Connect with Your Inner Artist

In the "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, we look at the 7 most common things that block our creative expression. So, if we're "blocked" when we're facing those things, what are we like when we're free of them?

Well, certainly we're connected to our "Inner Artist". This is a part of each of us that is naturally:

Joyful ? our Inner Artist sees the world as a magical place, full of curious things and people. Each day is a series of fun surprises and the chance to learn, practice and master the things we most love doing.

Exuberant ? like a giddy child, our Inner Artist doesn't worry about the repercussions of expressing the joy they're feeling. We are who we are and that's the only person we can be, when we're connected with our Inner Artist.

Creatively Free ? Our Inner Artist has a clear channel to the muse, to spirit, to the universe and to every creative force that has been seen and unseen since time began.

Undamaged ? Whatever path our lives have taken up to this point, our Inner Artist remains whole and healthy.

Unhindered ? our Inner Artist is completely unaffected by the internal and external factors that block our creativity on a day-to-day basis. Our Inner Artist is only aware of what's happening NOW and is not only untouched by any previous hurts, it's also unconcerned with any future outcome.

As a music therapist, it's my joy to be able to meet the "inner artist" of my clients with special needs. No matter what their disability or limitation, I look for and consistently find that joyful, healthy and whole person to connect to ? and I find it in the midst of creative play.

When we as artists are connected to this part of ourselves, we're not only transcending our creative roadblocks (such as procrastination, negative thinking and people-pleasing), we're in a state of consummate creative flow.

Put it into play

Just for today, approach your art as child's play. Start your rehearsal by playing your instrument "wrong" or in two different keys. Write using only words that start with the letter "d". Paint with your non-dominant hand. Make mistakes. Laugh.

Indulge your Inner Artist on an "artist's date". This popular concept from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" invites you to spend a couple of hours each week on an activity that feeds your creativity. Some examples:

Noodle ? Play around on your instrument, with your art supplies or with new uses of words.

Doodle ? On your sketchpad, on your wall or on the sidewalk.

Google ? Get lost on the Internet, feeding your interests and creativity by seeing what's "out there". And what else is out there??

In other words, consciously spend time on creative pursuits that may not result in a product or well-defined outcome. Give yourself permission to TRY something and stay with it (or not, depending on how the mood strikes you), without knowing how it will turn out.

(c) Copyright 2005, Linda Dessau.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. Feel like your creativity is blocked? Sign-up for your complimentary copy of the popular e-course, "Roadblocks to Creativity" by visiting http://www.genuinecoaching.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


I Want To Create...

What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More

How To Increase Creativity... Set Deadlines!

Deadlines are something all of us face from time to... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More

Courage and Creating

Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage... Read More

Codifying Creativity

Can we codify creativity? Within these few words are a... Read More

Find the Artist Within

Can anyone be an artist? People admiring my work... Read More

Creativity Management ? Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement

Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable... Read More

Forget Thinking Outside The Box....GET Outside The Box

I happened to overhear a conversation the other day between... Read More

Taking it Step by Step: Combining Intuition, Spiritual Purpose, and Creativity

Something I have always found helpful is taking affirmative action... Read More

Breathing Out Stage Fright

You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and... Read More

In between Luck & Effort

I have one magical thought, lets see it more closely.... Read More

How To Master Your Game

Learn how to master your area of endeavor the right... Read More

Turning Obstacles Into Blessings

"Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life... Read More

Finding A Little Adventure

I have had more than my share of exciting times... Read More

Inspiration, Creativity, and Channeling ? Opening Ourselves to Greatness

Channeling is much easier to do than most people suspect.... Read More

Improvisation in Life and the Arts: What I learned from Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch

Can you be an artist while you're washing the dishes?In... Read More

Trying to Create From Distorted Perceptions?

We've all met people who are "negative" ? negative thinkers... Read More

Creativity Management ? Overcoming Blocks

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Push The Right Button

You can live a much more successful life than you... Read More

How To Entertain A Thought

After studying scores of great thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci,... Read More

Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

There's no question that creating anything is hard to do.... Read More

Gift of a Letter

"What cannot letters inspire? They have souls; they can speak;... Read More

The Art of Keeping a Journal

Journal keeping is basically without rules. It is an uncensored... Read More

Its Time to Get Out of the Box

"It is never too late to be what you might... Read More

Magic In Your Spice Rack

Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are... Read More

The Power Of Your Intuition

We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More

Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1)

How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More

Innovation: Wake Up Your People?s Creative Genius

Successful companies have innovation in their blood. The single most... Read More

Are You Inventive Enough to be an Inventor? Some Guidelines to Invention Success!

Inventors make a ton of money when the invention is... Read More

Innovation Through Concept-Combination

There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors... Read More

The Creativity Creed

I believe that creativity is a natural order of life... Read More

Top Ten Creative Strategies for Inspiring Creativity Where You Work and Play

Websites, automobiles, milk cartons, living spaces. Design saturates every aspect... Read More

Five Basic Steps to Benefit from Your Creativity

The ability to exercise your creativity is even more important... Read More