Your Creative Intentions: The Monday Post ~ November 26, 2012
“If you can give your child only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.” ~Bruce Barton
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!
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Studio Mothers: Life & Art 
I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s hard not to feel ABJECT PANIC now that Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are just a stone’s throw away. Fortunately, I knocked off a bunch of holiday prep items this weekend, which has a calming effect….
I’ve also climbed back into the saddle with my ultra-early morning routine (blog post forthcoming). Been dancing around how to jump back into to my short story collection, now that I’m letting the last draft rest, but I think I’ll be able to make headway tomorrow on a new section.
Last week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling [yes]
* Daily writing practice [no]
* Complete installment of short story for “5PM Friday” weekly accountability group [no]
* Yoga/walk/run x4 [yes–x4 plus a family walk]
* Reading [yes]
This week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling
* Daily writing practice
* Complete installment of short story for “5PM Friday” weekly accountability group
* Yoga/walk/run x4 [M/W/Fri/Sat]
* Reading
Nicely done Miranda. I too love this week before December starts. I am so relieved that we had our FeMail Studio Sale on Nov. 17. What a relief.
And, I up you one on a statement of self-love served up at least once a day.
” I am capable and delicious, worthy of rest and reflection.”
I did not post my intentions for last week, but here are this week’s…and I feel my forehead furrow before I even write.
How about my intentions for today, in between now and dinner and then after dinner and bedtime? (when I will be repeating the statement above)
Tonight?
1. Write one thank you note (done)
2. Empty at least 2 of my traveling art bags from the weekend. ( one down)
3. Re-read the introduction I wrote for the anthology.
4. Write and send an email to the artists of ‘Out of the Mouths of Babes’
5. Have one more go at the invitation email for the blog series.
6. Lay out the papers I painted while on Thanksgiving vacation to look at.
7. Read some more of Katherine Paterson’s book that arrived Saturday.
8. Look at Troy Book Makers website closely.
I love these weekly check-ins Miranda.
Thank you for writing!
Love, Suzi
Love this, Suzi.
The whole “worthy of rest” thing is hard for me. Reflection, yes. But stopping?? Oh dear. I can only manage to “do nothing” when I’m meditating (on the cushion) and then at night when I’m so tired that rest doesn’t feel like a choice — it’s a necessity. I’ve been reading lately about the importance of downtime but I can’t wrap my mind around it….
It’s good to be intentional! I often create on my own, usually at midnight when I get most inspired! But I just set up a night every other Tuesday, and I’ve invited people over to create and chat and share skills.
I love your creative gathering, Naomi! I did a similar thing myself, which led to this: http://www.openstudiogroton.com. Community is SO important!
Wow, so it’s a community arts centre? I’ve dreamed of having that for years. Coincidentally, I live in Shirley- but in England. You are American?
Congratulations on what you’re doing, very inspiring!
I finished a painting last night. Two actually. It’s been a long time since i’ve been satisfied enough to say one of my paintings are “complete”.
I just want to thank Studio Mothers for thay extra push! 🙂 I am making it a priority and setting a goal to complete at least 1 a week.
i love your monday posts! as a freelance graphic designer/ art director turned SAHM, i’ve lost a piece of my creative self. this is a great reminder to follow my passion. (which by the way, i am planning to open up my own etsy soon). this motivated me to make that a reality.
a bit late here, but this week my goals are:
1. begin a vision statement for the next year/ five years
2. carving drawings of yoga poses into stamps
3. using the stamps to do some gelatin printing and
4. see what happens
5. write a blog post
6. writing piece for writing group, “Scabious Dream”