Of course you have. I have asked this question too.

Every creative spirit asks this question at one time or another.

It matters that you ask yourself this question….and it matters how you answer it too.

Why ask this question of yourself?

It shows you care. It shows that your creativity and it’s expression has meaning for you. It shows that you are facing an obstacle of some kind and you are looking to find a way to find meaning once again.

Why answer this question?

You answer it because you need to. Have to. Want to.  Because within the answer to this question is the your relationship with your creative work, dreams, and goals.

How you answer this question lets your creativity know where it stands.

Knowing WHY your creativity really matters to you is essential.

When you can answer this question despite the challenges, obstacles, and hurdles you may face, you are acknowledging that your creativity isn’t something you DO, it’s a part of who you are.

And when you know this…you realize your creativity matters because it’s part of who you are in this world…and you matter.

Whether you are creating a safe home for your children, a sculpture for a corporate office, a screenplay to pitch, the next NY Times bestseller, a legacy photograph of dying friend….what you create matters. Period.

It always matters whether in the moment you believe it or not.

Your creative work matters. Always. Unconditionally. No matter how good…bad..perfect..shoddy….incomplete…overworked…it may appear to yourself or others.

Your creativity and your expression of it  is a journey to explore who you are, why you are, and who you want to be.

You can choose if you believe this or not.

You are creative and being creative may just be your ultimate purpose.

What if you just gave up because “it didn’t matter” ?

Go on…own it.

Leave a comment below and share how your creativity matters to you.

This is for the times when you face a rejection….whether you are shot down, denied, judged, criticized, put down, ignored, or ripped apart.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey Creativity….

At one point or another in our lives you will come face to face with the wallop to your gut in the form of rejection. It’s pretty much inevitable….as you well know, this is just how it goes. It may be rejection of your work, your ideas, or maybe even your beliefs. Let’s get something straight here, Creativity, A rejection is not failure. You are not a failure when your work, ideas, or beliefs are rejected.

What you have, my dear, is not a rejection per se, but a challenge! Ohhhhhhh. Remember how much you enjoy a great challenge? Get ready to start working again!  You know how to use a rejection as a catalyst for igniting  your passion and new energy! You’ve leveraged your power many a time….this “rejection” is no different than those other times, even though it really hurts.  I know it does. It hurts a lot.

So, Creativity, whatcha going to do right now while facing this rejection?

Take time to soothe and nurture yourself.

Feel the painful feelings, express them, and use your work to immerse yourself in the anger, fears, betrayal, bitterness, disappointment, or loss. Creativity, this is your time to go for it using all that negative emotions to show us what you’ve got.  Give yourself free reign to express every teensy ounce of this rejection. You know what to do:  Paint the rejection. Dance it. Write a whole dialog between you and this new character, Rejection. Sculpt it. Design it. Create from that “rejection” and then thank it for helping you to CREATE.

Kick up those new ideas and solutions.

You’ve done it before….use this rejection to expand your thinking, beliefs, habits, or purpose. Dig a little deeper and experience this so-called-rejection as a direct challenge. Remember….you LOVE the challenge of  harnessing your strengths and skills. Show ‘em what you’ve got. Go on and kick that right-brain into action.

Ok, not to overlook the stuff that this has done to your spirit….

No doubt about it…a rejection can be SO painful, soul crushing, and devastating. Yes, it downright sucks. I know. You have felt the sting and hurt of rejection many times. You feel like it can’t keep going like this. You want to just say “Forget it, it’s not worth it….”.  Know you are NOT alone in this….even the most successful, accomplished creative minds have experienced rejection. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

<PIVOTAL MOMENT HERE, Creativity>

Do you want to stay in that place? Do you want to go and remain in the  “I am a failure…a loser…not creative…not talented…not good enough” place …..OR do you want to experience that joy, freedom, and unabashedly meaningful place of expressing yourself again?

What do you really want, Creativity? Give up or get creating again?

Creativity, you get to choose if you are going let THIS  rejection stop you.

“I discovered that rejections are not altogether a bad thing. They teach a writer to rely on his own judgment and to say in his heart of hearts, “To hell with you.”-Saul Bellow

Go on….find your lesson in the rejection, create from it, and then refocus yourself. Get back to that canvas, clay, computer, cutting board, crayons, cue cards, or calico….whatever medium you need right now to just get started.

And do that. GET started again.

One, two, ten, one hundred, or a thousand rejections can only stop you if you let them.

Don’t.

You are too important to take believe another’s opinion, judgment,  or perspective as truth.

YOU choose your own truth.

YOU choose how you want to be defined and labeled.

YOU create what you want with this experience.

You.

Did you just experience  a rejection….or opportunity?

I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.~ Jimmy Dean

Keep creating…. we need you in the world.

To me, daylight saving = the beginning of spring. And spring = the beginning of a new shift.

Spring is the season of growth, energy, possibility, rebirth, and renewal.

What does your creativity need right now embrace this season of growth? What does your creativity need to be full of energy, express itself fully, and feel recharged?

Use today as a springboard for your creativity to expand and reach its potential.

How is your creativity ready to move ahead this season?

5 ways to spring forward with your creativity:

1.Plant a new seed.

Every great gardener begins her plan for plots knowing what seeds to sow. What do you want to do with your creativity this spring? What do you want to have bloom and grow in the next 30, 60, or 90 days?  List out the steps, prioritize them, and plan what you want to do each day to work toward this goal.Then show up, and each day, do something on your list.

It’s hard to have a harvest if you don’t plant the seeds.

2.  Fertilize the soil.

Every garden needs its soil to be turned, enriched, and fertilized. Your creativity needs that type of nourishment too.

Give yourself permission to try something new to spark your creativity. Take a new class. Try a new technique or tool. Share your work with others in a new way. Lower your expectations and allow yourself to be a beginner.

This is part of the creative process. Worry about the final product later…for now, enjoy the energy of trying something new and renewing your spirit of creativity.

3. Compost what is old.

When you garden, sometimes you have to throw out what went old or bad and compost it into something new. This new soil can be a rich foundation for new plants to thrive.  It’s the same with your creative work. Sometimes you have to let older projects and ideas churn into something new with time.

Choose an older, unfinished project that you feel stuck with. Give yourself a push and bring some positive energy and attention to it.  Create a new goal, new intention, or new purpose with the project. Use what you have as a foundation to try something new.

Approach this project with fresh eyes, an open heart, and willingness to use it as a composted foundation for new enriching work.  Just as rotten old fruit creates a gardeners soil, your “old” creative work can have a new life.

4. Weed and prune it.

Every garden has its share of weeds that need to be removed. If you want you plants to thrive, you have to give them the space to grow and flourish without the weeds.  Sometimes a garden has weeds or sometimes it has too much of a good thing. Often gardeners need to prune away what appears to be healthy to let the plants grow and fully develop.

What can you remove or limit to allow your creativity grow?

This can be non-supportive people, your judgment, negative beliefs or assumptions,  worry about next steps,  self editing or censoring, regret or shame, or the fear of failure/success.  Choose just one thing you will consciously release and welcome your creativity to take its place. Let your creativity grow in the space you need.

5.  Tend the growth

To keep a garden healthy and strong, you have to give it focused attention and care. Abandoned gardens just don’t thrive. The same is true with your creativity.

Make your creativity  a priority. Empower forward motion with your creativity by making it a priority your life.  Put it before other things on your to-do list AND honor this commitment. Have the courage to tell others this creative work IS important to you and take ownership of its purpose in your life. No apologies for being in the studio, practicing your routine,  rehearsing your part, or writing on your computer. Make the time for your creative work, show up, be present with it, and then go on with your other roles and responsibilities.

No matter where you are on your creative journey, let this day, Daylight Savings Day, be a catalyst for your creativity to spring forward. Choose what you need most to move ahead, and give that gift to yourself.

What one thing will YOU do to spring ahead with your creativity?

WHY?  When you handle and interact with your creative tools, this can lead to unexpected creative expression, new ideas and opportunities, as well as much more.

Organizing your supplies can lead to….

… pushing past resistance you feel

… generating new ideas

… giving you a place to just start

… discovering a long lost forgotten tool you once loved and haven’t tried in a while

… recognizing you don’t have the tools you are looking for

… remembering when you created something meaningful with that tool

… thinking of a friend who you created with

… reminding yourself to restock supplies

… interacting with your creativity in a gentle way without expectation

… being present with what you love

… and more

Sometimes organizing your supplies or tools can give you that motivation and inspiration to create.

The goal is to create.

When you have your tools or supplies in hand, it’s awfully hard to resist the urge.

A creativity commitment is your decision….your declaration…your pledge to yourself and your creative process.

Your commitment is bigger than any goal you could create or creative practice. Your commitment is the there’s-no-going-back, no-place-for-excuses, no-compromising place. It’s the be all, end all of your creative work. It’s why you show up. It’s why you don’t quit. It’s why you love it. It’s why you care.

Your commitment to your creativity is a pledge that you make to yourself that you WILL show up, DO  the work, PUSH through the resistance, HONOR the process, and STAY on the path no matter where the journey takes you.

It is sacred and wholly about honoring that within you that makes you…you. It is the foundation for all you do.

Your creativity commitment is a promise to yourself to pursue all that is meaningful in your life.

Yeah.

It’s that big.

Why do you need to commit?

You need to make a commitment to yourself so you will honor your creativity time, protect it, stick with it, grow with it, work in it, work through it, and know that it is there no matter what. Through the good and the bad, just like a marriage…you need to commit to your creativity without the opportunity to opt-out.

Making a commitment as a form of self love.

There isn’t any half way to commitment. Either you do, or you don’t.

The great news is….YOU get to decide what the commitment is. You set the boundaries. You create the measure of success. You create your commitment so WILL succeed.

What will this do for you?

Making your commitment to your creativity provides it a safe place to grow.

You are giving yourself permission to fail and still come back to create more.

It will keep you on the creative path as you evolve through life and head toward the vision of what you really want. You are declaring a course of action, a path for yourself, and creating a destination for your life.

Your commitment is something you can return to again and again when the going gets tough and you want to quit. It’s there holding your accountable to your dreams and reminds you that this is one of the most important promises you will ever make to yourself.

How do you do it?

You really just do it. You make a decision. With passion. With integrity. With everything you know to be true for yourself. You own it and share it with others.

You use your creativity to make it real. You write it out and frame it. You paint it. You choreograph it and perform it for others. You tell your boss, spouse, best friend, child, coach, and support buddies.

You do it and you put your heart and soul in it.

You commit and you shift your energy.

Commit to your creativity today.

Want to make it more public? Share your commitment here!

It is so easy to fill up creative time with other people’s needs, new priorities, dealing with new obstacles, and competing demands for your time. Knowing how to preserve and protect your creative time is as important to showing up,  doing the work,  growing in your creativity, moving through obstacles, and always moving toward your creative potential.

Are any of these statements true when it comes to your creative work?

• I am not ever really getting to “do” my work.
• I am constantly being interrupted.
• I don’t seem to be making any progress…I am stalled.
• I want to do more creative work, but I can’t find the time.
• My time just gets sucked away with other things
• Before I know it, I’m doing something else
• I want to create and yet I seem to have difficulty doing it
• I have the time but I am not getting to my work
• I feel stuck and don’t know why
• I have so much to do, I just can’t make my schedule stick

If even just one of those statements even came close to ringing true for you…..

Now more than ever, it’s essential to protect your creative time.

How? 4 easy steps:

1. Make a commitment.

Decide right now that your creativity is important to you and you need to set boundaries around your creative time.  Remember WHY you create and how it is essential to you. Make a commitment that you WILL honor your creative time no matter what. You have to just commit to your time as you would any other important event or time in your life. Tell yourself you mean it and this is the only way you want to create.

A firm, non-negotiable  commitment will prove to yourself that your creativity IS worth it.

2. Set a schedule

Figure out the minimum that you need or want each day/week and schedule your creative time just as you would any other appointment.  You schedule other self care things…right? Haircuts, workouts, family time, doctor appointments, car tuneups …etc…  Your creativity is as important as these things (and probably even more important if you admit this to yourself).

Commit to time that you can keep as a priority, build a rhythm around, and schedule it on an ongoing, regular basis. Would mornings work? A set day each week? Right after your cup of tea? Last thing in the evenings before bed? It make take a few trials to find just the right time but don’t let this delay you from starting. Think about your energy cycles and when you feel the most productive and creative. Maximize this timing for yourself. You can change the schedule if the timing doesn’t work, but go on, set a schedule for a week and do it.

3. Set boundaries for others (and yourself) around your creative time.

Ask yourself, what do I REALLY need when I am creating? Set some boundaries for yourself AND for others. Once you figure out your needs, you can set the expectations with family members, co-workers, or studio mates. What boundaries do you need so you can fully be immersed in your creative work during your set schedule?

Create boundaries that provide for full focus, space, and attention to your creative work. Think about interruptions from others and things YOU do to sabotage yourself.  Set clear expectations with others what they can…and can’t do when you are creating. And then do the same for yourself.

I have two important boundaries I set with others:

• When my door is closed, it stays closed.
• You can interrupt me if there is blood (Yes, I have to get that graphic sometimes or my family finds all sorts of creative reasons to interrupt me…and I will fall for it and allow myself to get distracted)

I have two important boundaries I set with myself:

• I will not answer the phone, check email, open the door, or stop what I am doing during my creative work time.
• I will only focus my attention on showing up and doing my work.

4. Practice each day.

You want to feel success and each day gives you the opportunity to improve. Learn from what is working and adjust what is not working. Expect some setbacks or slipping back into old habits. Yet don’t give up. Every day you will get better at protecting your creative time. Always stay focused on why your creative time matters.

Your creativity and its expression are worth the work it will take to get boundaries set. Make no doubt about it, protecting and preserving your creative time will support you in your creative work. This is one step you can take starting immediately that will pay off and have a huge impact.

You just need to do it.

What boundaries do you need to set for yourself or others?

Now let’s get something straight.

I don’t believe there isn’t anything *wrong* with copying a master, adapting someone else’s idea, or doing something creative just like someone else.

I LOVE taking art classes to grow my creativity.  Sometimes I will do just what my instructor tells me and replicate a technique, style, or process that I am there to learn. Does that make me a copy cat? Nope. It makes me a learner…and explorer…someone willing to try new things…growing and sparking my creativity.

Once you understand HOW to do something you are copying/learning….then it is your responsibility to change it.

The key to being an original is to PURPOSELY move past the copying…you have to try it and then change it up and make it your own.

Give yourself permission. Copy and try and then commit to making the process your own. Do something completely different. Take it to the next level. Explore a new medium doing the same technique. Change the steps. Put yourself into it. I mean the REAL you…the one that is dying to create for itself.

YOU are creative.

YOU are an original.

YOU know how to make it your own.

YOU can take into your creativity and be yourself.

YOU need to share your creative gifts because you will inspire others.

YOU owe it to yourself to grow creatively

YOU know deep inside how to be true to yourself.

NOW… go on and copy if you want….and then live your uniqueness.

Be YOUR creative self.

We adopt attitudes or beliefs that keep us in a place of indecision. Or we adopt some perfectionist tendencies to justify our fears. Maybe we are in full on avoidance mode and never show up. Sometimes we doubt our ability or challenge ourselves to even wonder why the heck we bother.

Ever feel that way?

Yup. And guess what, you are not alone.

It happens to the best of us…it happens to ALL of us.

When you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, resistant, or crazy from indecision, it’s time to get reconnected to your creative source.

When you are stuck and about to give up, tired of banging your head against the wall, or questioning every decision you have made to this point…..see this as a signal to get a mirror, look long and hard at yourself, and tell yourself everything you are, everything you believe is on the line here.

Your honesty, your integrity, your health, your purpose……everything you believe you are and know you are is at stake if you stay stuck.

Yea…it’s that big.

Getting yourself unstuck is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

And, yes, you CAN do this for yourself.

You can shift yourself from being stuck to being productive, creative, and inspired again.

You CAN take the first step. It’s doable…no matter HOW stuck you are.

The first step to getting unstuck: Begin the shift: look within.

You gotta begin with connecting back to your WHY you even create.

Go back to the beginning. Return to the inspiration. Revisit your creative purpose.

Know what question works for you (from below) and begin to focus on that answer. The answer lies within.

Take some time to let go and just BE with these questions. Look at them from a place of possibility, of hope…of solutions.

• When does my brain feel like it is exploding with possibility?

• What feels joyful and meaningful to me?

• When am I having fun and I lose all track of time?

• What is missing from my creative work, ideas, or goals?

• What is it about creativity and the creative process that I really miss?

• When is my creativity just bursting out of me so that I can’t control it?

• Why is being creative important to me and essential in my life?

• What is exciting, new and something I want to try before I die?

• If I could do anything fun or creative right now (without limitations), what would that be?

• Where do I feel the most alive and inspired to create?

When you are ready to reflect and begin to connect to why you love creativity and who you are when you are creating…you will begin to become unstuck. It’s a first step…and the first step leads to the second…the third…and down the path.

Having the awareness that you can do this and what you need to connect to…will show you the way to begin again. And if you are STILL having a hard time, come have a free call with me. I KNOW I can help you shift and have you within 1 hour back on track.

Which of these questions would best resonate with you? WHY do you need to answer this in times of resistance?

Do trust in yourself

Do know you are a creative spirit

Do believe your creativity matters

Do enjoy creating just for the sake of it

Do surround yourself with supportive people

Do take risks and say “YES” to opportunities

Do grow with each mistake, failure, setback or obstacle

Do find mentors who will inspire and empower you

Do commit to a regular practice of your creative work

Do focus expressing who you are with your creativity

Do create constructive habits and mindsets

Do let go of your procrastination, perfectionism, indecision, avoidance, and self criticism

DON’T's

Don’t stop creating when you hit a block or get stuck

Don’t judge yourself against other creatives

Don’t doubt your creative work matters

Don’t ignore your inner wisdom

Don’t listen to your inner gremlin wanting to hold you back

Don’t fear your success or failures

Don’t believe anything that keeps you small

Don’t let time or money be your excuse

Don’t stop using your intuition to create

Don’t take action unless it propels you forward

Don’t choose to say “I can’t”

Don’t give up….ever

What would you add to the list?

YET…sometimes a bit ‘o challenge to our routines provide us insights and opportunities for creative expansion.

Take a usual routine and change it up. Try doing something backwards. Experiment with skipping steps or trying a “risky” idea.

• Usually walk a certain way to work? …..Try a new route looking for idea sparks to solve your latest work challenge.

• Always brush your teeth before bed? ….Challenge yourself to come up with a new time or way to do it that is more fun or mindful.

• Sometimes do you eat the same dinner every Friday night?…. How can you explore a new recipe, or create a new routine for the winter months?

• Tired of repeating the same ole bedtime story or prayers to your little ones?…. Insert a new character or challenge each night and change the ending.

• Always work in watercolors, porcelain, on the computer, or only in person with friends? ….Get out new supplies, try an online course and make sure to try something that you are afraid of.

As adults we know change is inevitable but often we resist it. Embrace a change to your routine and purposely invite your creativity to come explore a new solution.

What routine, if you changed it, could have a positive influence on your creativity?