creativity Archives - 10 Little Rules

the link between fear and creativity

Creativity is less about talent and more about fear.

Yep, I’m going out on a limb here. Time to have a serious talkin’ to … with ourselves.

Not all fear is real. And once we learn how to get out of our own way, our lives will be spectacular!

You’ve all seen the acronym FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. How many excuses do we need to justify not doing what we want to do? Do these excuses come it from your M.F.T.P. (Mother, Father, Teacher, Preacher)? You know these fears … Artists can’t make a real living. You’re too old to write a book. What if you fail? What if people don’t like it? Why can’t you be happy with what you have? What makes you think anyone cares? You’re too young. You’re too old.

Begone, excuses! That was someone else telling you their fears. And they were probably truly trying to help you. But they are not you. Their experiences are not yours.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how I feel about “whispers.” They matter and they are important.

As I write in my book 10 Little Rules for Your Creative Soul, I was an artist, in my mind, when I was eight years old. Where it came from, I do not know, but I found myself sketching and longing to take an art class. There were no art classes available to me, and “being an artist” was foreign to my family and my situation. So I just drew sometimes … because it felt good. (The rest of the story is in my book … and the ending may surprise you.)

My point is this: It took me 40+ years to listen to those whispers. I wouldn’t trade anything in my life, except that I could have included art and painting all along. I thought I had to make a choice. I thought creativity tapped you on the shoulder and selected you. I never dreamed, until I retired and had the time to listen to my whispers, that I actually was an artist. Maybe not the best trained or recognized artist, but I was sure happy.

What do you want to do? What do you want to try? Listen. Listen. Those whispers may be warning you of something, and deserve to be heard. They may also be trying to get your attention so you can go on a journey of self- discovery.

Aim up!

Rita

Posted: June 9, 2020
By: Rita Long

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Your Creativity LOVES Uncertainty

We certainly have been pushed into a vortex of uncertainty.

This is good news for your creative soul.

Don’t look now, but your creativity wants to come out and play! And all the old routines that we were forced into, either gladly or reluctantly, are gone for a while. Like the kids’ practices, and events we didn’t really want to attend anyway.

Take a deep breath and say hello to your whispers.

As we rush toward returning to the life we once had, let’s consider what things we truly want to take back with us. We have some time to reflect and remember who we really are. What is most important to us? Why do we live the life we choose to live?

Whispers are not scary. They can be messy, though. Whispers are thoughts or ideas that keep popping into your head, and sometimes seem silly or weird. Those whispers start out quietly and can turn into nudges. If we ignore the nudges or signs, a crisis can absolutely make you pay attention. It’s so much easier to listen to the whispers. Your inner voice will only speak when you allow it the opportunity. Your heart is speaking; let it be heard.

Your whispers are trying to tell you something, so let’s invite them in and have a little conversation. You are always in control, so start asking “why?” and let the answers come, then ask again, until you can’t get to another answer. Your whispers don’t always make sense, but give it some time and listen carefully … your world will open up and your clarity will be laser-like.

I had a conversation today with a friend about how she can’t plan for her creativity. It just doesn’t work. She feels there has to be a real need for it and then her creativity just explodes. I call this Inspired Action, and I talk about it in the introduction of my book 10 Little Rules for Your Creative Soul.

No two snowflakes are alike. We are all creative and we are all truly snowflakes. Until you convince yourself you ARE creative, it may take a forced or planned action to get you to shine your little light!

There is a real need right now to listen to your whispers so you can fast track your joy.

I believe in you. Aim up!

Rita

Posted: June 2, 2020
By: Rita Long

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Kinda pissed…

A fun little image from 10 Little Rules for Your Creative Soul author Rita Long. Thanks, Rita, you made our day!

Posted: November 19, 2018
By: Carol Pearson

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The 5 People Closest To You!

Part of my parenting was to teach and remind my children to carefully monitor the people they associate with on a regular basis. Why? The five people closest to us will impact our own success and happiness in life. Just this week, even at my age, I had to make a conscious choice to choose who would hang out in my space. Yes, it really is that important! Presented with a lucrative opportunity, my gut told me “no way” even though my checkbook was saying yes. So I remembered my new mantra from my book 10 Little Rules for Your Creative Soul:

“If it’s not a “hell, yes” – it’s a no!

The mere thought now of seeing, communicating and dealing with this person on a daily basis makes me weak. The confirmation is so strong and I know I made the right decision. The decision to say no. The decision to include people in my life who inspire, encourage, dream, support, connect and care. So when I ask myself daily what I want my day to look like and how I want to fell, I know I have at least five awesome people surrounding me in my life. I am lucky and grateful. Choose wisely – treat kindly!

https://www.elitedaily.com/life/sum-of-5-closest-friends/1723824

Artfully inspired,

Rita

Posted: July 10, 2018
By: Rita Long

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Rule #5 – Surround Yourself Wisely.

My family called me active, and I was always wanting to do something different than most of the other kids. Not out of judgement, but out of curiosity. Still to this day, I am curious about learning new things yet have such a strong sense of what I like and want in my life. There’s a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning (thank you, Jimmy Buffett).

I’ve always struggled with being put in a box, labeled, pigeon-holed as any one thing. Yet I am so clear on my vision of what I want. The hows don’t really concern me too much, especially in the creative stages of my adventures. Is it possible to remain true to yourself and yet seek newness and change? Absolutely! Even more so for we creatives.

Most of what I do is paint, when it comes to creativity. But I also am an author, a speaker, a teacher and a foodie. Heading up to the Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan this week, I was again stunned at the natural beauty of the Great Lakes and the intimate towns that charm their way into my heart. Each town has its own energy that is unique.

The shops are similar and most often the restaurants are also. But we found a Farm to Table Restaurant (and Farm) that got my creative juices flowing. It’s 9 Bean Rows in Suttons Bay, Michigan, housed in a cute little row of shops and painted red. It started with French Press coffee even before they actually opened, but they let us sit outside in the warm sun to enjoy the favor.

We returned for one of the most unique and healthy meals we have ever enjoyed. The entire experience was joyful. The food was fresh and unusual, using herbs and spices and abundant creativity. They knew how to help us get the perfect wine and beer to go with our meal.

Pure Michigan turned into Pure Culinary Delight. Every one of our senses was illuminated and it will long live in our memories as not only a special meal but a Moment That Matters, a memory, a “do you remember when we…” event.

So, although I was born creative, I did not know the extent of what being creative really meant until recently. Being a foodie, knowing, wanting and sharing good, fresh food with good, fresh people is totally creative. You first know what you want, you seek it out and you enjoy – and then your creativity is at a new level. Today I used some of the ideas I experienced at 9 Bean Rows into my lunch at home. Bam!! I can’t wait for dinner. And I can only guess how good my paintings will be tomorrow when I walk into my studio with coffee in hand (French Press, of course).

Surround yourself wisely in all areas of your life … and watch your creativity soar.

Be Original

Rita

Posted: May 21, 2018
By: Carol Pearson

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Why do I make this so haaarrrrd???

Pardon me for whinging but seriously….why do I make things so hard? When faced with a decision, it’s as if there is only ONE right answer, and disaster lies behind the wrong choice.

Hardly.

Life is a brilliant stream of non-stop decisions, every hour of every day. Certainly some deserve more debate than others. What I’m having for dinner doesn’t demand as much thought as where I’ll live next.

Yet I find myself consumed to the point of distraction over things that really won’t matter one bit by tomorrow. Why?

After changing my t-shirt for the fourth time (don’t ask) I decided I needed to figure out what was really behind my unease. It wasn’t really about what I was wearing, but a larger, more unsettled dis-ease with my current situation. And because I couldn’t answer the big, life-changing questions in the moment, I transferred my uncertainty into things I could answer…like what I was wearing. So, that was weird realizing this. And enlightening.

The waiting game is always a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be a gut-wrencher. I just need to remember the words of 10 Little Rules for Your Creative Soul author Rita Long in mind: “If it’s not a HELL YES – then it’s a no.”

Until I get that HELL YES there’s no point in making the small stuff so big.

Posted: May 3, 2018
By: Carol Pearson

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Whispers and Creativity

It was a long, long time ago. I still remember it as sharply as a sunny summer day. The advice was heartfelt and genuine and I bought it without question. It took me decades to discover that although delivered “in my best interest,” it was not the truth for me. And now, in retrospect, the only thing that matters is that I did not know enough then to listen to my own whispers. Where do you hear your whispers?

I was always an artist in my own mind, as a child. Yet it never entered my mind that I actually could be an artist. When the nuns told me not to take math classes in middle school, and instead try Home Economics, well … I just did what I was told. So today, math is not my thing. Go figure.

What is important is that I heard those whispers way back then. The whispers spoke to me even if I did not recognize them as creativity, a calling, inspiration, or a call to action.

I believe we all have whispers that are screaming to get our attention. And the sooner we listen to them, with respect and playfulness, the sooner we arrive where we truly want to be…doing what we truly want to do.

Where do you hear your whispers? Most likely it’s while you are in silence or when you feel your own brand of yummy giggles. Both are places of honor and are not to be taken lightly or given away.

Rule #1 in “10 Little Rules for your Creative Soul” is Thou Shalt Not Steal. Do not steal from yourself the holy sound of silence where your whispers will be heard loud and clear. Do not steal from yourself when you experience moments of pure bliss and pass it off as silly. Do not steal from yourself the opportunity to hear your own whispers. If you ignore the whispers, the cosmic 2 x 4 will arrive to somehow get your attention. That, my friends, is not fun.

Give yourself the gift of silence. Honor yourself and open yourself to what you are trying to express.

Be Original.

Rita

Posted: April 4, 2018
By: Rita Long

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Coffee & Creativity

Picture me carrying my coffee, walking into my studio and painting on this cold, sunny March day in Michigan. Just that customary practice of taking my coffee into my sanctuary starts to stir things up inside me. Good things. Creative things. I only drink one cup of coffee a day, so it’s not the caffeine. But it got me to thinking about how rituals and clarity can work for us in our attempts to be creative. Can we “create” creativity? Hmmm … or are we either creative or not creative?

We don’t need anything to become inspired. Rather, we need to take our attention away from what we see and move into the miraculous world of creativity, where joy and bliss awaits us! We are talking all kinds of crazy creativity – your garden, how you prepare a meal, what you paint, how you dress – the list goes on and on and on.

If we feel joy and bliss we are “in the flow,” “in the zone,” “living in yummy giggles.” It’s all about the feelings. What we do willingly is never a burden. How could it be if we are feeling joy and bliss? Even in difficult times we will do the difficult tasks if it gets us to that place of joy and bliss doing something we love or being with someone we love.

And that’s enough to start. Just do something you love to do and brings you joy and bliss. You can start big or small, whatever you decide…the point of power is in the present moment. Doing one little thing that feels like inspiration or creativity will kick-start your journey.

Be Original. Be You. As you become the director of your own life, be sure to cast yourself as the star!

Excuse me while I continue off to my studio! Be Original. Buy Original. Rita

Posted: March 28, 2018
By: Rita Long

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Tag: creativity