Your Creative Intentions: Monday Post ~ July 23, 2012
“When we are succeeding — that is, when we have begun to overcome our self-doubt and self-sabotage, when we are advancing in our craft and evolving to a higher level — that’s when panic strikes. When we experience panic, it means that we’re about to cross a threshold. We’re poised on the doorstep of a higher plane.” ~Steven Pressfield
This is the moment to deepen, or commit to, your regular creativity practice. Regularity — a daily practice, if at all possible — is one of the best ways to stay in touch with how you make meaning.
What are your plans for creative practice this week? Given the specifics of your schedule, decide on a realistic intention or practice plan — and ink that time in your calendar. The scheduling part is important, because as you know, if you try to “fit it in” around the edges, it generally won’t happen. An intention as simple as “I will write for 20 minutes every morning after breakfast” or “I will sketch a new still life on Wednesday evening” is what it’s all about.
Share your intentions or goals as a comment to this post, and let us know how things went with your creative plans for last week, if you posted to last week’s Monday Post. We use a broad brush in defining creativity, so don’t be shy. We also often include well-being practices that support creativity, such as exercise and journaling.
Putting your intentions on “paper” helps you get clear on what you want to do — and sharing those intentions with this community is a great way to leverage the motivation of an accountability group. Join us!
:::::::
If you’re an artist or writer with little ones, The Creative Mother’s Guide: Six Creative Practices for the Early Years is the essential survival guide written just for you. Concrete strategies for becoming more creative without adding stress and guilt. Filled with the wisdom of 13 insightful creative mothers; written by a certified creativity coach and mother of five. “Highly recommended.” ~Eric Maisel. 35 pages/$5.99. Available for download here.
Studio Mothers: Life & Art 
I schedule writing and photo editing on days off from the day job. But I keep the iPad handy for jotting down thoughts and ideas, like when I’m in front of a sink. Any sink! My day job allows me days off during the week and I schedule writing while the little one is at preschool–that is, after beds made, load of laundry in, kitchen picked up. Writing becomes my reward. Plus, I move more quick than usual on the other tasks.
Next goal–long exposure photography at night. We have some great sky views out here. How to schedule that will be a bit of a challenge. But it is a goal.
Ever learning but such fun!
Peace,
Alexandria
How goes it, Alexandria? Come back to the Monday Post and let us know! xo
I love the idea of this, Miranda! Mine for this week is to redesign my long-neglected blog header and sidebar. Somehow I’ll squeeze this in with water balloons and pancake batter flying all around me!
I love that image, Aimee — come back to the Monday Post and let us know how it’s going! 😀
Going with the flow this week! An overnight trip with three of the kids to visit friends at the Cape, where we’ll do early morning yoga on the beach with the fabulous Anne Dries. (Score!) Pleased with how a new short story is coming along.
Last week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling [yes]
* Writing practice: Complete installment of nonfiction project for “5PM Friday” accountability group [yes]
* Prepare for Writers’ Group & read students’ work [yes]
* Yoga/walk/run x3 [x2]
* Reading [yes]
This week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling
* Writing practice: Complete installment of short story for “5PM Friday” accountability group [W/Th/F]
* Prepare for Writers’ Group & read students’ work [T/W]
* Yoga/walk/run x3
* Reading
Last week was great! On Thursday I went to a local screen-printing shop that also sells spirit-wear for the local high school. They have agreed to consign my handmade jewelry!!! I am now in the process of making as much as I possibly can before school and football season starts at the end of August!!! That’s whats up for this week: as many earrings as I can make + perfecting hemp bracelets!!!