UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY

UNDERSTAND YOURSELF: CREATIVITY FOLLOWS.

Basics

Creativity is different for everyone.  For one person it may be organizing books in an intuitive way, another will be on how to understand how to communicate with “difficult” personalities, and another may be in scribbling in the margins to understand macroeconomics. The bottom line is that creativity is different for everyone.  Your version will be different from your neighbors, and that’s okay.  Here are some basics on how to tap into your inner thoughts and creative juices to get you happier with the daily life you experience.

Simple steps:  Like exercise, you have to tune into creativity regularly to see the benefits and keep healthy.

1. Carry a notebook: everywhere
2. Get an amazing pen: this will help you want to fill the notebook.
3. Notice what excites you.  Write/draw/describe it in your notebook.  Reference emails in your notebook if you take an image with your phone and email it to yourself to capture the idea; still write it in the notebook as your notebook is a tangible thing-  paper has less distractions and is less likely to be hacked (so you can unleash whatever you are thinking.)
4. Don’t judge yourself.

1. Eliminate the words “should” and “need to” from your vocabulary budget.  If you budget your time correctly (i.e. not filling it with busy) you will get what needs to be done, done.

5. Repeat 3 and 4 until you feel okay about sharing it with others.
6. Share it!  Thorough social media, over wine, at work.  Wherever is the best avenue for it.  It may fit in in more places than you originally think.  What’s the worst that would happen if you shared it? Would you die? Would you lose your job or someone important to you?  If the answers are no, then share away!
7. Stop procrastinating, but remember you still have life ahead of you.

Explanations on points:

1. Write down stream of consciousness thoughts.  What do you daydream about during boring conference calls?  What do you doodle in the margins?  What quotes get you to the core- not because they “should” but because they really resonate with you?
2. If you have an amazing pen and fun notebook, you will be excited to use them.
3. See “Final - dispersed - thoughts” on last page.
4. Judgement leads to censorship.  It is also criticism and when discovering what excites you, you may learn things you never thought you would.  It can be scary, and exciting: like a rollercoaster.  Stay on the ride; you can’t exit a rollercoaster when you’re halfway through it.

1. This gives compassion for your creative adventures.  It is new and by default; new things are not perfect.  Like a new business, is it reasonable to say “ I should have 200 customers: I’ve been open 1 week!” or “I should use every social media outlet”? Are these reasonable metrics?  If no, then why are you judging yourself?  Give yourself room to play, and explore what your creativity is.

5. Give yourself time to build competence and confidence.
6. Share your skills with the world.  Then encourage others.

The I Value list.

Contents for the “I Value” list come from your notebook.  They are things you write about and clearly notice a lot.  Or they are from doodles/word fragments when on the phone with an old friend | daydreams | nightdreams | awareness of feelings in situations | confidence in yourself |obsessions | things you ALWAYS notice..

The I Value list generates the time budget.

The time budget is when you schedule time to channel into your value list.  If creativity and listening to yourself is on there, then make time to write about what you observed each day.  Give yourself consequences if you don’t follow through on your time budget in the same way there are consequences if you don’t follow through on your home budget. Will you go into happiness debt? Will creditors come and take your soul?

Also make sure your family is okay with modifying your schedule for you to make time for the items on this list.  If they are not, how will you negotiate it with them?

Final - dispersed - thoughts

• This is not an overnight process
• Don't judge yourself
• Listen to your soul
• Read/listen to things you find compelling.  Budget time for this within your creativity slot in your time budget.
• Google people who do similar things: learn from them.  What are their processes? Why do they do what they do?
• Remember:

• Creativity = learning = making a TON of work; whatever the creative work process is for you.  You will be excited to do this work. If you’re not excited to be doing it, stop.  Do something else that excites you.  It will lead you to your creative path in time.

Further reading & accreditation

Much of the thoughts that have gone into creating this toolbook come from the fun books of artist and writer Austin Kleon, as well as tapping into confidence and negotiation from sources such as mental health counselors and books like Linda Babcock’s/Sara Laschever’s.

Austin Kleon: Steal Like an Artist

Austin Kleon: Share Your Work

Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever: Ask for It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want

Coursera classes on things you find compelling

Your Library

The Internet