I'm Not Creative........

I hear that phrase all the time. Ummmm, yes you are! Creativity is nothing more than this! 👇

Creativity is also one of the most important skills you can have. It will help you become a better problem-solver, take more risks and be more inspired, innovative, experimental, and confident!!

So, how do you set your creative talents in motion? There are hundreds of ways, but here are a few to start, begining with your morning practices or rituals if you have them. (If you don’t, maybe it’s time to start or use these.) Rituals give your brain a rest so that you can “think creatively” without interuption or pressure.

When you wake up, instead of jumping out of bed in a rush to get to work, take the kids to school, or check your to-do-lists, emails, IG, facebook and other social media channels, take a moment to pause. Warning, you may need to set your alarm about 20 minutes earlier than normal. It’s worth it, I promise!)

P.A.U.S.E. Look around you. What do you see that makes you happy? Sunshine streaming in? The tree outside your window, a book beside your bed, a vase of fresh flowers on the table or an art piece on the wall? What needs to happen to have a perfect day? Ponder that for just a moment and envision exactly that kind of day happening.

Get out of bed slowly as you make your way to the kitchen. No, not for coffee, at least not yet! Prepare yourself a cup of warm lemon water. (Some people say to scrape your tongue and brush your teeth so as not to injest toxins, others say don’t brush your teeth because the overnight film that happens while you sleep helps to protect your teeth.) I don’t know.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, here’s what I do.
I scrape my tongue prior but brush my teeth after my drink. I make my lemon water with (1/2 fresh squeezed lemon + 1 cup warm water and some stevia) and then while I’m sipping my drink out of a metal straw, I either read something interesting, learn something of value, and/or write or draw, mindlessly. Ideas beget ideas and you may find your mind spiraling out of control with creative ideas!! Get a journal to record all this extra activity. (Better yet, get one of my books, “A Month On the Run” either Courage or Freedom here for a dose of inspiration and pages for taking awesome notes!)

Wait about 30 minutes after drinking your lemon water before you have coffee/tea and breakfast, but don’t hesitate to get moving. I usually try to walk for 30 minutes to an hour to get a boost of physical and creative energy (I also listen to books on tape, music or practice silence to be in the moment, depending on if I’m on a treadmill or walking in nature or citystreets) and then I come back home for a leisurely breakfast and a cup of steaming chaI tea! After a shower, and without sounding too woo woo, I dab a drop of a balancing perfume oil on each wrist to help my energy align with my purpose and then I’m ready for my day! That’s when I check emails and social media stuff for about 30 minutes and then move on to my planned activities like painting, creating, or doing the things I do.

The whole point here is to design your own schedule, but please include some kind of creative practice. I will continue to give you ways to be creative. Sign-up for my newsletter to hear the latest!

xo, jan
www.janmccarthy.com
@janmccarthy
jan@janmccarthy.com
https://www.facebook.com/janmccarthystudio/

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