Inventory Your Creative Assets — Third Thought Third Thought

Inventory Your Creative Assets

3rd of September ~

Passionately creative people don’t let anything get in the way of honoring their muse.  I admire them.  I am not one of them.

Many of us tend toward more moderate lives.  We get distracted by the routines of daily living and another season elapses.  We may not always find time to honor our muse.

Your Creativity Benefits From These Enabling Assets:

Inspiration

Your creativity will be triggered by regular walks off the beaten path.  Make Artist Dates (field trips for yourself), read periodicals from outside your field, do things kids do, treat yourself to eye candy and ear candy.  Stimulate your senses.  Seek out Exemplars in your realm.
To what degree are you stimulating your imagination with inspiration?

Community and Cheerleaders

Creation–the act of making something new–requires risk.  By definition you are taking a chance and you need the support of champions as you venture forth.  Seek out a tribe–find others who are working in the same domain.  Ensure that you have a support system.
To what degree do you have support for your creative endeavors?

Environment

While it is possible to create in a grey cube without any natural daylight, it is not ideal.  You will feel happier and be more productive in a pleasing and well-equipped space.
To what degree do you feel inspired by, comfortable in your working space?  Do you have a ‘room of your own’?

Collaboration

Creative work benefits from others who can help you refine your ideas.  The creative process is stimulated by differing points of view.  Other minds can add to your ideas in ways that have not occurred to you.  {special note: I mean collaborators–not spontaneous critics and naysayers–avoid them as you would a poisonous, rash-producing plant}
To what degree do you have a brain trust to help you refine your creative work?

Passion

Doing original work requires stamina.  Loving your project, your media, your problem will sustain you through the grueling labor pains.
To what degree do you care about this creative work?

Physical Health

A healthy, happy host body is important for creative work.  Your productivity will be sub-par if your brain isn’t getting oxygen and good fuel to fire those chemical and electrical systems.
To what degree is your body your creative temple?

Self-Awareness

Each of us has peak times for original work.  Do you know how to work with your own creative rhythms?  Can you give your brain assignments and know that your brain will do its homework?  Every Creative Producer I’ve ever interviewed has techniques that enhance their work and help them avoid blocks.
To what degree do you understand your own creative process?

I encourage you to perform an inventory and identify one or two areas where you might honor your creative work more.  Really, you deserve it and the world wants to hear from you.  Download your own copy of the CreativeAssetsInventory here.

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