Growing: Up

Freedom to Create

I hope you had a great Independence Day.

I always feel extremely lucky to be an American, especially on the Fourth of July.  I love how we all come together to recognize our freedoms in this country, especially to appreciate those in the military who protect those freedoms.

It also makes me realize how lucky we are, as people in a democratic society, to create and express ourselves freely. We have so much to be thankful for, as people who are privileged enough to create ourselves, our work, our businesses, and our paths. To take that freedom for granted seems like a waste of precious resources.


I recently posted an article about how our cravings can diminish our creative pursuits; how, by being inundated with choices and information and material must-haves, we neglect our freedom to innovate.  We are at liberty to consume so much, yet often at the expense of personal creativity.  


But now, like a good American, I'm coming to our defense.

We the Cravers of Many Many Things

If you stop and think about it, we're constantly being groomed to consume, not to create.  In fact, we're taught to strive for this value of consumption- from Frosted Flakes and Mattel Toys to endlessly memorizing trivial facts- from an early age. I recently found a great article in Forbes Magazine about this dominant philosophy informing our education system. In her article, author Erica Swallow contends that "America's last competitive advantage: the ability to innovate," is squandered by contemporary education's emphasis on consuming. She makes quite a good case, in my opinion. 


Starting the moment we begin school, we're rewarded for learning everything we can about everything. We learn about hundreds of things an inch deep and a mile wide, as they point out in the fascinating film, Race to Nowhere. We consume lots and lots of information, too often at the expense of using our talents to create and innovate. Of course, this type of learning allows young people to learn what fascinates them; however, as with all things, how about a little moderation? Or perhaps a focus more on application and less on information gathering?


And lest you astute readers deem me an outright hypocrite, I must confess that I do indeed realize the irony: when I create a link for readers to click I'm luring them to absorb more information! (...and giving authors and creators their due acknowledgement, of course.) 


But perhaps it's less about shutting out consumption entirely, and more about being selective and choosing well.  As Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes in her soulful, exquisitely tranquil book, Gift from the Sea:

One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach.  One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.  One moon shell is more impressive than three.... Gradually one discards and keeps just the perfect specimen; not necessarily a rare shell, but a perfect one of its kind.  One sets it apart by itself, ringed around by space- like the island.

sunset shell

Today's information age obviously doesn't allow us much of that relished "space" Lindbergh describes; in fact, lingering in a state of solitary contemplation oftentimes feels downright absurd! I've found, however, that replacing even a small fraction of this noise with quiet time goes a long way. When I give myself space it's refreshing.  I can create from a noise-less inner place that is solely mine.

In his powerful memoir, Man's Search for Meaning, Holocaust survivor, neurologist and psychiatrist,Viktor E. Frankl, also writes about the freedom found in space: 

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

We could all stand to become choosier about what we allow to penetrate our brains.  When everything is there for the taking (thank you democracy/free speech/capitalism!) we have to make a concerted effort to regulate the noise we choose to absorb.  Careful selection frees us to experience and make our own new discoveries. It allows us to replace over-consuming with purposeful doing, creating, being and feeling. It also allows us to protect our mental health and well-being. 


The act of living inwardly and replacing consumption with innovation takes some concerted efforts on our part.  It involves some reconditioning and major unplugging once in a while, but it's well worth the effort, don't you think?  


After all, it would be a shame to take our freedom to create for granted.

Pin it. Like it. Share it. CRAVE it.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE CRAVING NOW!!!

Look at most commercial blogs and magazines and you'll see this very common heading.

Mommy and Baby Cupcakes: All the Rage Now?

Sparkling baubles, neon belts, vintage-looking clothes, pointy alligator shoes, shiny gadgets, mid-century furniture, hand-hooked Tibetan rugs, rainbow-sprinkled cupcakes, Belgian chocolate - anything that can be purchased with a credit card (and your personal information)- the writers say they are craving it.

And because I'm a wondering sort of person, (with a dash of cynicism) I'm wondering who the "we" is in all this craving.  The entire magazine staff?  The website team?  Could it be that each individual is going home at night, craving Kate Spade's latest teeny weeny bikini?  Me thinks no.

But just imagine what would happen if we all preserved the word, "crave," for our basic human needs.  What a kick that would be!  We'd probably find that keeping in tune with what we need like sleep, friendships, exercise, and nourishment- anything that cannot be bought on Amazon, or anywhere, really- could just about send us to our happy place. And there's nothing like being in our happy place.

(Insert your h.p. image here:              :).

*****************

So here is a question for you: what do you- meaning your body, your mind- really crave?




Losing track of time doing something you enjoy?

Physically challenging work?

A clean working space?

Planting some flowers?

Undivided attention from a friend or family member?
Play?

Meditation?
Snuggle time with your dog?
Challenging your brain to a good puzzle or problem to solve?

by Sophie McGale

Drawing with chalk?
Relaxation?
A little walk?
A long run?
Uninterrupted time alone to think?
Fun with your family?


There's nothing wrong with identifying some commercial gratifications from the world around us, as I'll gladly admit I enjoy doing myself.  But often we need to check in to our own musings and inclinations, which lead us to create, rather than consume, using our trove of talents and other personal resources.  We got these little gems for free just by being born, after all!

(Finally- something that's free AND really awesome!)

Try this right now: close your eyes and imagine doing something that makes you feel really good, complete, and filled with a hefty dose of accomplishment. (No purchase allowed!) Mentally cut through the cacophony of external commercial pleadings, the sensational news stories and the social media smorgasbord of ideas and happenings.

Did you imagine doing this activity?

Fantastic!

But hold on a minute there, Tiger.

Whatever you do, don't Pin it or Like it, Email it or Share it.

Just go do it. Go satisfy that craving.

Create Yourself: Entrepreneurship for Women

This is for you ladies out there who want to start a business and create your own thing: from the Daily Muse, an article about female entrepreneurship.

Enjoy!

Bliss

Pure bliss, according to my sweet girl, Cloey, is feeling the wind on her face.  This experience can either be had standing on a hilltop, nose to the breeze, as shown above, or in the backseat of a car.  Really, there is little difference in her mind.  The breeze is key.

As for me, pure bliss doesn't seem to come as simply.  A lot of stuff seems to get in the way.  So I have to work at achieving that state of simple joy.

For instance, I find that my mind goes a little nuts during the "free time" I catch every once in a while.  It comes as a bit of a shock to my system and thus my brain goes haywire with ideas.  This happens during vacation or, most recently, on Mother's Day.  My mind did an Olympics-worthy performance of backflips and somersaults when my husband told me I could take the afternoon to do

whatever I wanted.

Woo hoo!  Several hours at a time! Uninterrupted!  Just think of the possibilities!


Do I write? read? nap? paint? walk? run? organize? garden? eat ice cream? rearrange furniture? look at decorating magazines?  shoot some pictures? listen to music? do yoga? meditate? go shopping? play with Cloey? 


(That last bit was Cloey trying to interject herself into my stream of consciousness by radiating cuteness.) 

As my mind was going a mile a minute trying to envision the perfect, most pleasurable use of free time, I began to feel the opposite of joy. I felt anxiety creeping in as my mind became overwhelmed with options.  I then realized that perhaps some meditation would be a good choice.  Or, at the very least, I could just take a minute to ask myself the most important question of all:

What would make me feel really satisfied once I'm done?

I could answer that question easily: gardening.

I realized that I needed to physically work hard and clear my mind and my yard of overgrowth.  It was time to prune back and weed out the bad stuff.  Of course, I had to dress the part of the weekend warrior, so I selected my faded 1980's Esprit de Corps tank top and some black nylon shorts.  Bad to the bone, I was.

(I know what you're thinking: those items should probably be weeded out of my closet.)

(No comment.)

After two hours of pulling away the miles of ivy that had invaded our home, some neighbors stopped by and asked me why I was working on Mother's Day of all days.

(Or possibly to get a better look at my fashionable getup- I can't be sure.)

I told them, blissfully and with sweat beading on my brow, that I never get the chance to just work on my yard for an extended period of time.  I joyously proclaimed, "I need this!"

As the sun set and the once lively ivy was balled up en masse in my garbage can, I felt great. And my yard looked fantastic too, thanks to the assistance of my powerhouse of a dad who generously came over to help me.  (Another bonus: father- daughter time.)

I really couldn't have had a better day, primarily because I chose one truly satisfying thing that I needed to do that day.

When we ask ourselves what we want, the sky's the limit, especially with the information overload we face 24/7.  I'm the first to admit I'm sometimes guilty of "want" overload. And trying to make a much bigger decision like The Ideal Career can be maddening if you're mainly looking at everything that interests you.  If you are like me and most of my clients, you have lots of interests and wants and things you enjoy doing.  While they're important to pay attention to, they have their limitations.

When you're trying to decide on a career path, go beyond your interests and ask yourself the questions:

What is it that makes me feel really satisfied?
What do I need to do on a weekly basis?
On a daily basis?
When looking at possible meta career goals, which one makes me feel like I'm making a difference with my life?  With my work?  What will sustain me the most?

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But enough of these big ole questions for a lazy Sunday afternoon, says Cloey.

She's decided she's just gonna stick with the breeze thing because it's working for her.


Unless, of course, she wants to

look at guinea pigs.

Or go frolicking in the creek...

What a rough life you have, Miss Cloey Margaret!

I'm beginning to think she makes a career out of enjoying herself.

Shouldn't we all?

Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Clay Shirky: What I Learned About Creativity By Watching Creatives

Check out this amazing presentation on the creative process. 

Clay Shirky, a leader in technological design and an assistant professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, discusses many of my favorite ingredients to successful innovation, including:

1. The power of collaboration and the interdisciplinary approach to problem solving 

In this case, engineers and techies collaborate with artists and designers, which he likens to a philharmonic orchestra.

2. The pleasure principle of just having fun for fun's sake (not merely "play"- which can be dictated)  

Who knows where having fun can lead?  Does it matter?

3. The consideration of individual creative needs 

What works for one group or person doesn't work for all. Sound like personal career design??

4. The importance of making your innovations interesting 

This leads people to care about what you are doing. 

5. The fuel created from working on problems from silly to serious 

Perhaps some cross pollination happens to happen?

He also happens to be a terrific communicator, so enjoy!

My Pitiful and Pithy-less Pinterest Poem

Pinned with love from mfs.piccsy.com

Oh, for heaven's sake,
How much TIME can Pinterest take?
It sucks all my TIME
Though I have not the TIME
To meander around for a million projects to make

When will IT ever go away?*
*It won't.  It will just be replaced.

I want to write
I want to read
I'd even like to sew (but I won't)

Lobster and Swan 

Instead I surf
For photos I like
Inspecting and searching and projecting the life
Of another more romantic and playful than I.