-the amount of money you will make
-the time limit for getting it
-what you intend to give in order to get it
-and the plan by which you aim to get it

STEP 6: (MOST IMPORTANT) read your "Promise" aloud twice aday. Once after getting up and once before going to bed. Asyou read it - see, feel and believe yourself already makingthat money using the plan you have chosen.

STEP 7: For 1 minute after reading your "Promise" (or longerif you can) close your eyes and see yourself following yourplan and the money actually already in your possession as aresult.

Mix it with strong emotion; excitement, happiness, sense ofachievement, self-admiration. The stronger the emotionalcocktail the more potent your success will be.

That's it. I have just put into your hands the magic tocreate anything you ever dreamed of.

But remember, if you want to succeed you must have a plan.Do you have a plan?

Please follow all 7 steps I outlined above, they are notnonsense, but an incredibly potent process.

I VERY SERIOUSLY want you to be successful and happy beyondyour wildest dreams.

I know you can do it!

By Murray Hughes

http://www.007workfromhome.com/harnessing-your-power.php:tea:
 
Get Creativity?

Get Creativity?

Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives, but in modern times few people are able to access this as a resource. Alan Watts writes in The Wisdom of Insecurity:

"We have allowed brain thinking to develop and dominate our lives out of all proportion to 'instinctual wisdom'; which we are allowing to slump into atrophy. As a consequence we are at war within ourselves - the brain desiring things which the body does not want, and the body desiring things that the brain will not allow; the brain giving directions which the body will nor follow, and the body giving impulses which the brain cannot understand...So long as the mind is split, life is perpetual conflict, tension, frustration and disillusion. Suffering is piled on suffering, fear on fear, and boredom on boredom. The more the fly struggles to get out of the honey, the faster he is stuck. Under the pressure of so much strain and futility, it is no wonder that men [sic] seek release in violence and sensationalism, and the reckless exploitation of their bodies, their appetites, the material world and their fellow men".

Globally at the moment there are many problems facing mankind. Diminishing natural resources and increasing populations mean that we are in a spiral of entropy. Our investment systems have been using the capital assets of our planet as income since the beginning of the industrial revolution. We are putting little energy back into our planet.

Third world populations look enviously toward the apparent richness of first world countries, and wish to emulate the consumerism that appears to make its citizens so happy. Our media propagate the illusion that we can buy our way out of environmental destruction, and that retail therapy is the panacea to all dis-ease and unhappiness.

Although the nature of work is changing there is still more slavery in the world than there has ever been. Mass production is shifting generally to third world countries where cheap labour and the environment are more easily exploited. Tiny-wage slavery is still cheaper than investing in up to the minute technology for many third world industries. New technology steadily gobbles up jobs. Service, leisure and electronic industries have replaced much of our manufacturing losses to the third world but now even these (often part-time jobs) are being 'outsourced'.

Certainly creativity is needed at individual and governmental levels to produce new opportunities in employment, information, education and leisure activities. Many of the manufacturing 'jobs for life' we have lost to cheaper workers have been replaced by part-time, poorly paid and insecure alternatives.

The development of new forms of employment and the ability to cope with accelerating change needs creativity at all levels. Pressures towards conformity stem from, "a demand that education should primarily the way to enhanced social status and a materially safe way of life" (T.P. Jones in Creative Learning in Perspective).

Aspects of specialisation (the mystification of knowledge into 'closed shops') and a centralised government system shift responsibility away from people. Many factors make it harder for an individual to act on their own behalf, on their own belief and to face uncertainty and possibly ridicule by doing something non-conformist. In education individual behaviour is still often construed as insulting and rebellious. Creativity, an Open University guide for teachers states:

"One of the problems with teaching for creativity in schools is that many of the personality characteristics and kind of behaviour associated with them are unpleasing to the teacher. Independent children who will not accept what the teacher says, simply because they say it, can be disliked by the teacher, particularly when such behaviour occurs on a heavy day or with a tired teacher".

The potential for divergent, self assertive thought and action is diminished in many sectors of society. People who 'rock the boat' and question authority are too often seen as a threat to established patterns. This has led to a breakdown in sensitivity to needs, the generation of ideas and the production of creative solutions. Financial reward and security are conditioned to be the primary motivations for work and life.

With the coming of automation and factories seeking the cheapest labour in third world countries, the emphasis in a successful economy needs to be more biased towards the production of ideas that create meaningful and sustainable employment. The education organisations we have are slow to realise this and much of the training they provide is still geared towards values established during the Industrial Revolution.

The didactic education system we have is still partly based on training small boys for the priesthood, five-hundred years ago. The development of creative potential in individuals is an issue that the system simply does not know how to handle. Presently we are between two worlds, leaving generations high and dry concerning meaningful work and the generation of identity.

"Whilst assimilating that which he has inherited, and adapting himself to it, man [sic] must also preserve his essential individuality. Education must assist the society which nurtures it by inspiring each generation to add to the culture it has received by creating something new; there should be no passive acceptance of what has been handed down from the past. Serious consideration must therefore be given to the extent that non-conforming ideas can be considered as an asset for life in a conforming society".


(T.Powell Jones. Creative Learning in Perspective)

About The Author

Simon Mitchell

Secrets of Creativity http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/secrets.html:tea:
 
Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box

Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box


I happened to overhear a conversation the other day between two men?

Young man has started learning about real estate investing. He has read books and attended seminars put on by some gurus who make more money selling information about real estate investing than they do investing in real estate BUT at least he is taking the initiative to learn more. This is more than most people will do.

Old man owns his home. Young man wants to buy real estate as an investment?.apartment buildings, office buildings?that type stuff. Old man has no experience in this area. During the conversation old man says to young man?"are you doing anymore of that real estate nonsense?"

By "nonsense" I know old man was referring to attending the "get rich quick" type seminars and not a condemnation of real estate investing. BUT it came across as a condemnation of the young man's process of educating himself about something new...something that could improve his life and the lives of his family.

Unfortunately, you probably have people like that in your life. You may BE a person like that in someone else's life. People in your "box" don't want you getting out!

You know the type. Negative about any attempt you might make to improve your life?to be different?to stand out?.to be more successful than they are.

I heard a great analogy for this by attending a free investment seminar. I knew this guy would be advocating some risky financial moves but I figured since I was in the seminar giving business myself, that I might be able to learn something useful. I did.

The people you associate with most are probably just like you. You have similar educational backgrounds, families and incomes.. You live in houses and drive cars of similar value. You attend the same church?your kids attend the same schools?you shop in the same stores. You get the idea.

One could say you are in the same "box" or rut.

The analogy continues...

Unfortunately, the "instructions" on how to get out of your "box" are posted on the "outside" of your "box" where you can't read them. You'll need the help of someone who has already made it out, to "read" you the instructions so you can get out too.

It's not enough to get that help though. You'll probably have to deal with your "boxmates" who would rather you stick around to keep them company in their sad little "box."

In listening to the conversation between old man and young man I immediately flashed on the image of young may starting to climb out of the box and old man reaching up and grabbing him by the belt to pull him back in.

Sad but all too common I'm sure. If any of this sounds familiar you might have some hard decisions to make.

If completely getting rid of a negative person from your life is not possible (spouse, relative, employer) then you might have to clam up about your goals, dreams and desires.Discuss them only with people who will support you or preferably with people who have already done what you want to do.

Author Dan Kennedy has coined the phrase "mediocre majority" to describe most people. This is a group you want to avoid.

So, no matter what you want to accomplish, be it changing your life to get out of debt?starting a business?going back to school (imagine at your age!)?investing in real estate?mystery shopping?losing weight?taking piano lessons or anything else, simply get started and keep the pie hole shut! (salad hole if losing weight)

Good luck!
abt the author
Leo J. Quinn, Jr. owner of http://www.LeoQuinn.com is a financial educator from the Albany, NY area. For over eight years he has been helping thousands of people get control of their finances and get out of debt in a fraction of the normal time. :tea:
 
Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

Creativity and Innovation Management : Why Products Fail!

There is no sure fire route to commercial success but the probability of success can be increased. This is important for at least two reasons:

a) Resource Management. The Economist (2003) states that 3000 bright ideas result in 100 worthwhile projects, which are winnowed down to four development programmes. And four such development programmes are required to stand any chance of getting one winner.

b) Time Management. Whilst it is often the case that sufficient time is not taken to develop a product fully, there is always time to go back and fix mistakes. The cost of product re-engineering varies from the low to high billions.

There are a number of techniques that allow better problem identification and idea generation (creativity) and better idea selection, development and commercialisation (innovation).

Innovation strategies include:

a) Valuing ideas according to their type. Random ideas and those resulting from solution spotting have the highest success rates.

b) Measuring strategic, technical and competency fits with the organisation.

c) Measurement of ideas according to their impediments. A new type of cell phone will be infinitely easier to produce than a time machine. The Internet has a far lower take up in Africa than in Europe because of infrastructure deficiencies.

d) Carefully selecting what criteria is used to allow or disallow an idea at various stages of the development pipeline. Not allowing an idea (or releasing it too early) may not give that idea a chance to blossom. However, keeping it in the pipeline takes away valuable resources that may allow another idea to bloom.

e) Adequate consumer benefit analysis. Many ideas are simply developed before focused, practical and appropriate end-user needs are thought through.

By Kal Bishop:tea:
 
I Want To Create...

I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a successful life, a good life, a sculpture, a piece of art, a book? What is it that you would like to create? Whatever you want you can achieve it. All you have to do is follow your natural compass. Remove the rubbish that takes you off course and let the natural you come through. It is not the case of adding new behaviours to create what you want. No. It's a case of moving the obstacles out of the away and let the natural you come through.

One of the biggest obstacles of all to being creative in life, to reaching your potential: is conformity.

As Shakti Gawain says: 'We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or other peoples model'.

Just think for a moment. How much do you conform?

The world of work wants you to conform more and more. The computerisation of systems has taken away the creativity of individuals and made you conform. Individual creativity of employees has almost disappeared in favour of conformity.

The clothes you wear. Isn't there a strong push to get you to be similar if not the same as everyone else.

The food you eat. Don't you feel that you are being told what to eat and where you ought to eat it. Which restaurants are fashionable, which food is good for you. What supplements you 'ought' to take.

So its not surprising therefore that in our family lives and our lives in general we have become slaves to conformity. The habit and behaviour of conformity, wanting to be the same, is stopping you from touching your creativity.

To reach your true potential, to open up your creativity you must start by having:

Trust in yourself.

Having trust in yourself is about listening to the real you, your feelings, your heart and becoming the person you really are capable of becoming. The you, who has been hidden for years and would really like to show the world how good you are.

Now, what are the first thoughts that come into your mind to stop you achieving this aim and objective? Often the first thing that stops you having power over your day to day behaviour is the one who sits on your shoulder or the voice inside your head that constantly nags like a oppressive parent. It's whole aim is to sabotage your efforts. To destroy your self esteem.

? you ought to do ??..that will never work

? you should do ???what do you think your doing

? that will never work Forget it.

? how do you think that's going to pay the bills

? you must be mad don't you remember what happened last time

Remember there is another voice that you can tune into. A voice that is full of encouragement and hope. Every time you are faced with 'you can't do ..??? reply with Of course I can do this??.I have the skills.

The role of the inner voice is no more than getting you to conform to the labels people have put on you. Your job is to reach your potential. Release your creativity. So why listen? Tell yourself and everyone else I can do it?Of course I can??I am following my aim and objective in life. I am like a seed. With a little nurturing and the right environment I can mature into a beautiful flower. I have done it before I can do it again.

Just think for a moment:

when was the last time you successfully handled difficulties that occurred in your life?

when were you thanked and congratulated for doing a good job?

what responsibilities do you have in your life that you successfully deal with?

what do you like about yourself. What are your qualities?

when in your life have you felt loved?

Remember conformity stops you from being creative. Stops you from leading your natural life. As you learn to overcome conformity and start to believe in your strengths then you have the first step in living a more creative and fruitful life. A life which is naturally yours.

Remember:

Instead of where there is a will there is a wont.

I now believe where there is a will there is a way.

To improve your intuition, initiative and energy levels please go to:http://www.desktop-meditation.com. :tea:
 
Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is needed and when the process is done properly. There are different types of inventions. Some inventions are more practical, making the everyday lives of individuals easier (pens for example), some inventions are simply for entertainment purposes (television), and some inventions are multi-purpose (educational devices that are also entertaining). In addition, some inventions are simply answers to medical problems, as in prosthetic devices while others are simply "improvements" made to existing inventions. As you can see, inventing something successfully can be done in many styles and through many creative pathways.

Overall, though, inventions either succeed or fail, depending upon the need or desire for the product by consumers. Let's face it, if something is not needed or desired, no one will buy it, no matter how clever it is! Even Thomas Alva Edison (he invented the light bulb), failed thousands of times before inventing many successful products, as did the famous British inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair. One of Sir Clive's "famous failures" included an X-Bike that was a cross between a pair of scissors and a bike. Thomas Edison's biggest failure overall was a mining operation invention which would separate iron from more low-grade ores, and Mr. Edison spent his fortune and lost it eventually, trying for a successful "invention method".

Inventors, though, are seldom deterred, and continuing to try and invent eventually leads to extreme success, as in the cases of both Thomas Edison and Sir Clive. Successful inventing entails a certain number of steps or processes that will routinely lead to successful inventions:

A. The realistic assessment of the invention's potential. Let's face it, if it isn't "needed or wanted", it won't sell.

B. If a patent is needed. In some cases, believe it or not, it is not.

C. The legal protection of ideas. Not allowing ideas to be stolen or copied.

D. The development of a marketable product. Besides being needed or wanted, a product should be affordable enough to build that prices will appeal to a consumer.

E. The methods of developing prototypes and engineering to bring an invention to fruition. This needs to be done properly for successful marketing.

F. Licensing issues. Some inventions require research into existing licenses and also the obtaining of licenses.

G. Proposing to companies and approaching companies for promotion of the final product. The correct methods of approaching interested businesses and investors.

H. Royalties and advance payment options. Without knowledge of these issues, investors may very well lose money in the long run.

I. Checking existing patents, trademarks and copyrights. No sense inventing something already protected by another.

As with any other type of business (and inventing something is, overall, a "business venture"), much work needs to be done, before, during and after the process of invention. Everything from correct market research, to correct patent processes, trademark and copyright information much be established, and successful inventors proceed slowly and carefully during each stage of the invention process. Also, successful inventors are very determined and patient. Many failures usually occur with each product before an "invention success" take place, so having an easy going, dedicated personality is necessary as well.

Although tons of books and other materials exist on the proper procedures to follow, a future inventor can also save money on materials, and save time by visiting the United States government sites specifically set up for the needs of inventors and creators of products/services. These sites are:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.govThe United States Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov

If you prefer to buy a book or report on how to successfully bring an invention to market, a simple search online will reveal literally hundreds of such materials.

As with any business venture, future inventors that are knowledgeable and armed with the "tools" necessary for successful invention, do their "invention homework", and back up their efforts with the funds needed, will more often than not produce an invention that works, is needed, and best of all, "sells". After all, what better reward than the knowledge that consumers were so thrilled with an invention that they would gladly pay for it???

Vishal P. Rao:tea:
 
Creating Success

Creating Success

All things begin in consciousness.

Consciousness originates everything that is manifest. Universal consciousness makes manifest the entire universe and subsides within its' creation. You and your individual consciousness are indivisible from the universe and universal consciousness.

That which you create or make manifest originates in your consciousness. Creation of any manifest reality (goal accomplishment) is the successful out-picturing of an ideal.

The process of creation starts with the ideal. The first realm of creation is the ideal, your idealization. Your ideal is made distinct, out of the infinite but imprecise potentialities available to you, by your clear, consistent thought patterns, plus your fervent desire for or love of your ideal, plus your constant fiat or promise to your ideal, plus your faith in or faithfulness to your ideal.

Your ideal is made definite, out of the infinite but imprecise potentialities available to you, by your firm belief in your ideal chosen through your discernment of what is ideal for you, plus your insight into its' value to others plus the wisdom to effectuate the ideal using natural law.

Then it moves the virtual. The second realm of creation is the virtual, your virtuality. Your ideal is proscribed as probable or virtually true, by your intention to effectuate your ideal, plus your objective or aspiration for your ideal, plus your gratitude for your ideal, plus your detachment from or objectivity toward your ideal.

Your ideal is described as probable or virtually true, by the clear picturing of your ideal in your imagination, plus your visualization or expectation of your ideal, plus your affirmation or declaration of your ideal, plus your congruity or accordance with your ideal.

Then it becomes real. The third realm of creation is your reality. You and your ideal will now have, in reality, achieved clarity, and, as a consequence, all your behavior will be in accord with your ideal. Your actions are true.

You and your ideal will now have, in reality, achieved lucidity, and, as a consequence, all your communications will be in agreement with your ideal. Your word is truth.

Then, finally, the result appears. The fourth realm of creation is your actuality. Your ideal manifests. Harmony of beingness, doingness and havingness has been achieved.

Here is another way to look at it; (often, the way to understand some thing or some process is to de-engineer it, that is, to take the result apart, piece by piece, and examine each piece to see how it contributes or is necessary to the result) ...

Success is goal accomplishment. Success is harmony. It is simply a matter of all the components of the process of creation working together to create the result.

The result is the havingness. Prior to the result is the doingness. Prior to the doingness is the beingness. Be, Do, Have.

The reality of your result can also be called its veracity. Is it true? If what you have is true to your ideal, then what you do must also be true to your ideal and how you are must be true to your ideal.

De-engineering your result, your success, you can see from the above-described process of success, that the words you speak or what you communicate and the actions you take or things you do must also be true or harmonious with the result. In order for that to happen, you must have arrived at a certain lucidity and clarity about your goals or results.

Clarity is achieved through detachment or objectivity from your goal. Lucidity comes from your congruity with your goal. These, too, must be in harmony with your result.

* Your ability to objectify or be detached from your goal comes from your gratitude for its existence.

* Your gratitude for your goal comes from your aspiration or ambition to achieve your goal.

* Your aspiration comes from your intentionality about the goal. Your ability to be congruent with your goal comes from your affirmation or assertion of its reality and value.

* Your affirmation comes from your ability to visualize or expect your goal.

* Your ability to visualize comes from what you choose to imagine, your imagination.

All these components or attributes must, likewise, be harmonious with your result or success.

* Your intentions about your goal arise from your faith in or faithfulness to your ideal.

* Your faith arises from your fiat or promise or commitment to your ideal.

* Your fiat arises from your desire or love of your ideal. Your desire arises out of the original thought that impressed or defined your ideal.

* Your ability to imagine your goal arises out of your wisdom or prudence that you apply to your ideal.

* Your wisdom arises out of the insight you have into the expected effectuation of your ideal, your insight arises out of the original discernment or acumen that you used to select your ideal.

* Your ability to discern arises from your original belief that expressed or articulated your ideal.

All these components, including your thought patterns and belief structures must, likewise, be harmonious with your result or success.

Your results can be shown to always be in harmony with your thoughts and beliefs, even when your results are apparently discordant with your ideals.

So, it all comes down to the basic components of thought and belief.

You are able to choose how and what to think. You are able to choose how and what to believe; how to be. You are at cause. Your beingness is the causal. Your result, what you have, is the effectual. Everything in between is the flow from being to having.

It is called doing. Doing is the application of knowledge. It is often said that knowledge is power. It is not. Knowledge only defines potential. It is through the application of knowledge that power is employed.

The exercise of your personal power is to consciously create and effectuate your ideals.

Be causal.

About the author
Leslie is the author of The DELFIN Knowledge System Trilogy: The Initiation, The Journey and The Quest plus many more success publications. He also the co-author of The End of the World with Hugh Jeffries and Alexandra's DragonFire with his daughter Ashley. Subscribe to his free and ad-free eZine at http://www.ProsperityParadigm.com or http://www.LeslieFieger.com:tea:
 
Mindfulness and Teaching: Lessons From Dynamic English

Mindfulness and Teaching: Lessons From Dynamic English

Back in 1983, I was hired to teach English in rural northern Japan. I had no experience teaching, and didn't speak a work of Japanese.

No matter-I had the requisite four-year college degree and a thirst for adventure.

My employer/boss/teaching partner was Grif Frost, a 27-year-old budding entrepreneur who had married the Japanese exchange student who had once lived with his family. He ended up living near his wife's parents in Mutsu, and did what any self-respectingEnglish-speaking person did in Japan in 1982-he started an English school.

Now, Grif had no experience teaching, either. He had a master's in International Management and a couple of toddlers at home. He was the token foreigner in Mutsu, and figured he might as well put it to good use.

Without training, he developed an approach he called "Dynamic English"-a high-energy, full-body, take-no-prisoners form of English as pure entertainment. He focused on presenting classes that were "Fast, Fun and Friendly", and was notorious for his colorful puppets, loud singing, dramatic storytelling, and excessive sweating.

As his partner, I picked up on the style quickly. Soon, I was causing my own stampedes of 3-year-olds and getting my share of notoriety for creative book-reading. In one memorable moment, I was spreading my arms wide to demonstrate the concept of "big" when my blouse burst open. Talk about a visual aid!

We became something like rock stars among the kindergarten children. Imagine a hundred Japanese five-year-olds seeing big white Americans with squeaky oversized plastic mallets (great for elimination during "Simon Says"), an overflowing bag of what looked suspiciously like toys, and boisterous "Good Morning!" greetings. The kids would literally fall over laughing at our stunts, and never got tired of our silly songs and wild games.

We were doing what came naturally-fully engaging the students in a way that created real awareness of language, objects, directions, shapes, colors, and verbal and musical sounds. Our older students were thrilled with this active approach, so different from the "This is a pen" lessons they'd chanted in their mandatory English classes in middle school. By providing new triggers, surprising methods, and hilarious material, we were offering novel stimuli, fresh perspective, and 100% focus on the present.

Little did we know that a Harvard psychologist would later describe these same characteristics as essential for mindful learning! Dr. Ellen Langer, author of The Power of Mindful Learning, talks about the importance of being open to novelty, drawing distinctions, being aware of differing contexts and perspectives, and orienting in the present.

Learning a language can be incredibly tedious or outrageously active and exciting. We played with English and our students not only learned the lessons quickly but laughed heartily, burned calories, and created a whole new mindset about what it takes to learn something new.

Grif relied on mindful learning in developing his approach to teaching English-he was completely open from the beginning, and was never hampered by ideas of what teaching should look like.

He was creative about using games and songs he'd loved as a kid and turning them into fresh and powerful tools for teaching. He shifted the lesson plans when dealing with various age groups and English levels, and constantly improved his approach by paying attention to the responses and being fearless about making changes and trying out new ideas.

Years later, I am delighted to find myself applying this approachto teaching mindfulness. Instead of sticking with the meditation lesson plan, I've opted for the excitement of learning mindfulness in a way that is thoroughly engaging and surprisingly active. In fact, the basic guidelines for Real-World Mindfulness Training are remarkably similar to those for Dynamic English:

* Stay open to new things-including your approach to learning in general.

* Look for subtle differences in similar objects or ideas.

* Discover new uses for old tools.

* Explore shifting perspectives.

* Shake up stale notions.

* Engage all senses.

* Get physical whenever possible.

* Jump into the moment wholeheartedly.

* Be sure to have fun every single day.

Whether you're learning a language or developing mindfulness, the key is this: keep it dynamic.

And never underestimate the value of large squeaky plastic mallets. Just imagine how much fun it would be to use one in a room full of meditators!



About the author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open ways to get calm, clear and creative. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com:tea:
 
Creativity Management ? Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement

Creativity Management ? Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement


Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable and useable. In terms of measurement, benchmarking and improvement, the first step is to decide on definitions, the second is to decide on methods of measurement and finally, to monitor each measurement for improvement.

Definitions of creativity are not elusive. In fact, the number of definitions helps the analyst better define creativity and refine its management:

a) Coming up with original ideas.

Misleading. It can be compellingly argued that all new ideas are actually evolutions of previous ideas. Implies a break from the past.

b) Recombination.

The recombination of existing elements to form something new. Thus creativity is not something completely new but relatively new. Offers a practical method. For example, Synectics ? the practice of taking two elements and consciously creating new links and elements from them.

c) Novel and useful solutions.

Does not imply a complete break with the past and introduces the concept of applicability. Can be extrapolated to arrive at creative and critical thinking. Where creative thinking is used generate a large idea pool and critical thinking is used to reduce that pool to feasible ideas. Implies that creativity can be measured according to degrees of novelty. Someone who expands on Einstein's Theory of Relativity is not as creative as Einstein was as the ideas are not as novel.

d) Expressing unusual thought. Experiencing the world in novel ways. Effect significant changes in culture (Csikszentmihalyim, 1996).

Implies creativity has practical, expressive and cognitive elements. Closer to the common perception of "artist."

e) Producing a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of rare ideas. The most thoroughly "scientific" definition and practical on a quantitative level.

f) Creativity as problem identification and idea generation and innovation as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Provides a good distinction between creativity and innovation. Implies a number of differing competencies are involved and also implies the universality of creativity ? we are creative on some level as we all solve problems.


By Kal Bishop MBA:tea:
 
Top Ten Reasons To Start Creativity Coaching

Top Ten Reasons To Start Creativity Coaching

DEVELOP YOUR ARTISTIC CONFIDENCE I'd really like to write but I don't have enough time. Creativity coaching can give you back control over your calendar.

EXPAND YOUR HOBBY TO A PART-TIME BUSINESS: I can make crafts for others, but I'm too scared to sell them to strangers. Creativity coaching can teach you how to expand and meet your artistic expectations.

EXPLORE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Marketing my work to new markets is difficult. Creativity coaching can teach you how to research and develop new markets.

ACHIEVE YOUR ARTISTIC GOALS: I can set goals, but I can't complete them. Creativity coaching can teach you how to formulate and complete your goals.

EXPLORE ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR CREATIVITY: I don't know if I am creative or not. Creativity coaching can help you discover the truth about your creativity.

BALANCE YOUR CREATIVITY AND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE: If I don't write regularly, I begin to feel trapped. Creativity coaching can help you discover the truth about your creativity.

DISCOVER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER NETWORKING OUTLETS: Where do I find artist in my artistic discipline? Creativity coaching can help you increase your business skills.

CREATE CONCRETE PLANS FOR YOUR ARTISTIC BUSINESS: How do I write a business plan, when my art isn't even selling? Creativity coaching can help you increase your business skills.

FIND AN ARTISTIC MENTOR OR BUDDY: Where can I find an artistic mentor or buddy? Creativity coaching can help you expand your support network.


By Lael Johnson
http://www.writerseye.com/creativitycoaching/index.shtml
:tea:
 
Think Orange! Creativity and the Sacral Chakra

Think Orange! Creativity and the Sacral Chakra


Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just flick a switch and turn on your creativity? Sadly, at times, tapping into your creativity can feel like trying to squeeze water from a stone. The good news is, there are ways of encouraging creativity and one of these ways is through balancing your sacral chakra.

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for moving wheel; the chakras are vortexes of energy present in the ethereal body and in corresponding locations of the physical body. There are seven major chakras and they function as pathways for energy to be taken in.

The sacral chakra, sometimes called the spleen or navel chakra, is located in the lower abdomen, approximately two inches below the navel. It governs sexuality, self-worth and creativity and is also associated with desire, pleasure, emotional balance and the abundance that you allow into your life for the fulfillment of your desires.

If this chakra is functioning well, you will experience enriched creativity, enhanced emotional gratification and courage, sexual vitality and positive self-esteem. If this chakra is blocked, however, both sexual and creative frustration occurs. You may have difficulties tapping into your creativity. Or you may have brilliantly creative ideas, but problems with manifesting your projects. A blockage can also manifest physically with lower back pain, sciatica, problems of the reproductive system, lowered libido and urinary problems.

Luckily, there are many tools to help balance the chakras. I've listed some of the correspondences for the sacral chakra together with guidelines on how to use these tools to balance this chakra and hence enhance your creativity.

COLOR: Orange
Surround yourself with orange. Wear it, eat it (preferably in the form of food) or paint your studio or workspace with it. If you meditate, visualize orange around the area of this chakra.

MUSIC: sensual flowing music with passionate rhythms (think Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing")
Dance, using your hips. Gyrate, baby, gyrate!

GEMSTONES: any orange stone - carnelian, orange jasper, fire opal, moonstone
You can wear these stones as jewelry or carry them in your pocket or purse.

ESSENTIAL OILS: sandalwood, jasmine, ylang ylang, clary sage, bergamot, orange blossom
Burn oils in an oil burner. Combine 10 drops or use singly in a bath. (This is particularly effective as water is the element governed by the sacral chakra.). Put some drops on a handkerchief and sniff it when you need inspiration. Make yourself a massage oil by adding a few drops of essential oil to almond oil.

Now you know what to do to get your creative juices flowing; go take a bath whilst eating a mango, come out and drape yourself in orange clothes and jewels and start swaying those hips to a cool groove.

Then, go create!

Abt the autrhor
Louise Pool is a self-taught artist and workshop facilitator who is passionate about life, the universe and everything. Visit her website to see her art, read her musings and pick up a tip or two on creativity.http://www.samarkand-dezignz.com:tea:
 
Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder

Mindfulness and Creativity: The Wow of Wonder

You are so creative.

Don't deny it. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative type, the truth is that you are constantly creating ideas.

Mindfulness invites you to be aware of this constantly flowing river, and offers an opportunity to choose to sit beside it instead of swimming in it. By watching the ideas from that calm riverbank, you can more clearly see the ones that float to the top and sparkle in the sun.

But mindfulness is more than just mind watching mind. When we are engaged in the process of creating--whether that's words, numbers, music, art, or movement--without getting swept up in the concept of where it might be leading, that is a very pure form of mindfulness.

If creating is mindfulness in action, the little push that gets things moving is the thrill of discovery. As humans, we are fascinated by novelty, and we are pulled by our joy of seeing something in a new light.

Mindfulness allows us to approach the world with childlike wonder, to play with new concepts, and to see things from a shifted perspective. You can't always engage in new activities, but through mindfulness, you can look at the same-old same-old with fresh eyes.

The Wow of Wonder is what stimulates us to be creative. Without it, we are likely to come down with our culture's most prevalent malady--mindlessness. Mindlessness causes us to move through life without really connecting to any of it. It's living on auto-pilot. It's living without wonder--or fun.

Here's a helpful reminder: fun is good. We don't have to make mindfulness HARD. There is nothing hard about it. We were incredibly mindful and creative as children, and guess what? We had a lot more fun then, too!

The things that captivated you as a child were objects and ideas that triggered your sense of wonder. You noticed something new, and jumped right into the Wow of Wonder. And there were plenty of things that elicited that response every single day.

A bug you'd never seen. A card trick. Something under a microscope. A new musical instrument. A dance move. A song. An animal. A poem. A historical fact. A new flavor of candy.

Mindfulness is a catalyst for wonder. You notice something. An idea is sparked. A distinction is made. A perspective shifts. There is a fullness in that moment, ripe with possibilities but unburdened by expectations.

The Wow of Wonder is what allows us to transcend what we "know" and float in that river of ideas without sinking under the weight of evaluation. In our most mindful moments, it is wonder that saves us from overthinking and keeps things light.

There's no need to work at making mindfulness a part of your life. It's already there, and you can glimpse it in all of your favorite memories. Being right there in the moment, full of wonder, and playing with discovery--this is you being a creative person!

Pay attention to your moments of fun, and you'll see that there's a hefty dose of mindfulness in there. You are smiling. You are fully present. You are creating ideas and responses. You feel alive.

Becoming mindful is simply getting reconnected to wonder about the world and your place in it. Look for the Wow of Wonder, and you'll find yourself immersed in mindfulness.

Isn't it wonder-ful?
By Maya Talisman:tea:
 
Art, Artists and Money

Art, Artists and Money

Practical money tips for people in the arts.

1. Sock it Away

If you are in the arts there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. Money usually comes in spurts with no money, often for months, many months, in between. Don't make the mistake of thinking that spurts of income will happen on a monthly basis.

When you get money from selling paintings at a show, a role in a play, an advance for a book, any art project--sock it away in a very safe place, CD's or bonds or a savings account. Rainy days always come in the arts and hurricanes happen.

2. Live Under Your Means.

Don't even think about "keeping up with the Jones's." Live under your means. Forget the fancy car, the country club, designer clothes the expensive house, fancy vacations and private school for your kids.

That doesn't mean you can't do nice things for yourself and your loved ones in a reasonable way now and then, we all need to do that. And if you happen to make millions and become independently wealthy as an artist, then fine-go for all that later on. But, if you have to have that expensive vacation home in the most desirable location, then maybe being in the arts is not for you.

3. Your Rainy Day Fund

It is recommended that people with a steady paycheck put away eight months of income in case they loose their job. In the arts, it's a good idea to try and put away three years worth if you possibly can. Not an easy task, but if you can achieve it, you'll sleep a lot better at night.

4. Saving For That Rainy Day Fund

How to save for that desired artistic rainy day fund? If you can put a little bit away each month and leave it in a safe place, a place that adds interest-bonds or CD's for example, you will be amazed at how much you can accumulate. Forget any quick short cuts, they almost always backfire, and it will sabotage your art career.

5. Forget That Credit Card

Nothing can kill a career in the arts faster than credit card debt. If you know you can't pay for it when the monthly bill comes, then don't buy it.

6. Keep Receipts

On your taxes declare your art income and your art expenses. Keep receipts because if you are ever audited, you will need proof of your expenses.

If you have an accountant that does your taxes, that expense can be written off next year, and he or she will probably know how to do your taxes a lot better than you do.

7. Pay Quarterlies

When you do receive income as an artist, put a third of it away for taxes. You not only pay the IRS, but state taxes and Social Security. Social Security tax is 15%, as an artist you pay it all, you don't have an employer to pay half.

Pay Quarterlies, which means as an artist you pay a partial amount towards your taxes four times a year -- ask your accountant about this. If you make a lot of money that year, you won't get a huge tax payment that you hadn't planned on. If you don't make a lot of money that year you'll get a very nice tax refund. Both you and the IRS will be happy. (You can put the tax refund in the rainy day artist fund, instead of putting it towards that red Ferrari).

8. Health Insurance

Try and get health insurance. It's a luxury many artist's feel they can't afford, but it's important. In many cities there are art organizations that you can join for a nominal fee, which have group health insurance. If you live in a smaller area you can often get reasonably priced group health insurance by joining your local chamber of commerce.

9. Vocation

All of these tips assume that being an artist is your vocation. A vocation has been described as "something you can't not do."

About the Author

Mary Baker is a contemporary realist painter, whose studio is in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This New England city, north of Boston, has been the inspiration for the artist's realistic oil paintings. Mary Baker is a professional artist and has shown in New York art galleries. Mary's art work has passion, depth and beauty, capturing moments in time that many people pass by.

You can visit Mary's website, Mary Baker Art, at http://www.marybakerart.com, see her beautiful paintings and read her comments on creativity, the creative journey, the creative process, Art, Artists and Vocation, Tips on Breaking the Creative block and creative space-the illuminating silence.:tea:
 
Get your Creative Juices Flowing

Get your Creative Juices Flowing



The creative arts enhance our lives in countless ways. They make us think. They inspire us. They make us feel a part of something that goes beyond the same old work-a-day world. But too many people think they aren't the creative types ? and she believes they are wrong.

Everyone is creative. The worst thing is the fear of creating: the anxiety about the empty page. We all have that beginner's mind every time we have to face the start of another project.

Most people just need to overcome the mental blocks and unleash the full potential of their minds.

One of the best ways to bring out your creativity is to do semi-mindless tasks. They allow your mind to wander, and can result in creative ideas and thinking.

May is Creative Beginnings Month, and in honor of the month, here's several ways to start getting the creative juices flowing:

1) Drive or ride in a vehicle.

2) Exercise.

3) Do routine tasks, such as house cleaning or gardening.

4) Take a shower or bath.

5) Take a nap.

6) Go for a walk.

7) Doodle.

Remember, people shouldn't dismiss any ideas that pop up while doing a mundane task. Knock that nay-sayer right off your shoulder. Don't let go of any idea that you get, even if it sounds silly at first.

Shannon Grissom is an acclaimed oil painter who has been nominated for an ARTV 2005 award, the first televised art awards show in the country. Grissom is the host and producer of the award-winning television show Give Your Walls Some Soul, where she shares tips and techniques about painting and creativity.Go to http://www.shannongrissom.com for more info:tea:
 
Art, Artists and Vocation

Art, Artists and Vocation

"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the arts!"-Kurt Vonnegut

How many times have people been told that "You can't make it as an artist."

How many times when you've told someone that you are studying theater, dance, the visual arts, do people look at you and cringe; feel sorry for you, and feel that you and your family have wasted a great deal of money, and that you have wasted years of your life.

How often when you tell people that you are involved in the arts, do people feel sorry for you because you won't be able to find a job or make it in the "real world".

A vocation has been described as "something you can't not do."

Frederich Buechner has defined vocation as "the place where your deep gladness meets the world's deep need."

A very wise man, Harold Babcock, has this to say, "Vocation is not simply about doing, but, at a much deeper level, it is about being. It is about what Thomas Merton called "one's true self," that self that one is really meant to be, and that no one else can be." Vocation is not always something we choose, much as we might like to thinks so; rather, it is often something which chooses us."

An artistic vocation, sharing your beauty, depth, insight and wisdom with the world, is both a gift and a responsibility. People who have an artistic vocation often have having different priorities than other people. It means that having a fancy car, expensive house, designer clothes, is not as important as doing "the thing you can't not do."

If you have a vocation as an artist, you are not different from the world, but rather you have been given an extraordinary gift, one that requires dedication, focus, courage, perseverance and hard work. Art is not for the faint of heart.


About the author
Mary Baker is a contemporary realist painter, whose studio is in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This New England city, north of Boston, has been the inspiration for the artist's realistic oil paintings. Mary Baker is a professional artist and has shown in New York art galleries. Mary's art work has passion, depth and beauty, capturing moments in time that many people pass by.

Mary Baker hopes that if you have a vocation in the arts that you will share your artistic gifts and artistic voice and be delighted that your art brings much needed beauty, depth, wisdom and integrity to the world.

You can visit Mary's website, Mary Baker Art, at http://www.marybakerart.com, see her beautiful paintings and read her comments on creativity, the creative journey, the creative process, Tips on Breaking the Creative block, Art, Artists and Money, and creative space-the illuminating silence.:tea:
 
How To Get In The Zone And Blast Your Marketing To A Higher Level

How To Get In The Zone And Blast Your Marketing To A Higher Level

This may come as a surprise... but many marketers are so busy, they don't have time to get to the next level.

Direct marketers are busy people. But sometimes you can be too busy for your own good.

So busy in fact that you fail to see the opportunities to move up a level in your career.

=> Side Bar

When Richard Branson set up Virgin Airways, did he sit in his office and wonder if it would ever work? Did Bill Gates sit in his office wondering if anyone would want to buy his Windows product? No, they both knew they would be successful and worked unceasingly to make it happen.

When working to achieve your goals, you need that unerring sense of confidence and lack of doubt in yourself. You must Know it is going to happen and that you will succeed. We are not talking about thinking you will succeed, believing you will succeed or knowing you will achieve your goal. They are all intellectual forms of Knowing, Knowing with a capital K; that solid feeling in the pit of your stomach that you will make happen and you cannot fail. Expect it to happen and know there is no other way. It will happen. This Knowing gives you drive and commitment to see you through to the success of your goal.

http://www.shapingyourdestiny.com/newsletter/nov2002.htm:tea:
 
Its Time to Get Out of the Box

Its Time to Get Out of the Box

"It is never too late to be what you might have been. "(George Eliot)

I have found that truly successful people surround themselves with the support that makes them excel. Over years of working with clients I have found that people struggle when they put their businesses and their lives in a self-imposed limiting box and keep doing the same things over and over again.

So what I do it is help people dismantle that box ? the attitudes, ideas, beliefs, choices and strategies that keep them limited ? and I teach them how to connect to the full range of their talents, abilities and resources so that they can bring that immensity and excitement back into their daily planning and choices.

I define a limiting box as any idea of yourself or the world, any attitude, any language you use, any belief or any experience that diminishes you in anyway or robs you of your personal power and prevents you from moving forward in the world.

Living in these boxes keeps us within what we already know ? we repeat the same habitual actions hoping for a better result and end up disillusioned and feeling stuck. In order to live the best life possible for yourself you have to master the skill of moving into the unknown. The unknown is really anything outside of the box that we have created from past experiences, beliefs and ideas. It is where fresh opportunity, excitement and more satisfaction reside.

Over and over again in working with new clients we uncover the ways in which they are creating difficulty for themselves by not even seeing the opportunities that are right in front of them ? just slightly outside of their box. Often, they feel frustrated in their efforts and even give up on doing what they love most. In doing this they turn away from what could bring their greatest reward.

Here are some symptoms of living "in the box":


Frustration

Anger

Lack of energy or motivation

Feeling stuck

Resentment

Lack of creativity

Disorganization

Cynicism

Not doing what you love

Boredom

A sense of failure

Despair


There are many boxes that people create for themselves. Here are a few of them:

1.The box of language ? the I'm not or you're not good enough box.

Language is a powerful tool. How we use it both describes and begins to structure our experience for us.

Every time you use language that diminishes you or others ? "That was stupid of me",

"I'm never going to make this work", "life it just too hard"?..etc, etc. ? we strengthen the walls of the box we are in.

2. The box of familiar actions ? the I'm safe if I don't try anything-new box.

Our actions can either open new doorways for us or keep us in the same groove we are familiar with. Someone described his experience of this lately. He said that it is like going down a dead-end street and then having to turn around and come back again over and over again? wasting a whole lot of energy and time in the process. After doing this a number of times people often give up. Seeing and acting outside of the box can allow you a different perspective from which to connect the dots.

3. The box of blame ? the I have no power box.

Many people insist on blaming their circumstances, the financial markets, their spouse, dog or anyone else for the situation they are in. Until you can recognize and identify the ways you are perpetuating this box and take responsibility it is very difficult to make real progress. Granted externals have an impact but recognizing how you create a box out of circumstances allows you the power and energy to begin moving out of it.

4. The box of negative expectation ? the I know that the same thing is going to happen box.

When faced with something you don't know notice if you expect either something negative to happen or expect that what you have experienced before will repeat itself. Many people use this as a way to move away from their fear of change and keep the status quo in place. They would rather stay with the known pain than risk something new. The unknown I am talking about has all the possibility in it ? if we project our negative or limiting expectations on it there is no room for anything new. Imagine what would happen if this box didn't hold you!

What are your favorite boxes and what might happen in your personal or professional life if you were guided out of those boxes? Often it is hard for us to do it alone. Sometimes we can't even identify where we are stuck without a fresh set of very interested eyes.

Coaching can offer you that new vantage point, that broader view and the support and tools needed to move outside your BOX.

About The Author

Connie Butler is a personal and professional coach working with individuals and groups to clarify their greatest vision and cultivate its successful realization ? moving them past their growth frontier into new territory.:tea:
 
The Healing Powers of Journaling

The Healing Powers of Journaling



For the past several years, I have found joy working as a motivational writer and speaker. One of my greatest passions has been the gift of sharing my deep love and respect for the written word. Words are powerful. They provoke thought, stimulate creativity, and most importantly, they hold within them the power to heal. Most people do not realize the incredible life-changing potential writing has.

Journaling is a practical tool that anyone can use to enhance personal well-being. It knows no limitations and it is available to anyone willing to make a commitment to themselves. It only requires minimal investments of time and money, and provides fast results. From the practical to the artistic, there are many varieties of journaling styles, all providing healing benefits.

Through this series of articles, I will explore how journaling heals, journaling styles, and the keys to successful journaling.

How Journaling Heals:

Journaling helps clear the mind

Journaling is an excellent method of clearing mind-clutter and managing thought patterns. The "untamed" mind tends to wander about aimlessly. At any given moment, we have a multitude of thoughts and internal conversations. Our random thoughts can turn into worries, which turn into stress, which can then manifest as conditions like depression or illness. The act of addressing our thoughts and acknowledging our inner voice allows us to clearly express our feelings, motivations, and desires. When we do this, we gain the insight needed to effectively manage them. What many fail to realize, is that even seemingly random thoughts, hold powerful energy. All energy seeks an outlet to express itself, therefore what we think and believe manifests.

Spend some time today consciously paying attention to where your thoughts go. Notice the ratio of positive to negative. When engaging in self-talk, what does the inner voice express? Is it primarily negative self-talk, worry, or other energy zapping emotions? If so, journaling is a positive first step that can be immediately taken to help understand and then redirect these sneaky self-sabotagers.

Journaling Sparks Creativity

It is very important, particularly for those of us in creative fields, to always have an outlet that enhances our creativity by challenging us to think in new ways. Journaling provides that, because it causes us to purposefully express our thoughts and emotions. Through reestablishing a conscious connection to our thoughts, emotions, and experiences we provide the challenge our mind needs to keep its creative spark.

Writing prompts and exercises are a great way to wake up the inner muse. They keep us thinking on our toes, and often become the launching points of bigger projects.

Journaling Keeps Us Honest

When we approach journaling with an open mind and heart, and we commit to being completely candid with ourselves, we open up to limitless opportunity for growth and healing. Through total honesty, we begin to peel away the layers of our psyche. The masks we wear begin to fall away , revealing our true nature - who we are when we aren't "the parent, the employee, the friend" and are just ourselves. Many spiritual paths have taught the importance of knowing yourself. The soul mate in the mirror is worthy of our utmost integrity.

Journaling Allows Us to Express Ourselves Without Judgment

Journaling provides a forum where we can express ourselves fully and completely. If we approach this honestly, a journal can become a best friend and confidant. It won't give needless advice, is never too busy to listen, and is always there for you when needed. Acceptance is a quality we all seek , we have a deep drive to find it. The truth is, the majority of us seek in others what we cannot give ourselves. Journaling opens up the doors to a process of self-acceptance, without which true healing cannot occur.

Journaling Gets Us Organized

By keeping a day planner type journal with notes, it is easier to keep track of "to do" lists, as well as record notes each day of our thoughts, feelings, experiences. Mixing the "practical" with the art of journaling allows us to keep track of everything in one convenient place. Our grocery lists and goal lists, records, and sudden inspirations can be stored electronically in many instances, allowing us instant access with the touch of a button. (Just don't forget to backup ! )

Journaling Enhances Conscious Living

Writing in a journal can have similar effects to meditation, in that it allows us to bring our attention to full and present awareness. This state of awareness shifts our perspective, and allows us to tap into reserves of creative energy. Many find themselves stuck in routines where the creative spark can become lost in the shuffle of the daily grind. When we run on "auto-pilot" we desensitize to other stimuli. Opening up to daily journaling allows us to reflect on the unique beauty of the present moment, and allows us to experience life more fully.

Journaling Shows Progress At A Glance

The key to staying motivated is usually being able to see progress being made. Journals can provide much-needed encouragement for those working towards life-changing goals. When in the doldrums, it's easy to flip back to the beginning to view the path of progress, providing the momentum and motivation necessary to ensure success. Journaling can be a great tool for the instant-gratification junkie in all of us.

All of these are examples of the many ways that journaling can provide the necessary tools for personal empowerment. Journaling is a wonderful journey in self-discovery. I hope this inspires others to take this self-healing challenge, pick up that pen or sit at the keyboard, and make a commitment to enrich life through the healing power of words.

In the remainder of this series, I will cover the keys to successful journaling as well as different journaling techniques. I will show how anyone can use journaling as a tool for transformation.

About The Author

Christin Snyder is a personal empowerment advocate and motivational writer/speaker. Visit her website at http://www.dailypowerwords.com for free journaling exercises and writers resources.:tea:
 
Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Drawing On Creativity: How To Trick Your Brain

Can you draw?

Your answer to that question reveals a surprising amount about your brain and the way you integrate your right and left hemispheres. (In this article, the left side will be referred to as the dominant one, which is by far the most likely scenario.)

You see, the left side of the brain excels at verbal, analytical, rational and logical tasks. It's the dominant half. It takes over most of the time, using words to describe and define, figuring things out step by step, drawing conclusions based on facts and logic, and thinking in a linear way. The left side of the brain jumps right in with words and symbols, and is such a bully that it takes on even those tasks it isn't likely to perform well.

Now, the right side of the brain is completely different. It relies on nonverbal cues to process perceptions. It's good at tasks requiring the ability to see similarities, to understand how parts fit together as a whole, to make leaps of insight (those a-ha moments), and to perceive overall patterns at once. It tends to hang back a little, letting the left side take over most duties.

It's sort of like siblings. You've got a confident, verbal first child and a quiet, introspective, thoughtful second child. Who do you think wins the argument for that last dessert? Who chooses which television show to watch? Who dominates the conversation about where to go on a family vacation? The second child might have a valuable perspective, but the older one is so assertive that he tends to win most arguments and rule the roost.

If your answer to the drawing question is "No, I'm pathetic," it's likely your left brain is being a bit of a thug. Whenever you pick up a pencil and start to sketch, it's taking over with its tendency to verbalize images and analyze shapes. Meanwhile, the right side--the perceptual, spatial part of your brain--is over in the corner, raising its hand, trying to get attention. "Oh, pick me!" it says. Too bad that the left side is already busy drawing lines and forming a strategy.

What if you could outsmart the bully on the left? What if you could somehow give that right side of your brain its chance to shine?

According to Dr. Betty Edwards, a respected art educator and author of the best-selling book, Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain, you can actually make a mental shift from what she refers to as the "L-mode"--the verbal, dominant form of thinking--to the "R-mode," which relies on visual cues. It's possible to get the right side to kick in and take over the task of drawing.

How? Well, we need to get tricky.

The left side takes over tasks UNLESS it finds a particular job undesirable. If a certain task takes too much time, is too detailed or slow or simply too difficult, then the left side gives up. So, the trick is presenting the task--in this case, drawing--in such a way that the right side is allowed to jump in.

This happens a lot with words. When we try to describe something verbally and find it too difficult, what do we do? We rely on gestures. Just try to describe a spiral staircase without using your hands.

Dr. Edwards teaches people to draw by presenting them with images that are upside down. This puts the left brain in a state of confusion so that it can't easily decipher shapes, assign a top and bottom, attach labels and categorize them to match stored memories.

The key to integrating your right side lies in looking for opportunities to allow it to become dominant. When presented with a confusing image, your left side gives up. We should literally turn things upside down in an effort to thwart the left brain's control and let the R-mode take over.

This same idea works in creative problem solving. Sometimes the best way to deal with a challenging issue is to sleep on it. When the left brain is exhausted, the intuitive, subjective, holistic right side has a chance to sneak in and come up with a solution that seems to have come "from nowhere". See? We don't even give our right brains credit for creative insights!

It's exciting to think that there are ways to outsmart our brains. By intentionally putting ourselves in a state of mental conflict, we can enhance our creativity.

Look for ways to plunge yourself into that discomfort zone. Whether we're tackling a picture or a problem, the key to jumpstarting our right brain lies in shifting our perspective.

Grab a pencil, turn the picture upside down, and start drawing! Somewhere inside you, that frustrated artist will be grinning from ear to ear.

By Maya Talisman :tea:
 
Push The Right Button

Push The Right Button



You can live a much more successful life than you think! Just push the right button and see how it opens the doors of success for you. Yes, its so simple and easy. Yet the great majority of people fail to achieve success. Why? Because they push the wrong buttons.

The switch board of life has both right and wrong buttons; the right buttons of success and the wrong buttons of failure. You need to differentiate between the two if you want to succeed in life. You should not blindly push any button. Be selective! Life is not a gamble!

Any creative activity is a right button and any time wasting activity is a wrong button. Develop the habit of indulging yourself in creative activities and avoid time wasting activities. A successful person keeps on pushing the right buttons all the time and thus keeps on flying high on the aeroplane of success.

In a free society, we are all at liberty to live our lives at our own will. Its just like a loaded pistol in our hands. We can either kill our enemies with it or ourselves. Most people kill themselves even without realizing it. They only realize their mistake when they are faced with multiple failures and end up in poverty, misery and bankruptcy. Before its too late, one must stop pushing the wrong buttons.

Draw a switch board of your life. Indicate all your right and wrong buttons; your positive and negative habits; your creative as well as time wasting activities, etc. Make a firm commitment to yourself that you will never again push the wrong buttons. Cross out all the wrong buttons from the switch board of your life. Concentrate on the right buttons and let the doors of success open for you. If you have a reliable friend who is also interested in self-improvement then you can share your views with him/her. You can both encourage and motivate each other to work on the success plan of your lives.

Good luck!

About The Author

Hifzur Rehman is the author of popular articles on self-improvement. His website http://www.selfimprovement.ch offers articles on self-improvement, health and fitness, beauty and skin care, travel and leisure and personal finance and investment, tools, tutorials and other useful material for a happy and successful living. Email:[email protected]:tea:
 
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