Creative Drought

For the past several hours, I've struggled with this week's message, the words, "what will I write?" screaming in my ears. I've felt like the princess who promises her first born child to the little man named "Rumplestiltskin" if only he will spin straw into gold. Unfortunately, I'm not a princess and Rumplestiltskin is no where to be found.

Finally, it dawned on me that the most helpful thing I might share this week is how vital it is to embrace the empty spaces that crop up in life rather than running from them. Creativity is a process that ebbs and flows. And if my past experience is any indicator, often times a period of stillness or seeming emptiness precedes a period of awesome creativity (I hope!).

So if you find yourself in a waiting period, a period of low or no creativity, a period when the ideas aren't coming, the creative juices seem to have dried up, I invite you to join me in celebrating the wait rather than cursing it. Do what you can in the interim, whether that's clean up files, return calls, balance your checkbook, walk the dogs or any of a thousand other necessary daily activities. Don't do them as a way of escaping the creative drought; rather do them mindfully, knowing that dry spells happen and in the meantime, life goes on.

It's also a time to ask what part of yourself may have become disconnected in the busyness of your life. Are you neglecting some aspect of your self care? Perhaps you were journaling and have stopped. Maybe you're involved in activities and organizations that no longer reflect your values, or you need to reconnect with friends or renew some spiritual practice. What part of your life have you disowned or misdirected? Take a look to see what you find.

I hope these thoughts are helpful to you. Thanks for allowing me to share a part of my creative journey that doesn't often get airtime. And remember these oft-quoted words, "this too shall pass."

Until next time,
Betty

***********************
Quote of the Week
***********************

"It's terribly amusing how many different climates of feeling one can go through in a day." ~~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Betty Mahalik has been coaching small business owners, independent professionals and leaders who want to achieve more but stress less, since 1996. Her background includes several years in the broadcasting and public relations fields prior to starting her own firm in 1987. She is an accomplished public speaker and corporate trainer specializing in communications, goal-setting and leveraging your strengths. Since 2001, she has written a weekly motivational message, free to subscribers, titled Monday Morning Coach. To subscribe or learn more about Betty's coaching and training services, visit http://www.dynamic-coaching.com

---

Creativity and Inspiration

Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world... Read More

Five Basic Steps to Benefit from Your Creativity

The ability to exercise your creativity is even more important... Read More

Go Ahead and Think Outside the Box!

I am trying to create a discipline where I blog... Read More

What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life

After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More

Get Creativity?

Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More

The Secret of Intuitive Intelligence

The word intuition comes from the Latin word intueri, meaning... Read More

The Art of Keeping a Journal

Journal keeping is basically without rules. It is an uncensored... Read More

Take Time To Think

I recently saw a program on television wherein the participants... Read More

Its Time to Get Out of the Box

"It is never too late to be what you might... Read More

Top Five Reasons to Cultivate Your Creativity

Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a... Read More

The Source of Growth and Creativity

Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More

Becoming More Creative -- What We Can Learn From Disney

When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us,... Read More

Finding A Little Adventure

I have had more than my share of exciting times... Read More

Riches Through Creative Thinking!

When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More

Three Ways Journaling Can Boost Your Creativity and Your Business

I have a friend who has struggled with her creativity... Read More

Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box

I happened to overhear a conversation the other day between... Read More

Revenge of the Sith ? Creativity and Structure

The common belief is that lack of structure and randomness... Read More

Creativity: Getting Out of the Box

Leadership, especially in times of change, depends increasingly on the... Read More

Brainstorming Effectively

BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak;... Read More

Becoming Radiant: Boost Your Teams Creativity with Mind Mapping

I don't take notes anymore. Instead, I create one wildly... Read More

Innovation Through Concept-Combination

There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors... Read More

How To Increase Creativity... Set Deadlines!

Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More

3 Simple Steps To Solving Problems

You can move beyond your stuck states by contemplating all... Read More

Being Creative is Essential for Online Success

Do you have a strategy that ensures your online business... Read More

How To Let The Subconscious Mind Do The Creative Work

From time immemorial mankind has wished for an Aladin's lamp,... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is... Read More

Self-Care for Creative Artists: 10 Reasons To Care About It

1. To be more comfortable in performance situations ? performance... Read More

Creativity Management ? Collaboration NOT Competition

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How To Entertain A Thought

After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci,... Read More

Dancing On Your Brain: The Cha-Cha Effect

My grandmother used to say that the secret to living... Read More

Creativity Management ? Finish What You Start

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Inspiration, Creativity, and Channeling ? Opening Ourselves to Greatness

Channeling is much easier to do than most people suspect.... Read More