Original Impulse Blog

Keep Your Friends Even in Busy Times

It was a miracle that we were even talking phone to phone. My friend Deborah and I are like most creative people these days – overcommitted. I heard the edge of anger in her voice when she told me that we never see each other anymore.

It was true. We hadn’t seen each other. It wasn’t for wanting. Deborah is a dynamic, fun, on the ball person with whom I shared a lot of fun and connection. It wasn’t her, it was my schedule.

I reassured her that I was still committed to our friendship. And then I got out my coaching toolkit and saved our friendship.

“Let’s plan a regular date,” I suggested. “That way the hassle of scheduling is gone and we’re sure to connect regularly.”

“That sounds great,” Deborah replied. I could hear the relief in her voice and I felt the narrow escape of losing a good friend.

How did we manage to not just save but solidify our friendship?

FAQ: How to Stay Focused?

Question:

I don't seem to have a great attention span - I don't get lost in my work. Is that because I'm not confident in it, or not passionate about it, or just ADD? I would love some advice on how I might coax myself to be more prolific.

My Answer:

Who knows if you have ADD, but I know that we are living in very distractable times. I get distracted all the time. I bounce from one thing to the next. Like improv. I am currently working on an illustrated book that allows me to use collage, drawing, painting, calligraphy, writing…so I can play with many media.

Perhaps Nothing Is Wrong with You

I say quit thinking something is wrong with you. This is why I hate the idea that there is one way to create, and if you’re not doing it that way, or experiencing what others do, you’re wrong. That kind of thinking is gremlin fodder.

This is why I am so committed to helping creative people find, acknowledge and embrace their own process. What works for them. Shedding expectations and doubts. Playing in the creative zone freely.

Live Wrong-Free for a Week

Do what works for you. Give yourself a week to live in the land of ‘nothing wrong with me or what I’m doing.’ I can say this because I know you are unlikely to kill or steal or hurt anyone and say, ‘Cynthia said I could do no wrong!’.

Try it. Try a wrong-free week.

Find Your Creative Edge

Another thought. I still am not saying you have to be completely engrossed in your work for it to be legitimate. But if you are bored, that’s another thing. It could be that you need to challenge yourself more. Find your creative edge.

Look at one technical element to your work where you could buff up your skill level. For instance, I love doing calligraphy and I am CRAP at spacing. So I’ve been practicing spacing, playing with different ways to make sure the letters are evenly distributed on the page. No glaring white margin at the end.

This is a way to take a weakness and use it to be more fully engaged in my work.

So look to your own art. What’s an edge for you? What’s the next element of your work to be developed. Focus on that and see how engaged you become.

What do you think, reader? Does one have to be engrossed, in the flow, to experience satisfaction and progress? Or can we operate differently?

Where are you stuck creatively? Send me an email with your question, with Creativity FAQ in the subject line, and I'll post my answer on the blog.

Get the Daily Writing Habit This Year

If you're looking for a cheap and fun way to get writing into your life on a daily basis, you'll want to join the Free Write Fling.

Here's what one writer got out of the last Fling:

• My voice became more confident—ah, whatever! Just say it. If they don’t like it, who cares!
• I began to feel like a writer.
• Writing got easier.
• The just-do-it factor kicked in—other writing tasks became less daunting.
• I hesitate less when writing, less second-guessing.
• I even call myself a writer now.
• Yum. Thanks!

The Free Write Fling starts on February 1st and your only commitment is to write for at least 15 minutes for 28 days straight. The prize: a writing habit that sticks and that you enjoy.

Head on over and register before January 19th, when the early registration discount ends!

Oh, and if you write for all 28 days, you're eligible for two free coaching sessions with me to further your writing life. Sign up here. 

Gap Year for Adults

At one point I was feeling a bit immature, shedding my life in Boulder and heading off to live as a Creative Nomad. After all, that was the kind of thing you did in your twenties, before you had things figured out. I was hoping for a regenerative effect on my work. A friend suggested that a career counselor might be a better approach.

But no! A recent article in the New York Times shows that more people (grownups!) are taking a Gap Year. They're refreshing their spirit and perspectives by shucking the routine and exploring things of interest. Susan Griffith even wrote a book about it, "Gap Years for Grownups".

Now I don't feel immature. I feel refreshed and reinvigorated. I'm not booking my ticket back to the States yet, but I now know that what I am doing is normal, trendy even. Time to go do something else.

If you were taking a Gap Year to refresh your creativity at work, home, or the studio, what would you do? Read the NY Times article for inspiration. And be sure to subscribe to the Journey Juju blog to glean inspiration from my story, firsthand.

FAQ: How to Set Aside Judgment so I Can Create

Question:

I judge myself before I start, so I often don't get very far. How do I get over this?

My Answer:

Here are three quick and easy ways to circumvent fear during the creative process.

Return to Love

This is absolutely common. It’s the self-preservation mechanism, trying to save us from making complete creative idiots of ourselves. I have it, too, but then I busy myself with my materials, which I love so much. So that's one way, to engage yourself with what you love about your work. Like life, we get further when we focus on love instead of fear.

Air the Fear

You can also clear the judgment by giving it space. Hear the voice, hear what it is saying, and even speak it aloud. Speak the fear and worry aloud. Then say, “That’s okay, I’m going to paint anyway. Just to see.”

Once you get in to the art, that voice will get bored and go away.

Control Your Mind

This may seem simplistic, but I believe that we need above all to be able to control our thoughts, or at least not have our thoughts control us. If you’re having thoughts that stop you from creating, go back to your original impulse. Ask yourself what’s important about creating? What’s your motivation? Connect with that, then let the voice of judgment step aside.

Try one or two or all three and let me know how it works. What helps you, reader, to wrangle the critic to the ground?

Where are you stuck creatively? Send me an email with your question, with Creativity FAQ in the subject line, and I'll post my answer on the blog.

Design Your Creative Life Conference in London

I'm gearing up for London in March. Swedish writing coach Ann Ljungberg has organized a Design Your Creative Life, a conference for creatives. There are two parts to the conference: the weekend workshops - March 7th and 8th, followed the next week by a five day workshop - March 9th - 13th.

Over the weekend I'll be speaking about two topics very near and dear to the creative's heart: how to finish projects and how to receive feedback gracefully.

Also speaking at the conference is Eric Maisel, author of many books on creativity such as Fearless Creating and The Writer's Paris.

Jacqui Lofthouse, novelist and London writing coach, will be speaking, as well as Fay Weldon.

I'll be leading a Sketch Crawl through London Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 1:00. I know, you're probably thinking, crawling London in March? But I've planned some excursions inside as well, such as the Tate Modern and a ride in the London Eye.

When I did the Sketch Crawl in Lisbon, the participants loved the opportunity to slow down and see the familiar with fresh eyes. Using word or drawing sketches is a great way to refresh the creative well.

Find out more and register for the conference. I can't wait to create and learn in London with you!

Navigating the Scary Path of Uncertainty: Ten Clues for the Clueless

In this week’s Impulses, I address a topic of great concern for many of us: how to navigate the scary territory of the unknown. The world is shifting radically and we don’t know what’s going to happen. Some have lost their jobs and they don’t know where they’ll generate income.

As a guide for the creative process, I’ve long known that being able to dwell in the unknown is vital for creativity. Projects always go through a phase where their creator experiences a sense of cluelessness.

My journey as a Creative Nomad is fraught with uncertainty. But I’ve learned to navigate it. I can’t say I’ve mastered it to the level of loving it, but I am familiar and comfortable lingering in the unknown.

Here are my clues for navigating the forest of the unknown and coming out the other side even better for it. Be sure to read my article in Impulses to learn the ten reasons that the unknown is a good place to linger.

Original Impulse Ten-Year Anniversary Sale!

I'm so excited to be celebrating ten years in business this year! To launch the new year, I'm hosting a sale on all of my e-products. Twenty percent off of every e-product in the Original Impulse online store!

In the last decade, I’ve learned a lot about what works to help get over the common obstacles to creating. In ten years of working with writers, artists, business people, coaches and entrepreneurs, I’ve gleaned valuable tools and tips to make the creative process easier. I’ve matched this wisdom with my coaching skills to help you start and finish your creative projects.

This isn’t common wisdom like:
• Write every day
• Set goals and work toward them
• Just do it

No. I respect you as a unique creative adventurer. You need help that speaks to your needs. In my e-books and programs, I give you tools to help unearth the processes and systems and insights that will allow you to customize an approach that works for you and your goals.

The sale goes from January 5th – 14th. My products are already affordable, so there's no excuse to not make your creative dreams a priority this year, with the help of my tools.

Welcome to 2009!

Welcome to 2009! from Cynthia Morris on Vimeo.