Create
"Everything helps everything."
"In a sense, goodness is when all the potential possibilities of the power of inspiration are unfolding as they are supposed to, and our job is to be in the dynamics of that process and not question......not question. Whatever we can use a rule on, we will because we can. But there are some things we can't force, and we need to be aware of what those are.
We can't tell inspiration what to do. But once we get it, we can direct it according to the ways by which it has instructed us it wanted to be used. It takes an awesome responsibility away from us because it is telling us what to do, what to be." - Joseph Rael
"Do it and then you will feel motivated to do it." - Zig Ziglar
Did you know that the protea (the flowers on this page) are said to help reach underneath the obstacles that have been heaped over our creativity (whether through doubt or conditioning) and reignite us, reconnect us to the Source of Inspiration. In-spire. In breath. To be full of spirit, "spiritus."
The breath happens. Even when we attempt to stop it or control it - like diving deep into a pool or under a wave, the innate impetus for the breath to breathe wins. When it stops - so do we.
Being inspired is being breathed by the muse, by the source of the creative + allowing it through like Southern Ute elder Joseph Rael says: "We cannot tell inspiration what to do, but we can direct it." This week, let's direct it. If you have not already picked a thing to create - I am suggesting you make 3 black out poems. I am suggesting you make 3 black out poems anyway, really - even if you have committed to something because there is an interesting alchemy that happens when you scry through the mundane (newspaper article) to look for the good (your resulting poem). Plus you are off the screen and into your hands.
In the interview shared below, the documentary Happy is referenced, not only did that movie convince me to start gratitude journaling because it literally trains the brain to look for things to be grateful for - here's my original link to that again - Stefan Sagmeister reoriented me to the value of having multiple projects - or better yet exposing myself to content outside of my normal consumption.
When we continue to only do or consume the things we are already good at - we stop growing. As Guy Hendricks warns in The Big Leap, we are often operating in our good enough (aka comfort zone) but not our "Zone of Genuis." Hendicks goes into depth about us all having upper limit problems - we cannot conceive of going higher - until we do.
Maybe you recall a moment when a friend innocently offers a suggestion and your brain bends a bit and you answer in a little bit of wonder: "Ohhh, I never thought about it that way." Possibility has revealed herself. I am pretty sure Guy Hendricks would say you are moving past an Upper Limit -- there are all kinds of upper limits (if interested, I'd definitely recommend checking out the book.)
But back to Stefan Sagmeister - click link to a short look at his work +perspective - he reminds us to work on something new, and the removal of that tight focus, that "I-cannot-see-another-way" lets us see another way. I love when he explains that since he worked on that documentary Happy for seven years he is too close to know if it is good or bad. And either way - he is sharing it because it was created and he is creating again. So do me a favor and make some black out poetry, keep writing, and by all means keep doing those things that you have started to uncover that light you up - no matter what they are - and keep up with the 555. "Keep up and you will be kept up," as Yogi Bhajan said. Please + thank you! You are doing a magnificent job.
One more thought...if what Week One showed you was more what wasn't happening than what you are wanting to happen - good for you. You are: “Let(ting) what you don’t know come into your eyes.”
That is information. Once we have information we can act; we can cultivate the opposite; we can evaluate our environment and see if it is our expectations, our boundaries or just our schedules that need to be tweaked.
Write It: Click here for Week Two's writing prompts. If you have something going from last week that you love, keep going. Do take a looksee at this week's option 2.
Listen to It: Here's the Chase Jarvis Interview of Stefan Sagmeister. I chose this interview for his easy and honest perspective on his path and discovery. Pssst! When I first listened, I had no idea who he was or what he did + still learned gobs.
Listen to It: Here's the Chase Jarvis Interview of Stefan Sagmeister. I chose this interview for his easy and honest perspective on his path and discovery. Pssst! When I first listened, I had no idea who he was or what he did + still learned gobs.
Meet some Friends:
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This week I would like to introduce to you two artists. First, Ann-Marie Lavelle (click here to watch her story) who I met a couple years ago when I moved back to Philadelphia. The day I met her, she had just had a mani-pedi with her friend and taken off the bracelet she was wearing and gave it to the manicurist. That's Ann-Marie. I love the story she shares because it reminds us that our creations take on a life of their own - no matter how tiny or big. This video was from last year, and if you check her out, you will see how far she has traveled in a year. Step by step. Find Ann-Marie + Ampl Creations: www.amplcreations.com follow here Can you imagine writing a poem on demand? Me either. But that is exactly what my friend Pam Woolway does. I beg you to read Pam Woolway's write up (click here) about all the jobs in her life and how she became the Short Order Poet. Pam is a dear friend from Kaua'i and the fairy godmother that united my precious pup Ahonui and I. She is irreverent, kind and her humor is contagious. I assure you that her story is inspiring - -her fortitude and courage can light a spark. Pam is a powerful reminder of what can happen when we make one commitment and stick to it. She didn't quit her job(s) - still hasn't, yet later this week in FB I will share with you an update to where she is now. You won't believe it. Find Pam Woolway: Her poetry swag + follow her on IG she posts beauty + poems. Enjoy these two artists and their stories of starting where they are and moving in great kindness towards others and themselves. |
Step: 1 Pick a part of the newspaper
Step 2: Box out words that you are drawn to. Step 3: Black out everything else, and guess what? You have made a blackout poem. Include #blackoutpoetry and #whatsyourstory when you post one. C'mon, post one! Leap! |
Pro tip: If I have a day that I have so much to do, but I don't know what to do first, or how to anchor in--I now create a black out poem, and it anchors me in, focuses + gets me to the "to-do's." Turns out creativity can actually give us back our time - our sense of here-ness. Who knew?
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Share it: Whatever it is - post it, call a friend about it, walk your Art into the fresh Air even if no one but the trees see it - let it be seen. Anthony William talks about creativity as part of a healthy life and that every act is witnessed and makes an impression in our universe. He says that we need not be witnessed by another person - and sometimes it is important to create for that which is for the unseen (whatever that means to you). So Create + Share: You may be surprised with what comes back.
"Relearn astonishment. Stop grasping for knowledge.
Lose the knowledge of the past.
Search + Allow the miraculous."
- Elias Canetti
Bonus: Watch Jim Carey's min-documentary:
"I needed color."
"Relearn astonishment. Stop grasping for knowledge.
Lose the knowledge of the past.
Search + Allow the miraculous."
- Elias Canetti
Bonus: Watch Jim Carey's min-documentary:
"I needed color."
