ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
Fear & Creativity
My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under the surface of my awareness. I'm resistant to a new idea, I'm defensive about holding on to my old ways, I feel excited and panicked at the same time ? these are sure-fire signs that there's some fear under there. Shining a spotlight on my fear has been the best (and only) way to get to the other side of it. "Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love" - Ranier Maria Rilke My fear is there for a good reason ? to protect me. If I can have compassion for my fear, and understand what it's looking for, I'll be more ready to let it go. I've been thinking about how fear and creativity often go hand in hand. As creative artists, what is our fear looking for? What does it think it's protecting us from? In exploring these questions I decided to brush up on Abraham Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs". Abraham Maslow suggested that all human beings have the same basic needs, and that we spend our lives striving to meet them. His famous hierarchy of needs explains that at the basest level we need protection from the elements, food, water and other physiological needs. Then, we need to feel safety and security within our family, our home and in our place in the world around us. We need to feel that we fit in and understand where we fit in and how everything works. Next, we need to feel love and belonging - that we're accepted and appreciated. We need to feel competent and masterful and that we're being recognized for our talents. Finally, when all of those needs are met, we strive for the "top" level, "Self-Actualization" - to really live up to our highest potential, to feel a oneness with God, the universe and all of our fellow travelers on this Earth. For some of us, long after the needs HAVE been met, we still fear losing them and having to meet them all over again. Maybe that's why creating our art can evoke so much fear. Creativity is a direct form of self-actualization. When you're feeling fear about putting your creative ideas into motion, which of Maslow's needs are you concerned about meeting or losing? * If I commit fully to my art then I won't be able to support myself financially ? I could lose everything and be penniless and homeless * If I put my creations out into the world, people may not like them ? that means they won't like me, they may laugh at me, I won't fit in * If no one likes my work, I won't fit in. No one loves, understands or knows me. I'm not fulfilling a need in the world ? no one needs me. I'm not serving a purpose. * If I try to create, I could make a mistake. I'll feel stupid and no one will like me. To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. - Joseph Chilton Pearce * If I go another year without trying to get my creative projects off the ground, I may never break free of my limitations, and I may live the rest of my life with unrealized potential. I may die with my creativity still inside of me. Even the fear of death is nothing compared to the fear of not having lived authentically and fully. - Frances Moore Lappe Have I missed any? Probably. Of course each of us have our own unique fears ? and these are more universal ones that relate to Maslow's hierarchy of needs and to our creative hopes and dreams. A well-known acronym for fear is: FEAR = False evidence appearing real In other words, even though what we're fearful of seems very real to us, it's usually something we've made up in our heads, as opposed to something we're facing in physical form. Studies on the stress hormone cortisol show that our bodies react to our thoughts regardless of what is actually in front of us. Our fears feel VERY real. And??they're not. SARK, author of Make Your Creative Dreams Real suggests you to try this acronym on instead: Fill yourself up creatively ? Julia Cameron advocates something similar with her "Artists's Date" assignment in The Artist's Way. What sparks your creativity? A long drive in the country? Making a vegetable soup? Meditation? Prayer? Explore what stops you ? looking at your own unique methods of self-sabotage is a cornerstone of the Everyday Self-Care Workbook (http://www.genuinecoaching.com/esc-workbook.html), and of my upcoming book just for creative artists. Accelerate movement ? Do something, anything, to combat the inertia of staying still. SARK advocates "micro movements" that take anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes to complete. Those micro movements are the building blocks for our creative dreams and most importantly, get us moving!! Repeat ? luckily for us, this process continues as long as we're up for it! Courage is fear that has said its prayers. - Dorothy Bernard (c) Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services. Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. To receive her free monthly newsletter, "Everyday Artist", subscribe at http://www.genuinecoaching.com/artist-newsletter.html
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Business Innovation ? Personal Creativity Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Creativity Management ? Collaboration NOT Competition Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. What is Creativity? Here in England September represents the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn as well as the start of the new school year and the start of many new initiatives in business, life and lots more besides. You Dont Have To Be An Artist To Be Creative Imagine that a block of ice has been set on your desk. Now describe it. Square, clear and cold, right! Next, consider it from different points of view: If you were trekking across Death Valley, that ice could quench your thirst; a doctor could use it to reduce a patient's fever; a madman could use it to crack a victim's skull; and an engineer could boil it to produce steam for a turbine. Creating Reality ? Discovering the Magician Within We all create our own reality each and every day, whether we are aware of the power that we possess or not. We all have a built-in mechanism that runs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year, non-stop. How To Master Your Game Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right way. Start out by finding the people and books that will make you exceptional. Seek out the best sources of information that you can afford. How to be More Creative and Enhance Your Creativity efore thinking about how to be more creative, let me begin point out some real barriers that some people seem to have when wanting to enhance creativity, have a think if any of these things are applicable to you and your life; Creativity and Inspiration Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world of the mystic all is one. This means that there's only one Creator. Your job as an artist, painter or writer is simply to attune with this One source of all creation, listen and report on what you're told. This is the essence of divine inspiration. It's similar to the advice I was given as a young businessman when my boss and I were on our way to an important meeting. He turned to me and said, "Keep your mouth shut and listen good." Turning Obstacles Into Blessings "Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life circumstances will depend in large part upon the kind of attitude you choose for yourself." Top Five Journal Exercises Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that enhances the creativity coaching process. Keeping a journal develops emotional awareness, reinforces self-esteem and aids in problem-solving. Keeping a journal also provides a written record of artistic growth, struggle and change. Here are some basic exercises that I use throughout the creativity coaching process. Creativity and Broken Eggs In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition. Problem Solving Techniques For Business And Life Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your bottom line and your life. Theres A Light At The End Of Your Tunnel, Called Imagination! Imagine this. You've got this huge dream you just turned into an exciting accomplishment. You had a huge problem you turned into a beautiful masterpiece. You had a giant obstacle you formed into a personal triumph, and now?.., you give a long stare at your prized possession and say, ain't that just the cat's pajamas. Top Ten Ways To Jump-Start Your Creativity 1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Learn A Life Skill TODAY! Did you ever watch your grandma knitting? Creativity Management ? Synergy of Craft and Art Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. Sleep and Creativity In my life, sleep is the number one way that I can either enhance my self-care and nourish myself or defeat my self-care and deplete my energy, peace of mind & productivity all in one shot. Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1) How many times does an artist stare down at that blank piece of paper thinking "What on earth do I paint - Where do I put my first mark?" More often than you would imagine! It happens to all creative people actually, from visual artists, designers, poets, through to musicians and writers. Creativity Management and Team Size Effective team structure is critical when managing creativity and creative output. Creative Drought For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's message, the words, "what will I write?" screaming in my ears. I've felt like the princess who promises her first born child to the little man named "Rumplestiltskin" if only he will spin straw into gold. Unfortunately, I'm not a princess and Rumplestiltskin is no where to be found.
|
|
|
|
|
