Turn on your Muser!

How do you get your creative juices flowing? I am picturing a giant juicer with thoughts and ideas piled high inside. There is a dial on the base of the juicer with settings labeled “ultra quiet low-speed for dreamtime” and “turbo-speed for heavy-duty challenges”. While there might come a day when someone actually sells a product like this, we already have it inside our bodies. It is easily and effectively employed once we learn to recognize what triggers “the juice”.

Our internal machine is called a “muser” and it begins to function when our many senses come together to create. Whether our creation is finding a solution, writing a song, developing a business plan or beginning a painting … our muse is most practical since it stimulates the original power tool - Inspiration!

Click the title and make a collage!

INCONVENIENCE

Some of us aren't comfortable with uncertainty. We like the familiarity of routine and sameness. There is great value in tradition, in making memories in the same places, from a trusted palette. We walk sure-footed and with confidence. We become teachers of our knowledge, sure of our path. We have answers to questions. We shuck and jive with experts, like ourselves.

There is equal value in falling flat on one's face.

The pitfall of complete comfort is the pathway to death. There is no more growth, no more learning. Our minds become lazy, our spirits practice apathy and when change comes (and it will come) we are devastated.

We can choose to hide or blame someone or make some sort of decree of gloom and doom for the world at large,

OR

we can remove any shame or embarrassment, stand up and laugh. "I'm all right. I'm all right", we can tell those concerned for us. "I need to take another look at this", we can assure them. At the moment we make the choice to help ourselves, we also restore dignity and prove how intelligent and resourceful we are to those who are looking. Best of all, we take one Giant Step
(Mother may I?) UPWARD.

I haven't always felt this way about inconvenience and "setbacks". I have blamed and shouted to the heavens "Why ME?!!!". Frustration became so overpowering, I have destroyed things around me. Most damaging is Irritation. It lives under the skin, shallow and petty, and its host doesn't see how degrading Irritation can be.

The difference between capitalizing on inconvenience and being destroyed by it is Perspective and Choice. Practice seeing more than the initial picture. Take the time to imagine how you can benefit. Turn the puzzle piece a different way to fit this new picture.

Here's the grid, and it's NOT linear:


Inconvenience = Opportunity
Mistakes = New Ways of Seeing, The Light Goes On
Not according to plan = A Better Life, Texturized, Optimized
Change = Fresh Horizons

Get Inconvenient ...

Until next time,

Kittie

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

My yesterday's behavior has shaped my today. Yesterday was hard for me. A huge challenge arose at the top of the day and threatened to ruin not only the day but months and months of thought, research and planning. My first reaction was to cry. I allowed myself to feel the sadness of the news, to feel sorry for someone like me who had put so much energy and care into this project and whose efforts were marked for doom. There is much riding on this venture; freedom, future dreams, money, new horizons. Taking it personally was a natural reaction. I cried for a good 15 minutes.

The phone call came as I was going out the door to do errands and then meet a friend for lunch. When the crying had released most of the emotion, my head cleared a little. I knew from experience how important it was to continue my day as planned. Hard as it was to get into my car and do my now menial errands and then have to put on an acceptable face for lunch, I did it. My first errand was the Post Office. Mailing something in a timely manner as promised was the impetus for getting me out of my surroundings and into some fresh air. At the Post Office, I purchased a large envelope, slipped my document inside and addressed the package. I stepped up to pay the Post Mistress and she stared at the label. “Now isn’t that a coincidence”, she said, pointing at the address. I peeked across the counter and noticed I had used the street name as the recipient’s last name. I laughed and took off my sunglasses that had been hiding my teary eyes. “I – I was a little upset about something. My fault. Sorry.” The Post Mistress grinned an empathetic smile. “I figured it was something like that. Don’t you worry much, Honey. Everything always turns out for the best.” This lady virtually reached across the counter and gave me a hug with her words. I was so grateful.

I moved on to lunch but my mind was preoccupied and my friend noticed. I launched into my story but I surprised myself by my much improved attitude. I wasn’t as upset as I had been! I was able to tell the story without much emotion and my friend responded with some thoughts, and with a look on his face that was both understanding and caring. The food tasted wonderful in the company of my friend, and once again, gratitude swept through me.

When I arrived back home, poised and ready to tackle the challenge, I found I was able to make a clear list of creative ideas on how to approach the situation. A few advisors came to mind and I made calls to get some additional input. I made a list of options should the worst-case scenario play out. I looked at the small stack of notes and I smiled. That smile went straight to my heart. I was back in charge of myself – my emotions, my thoughts, my creativity – all working energetically toward a solution. I felt so good.

I took a long bath and made a good dinner. My pal, Emma, joined me on the couch and we watched something mindless. I knitted and Emma snoozed. I went to bed early and slept well. When I awoke this morning, it was true: My yesterday's behavior shaped my today.

Our world is upside down right now. Many people will experience what I did yesterday; there will be changes made to our lives through circumstances beyond our immediate control. What we DO have control over is our response to what we experience. Taking charge of ourselves isn’t all that hard, but it does take practice. A few ideas of ways to proceed are:

1. Let yourself feel your emotions completely. Release them through crying or writing or punching that old pillow, if necessary. Call a trusted friend – one who won’t repeat your story; one who will simply let you vent without fueling the fire. When it’s done, take a few deep breaths. Try smiling. It relaxes 13 muscles in your face and has a huge psychological effect on the body.

2. Go about your business. Unless what you are facing is an emergency, continue in your day as planned. Allow yourself to interface with people, removing yourself from the surroundings where you received the news. Get out among the public. This helps you be more in control of your emotions. If you are unable to control yourself, admit to the others that you’ve been upset. You can either excuse yourself or if it feels right, allow those around you to empathize. Accept those hugs!

3. Time to be proactive! Write down the problem, the challenges it brings to the current situation. List every single worry and irritation you have. You might find that this “list” turns into another way of expressing feelings. Let ‘er rip! Better here than adding an automobile accident to the mix. Some very surprising and helpful facts might come forward. Think about who could be helpful; are there co-workers, friends, family, advisors who have knowledge or experience in this area? Write down their names and see who pops out as someone who might offer OBJECTIVE and POSITIVE ideas. Accept what is given. Make your own choices based on what feels right.

4. Nurture yourself with healthy food. Go to the movies. If you have an animal friend, take a long walk or spend some time petting the cat, loving on the dog. Turn on some of your favorite music and sing along. Direct the orchestra. Be a part of something completely unrelated to what is bothering you.

5. Allow. Allow your feelings. Allow some ‘down time’. Allow the wee small voice inside you to offer ideas. Allow people to love you, care for you, do nice things for you.

6. Be grateful. Look at what is good in your life. It might not come easily at first, but when you get into it, you will be amazed at how good your life really is! If you are able to do all of the above - have the time, the mind and heart, the skills - to meet your own challenges and work through them to a better place, this is something to be acknowledged and appreciated!

7. Rejoice. I should say, REJOICE! (Thank you, Annie ...) A friend reminded me about the power of rejoicing in the face of disaster. On the back side of gratitude comes the rejoicing. When you can meet your challenges with joy in your heart, miracles will happen!

Inside each of us are specific strengths and weaknesses. When we are feeling weak, it is important to let those strengths take over. Supporting ourselves takes courage. If Bravery and valor are not your strongest qualities, contact the bravest person you know and ask for help. If it is financial advice you need, get input from those who are like you in spirit and have succeeded financially. When the challenge is about a relationship, seek out a friend you trust with the deepest part of yourself to share and ask for emotional support. In every case, start small so you can clear your mind and heart of too much emotion and desperation. Never make big decisions when you are upset.

2009 is about change. That’s not just President Barack Obama’s mantra, it belongs to all of us. If we see ourselves as one, we will support each other to reach our individual goals. Again, starting small and making headway that is exponential is the surest way to happiness and success!

Until next time,

Kittie

Jumpstart Your Creativity!

Although I have chosen various artistic ways to express myself, it is in my daily life where I have learned the most about creating. As a mother, I am continually challenged to find solutions, new ways to inspire and motivate, to juggle schedules inside a highly creative world. As a businesswoman, creativity is utilized daily with new products, marketing ideas, maintaining consistency alongside inventiveness. As a friend, I am sometimes called upon to be a good listener and when asked, I draw from Compassion (the constant companion of Creativity) to inspire new ideas, new ways of seeing a situation. I was asked to offer some Creativity Tips for 2009. I’m not a bullet kind of girl, but I’ll give it a whirl!

1 – Do Something Completely New! Sign up for a class you’ve always wanted to take, or take a trip to an unknown exciting place you want to visit. Take One Step toward some new experience. The point is to step outside your comfort zone. Notice how you feel, what your thoughts are, how you react.

2 – Pick Up An Old Project, long forgotten and lonely. Either choose to finish it or pass it along to someone else (sometimes that means the trash can). Create a “space” through finishing or removing that project from your life. Completion brings its own satisfaction. Clearing out clutter makes room for new ideas to come forward.

3 – Choose One Thing To Improve on this year. Become an expert! Genius is simply about focus. When you allow yourself to delve into a subject/activity that fascinates you, it not only enriches your mind, you will also discover your creative self! The more familiar you become, you will begin to notice similarities between your subject and other parts of your life, qualities in common, processes that can be applied successfully in different situations.

4 – Take The Bus. One time I was “forced” to take the bus in a very stressful situation. I know many people use public transportation on a regular basis. Until that point, I had not had that experience in my life. I was stranded and had to take the bus and what an eye opener it was! I was so unsure of myself, not knowing if I was catching the right one, having to constantly ask strangers who, what and where … I learned so much about my city, about the helpful nature of people, about my insecurities and naiveté. I also learned that creative thinking is a great resource in uncomfortable situations. It literally removes Fear. I use the phrase “take the bus” as a metaphor for putting yourself in a new situation so you can learn about YOU.

5 – Make Some Time For Dreaming. There is no Creating without Dreaming. Our fast paced world puts demands on each of us. Our fast paced world wants it NOW. Creativity takes time. It demands in equal force that we be slow. Repeat after me: Slow Is Good. You see evidence of it everywhere and don’t question it. If you take the cookies out of the oven before they’re ready you have inferior cookies. If you pluck a tomato before its ripe, it will be tasteless. If you hurry a child in his growth, he will not have the experience he needs to succeed. If we don’t allow sufficient time for our ideas, our projects, our lives … we cannot expect the best there is. Give yourself the gift of time in 2009!

Share your ideas for jump starting Creativity! Please comment and give readers your own perspective. We learn from each other!

Until next time,

Kittie