Let’s Create More and React Less
Photo by Jenny Watson
Do you spend too much time watching the news or checking your phone first thing in the morning? Are you reacting to the world before you check in with yourself? How does it make you feel?
The daily onslaught of negative news sometimes gets my heart pumping fast. The realities of the world are bombarding us, and each time we check our phones, our stress levels rise. This tendency to check in with the demands and stresses of the world before we check in with ourselves is drowning out our capacity to listen to our own needs and feelings. Our habit of checking our phone before we are fully awake gets us into a reactive mindset. We instantly feel helpless and overwhelmed with the troubles of the world, and cortisol rises before we even start our day. The antidote to a reactive mindset is a creative mindset! This means to get curious first. Listen and connect with yourself as you awake from the imaginative dream state of sleep. Instead of reaching and listening to my phone in the morning, I ask myself:
How am I feeling?
What am I thinking?
What is vital for me to create with this precious day of my finite life?
My favorite routine is to wake up 15 minutes earlier, get a cup of coffee, and crawl back into bed. I then journal three short pages first thing in the morning and read two pages of something I want to learn. I love to play mellow music like the Goldberg Variations by Bach. These 15 minutes are sublime. By listening to my own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, I become more aware, peaceful, creative... and powerful.
Creativity helps me reveal what is truly important to me amidst the swirling chaos. When I dive deeply into a meditative state of flow by painting, journaling, listening to music, and sketching, I find inner peace and reclaim a sense of serenity in a chaotic world.
Every person on this planet is born with natural creativity and imagination. When we tap into these natural gifts, we can transform our world into a better, more peaceful place.
So go for it! Wake up 10 minutes earlier. Reclaim your inner joy by flexing your creative muscles! Here are five simple things you can do to create a refuge from the chaos:
Turn off the negative noise. Switch off the phone, television, and online news channels. Get outside in nature and be mindful of your surroundings to help clear your mind.
Listen to your favorite music. Music helps your mind focus, reduce stress, and find calm. Find music that fits your mood, and feel free to sing along.
Make some art. When you sketch, paint, create a vision board, make music, dance, or write, you channel your stress into something that heals the soul. You may not notice the healing at first, but science has proven that you feel better when creating for at least fifteen minutes per day.
Write in your journal. List the positive aspects of your life. Find gratitude. Name and uncover what is nagging you and what is really important for you to focus on for the day. It’s amazing how much wisdom arises from 3 pages of journaling a day.
Take a walk in nature and trim your plants. So soothing.
If you wish to figure out your next chapter, find more fulfillment, or make a change, you don’t have to do it alone. Join me for Creative Life Coaching. Maybe you want to have some fun with your friends making some art? Cocktails and Creativity is a perfect party for you and your friends in my studio or online. I’ll be your host. Or maybe you want a“ Creative Immersion”: experience of no artistic abilities needed. Let’s talk. Please schedule an appointment and sign up for a free discovery session or a 30 min conversation with me.
Remember, “Creativity is a Mindset, not a Skillset.” Let’s start living a fulfilled and creative life!
Creative Life Coaching • Creative Immersion • Cocktails & Creativity • Workshops