Your Creative Intentions: The Monday Post ~ December 24, 2012
“Art is not an end in itself. It introduces the soul into a higher spiritual order, which it expresses and in some sense explains.”
~Thomas Merton
If you celebrate Christmas, you may not be reading this until Boxing Day, at best. Whether or not the Big Guy in Red comes to your house, the latter part of this week is an excellent time to gear up for 2013 and recommit to a 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 wasn’t *planning* to get up at 4:00 am on Christmas Eve, but so it was. It’s now 7:00 am and I’ve already done my writing practice, journalling, sitting, and a bit of research for my fiction WIP. With this solid start to the day, I may actually find myself enjoying today’s adventure as it unfolds, instead of continually feeling behind the eight ball. Hosting dinner for 14 tonight, so it would be great if I could enjoy it!
Last week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling [yes]
* Daily writing practice [yes–didn’t miss a day]
* Complete installment of short story for “5PM Friday” weekly accountability group [yes–but just sent update, not pages]
* Yoga/walk/run x3 [yes]
* Reading [yes]
This week’s creative/well-being intentions are light:
* Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages and intention journaling
* Daily writing practice
* Complete installment of short story for “5PM Friday” weekly accountability group [daily]
* Yoga/walk/run x3 [M/W/Sat]
* Reading [daily]
* If any opportunity, start catching up on Project Life before New Year!
My intentions for last week:
1) Think of a catchy sounding theme for the G-Fit programs I’m planning to start at Global Fitness, and start promoting it. (Got a name down; still need to start promoting it.)
2) Think of a catchy name for my business. I’d like to come up with something that emphasizes my holistic philosophy and my sensitive personality. (Haven’t been able to come up with anything that resonates with me yet, though it’s certainly not for a lack of trying.)
3) Think of a theme for my next blog post, and start writing it. (Yes on the them. no on the writing part.)
4) Get into the club at least twice this week, both to reestablish a cardio routine and to connect with members. (Once again I fell short here. Perhaps I’ll have to modify my expectations until Cathy can do more for herself.)
5) Write down a lesson plan for my triceps workshop, then set a date and time and start promoting it in my classes. (The lesson plan is written down; I still need to set the time and start promoting it.)
KInd of a mixed bag, I must admit. For this week:
1) Take a half hour each day to devote to writing and planning.
2) Set a date and time for my triceps workshop.
3) Start using my classes as an opportunity to get the word out for my workshop, my blog and my availability as a trainer.
4) With 2012 winding down and 2013 on the horizon, begin writing my vision for what I want my career to look like a year from now.
Hi there! I just nominated you for “A Very Inspiring Blogger Award.” See post here: http://chandralynn.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/ive-been-nominated-very-inspiring-blogger-award/. Congrats!