Live Your Creative Life

What Are You Putting Up With?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:12:00 +0000

Did you know that some of the biggest things keeping you from moving forward is the STUFF you're "tolerating" in your life?

These are those daily irritations; the things that niggle at us, bug us, slow us down and drain our energy. These things can be anything ranging from a stressful morning commute, laundry or dishes piling up, a job that's not "you," an unpaid bill or even not being able to button your jeans.

It's so subtle how these pieces of unfinished business or not-right-nesses can leave us feeling lethargic and demotivated. Consequently we stay stuck, but we can't put our finger on the reason why.

Stop and ask yourself. Whenever you find yourself unable to make a decision or take steps towards your goals, your first question should be, "What's bugging me or stressing me out right now?"

Make a list. I recently made a list that had things on it like, "messy bedroom," and "mushy boundaries with people and time." What would you put on your list at the moment?

Create your solution. Next to each item, write what you're going to do about it and when. If you put on your list, "not getting enough sleep," next to it you might write, "be in bed by 9.30pm tonight - no exceptions."

Do it. Do you know how amazing I felt once I put my bedroom in order and sorted out a few other items on my list? It was like a load was lifted off. I could breathe and I could take care of more important, interesting business. That vague, nondescript knot in my stomach went away, too.

Just the act of moving forward, taking care of the negative things you tolerate in your life creates a sense of momentum that will carry you through to the big, fun projects you really want to do and will give you the space to dream, plan and decide that has been missing.

What are you tolerating and what's your solution? Share it and inspire the rest of us!

Stop Being "Just Another One!"

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:59:00 +0000

When someone asks you what you do, it's not enough anymore to say that you're a photographer, a writer, a painter or a musician, etc. There are thousands of people who do what you do and it's a dangerous thing to try to be all things to all people. You must stand out. But how? What will make someone remember you over everyone else out there doing the same thing?

Here are some vital keys to set you apart from all the others in your creative field.

You need to get clear. What is your vision for your creativity? It could be to inform, to touch, to provide a service for someone so they don't have to, to make people get off the couch and get their boogie on. Whatever it is, you need to decide. Your unique vision for your work will be one key to understanding what makes you unique.

You need to get focused. If you're a writer, what exactly do you write? Not what CAN you write, but what do you enjoy writing? My friend can provide all sorts of graphic design services for a huge range of requests, but he really loves creating movie posters. Imagine what it would mean for him if instead of being just another one of the thousands of graphic designers out there, he was the one that film producers knew to call and recommended to their colleagues?

You need to get known. Once you understand what makes your creative services unique, let others know. Be consistent. Having your work, website and words (don't you love alliteration?) reflect the same concept, will make the job of getting the word out a lot easier for you. It will show others how to recommend you, as well. You don't want to confuse them. Confused people aren't confident people. Having someone say, "My friend Susie is a photographer - I think she's ok with taking pictures of pets. I'm not really sure. I know she does landscapes and she did my sister's 30th birthday. I guess you could just call her to find out...," will not do Susie any favors!

Get clear. Get focused. Get known. And then - get paid. Doing the kind of work you love that allows you to express your creativity the way you were meant to.

Have you narrowed down your creative focus? How did you go about it? What did you come up with? Leave a comment and let us know!

Create Your Personal Vision Board/Collage

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Have you ever created a vision board or collage? If you haven't, or it's been a while, I encourage you give it a go. I love it for several reasons: It's lots of fun, it uses both the right and left sides of your brain and it can become a powerful visual reminder of what you're working towards and where you've been.

With the New Year approaching, now is an excellent time to creatively reflect on the last season and consider what you hope or believe the next one has in store for you. In last week's Creative Kick! I mentioned that I was working on one and here are a couple pictures of finished product, as well as instructions for YOU to create YOUR very own uniquely personal collage/vision board:

Here are some tips to make your own vision board/collage:

What you'll need:

A piece of cardboard or even several sheets of paper fastened together, which is what I did.

A variety of magazines. I used what I had on hand - catalogs, lifestyle and travel magazines. Some people look for specific images or phrases online and print them out, which is fine, but I like to keep myself a bit more restricted.

You can also use photographs and other objects like bits of fabric, ribbons, dried plants, etc

Glue. I prefer a glue stick, but rubber cement works, as well as double-stick tape.

How to proceed:

You can either decide on an intention or a theme for various areas of your life like: My business this year. My ministry this year. My dream house. My dream relationship. Places I want to visit . . . You get the idea.

Or you can just look through your magazines and cut out images, words and phrases that call out to you, letting the art become what it will. This is what happened this time - I ended up with different themes, values and a bit of my personal journey - like my faith, passion for valuing women, travel, (baby lambs!), etc., represented in this piece.

Collect a large pile of images, words and phrases that jump out at you and put them to one side.

You can either find a background to work from or just begin to assemble your newly cut pieces right onto the board.

DON'T glue anything down yet.

Lay the pieces out - arrange them, rearrange them, layer them, make shapes out of them, overlap them, etc.

Once you're happy with the layout you've created, you can start to glue things in place.

NOTE: Don't worry if the piece takes on a life of its own. For example, you might have intended to work on My Dream House, but somehow you ended up with pictures of children and flowers, that's OK. There's clearly something else going on for you that needs to be acknowledged.

You can add paints, glitter, writing, other decorative elements if you choose.

DISPLAY IT!

I hope this has stirred your creative juices. When you create one for yourself or if you have any questions about it, please leave a comment and let me know!

Unleash More Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:14:00 +0000

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks,

breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." -- Mary Lou Cook

Creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to consistently be there for you when you need it. Practice makes perfect and, like Maya Angelou said, "The more (creativity) you use, the more you have."

So how do you unleash more creativity? Nurture your curiosity. Take in as much knowledge and learning you can find. Read a wide variety of anything that interests you. The more you learn and discover, the hungrier you'll be for more. Prepare to be amazed at even the littlest facts.

Try something new every day and let your experiences broaden your perspective. Explore another area in your neighborhood or take a different route than usual. Spend an afternoon in a museum you've never been to before. The more you thrust yourself out of your comfort zone, the more your brain becomes accustomed to thinking up new ways to invent and problem solve.

Focus on a creative activity every day. Even absentminded doodling counts as a creative activity. Practice drawing whatever you see in front of you for a couple of minutes each day. Whip out your camera and start snapping photos like a maniac. Experiment with angles and light and figure out how to use all the fun gadgets your camera has for manipulating your photos.

Keep a journal and make a point to write in it every single day. Even if you can't think of anything to say, write, "I can't think of anything to say," until you do. Observe something and try to describe it with your five senses. Avoid vague adjectives like "great," "amazing," or "delicious." Cut out pictures and phrases from magazines and paste them on a piece of cardboard to make something new with your very own personal message.

Unleash more creativity and you might surprise yourself with a new outlet that you really enjoy. Be inspired to think beyond your self-imposed limits. Have new adventures. Develop greater creative problem solving skills. Achieve more lofty goals. Dream bigger!

What I'm Thankful For - Top Ten

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Join me and add your Thanksgiving Top Ten!

My flourishing relationship with God - can do nothing without Him
My family - Dad just called from Washington to wish me Happy Thanksgiving!
My supportive, amazing friends I've left all around the world
My health - just getting over bronchitis, makes you thankful for feeling better
The chance to travel and live abroad the past five years
A new, welcoming community in New Zealand
All my needs are abundantly met
Opportunities to use my interests and giftings to help others
Rainbows
Baby lambs ;)

How about you??

How Your High Standards are Holding You Back

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

"He who observes the wind (and waits for all conditions to be favorable) will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4 AMP

Perfectionism is an insidious habit that cloaks itself in good intentions. After all, we all want to do the best we can at whatever we do, right?

However, at the root of perfectionism is fear: fear that whatever you attempt will never be good enough or will never measure up to the (sometimes impossibly) high standards you set for yourself. At the heart is the fear that you will fail.

Perfectionism will cause you to put off your dreams and plans, sometimes forever. The perfectionist says, "I will begin when . . . all conditions are right . . . I have enough money . . . or enough knowledge . . . or enough confidence . . . "

At other times, perfectionism will cause you to procrastinate so long that you have no choice but to do a mediocre job because, well, it wasn't going to be good enough anyway. That way you have an excuse for your project turning out "below par," just as you predicted. After all, you didn't have enough time or resources, right?

Or perfectionism will keep you working on a project forever, ensuring that you never finish it. You will always find something that could be improved or tweaked. There will always be something not quite right about it that hinders you from presenting your work to the world. But you are safe from having it judged and of course that's the most important thing.

I know of what I speak. Perfectionism likes to show up in my life in my "addiction" to learning. My natural inclination is to try to know everything humanly possible about whatever I want to do before giving it a try. Now curiosity is a treasured part of my personality type and I will always have a love of learning and discovery, but when I use it to hide behind, that's when it becomes a hindrance to me - keeping me from achieving my goals.

I know they're cliches, but having these two phrases in mind have really been handy:

Sometimes done is better than perfect
Sometimes good is good enough

The world will never be perfect. Your house, your knowledge, your equipment, your bank account, your talent will never be perfect. However, trust that what you need will be "good enough" to begin and keep going.

Consider: How does perfectionism hold you back from from the things you'd like to accomplish or the dreams you hold in your heart? I would love to hear from you - just leave a comment below, or email Melissa@LiveYourCreativeLife.com to chat to me personally.

How to Start Your Creative Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Three simple steps to get you out of your comfort zone

Despite the recession (and maybe because of it!) more and more people are taking the opportunity to re-evaluate their lives - to ask themselves if they are living the fulfilled, purposeful lives they wish they could. Embarking on their own creative adventures, they're dusting off their paintbrushes, getting vocal training or writing stories with "Now or Never" gusto. Would you like to be one of them?

You are not alone if you are experiencing the very common blocks that keep us from moving out into uncharted territory, even though deep down we really want to know what life could look like on the other side.

Here are three simple, but powerful steps that will help you to live the creative adventure you've been imagining:

1. Know your why

It's a joke that actors always run around exclaiming, "What's my motivation?!" But truthfully if you can't come up with any good reasons to do something, you'll really struggle to get started. For example, someone who has a dream of writing a book, but focuses only on the fear of writer's block, the multiple revisions or possible rejection slips will be content to keep the dream nestled safely in her head. Instead, if she pictured the people whose lives will be changed for the better after reading her story, she will quickly come up with very good reasons to begin or continue her creative writing adventure.

2. Start small

It doesn't have to be "The Great American Novel" at the first go. Nor does it have to be a Picasso, or an Oscar winning performance. Just take a step. You want to start a professional organizing business? It takes a lot of creativity to make a space beautiful, functional and productive. But you don't have to start with huge corporations or a southern plantation. Start with a walk-in closet or a room. It's also helpful to break up your large looming tasks into bite-sized portions. The key is not to allow yourself to get so overwhelmed with the "bigness" of the vision that you don't start at all, or you give up once you do. Remember, inch by inch, it's a cinch!

3. Do it afraid

Face it. Your fear, that is. And the fact that you will have to move forward in spite of it. Accept that you will never be able to predict every outcome or that your project will never be perfect, but that's ok. Finished is better than perfect any day! In an article in her Everyday Answers column, Joyce Meyer writes, "Many times we think we should wait to do something until we are no longer afraid, but if we did that, we'd probably accomplish very little for God, for others, or even for ourselves." Attempting only those things we know we can control or know that we won't fail, will absolutely guarantee that we will never fulfill our life purposes - in relationships, business or ministry, not to mention in our creativity.

Come to think of it, I'm reminded of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. When the Master returned to see what His servants had done with the talents He'd given them, the last one replied, "I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground." Cringe. If you believe you've been entrusted talents for a purpose (whether you understand that purpose right now or not), would it be enough motivation just to know at the end of your life you haven't squandered what was entrusted to your stewardship?

Know your why. Start small. Do it afraid. Take those steps and you'll be on the path of fulling your creative destiny.

Ready to make 2010 the most fun and fulfilling one ever? As a loyal member of this creative community, I would love to offer the first TEN people to respond a F'R'E'E Creative Purpose Consultation. To learn more, click here >>

Resources for Your Own Youth Shakespeare Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Here are the resources provided by Alexia Vernon (www.AlexiaVernon.com) that were mentioned on today's radio show, The Creative Calling. Use your skills to make a positive impact on the youth of your community!

To learn more about the CUNY/Creative Arts Team NYC Student Shakespeare Festival or to recommend an educator for the 2009-2010 Festival http://www.cuny.edu/creativeartsteam

To learn about the Folger Shakespeare Festival in Washington, D.C., on which the NYC Student Shakespeare Festival was adapted from http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm (Make sure to check out the oodles of free educator resources in their online library)

To learn more about how to use a coach approach with young people, check out:

Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them
by Jenifer Fox

How To Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

To learn how to take Shakespeare off the page in your classroom:

Shakespeare: To Teach or Not to Teach : Teaching Shakespeare Made Fun : From Elementary to High School
by Cass Foster and Lynn G. Johnson

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56
by Rafe Esquith

Shakespeare Without Fear: Teaching for Understanding
by Mary Janell Metzger

Teaching Shakespeare: A Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge School Shakespeare)
by Rex Gibson

Mastering Shakespeare: An Acting Class in Seven Scenes
by Scott Kaiser

What's Possible for You?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:56:00 +0000

We would accomplish many more things

if we did not think of them as impossible.

~ Vince Lombardi

You know, even creative thinkers get stuck in the realm of the hum-drum every day . . . the realm of the possible. We may know that we have a talent for singing, for example, but our minds get so caught up in the way that WE envision our gift outworking itself that we fail to see the other exciting and fulfilling possibilities before us.

I worked with a vocally talented client once who was fixated on the idea that her singing was meant for use inside a church during the service. And it may well have been. The problem was that at the time we were working together, that opportunity wasn't available to her - the musical team had all the vocalists they needed at present. Even though the thought made her miserable, she concluded that she must not be meant to be singing now because she couldn't sing for her church.

What she didn't realize, though, was that it wasn't her circumstances that were limiting her potential, it was her thinking. When she came to me, one of the things we did was brainstorm a multitude of other avenues available for her to put her gifting to meaningful use while she waited for the opportunity her heart desired. She was truly amazed and encouraged by the possibilities that came alive for her, some that would open doors for the future that she never would've considered before.

Maybe you, too, are languishing. Are you waiting for your "big break" or for someone to notice your talents? Are you stuck in a mindset that tells you if it can't be the way you envision, it simply can't be?

Action step: Take out a piece of paper and write one of your creative gifts at the top of the page. Below it write the longest list you possibly can of all the things that other people do with that talent. This isn't about you right now. You can even come up with some wacky things that people could do. Use your imagination and come up with at least 25 options, but you get extra points for more. Now pick out 3 to 5 things that appeal to you. Congratulations! You have just expanded your horizons! Leave a comment and tell us what you discovered.

The Stoning of Soraya M.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:36:00 +0000

This film, based on a true story, gives voice to a terrible atrocity that is allowed to happen to women in many countries around the world TODAY. So many people complain about 'not enough good films'... well, the best way to get more amazing films like this made is to support the ones that are out there! Follow this link to find it in a theatre near you: www.thestoning.com/theaters

Where are You in the Cycle?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Over the years of working with my clients, I've identified three stages you can find yourself in when it comes to creative projects, a life mission or purpose, and even life itself. They are:

Discovering
Embracing
Fulfilling

The Discovering Stage is where you find yourself if you're in the process of learning, researching, discovering and decision making. Questions you would ask are, "What am I supposed to be doing? Which direction? How can I make this happen?" It can be an exciting phase if the answers come easily and are propelling you towards the next stage, a frustrating one if you're stuck there with little direction or guidance. It's even more frustrating if you have a tendency to be solely an information gatherer, lacking the courage and confidence to move forward.

Let's use a writer as an example: I love to write. I have a feeling I should write a book, but will anyone want to read it? What should I write about? What books would compete? Etc.

The Embracing Stage is about the process of acceptance. You are getting used to the idea, what it will require from you and mean for you and others. If you're excited and unafraid, you will quickly move from this phase to the Fulfillment Stage. However, if you are filled with self-doubt and negative thoughts you could spend quite a while here as you "run" from your creative or artistic calling. Thoughts could be, "You think YOU could do something like this? What if you fail? Why bother - no one would know the difference anyway." You know you are meant to move forward on what you've discovered, but you can't get beyond this phase of the cycle, so you're stuck in a tug-of-war.

The Fulfilling Stage is about accomplishing the task, mission or purpose you've embraced. You might be afraid or unsure of all the steps you need to take, but you're "feeling the fear and doing it anyway." You are actively seeking support and guidance to keep you on track. You are tackling your productivity and mindset issues and combating the doubts and discouraging thoughts. Your heart sings because you know that though it's not always easy, you're doing exactly what you're meant to.

You will find yourself at all three of the stages in the cycle simultaneously due to your various projects. You could be in the middle of fulfilling your mission of writing that book, at the same time as struggling to embrace the possibility of recording a new demo CD and discovering the benefits of improving your public speaking.

Think of your current projects, ideas or callings and ask yourself, "Where in the cycle am I with this?" Identifying where you are for each task or project is a powerful first step in knowing how to proceed!

Set a Timer to Save Your Creative Day

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:14:00 +0000

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the magnitude of a project or projects that you want to accomplish in a day? Do you flit from one thing to the next without really productively achieving anything of value, only to find yourself at the end of the day asking, "What did I do all day?" Are you then left with the feeling that you wasted a whole day away of doing . . . not a lot?

You're not alone. Many creative types are visionary, highly distractable individuals with big ideas who suffer from "Bright Shiny Object Syndrome." This means that they become easily side-tracked by something interesting that steals their focus away from their current task. However, I've discovered a shockingly simple trick that if applied correctly, will keep you from ever again asking that disheartening question: "What did I do all day?"

Set a timer. That's it? That's it - I told you it was simple. If you set a timer at intervals of anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, you'll be amazed at how much you'll get done in shorter spurts of time. Here's why it works:

If you find that you're procrastinating, setting a timer coaxes you into getting started with the deal that you only have to work for 30 minutes and then you get to take a break. Many people find that once they get over the hurdle of just getting started, they get so into their project that they don't want to stop once the timer goes off.
It keeps you from allowing your mind to wander or get distracted. If you know you're only working for 30 minutes, the limited time gives you a heightened focus and the assurance that whatever emails, phone calls or bright ideas you get can surely wait a half hour without dire consequences.
It keeps you from allowing hyper-focus to take over. Sometimes I can work on things for hours without a break - without eating or going to bed at a decent hour. While it's fun to be lost in the project while time whizzes by, afterward I can become moody and exhausted. Setting a time limit alerts you to just how long you've been at it and reminds you to look after yourself.

If you're ready to incorporate productivity tips like this one with accountability, fun and community to take your creative ideas and projects to the next level, don't wait to join my next Creative Ideas In Action Group (CIIAG). Just visit http://www.LiveYourCreativeLife.com/CIIAG.html for all the details.

Spotlight Interview with Storyteller, Melea Brock

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Master Storyteller, Melea Brock, chats with me about her experience as a story writer who performs her work, and shares her advice for those aspiring to use their storytelling gifts.

Where did the idea of professional storytelling come from and how did you begin?
As I understand the word “professional” it involves our education, plus our experience, and “Do you get paid for what you do?” The storytellers of old were required to train and become skilled under a “master storyteller” before they were deemed professional.

That’s the only difference between me and your readers—I work at storytelling every day: I rehearse, I write oral stories, I teach, I spend time every day doing this one thing—working at my craft—that of storytelling.

As an associate dean at a college in 1981, I began using storytelling when I taught a class attaching it to my teaching, using it when I ran small groups, and when I counseled students. Over time, I started receiving invitations, outside of the college setting, to tell stories in other settings, with mostly adults. I had a measure of skills that could be applied to storytelling—a bachelors in Social Work, a masters in Human Development and considerable amount of acting and theater classes. I began applying my writing skills to the oral story that could be told in 10 or 15 minutes and started collecting folktales, fairytales and true-life stories. Eight audios, found books and too many-to-count performances across the U.S. and into Canada later, I am still storytelling.

How does storytelling make a difference?
Storytelling is part of the way you and I speak to one another—we tell stories. We don’t speak in sound bites, half sentences, or slogans. We talk to one another in story. If a story can be lifted off the page or from our own story and given away to a group of listeners… and if it raises an awareness, teaches, uplifts, entertains with universal meaning and value, we have stepped into a storytelling moment and we are plying a skill. We are speaking to the human mind, heart and soul. And this can be an incredible moment for the teller and the listener(s).

How rich our world is for all the stories we live and tell every day. It is the way our culture takes in information in a meaningful way. And we need to lift the good stories today. There are too many “bad stories” in the news, in magazines, on the net, on TV. If we were to measure the good stories vs. the bad stories told each day—the bad ones would be winning! Why is this? And they are repeated ad nauseam. And we are not inclined to tell the better stories—the good stories—but, instead, spend way too much time fretting over the bad ones.

The listening applied to hearing a story is not a passive listening like it for us with TV and film. It engages us in a right and left brain activity—we are listening and understanding but we are also developing incredible pictures in our mind at a conscious and unconscious level. TV and film gives us all the pictures in its storytelling, even live theater, but storytelling requires that we come along side of the story and activate….participate.

What is your vision for the future?
My vision is a simple one—tell stories that teach, uplift, redeem, and restore my listeners. I would love to cross the globe with stories every week. Travel is wonderful, but to know someone could read a story, listen to a story, and share something I have written on the power of story by simply accessing it on the web, well that’s fairly mind-boggling for this storyteller. Much of my work has meant travel and face-to-face gatherings, but the last few months I have been sharing my stories over the web and it’s been very fun. The storytellers of old had to travel from village to village, but now our villages have moved closer with the internet. I am enjoying this personal paradigm shift as a performer and possibilities seem endless.

What advice can you give someone interested in using their gift for storytelling?
I don’t mean to take a phrase from a famous shoe, but "Just do it." Just start. Start small. Think of it as an “experiment in the art of storytelling.” Find a story that speaks to a universal theme and begin to prepare for a future telling. Read it through a good 5 times before you raise it to a “friendly public audience.” Give your prepared story away to a small group of friendly listeners and see what happens. Research storytelling. Go to http://www.storynet.org/ and find out more about the international organization called The National Storytelling Network. It’s been around since the 1970’s.

If you have favored stories from your childhood and you are fortunate enough to have children around you, start there, and begin telling to children as they are so accepting and wanting of a story. Stop and tell the human interest stories from newspapers, websites, blogs during a lunch time… and encourage a friend. Rather than making it a forward, pick up a phone and tell a story. Watch what happens between you and that solitary listener. If you have a regular gathering of sorts, have an evening dedicated to the sharing personal stories around a certain subject. It’s very entertaining.

How people can connect with you?
I can be found on the internet http://www.astory4u.com/ and on facebook—I have a group page called “Storytelling for All Ages.” We have recently done some webcasting that we are looking into doing on a regular basis. If a person is interested in hearing a future “concert” of this sort, register your email on my website. I travel and do Storynights—whole evenings dedicated to storytelling with a theme, music and a special dessert intermission. Again, registering an email and/or address will allow us to send future information about these.

I would also like to mention my newly released book and CD project, “Step Inside…Where Stories Come to Life” which your readers can purchase on the website or by calling 800-369-9230.
*Note: Get a 10% discount off your purchase by entering this code: SPECIAL TEN

Contact Info: Melea J. Brock, http://www.astory4u.com/ astory4u@earthlnk.net 800-369-9230
on Facebook: Group Page entitled “Storytelling For All Ages”

I Challenge YOU to Get Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:52:00 +0000

I've had such great response from the video challenge that I put out, that I've decided to extend it through the month of May! Here's what you need to do:

Watch the video,
Get over to www.LiveYourCreativeLife.com
Sign up for my FREE e-course (if you already have, continue to next step)
Send me your answers
Collect your REWARD!

You can do it - I believe you can. I hope you do as well. Enjoy!

Your Creative Idea Needs A Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:33:00 +0000

How much do you get done without a deadline? To tell the truth, as a creative person I really need the exterior motivation of a time frame or someone counting on me to get my act in gear. It's just way too easy to put things off. Here are some quick tips to make a deadline work for you so you can take action on the idea you're only thinking or talking about:

Make it too public to back out of. Make a promise to someone or better yet, make an announcement. If you'd like to present a workshop, but can't get moving, advertise it. Include a rough outline of what you'd like to cover and more importantly, the date. You won't lack motivation when people begin to sign up and pressure mounts. You could also join a class related to the idea you're sitting on. No class is complete without assignment due dates. Not only will you not want to look foolish in front of your teacher and classmates for not getting your work done, but you wouldn't want to waste the money you spent. Which leads us to:

Make it too costly not to have it done by the date you specify. If your idea is to get in shape, join a gym with a significant fee that comes with a trainer who will count on you to show up for your sessions. If the desire to finally do something about your ideas instead of just thinking or talking about them is your current nagging thought, sign up for group coaching or a take action masterminding group. The investment of time and money on your part and that of the coach's and group members' on your behalf, will definitely kick you into high gear.

Set a date for sooner than you would've liked it to be. Push yourself here. Remember how in school you had three months to finish a paper, but waited until a week before it was due to get started? You worked like crazy to get it done and you did it. So you know it's possible. You want to write a book and think six months would be a stretch? Why not give yourself four months. I know a writer who never compromises on her goal of a chapter a week. Definitely tell someone about your deadline. Deadlines without accountability are unfortunately pretty flimsy. Now watch what happens!

Ready to use deadlines and accountability to make your ideas real? You'll want to join my Creative Ideas In Action Group (CIIAG). Just visit http://www.liveyourcreativelife.com/Coaching.html

Your Creative Idea is a Powerful Communication Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:27:00 +0000

There are several important functions your creative ideas can serve if you let them blossom into reality. Whether it's designing a charitable organization, a business, an invention or a fall collection, producing a film or writing a book, play, song or engaging in any other creative endeavor, your idea can be a powerful communication tool not only for profit, recognition and visibility, but to have a positive affect on others as well.

1. Your idea can inform. Not everyone knows about the social injustices around the world, about a new law coming into effect or about a famous person living 300 years ago who made amazing discoveries in the field of technology or health. What do you believe the world needs to know about? Your creative idea can bring enlightenment to a large number of people that before now were living in ignorance. Documentaries, creating pamphlets and hosting a blog are examples of informative creativity.

2. Your idea can instruct. From a simple how-to article to a book, video, dramatization or public speech, your idea for any of these things (or anything else!) can teach others valuable lessons. We all have knowledge and wisdom that we can pass on to others on any subject under the sun and through any creative way. Some fun ideas: flashcards that teach an aspect of pet grooming via illustration and simple text, or a series of online pattern-making videos. Furthermore, knowledge is a hot commodity that people will always pay for. What you can teach, someone out there will pay to learn.

3. Your idea can inspire. I believe that creative communicative ideas are some of the best conduits for inspiration. A story of courage or kindness can be presented through a film, painting or a book. When someone creatively raises money for a worthy cause or mentors someone, we're inspired. I know of an older woman who had a creative idea that lead her to host younger women in her home once a week to learn from her. In time, many of those women were inspired by what she did for them and became mentors themselves. But it started with an idea that didn't just stay an idea!

4. Your idea can increase visibility. Whether to promote your career or your cause, visibility is vital. People must know that you exist before they can hire or buy from you or contribute their time and resources to you. What ideas do you have that will propel you into the spotlight? I have a client who currently acts on several ideas to get her name "out there" as a musician, from recording a demo and getting a webpage to singing in cafes, churches, pubs and festivals. I also know of a group of women who consistently implement creative ideas to raise awareness and money for a cause they're passionate about. They host "pamper parties" and themed evenings, and design and wear special bracelets. Writing engaging articles or books, presenting a speech, creating a product or hosting a radio or television show are also ways to use your creativity to get noticed.

5. Your idea can improve the lives of others. My father is constantly dreaming up practical inventions (complete with sketches, prototypes and patents!) that will make life easier. He's a natural creative problem solver. Whether your creative ideas tend towards the scientifically or technologically inventive, fundraising or motivational, you have the power inside you to brainstorm ways to make life better. Maybe your creative idea is to figure out ways to budget so you can have more funds available to donate. Or maybe you want to create a beautifully illustrated book of encouraging poetry. The sky is the limit to what you can dream up if you put your mind to it!

What creative ideas have you been mulling over lately? As you read this, you know you could and should do something about them. Why not today? Someone out there is waiting. If you have an idea, I'd like to offer you my free audio e-course, The 7 Secrets of Creative Success when you visit http://www.liveyourcreativelife.com/

5 Good Reasons You Won't Act on Your Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:48:00 +0000

or Why It's Easier to Let Ideas Live (and Die) In Your Head

You've thought up something fantastic. Something you'd love to do, that would make a difference, something you think that someone should do. You may have even shared it in vague form in passing conversation with a friend over a coffee or while shopping during an escalator ride at the mall. However, when coffee or retail therapy were over, the idea just receded to the back of your brain, rarely, if ever to be seen again.

No matter. Here are five good reasons to just let them go. You've got enough on your plate, right? But then again, perhaps those reasons are just excuses to stay bored, but comfortable. You decide.

1. They're easy to forget. "I always have such good ideas, but I can never remember them." This is an easy one to fix. Keep a little notebook handy. It doesn't have to be a big cumbersome thing. I carry a little journal that I've dubbed my Impulsive Ideas Book, so when the inspiration strikes, I can jot it down in rough form. Sometimes I set an alarm on my phone to remind myself to revisit a brainwave that caught me at an "inconvenient" time. I know people who have left themselves voice-mail messages, recordings on a handheld recorder or sent themselves emails. Using these tips will actually allow you to forget your ideas, knowing they're somewhere safe and accessible when you need them.

2. They can be exactly as grand and amazing as you hope they would be. This is the perfectionist's reason. It's full of "What ifs" that keep you secure in the knowledge that you'll never have to answer any of these questions: What if it doesn't work? What if it doesn't look, taste, sound, feel or smell the way I envision? Well, so what if it doesn't? Does that mean you're a failure? Of course not! As a matter of fact, "The only real failure in life is the failure to try." How does that statement make you see your ideas now?

3. No one will judge, criticize or reject you. This reason reflects common fears we have before we pluck up the courage to be, do and have more in our lives. We worry about what others will say about our ideas or about us and we're not sure we could take it if their comments or views are negative. So in order to protect ourselves, we stick to the status quo. We dare not rock the boat. Our fragile egos are then more important than living a life of fulfillment and purpose, more important than our creative ideas that will inspire, entertain, educate or improve the lives of others. Really? If that's the case, some serious soul-searching is in order. Take some time to explore your values. I have no doubt you'll find that what you decide is truly meaningful to you will far outweigh any criticism you were afraid you would encounter.

4. You don't have to put out any extra effort. This is a lazy, and dare I say, selfish excuse. Am I being harsh? Good. Sometimes we need a good kick to get moving. This reason belongs to the person who doesn't want to get out of his or her comfort zone. There is no schedule adjusting or extra exertion for you. Rather than being everything you were born to be, you are content to keep to your agenda of morning news, followed by soaps, followed by game shows, followed by . . . Or you allow the daily grind of office or home life to keep you stagnated in the same routine, day in and day out, while promising yourself that "some day" you'll do what it takes to turn your ideas into reality. But some day never comes. It's up to you to create the time, space and energy needed. Meanwhile someone out there is waiting for what you have inside.

5. You just don't "feel like it." How often do we wait to feel like doing something before we act on it? Take laundry, for example. I never feel like doing laundry. I don't wake up one day and think, "Wow, I really feel like doing a good four loads of laundry today. That'll really get my day off to a great start." No, I do laundry when I'm out of unmentionables and I have no other choice. I don't even want to do it then, but I do it anyway. I'm sure you can think of countless examples of things you "do anyway," regardless of your feelings. This example illustrates the point that your emotional state doesn't determine your ability to take action. This is actually a form of procrastination. If you don't feel like doing something about your ideas today, will you ever? Ask yourself, if not today, when? And then answer yourself. It's likely you won't feel like doing something about your creative ideas then either, so how long will you let something as fickle as a feeling stop you? You know you were made for more than this.

I hope you now see these "reasons" for what they actually are - excuses. I also hope that today is the day you stop giving these excuses power over you and choose to live the creative life you were born for!

To get you started, I'd like to offer you my free audio e-course on The 7 Secrets of Creative Success when you visit http://www.liveyourcreativelife.com/

Help! I've Got Inspiration Deprivation!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:34:00 +0000

Simple keys to get past your creative block.

"I wonder if my not tapping into my creative side contributes to my being so bored and unsatisfied," my friend Kelley confided to me. "I don't have any vision for this work. But I guess if I were to get back into it, being IN the work rather than outside looking in, the inspiration might come."

During her musings, she hit on the antithesis of a misconception most creatives suffer under; that is that inspiration must come before you begin your work. Jack London said, " You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." True. Though genius randomly does strike at one time or another, the vast majority of us will be waiting a long time if all we did was sit and wait for it. Then again, the thought of relentlessly hunting down creative ideas with a blunt object is . . . frankly . . . exhausting.

How do we access this illusive inspiration then? Well, first you have to relax. If you've worked yourself up into a lather of anxiety about how to start, what to write, which subject to tackle, it's like putting a stopper in the genie's bottle. He can't make it out no matter how furiously you rub the lamp. Take a few calming breaths. Smile. Remind yourself that you are vastly creative and that you can do this.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you get started:

What has caught my attention lately?
Is there something I've recently read or a song I've heard that could be a prompt?
What am I struggling with or experiencing at the moment that could provide great material?

In his book, Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling, Wayne Dyer says , "Become aware of anything that excites you . . . that is inspiration right in front of you, begging you to pay attention to that feeling." I think it's important to note that excitement can be a negative emotion as well as a positive. Something unjust could "excite" you and therefore inspire you to write a poem, shoot a film or start an organization to express your passion and increase awareness.

Why not take the pressure off yourself and pray for inspiration? Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, recently gave an interesting and humorous talk about accessing the Source of creativity. I recommend having a look - Elizabeth Gilbert: A different way to think about creative genius

Creativity begets creativity. Idea will follow idea - like Kleenex - you pull a tissue out and the next one pops right up! Inspiration is about the process, the journey. Trust and believe that it is. Once you understand that - the problem won't be starting, but stopping - and we'll cover that in a future issue!

Your Idea Is Not Pooh!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:39:00 +0000

(or crap or rubbish or fill-in-the-blank [apologies to my delicate readers]) - and here's why:

Pooh is waste. It is what's left over when all of the beauty of a stunning dessert or gourmet meal has been destroyed. It is what is left over when the delicious aroma has been absorbed. When the smooth or creamy or crunchy texture has been turned to mush. When all of the water, vitamins, minerals and protein possibly available have been extracted to serve the body's needs. Pooh is what is rejected when every possible pleasurable or useful thing the food had worth giving has been used up.

Now that doesn't sound very much like your idea, does it? On the contrary, your idea is fresh and new and bursting with creative possibility! It is not yet fully developed or explored. Nothing has been taken from it or spent. It is still beautiful and full of potential. It hasn't even come close to being pooh!

You cannot know at this stage what may come of your brain child. It may just turn into something of real value that could serve the masses. Or provide extra income for your family. Or be the thing that gets you noticed and propels you into your dream career. Or save someone's relationship. It could be exactly what someone needs right now and if you don't give it, they'll be left waiting and in lack.

Wantonly discarding the seeds of your creativity is like shortcutting the entire process by throwing beautiful ingredients straight into the toilet. It is then indeed waste. But a waste of your own making.

So stop calling them pooh! Rather see them as seeds which deserve the chance to become. Will you give them that chance?

What ideas do you need to rescue and revive? Get in touch - I'd really love to hear about them!

Creative Career Telesummit

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Williams) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Your Creative Career: Essential Strategies for Writers, Visual Artists, Performers, and Anyone Who Creates - with your hosts Eric Maisel, Viv Nesbitt and John Dillon

Subjects include:

What does it take to have a career in the arts?
How can writers, visual artists, actors, filmmakers, musicians and other creators make best use of the Internet and social media outlets?
How can you build your platform and get known, create a marketing plan, hone your pitch, and learn how to promote?

A creative person has never had more choices, outlets, marketing possibilities … and more to do.

What are the smartest choices?
What tactics will produce the most reward for the time and energy spent?
How can you create a business plan that makes sense and that doesn’t rob you of your time to create?

Join our experts and find out!

http://tiny.cc/CreativeCareer

Imagine Yourself spending a Full Hour with each of 6 World-Class Experts dedicated to helping you bring success to your Creative Career!

When?
Saturday, March 21, 2009. 6 one-hour sessions, beginning at 12 noon East Coast Time (half hour breaks in between)
Where?
Right in the comfort of your own home or office!

Be a part of this low-cost, high-powered weekend and learn what you need to know to get your career jumpstarted and into a higher gear. The telesummit is easy to attend, inexpensive, interactive, and the only one of its kind.

http://tiny.cc/CreativeCareer

All calls are professionally recorded and available for play back and download. Your registration includes audio downloads of all 6 keynote addresses. That's 6 hours of inspiring audio available as an MP3 format included in the low cost of registering. There is also an option for having CD's of all events sent to your door.

There are several great free gifts that are ours to keep when we register. You will receive twenty career management tips as well as two free audio downloads from Art of the Song Creativity Radio hosts John and Vivian aimed to inspire and entertain you!

For just $97, enjoy all eight of the live, interactive presentations delivered by top experts in the field.
http://tiny.cc/CreativeCareer