29 Ways To Stay Creative

{video via TO-FU}

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE
1. Make lists
2. Carry a notebook everywhere
3. Try free writing
4. Get away from the computer
5. Quit beating yourself up
6. Take breaks
7. Sing in the shower
8. Drink coffee
9. Listen to new music
10. Be open
11. Surround yourself with creative people
12. Get feedback
13. Collaborate
14. Don't give up
15. Practice
16. Allow yourself to make mistakes
17. Go somewhere new
18. Count your blessings
19. Get lots of rest
20. Take risks
21. Break the rules
22. Don't force it
23. Read a page of the dictionary
24. Create a framework
25. Stop trying to be someone else's perfect
26. Got an idea? Write it down
27. Clean your workspace
28. Have fun
29. Finish something

Empowering Video: Grasshopper

On Wednesdays, I share a video that facilitates empowerment because when you know better, you do better.

FYI: Entrepreneurs can change the world.

Empowering Video: Cheryl Strayed

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story...

In the Week 2 webisode for Wild, the first selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0, author Cheryl Strayed reveals how she overcame the fear that set in while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo and rewrote her own narrative.

Empowering Video: Dr. Jane Aronson

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

Dr. Jane Aronson founded Worldwide Orphans Foundation to help orphaned children become healthy, independent and productive members of their communities. In this video from TakePart, she and actor Andrew Garfield talk about a recent trip to Ethiopia and how Andrew is helping further Dr. Aronson's mission.

Empowering Video: Adora Svitak

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

No matter your position or place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities for children so that we can grow up to blow you away.

Child prodigy Adora Svitak schools us on what adults can learn from children in her 2010 TED Talk.

bold ideas + wild creativity + optimism + high expectations = innovation

Empowering Video: Neil Gaiman

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

The old rules are crumbling and nobody know what the new rules are. So, make up your own rules.

Neil Gaiman's (Fantastic, Amazing, Wonderful) Advice 

1. When you start out on a career in the arts you have no idea what you are doing.

 (And this is a good thing.) 

2. If you have an idea of what you want to make, what you were put here to do, then just go and do that.

3.  A freelance life, a life in the arts, is sometimes like putting messages in bottles, on a desert island, and hoping that someone will find one of your bottles and open it and read it, and put something in a bottle that will wash its way back to you: appreciation, or a commission, or money, or love. And you have to accept that you may put out a hundred things for every bottle that winds up coming back.

4. Make mistakes. If you're making mistakes, it means you're out there doing something. And the mistakes in themselves can be useful....Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do. Make good art. 

5. Make your art. Do the stuff that only you can do.

6. People keep working, in a freelance world, and more and more of today's world is freelance, because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don't even need all three. Two out of three is fine.  

7. Let go and enjoy the ride, because the ride takes you to to some remarkable and unexpected places.

*

Needless to say, this speech is an instant classic that will go up there with David Foster Wallace's "This Is Water" and Steve Jobs' "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish". The speech is chock-full of inspiration, regardless of whether you have a career in the arts or not. Your "art" is your thing. The thing that you do better than anyone else. The thing that makes your heart sing and time stand still. So, we should all take this advice (or rather, reminder) to heart. 

Go forth and do great things. 

Empowering Video: For Mamas Who Rock Business

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

You defining success on your own terms is the best thing you can do for your kids.

I finished Danielle LaPorte's book, The Fire Starter Sessions, a few days ago. It is wonderful in both content and design. If you have any desire to lead a better and more fulfilling life, this is the book for you.  I felt like I was having "aha!" moments almost every other page. (Don't believe me? Check out her 30 Days to Fire Up Your Creative Genius series for the Huffington Post.)

So, for this week's video I wanted to share a bit of her magic specifically targeted at mothers. This is an older video from when The Fire Starter Sessions was an e-book & e-course, but it still rings true.

Empowering Video: Manifesting 101

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

Marie Forleo is awesome. She is incredibly inspiring. After I watch one of her videos I just want to go out and make things happen ASAP. In this episode from MarieTV, she discusses manifestation with Gabby Bernstein.

I am a big believer in (as cheesy as it sounds) manifesting your desires. (Hello, intentional living!)

MANIFESTING 101

1.Clarity

Get clear about your desire

2. Identify & Remove Obstacles

Recognize how you are blocking yourself and get rid of those limiting beliefs.

3. Be In The Know: 

Don't let outside junk taint what you know to be true. 

What you believe about yourself and your future will support you external experiences.

4. Patience: 

Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety.

To get a full taste of the awesomeness that is Marie Forleo, I encourage you to check out her free online training series.

Empowering Video: Sarah Silverman

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

The worst thing that can happen for people who don't want women to be strong is that we help each other and become a force.

The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet debuted last week. It was really good. 

The conversation with Sarah Silverman was great and I encourage you to check out the entire episode.

Empowering Video: Sir Ken Robinson

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

"Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we're educating our children. 

He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity

 and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence."

An animation of (my intellectual crush) Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk

 on changing education paradigms.

Empowering Video: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

At TEDxWomen, reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon argues that women entrepreneurs 

are the overlooked key to economic development.

Empowering Video: Thandie Newton

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

Actress Thandie Newton speaking about her journey of accepting her "otherness" at TEDGlobal 2011.

Empowering Video: 2012 Women in the World Summit.

On Wednesdays I share a video that facilitates empowerment; because when you know better, you do better.

Go forth and do awesome things.