There are times when your life’s canvas gets wiped clean. You find yourself faced with a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to do things differently. Maybe you’ve graduated from college, gotten married or divorced, lost your job, or changed jobs. Perhaps a loved one died, or an unexpected turn of events left you …
Overcoming the Obstacle of Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is an obstacle that plagues even the most successful creatives. Feelings of uncertainty about your abilities, purposes, and plans are quite common. So, if you’re called to be a creative, get ready to battle this enemy of artistic ambitions. Inspiration comes in waves with periods of calm when ideas recede. During these down times, self-doubt …
3 Questions to Move from Crisis to Creativity
If all else fails, distract thyself! Some of my worst times of crisis resulted in my most prolifically creative seasons. That’s right. When I couldn’t find any more therapy appointments that worked or Twelve-step principles to apply, I simply dove into what I loved and transformed my worry, grief, and angst into art. I know …
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The Holy Calling to be a Writer
I open waymaker and caress the pages. I begin to read, and Ann’s words resonate through my soul: “When everything stills, you can see your reflection, see into the depths of your soul, see the contours of things.”Ann Voskamp Her words still my angst, calm the turmoil of doubt. “This is why I want to publish more …
Cocoon yourself to Create
Sometimes life circumstances set us aside, and we find ourselves holed up at home: Caring for the sick Helping family Battling illness Managing home-improvement projects ________ (insert your reason here) Our normal running around turns into staying put. I’ve been thinking a lot about how what cocoons us also creates opportunities for art. "Chrysalis" by …
Are you a crossover creative?
Are you passionate about your art form; and yet, have another one calling to you? If so, you might be a crossover creative. Crossover A point or place of crossing from one side to the other. The process of achieving success in a different field or style. Perhaps you’re a writer who longs to dabble …
10 Best Practices for Balance
Are there any other creatives out there who struggle with balance? I sure do! I imagine my efforts to hold onto all that I love as if they are balloons tied to strings that I'm grasping: I found this reflection in my book, Refrain from the Identical: Insights and Inspiration for Creative Eclectics, and thought …
The Feral Cat of Inspiration
Inspiration is like a feral cat.It stalks around in the shadows.You never know when it will grace you with its presence. When you're trying to catch it,inspiration slithers away. But when you give up the chase,inspiration comes and finds youwhen you least expect it to. It's a waiting game.An idea starts to form in the …
The Blessing
I carry the blessing in my writing journal, tucked inside the front cover like a hidden treasure map. My father penned the blessing and gave it to me at a time, unbeknownst to him, when I really needed encouragement. I was struggling with what my life’s purpose was all about when his blessing came: “Hi …