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Your Creative Intentions: The Monday Post ~ February 3, 2014

Paul Valery quote

A regular creative practice — a daily practice, if possible — is key to staying in touch with how you make meaning. Key to living, not postponing. (Let’s all agree to give up on “someday.”)

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. If appropriate, use time estimates to containerize your task, which can make a daunting project feel more accessible.

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 leverages the motivation of an accountability group. Join us!

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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/$11.98. Available for download here.

14 Comments Post a comment
  1. Will try to maintain some thread of productivity and center after a difficult week.

    Last week’s creative/well-being intentions:
    * Daily sitting [yes]
    * Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages & intention journaling [yes]
    * Daily reading [yes]
    * Practicing mindfulness in my work day as well as with my family [yes]
    * One page of art journaling [no]
    * Project Life update [no]
    * Finish the back panel of the sweater I’m knitting [no — a few more rows to go]

    This week’s creative/well-being intentions:
    * Daily sitting
    * Daily morning centering practice w/Morning Pages & intention journaling
    * Daily reading
    * Practicing mindfulness in my work day as well as with my family
    * One page of art journaling
    * Project Life update
    * Finish the back panel of the sweater I’m knitting

    February 3, 2014
  2. working on my publishing upload, and anticipating receipt of illustrations. dealing with some big household repair stuff and prepping to march in Raleigh next weekend. also baking cookies galore for kindergartner’s valentine party.

    feel like breaking out my doodle pad again. haven’t done that in quite some time.

    February 3, 2014
  3. Well, I only got last week’s knitting out of the way. I’ve been so exhausted lately, it must be the cold.

    This week:
    – 2 blog posts minimum.
    – refining ideas for my second draft of my ms, to be rewritten during camp NaNo.

    February 3, 2014
    • The cold really doesn’t help, does it? Are you taking any iron?

      February 17, 2014
  4. Kim #

    Creative intentions for this week are to finish my painting in progress for an upcoming group show by putting in two hours each night through Saturday and also to make a decision on making and selling prints (to do or not to do) by Wednesday night.

    I’m seriously struggling with the balance these days. I had a wonderful experience with my first solo show ( closed Jan.10th) but am struggling with getting back in a groove.

    February 3, 2014
    • How are things going, Kim? xo

      February 17, 2014
  5. Last week:
    Daily Bible Reading (yes)
    Daily Book/Novel Reading (yes)
    Daily talk/play with Sieg (yes)
    Daily Morning Pages (yes)

    This week:
    Daily Bible Reading
    Daily Book/Novel Reading
    Daily talk/play with Sieg
    Daily Morning Pages

    *I need to find more time with Sieg to lessen the jealousy. Any advice on this?
    *I want to play classical music for Liam but I can’t choose the right songs.
    *I am running out of play ideas and movies for Sieg to keep him busy.

    Anyways, I’m reading and rereading all your posts to find inspiration and creativity in my life. 🙂

    February 4, 2014
    • It’s tough to make time for the older sibling, isn’t it? When the little one *does* sleep, you’re anxious to catch up on all of the things that need doing. Lots of great ideas on Pinterest for preschooler projects — maybe schedule a craft time every afternoon, even if it only holds his attention for a few minutes?

      February 17, 2014
      • Oh yes! I’ll check up on Pinterest for our afternoon time then..thanks! 🙂

        February 17, 2014
      • Oh yes! It’s tiring and am so exhausted..but i’ll check up on Pinterest for our daily afternoon craft time then..thanks! 🙂

        February 17, 2014
  6. For me, it’s all about quilting and reading : At least an hour a day (usually while my little one sleeps ) of relaxation and reading and at least 2 blocks of 2 hours of quilting. Unfortunately, inking them down is hard, my schedule changes everyday. But I do make time. I need too…

    February 6, 2014
    • If you’re able to get that time in on the fly, so much the better! It can happen that way for some people, but does seem to require vigilance. It’s so easy for all of the other items on your to-do list to rush in and steal every available moment…..

      February 17, 2014
      • I know, but a 7 month old baby waits for no one! LOL! I used to be very good at securing time, but I’m thinking as my son grows older, it will be easier again. 🙂

        February 17, 2014
      • It *will* get easier, quilty! I’ve been there five times and I can attest to that 😀 The fact that you’re already maintaining a creative practice means that you’re far ahead of the game — keeping the pump primed will serve you well when you DO have a more predictable schedule once again.

        February 17, 2014

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