We’re all inventors. We all have the power to create something bold, something new. We can choose to create something amazing, joyful and beautiful. We can birth something that will bring meaning into the world and enhance the lives of everyone. Yes, we have that much power. We are inventors. I’ve recently been inspired by ... [Read more]
Creativity
We’re all inventors. We all have the power to create something bold, something new. We can choose to create something amazing, joyful and beautiful. We can birth something that will bring meaning into the world and enhance the lives of everyone.
Yes, we have that much power. We are inventors.
I’ve recently been inspired by my friend Jodi Chapman to create a new habit. In May, I’m going to begin each weekday with 90 minutes of writing. I’m crazy excited about the idea.
I’ve also fallen in love with video-making. It’s a wonderful way to have fun, share, and connect with others on a deeper and more personal level.
I challenge you to create something new. Invent for yourself and invent for others. Make your inventions inspiring, wild and creative. Make them simple, helpful and available.
The sky’s the limit for our inventions.
Don't allow your doubts, fears and failure stop you from taking action. If you don’t know where to begin or if you’ve been struck by inertia, help is available.
The following tips are designed to help you take action and invent something new.
That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best—make it all up—but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way. ~ Ernest Hemingway
1. Choose a project. What is one thing that would change your life? Make it something that lights your fire and keeps you awake at night. Make it useful and bold. This is your baby!
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines. ~ Brian Tracy
2. Set a goal and make a plan. Create a vision. Define the end result. Make a plan. You need to know how you will do it, what it will take and the deadline that you’re aiming for.
No dream can come true until you wake up and go to work. ~ Anonymous
3. Create action steps. Working from your plan, write down actionable steps in chronological order. It’s essential that the steps are clear and you know exactly what needs to happen.
Fear is a great inventor. ~ Proverb
4. Flip the switch on your fears. Write down the fears that you have around this project. Use your personal power to shift your perception about each fear. Decide how you can turn each fear into a motivating action.
A mantra can make the impossible possible. ~ Dr. Gautam Chatterjee
5. Create a mantra. Guy Kawasaki suggests we choose a 2-3 word mantra. Put it in your phone. Write it on a sticky note. Repeat it throughout the day. My mantra’s are “writing 90/5” and “videos are me.”
We were always dreaming of how it was going to be. ~ George Lucas
6. Tell others. Tell trustworthy family and friends about your dream. Ask for support. Build an excitement and energy around it. Make it so amazing that they want to line up to help you.
The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness. ~ Abraham Maslow
7. Be single focused. Do one thing at a time. If you want to write, write. If you want to read, read. If you want to study, study. If you need to research, research. Give your full attention to the task at hand.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. ~ Henry David Thoreau
8. Ignore the unimportant stuff. Don’t spend time playing games or watching mindless TV or videos. Don’t be distracted by constantly checking social media or email. You choose how to spend your time. Make everything count.
I use my mind to solve problems and invent things. ~ Temple Grandin
9. Focus on the positive. Make a mental movie of your desired result. Imagine yourself in the scene. Create a feeling of success and add it to the movie. Dwell on the scene and feelings for a few minutes. Do this anytime you find yourself in a negative state.
If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves. ~ Thomas Edison
10. Clear your head. Still stuck? Change your energy. Go for a short walk or run. Listen to music. Meditate or write in your journal. Then get back to work.
The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it. ~ Elbert Hubbard
11. Track your success. Keep a daily action log. Use it to see what’s working and what’s not. At the end of every week, reward yourself for your progress.
Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward. ~ Thomas Edison
12. Plan to fail. Perfection isn’t an option. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. Once you reframe failure, you’re free to begin again.
I invented adventures for myself and made up a life, so as at least to live in some way. ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky
13. Be you. Don’t chase fame. Don’t try to be someone else. Allow your uniqueness to shine. Celebrate who you are. Put your own spin on your creations. Be true to yourself.
We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
14. Believe. Is your faith in, “I can” or “I can’t?” Drop your disbelief and continue to move forward. Put your energy into expecting the best. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anybody else?
I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to know I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not. ~ Jean Webster
15. Enjoy the journey. Success is found in the journey not the destination. Choose to feel good and do good every day. Appreciate the here and now. Count your blessings. Help others get what they want. It’s not all about you. It never was.
What are you inventing these days? Please share your thoughts below.
Please consider sharing the inspiration on Facebook and Twitter! I appreciate your support.
photo credit: mardy78 I thought I'd inspire you today with 3 authors and quotes that have touched my soul. The following quotes are by - Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love "I met an old lady once, almost a hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, ... [Read more]
I thought I'd inspire you today with 3 authors and quotes that have touched my soul.
The following quotes are by - Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love
"I met an old lady once, almost a hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history. How much do you love me? And Who's in charge?"
"Someone has to write all those stories: why not me?"
"You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings."
"Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing – right in the hub of the wheel – not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness – that's your heart. That's where God lives within you. So stop looking for answers in the world. Just keep coming back to that center and you'll always find peace."
"To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow – this is a human offering that can border on miraculous."
"To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice."
"You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control."
"And what will I be able to do tomorrow that I cannot yet do today?"
"The great Sufi poet and philosopher Rumi once advised his students to write down the three things they most wanted in life. If any item on the list clashes with any other item, Rumi warned, you are destined for unhappiness. Better to live a life of single-pointed focus, he taught. But what about the benefits of living harmoniously among extremes? What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a world view that excludes nothing?"
"So tonight I reach for my journal again. This is the first time I’ve done this since I came to Italy. What I write in my journal is that I am weak and full of fear. I explain that Depression and Loneliness have shown up, and I’m scared they will never leave. I say that I don’t want to take the drugs anymore, but I’m frightened I will have to. I am terrified that I will never really pull my life together.
In response, somewhere from within me, rises a now-familiar presence, offering me all the certainties I have always wished another person would say to me when I was troubled. This is what I find myself writing on the page:
I’m here. I love you. I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long. I will stay with you. If you need the medication again, go ahead and take it—I will love you through that, as well. If you don’t need the medication, I will love you, too. There’s nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I will protect you until you die, and after your death I will still protect you. I am stronger than Depression and Braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me."
"When the karma of a relationship is done, only love remains. It's safe. Let go."
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Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
"For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die."
"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship."
"It's good to do uncomfortable things. It's weight training for life."
"Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere."
"Becoming a writer is about becoming conscious. When you're conscious and writing from a place of insight and simplicity and real caring about the truth, you have the ability to throw the lights on for your reader. He or she will recognize his or her life and truth in what you say, in the pictures you have painted, and this decreases the terrible sense of isolation that we have all had too much of."
"This is our goal as writers, I think; to help others have this sense of–please forgive me–wonder, of seeing things anew, things that can catch us off guard, that break in on our small, bordered worlds. When this happens, everything feels more spacious. Try walking around with a child who's going, "Wow, wow! Look at that dirty dog! Look at that burned-down house! Look at that red sky!" And the child points and you look, and you see, and you start going, "Wow! Look at that huge crazy hedge! Look at that teeny little baby! Look at the scary dark cloud!" I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world–present and in awe."
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Quotes by Julie Cameron author of "The Artists Way."
"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control."
"Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise."
"I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow."
"Art is not about thinking something up. It is the opposite – getting something down."
"Creativity – like human life itself – begins in darkness."
“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough – that we should try again.”
“Life is a creative endeavor. It is active, not passive. We are the yeast that leavens our lives into rich, fully baked loaves. When we experience our lives as flat and lackluster, it is our consciousness that is at fault. We hold the inner key that turns our lives from thankless to fruitful. That key is "Blessing."
“Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself.”
Today I'm a guest at Jean Saraurer's blog, Virgin Blogger Notes, 14 Tips On For Turning Bloggers Into Friends.
What books and authors have you enjoyed this summer?
Is your blog ho-hum or do you have visitors who don't want to miss a single post? It's time to step out of "normal," get your of a rut, and take your blog to the next level.
Choose someone you admire and ask for permission to guest post on their blog. If you're rejected keep asking others until you get a "yes." Link your blog to the guest article.
photo credit: psyberartist
Is your blog ho-hum or do you have visitors who don't want to miss a single post? Get bold. Get crazy. Be outragous. It's time to step out of "normal," get your groove on, and take your blog to the next level.
The following tips will get you started.
Invite someone you admire and ask to interview them on your blog. Keep asking until you get a "Yes."
Give. Give. Give. Get out of your head and your own issues and volunteer your services for a worthy cause. Lance at the Jungle of Life put together an e-book with a friend and donated all proceeds to charity.
Brag about your favorite bloggers. Everyone appreciates seeing their name mentioned without strings attached. Tell others about the blogs you love.
Make a phone call. If there is one person you fear calling but would love to connect with figure out a way to contact them and begin a conversation. Blog about it.
Give away something special. We love contests and we love free stuff. If you don't have anything special then "ask" someone who does. Tell them you'll link to them and introduce their blog to your readers in exchange for their "give away."
Dedicate Fridays to fun. Invite an astrologer, celebrity (go for it!), or comedian to be your "Friday Fun" guest. If you can't get anyone find a fun video and post it. Make it the best you can find!
Post a video of yourself involved in a favorite hobby, sport or doing something outrageous. Tie it in with your niche.
You've probably watched Katie's video of "Car Dancin." Katie, ( Levity Project ) along with Lance from Jungle of Life had a blast creating it. You can watch it again and/or pass it on!
Check it out below…I'm the one with the orange flower. Also my friends Evita from Evolving Beings, Karl from Work Happy Now, Stacey from Stacey Shipman and Megan from All About Joy are in the video. See if you can recognize everyone!
Again blow the lid off the ordinary. Create a Buzz!
When I was a kid! Children often get restless and bored during school breaks. Parents often find themselves at wits end trying to keep them entertained. Being one out of 10 children my mom always put us to work. We lived in an old farmhouse and every winter break she had us paint the inside of the ... [Read more]
When I was a kid!
Children often get restless and bored during school breaks. Parents often find themselves at wits end trying to keep them entertained. Being one out of 10 children my mom always put us to work.
We lived in an old farmhouse and every winter break she had us paint the inside of the home including all of the woodwork. I remember listening to Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash as we slapped our paint on the walls. Looking back she didn’t really care how good our job was done, just that we finished it.
When we were finished we were then sent to the city to help my Aunt Helen clean and paint her large apartment complex. At the end of vacation we had the feeling of accomplishment and my mom and Aunt Helen were thrilled!
My payoff: My husband and I continue to do all of our own painting. Two summers ago we painted my granddaughter Mackenzie’s bedroom orange and grandson AJ’s room gray with a dark blue “English D” on the wall for the Detroit Tigers. We allowed them to “slap” on paint with us just as my mom did many years ago. For them the moments were magical, the finished project delightful.
I do encourage parents to give their children chores and special projects to do during their vacation time. Not only will it save you time, it will give them an opportunity to do good and honorable work.
Spend time helping if you can and praise, praise, praise. A child needs 5 compliments for each criticism!
However the following tips are mostly fun. It is called a “break” after all. Inviting friends and neighbors to join you will double the fun!
- Make popcorn and watch a movie.
- Make play dough.
- Sign up for a walk or run for a cause.
- Write letters to soildiers.
- Go to the library and take out books, rent books on tape and movies.
- Take a trip to the museum.
- Have coloring contests.
- Plan a picnic indoors.
- Have breakfast food for dinner.
- Hold cooking classes in your own kitchen, invite friends.
- Go biking or sledding.
- Share favorite birthday and vacation stories.
- Walk the beach or hike in the evening.
- Paint bedrooms.
- Learn magic tricks together and put on a show.
- Rent dance videos and hold a dance contest.
- Have a photo taking contest. Share cameras.
- Create books using pictures from magazines.
- Visit nursing homes, bring musical instruments and put on a show.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Make cupcakes and have a decorating party.
- Make your own banana splits with all kinds of toppings and sprinkles.
- Make smoothies.
- Create awards at awardwinner.com
- Download free e-books.
- Play online games together.
- Make bubbles.
- Hold a family game night.
- Visit the zoo.
- Design a family website.
- Fill with family pictures and essays.
- Ride bikes in another city.
- Go rollerblading.
- Attend free festivals.
- Attend free concerts.
- Press flowers and make cards.
- Decorate thank-you notes, write messages inside, put stamps on envelopes they will be ready to go as needed.
- Decorate placemats on construction paper and cover with contact paper.
- Play charades.
- Decorate small notebooks and begin daily journal.
- Organize dresser drawers.
- Clean bedrooms.
- Draw pictures and mail to other family members.
- Finger paint with pudding.
- Collect rocks and paint them.
- Tie dye T-shirts and matching socks
- Share daydreams.
- Rent a yoga video for kids.
- Rent dance videos and have a contest after practicing.
- Make a bird feeder.
- Wash the family cars together.
- Make macaroni jewelry and art.
- Visit playgrounds and local parks.
- Visit a working farm.
- Take nature walks.
- Go fishing.
- Arrange photo albums.
- Play flashlight tag.
- Learn to play a musical instrument.
- Do brain teasers.
- Make gift cards.
- Make birthday cards.
- Trace cookie cutters, decorate and cut out.
- Write stories about past family events you have in photo albums.
- Play card games.
- Decorate clay pots.
- Plant flowers in the decorated pots.
- Do jigsaw puzzles.
- Sleep outside under the stars.
- Research a new hobby at the library.
- Play a family memory game. ie What are the name of your great-grandparents?
- Make a collage of what you are thankful for.
- Make paper bag puppets.
- Write love and appreciation letters to each other.
- Cut out coupons together.
- Read to each other from joke books.
- Make friendship pins.
- Make potato stamp art.
- Play scrabble.
- Do science experiments.
- Create a secret family code.
- Plan next summer’s vacation.
- Go bowling.
- Play indoor golf.
- Play broom ball.
- Practice and become good at running.
- Each child collects things they don’t use anymore. Play bingo and choose things for prizes.
- Have a fashion show.
- Study a topic and hold a debate.
- Tour a city.
- Visit a beekeeper.
- Visit a farmer’s market.
- Visit a flea market.
- Visit an auction.
- Watch a sporting event you’ve never seen before.
- Learn how to use a compass and practice your skills.
- Try to break a world record.
- Ride horses.
- Go rock climbing.
- Have a Frisbee
- Go on a scavenger hunt.
