12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women
I had to return this wonderful book to the library, even thoug I wasn't finish. I wasn't too happy about that, but I am planning on taking it out again and re-reading it all. It is one of those books that is definitely worth reading again and again. So much to learn!
Here are the rest of the secrets:
Secret # 9: Transcending rejection and roadblocks
Secret # 10: Living in abundance with positive priorities
Secret # 11: Subtracting serenity stealers
Secret # 12: Planning to achieve your goals
Showing posts with label 12 secrets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12 secrets. Show all posts
Friday, 27 March 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Secret # 7 and # 8
I am a little behind again, but continuing on with my reading of the 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women
First, secret #7 ~ consulting with guides. A guide is someone "who sees who you are and helps you to find your way", it could be anyone really, parent, teacher, family member, etc...even a book could be your guide or a movie, TV show or radio. I think this is so important and can be very inspiring, one way could be to read about inspiring lives in biographies or memoirs. This chapter also mentioned to look back at our childhood and try to remember early influences. I felt the following quote had perfect timing and meaning for me:
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. " Rachel Carson.
This is how I feel about home schooling. I want to keep that wonder and thirst of learning in my children's minds. The quote also reminded me of my father, he used to share his excitement over history with me, and listening to him, I couldn't help but be interested as well.
I did have some memories while reading this chapter about my early influences. I can't say they relate specifically to creativity, but these are the memories that popped in my head. Growing up, I always felt that it was assumed that I would take over for my father in his business when the time would come. I grew up in the business. My parents didn't believe in babysitters, and so I spent many many hours in the office while they worked, and in convention halls behind a display table a few weekends a year, while other kids were outside having fun! I told myself early on that I would not spend my life in this way when I was older. I guess you could call that a negative early influence... A more positive influence that also came to mind, was from my father. He would explained to me how his business was very dear to him, and important, but that his family suffered for it, with him dedicating himself so much to it for so many years. He longed for a happy family life (my parents divorced after 13 years of marriage) with many children (I was an only child). Hearing him share these regrets influenced me, in a good way I think, to put my focus on my family. I have never regretted my decision to be a parent, a stay at home mom, or a home school mom. I can't imagine any career or job more fulfilling than being a mom.
The 7th secret also reminded me how important it is to guide others in their creative pursuits, if you are able to, or at least be supportive. My oldest daughter is quite artistic, and I always try to encourage her to try new techniques, without pushing! It can be difficult sometimes to find the right balance!
On to secret #8 ~ Selecting empowering partnerships and alliances.
This chapter covered a lot of information about partners. The main message I received from this chapter is how important it is to know yourself before entering any kind of alliance, and how vital it is to be completely honest and to be able to communicate clearly.
First, secret #7 ~ consulting with guides. A guide is someone "who sees who you are and helps you to find your way", it could be anyone really, parent, teacher, family member, etc...even a book could be your guide or a movie, TV show or radio. I think this is so important and can be very inspiring, one way could be to read about inspiring lives in biographies or memoirs. This chapter also mentioned to look back at our childhood and try to remember early influences. I felt the following quote had perfect timing and meaning for me:
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. " Rachel Carson.
This is how I feel about home schooling. I want to keep that wonder and thirst of learning in my children's minds. The quote also reminded me of my father, he used to share his excitement over history with me, and listening to him, I couldn't help but be interested as well.
I did have some memories while reading this chapter about my early influences. I can't say they relate specifically to creativity, but these are the memories that popped in my head. Growing up, I always felt that it was assumed that I would take over for my father in his business when the time would come. I grew up in the business. My parents didn't believe in babysitters, and so I spent many many hours in the office while they worked, and in convention halls behind a display table a few weekends a year, while other kids were outside having fun! I told myself early on that I would not spend my life in this way when I was older. I guess you could call that a negative early influence... A more positive influence that also came to mind, was from my father. He would explained to me how his business was very dear to him, and important, but that his family suffered for it, with him dedicating himself so much to it for so many years. He longed for a happy family life (my parents divorced after 13 years of marriage) with many children (I was an only child). Hearing him share these regrets influenced me, in a good way I think, to put my focus on my family. I have never regretted my decision to be a parent, a stay at home mom, or a home school mom. I can't imagine any career or job more fulfilling than being a mom.
The 7th secret also reminded me how important it is to guide others in their creative pursuits, if you are able to, or at least be supportive. My oldest daughter is quite artistic, and I always try to encourage her to try new techniques, without pushing! It can be difficult sometimes to find the right balance!
On to secret #8 ~ Selecting empowering partnerships and alliances.
This chapter covered a lot of information about partners. The main message I received from this chapter is how important it is to know yourself before entering any kind of alliance, and how vital it is to be completely honest and to be able to communicate clearly.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Secret # 6 ~ Conquering saboteurs
I am a little behind in my reading of the 12 Secrets of Highly Effective Women, but still enjoying the book. I just finished reading the sixth secret and the main message I received from it is how important it is to value our own natural talents and try to recognize those little internal negative voices many of us have, that try to sabotage our accomplishments. There are also external voices that we need to be aware of, comments other people might make that could affect us.
As a parent, I was reminded how careful we need to be with what we say to our children about their talents and creativity, to make sure we nurture them.
As a parent, I was reminded how careful we need to be with what we say to our children about their talents and creativity, to make sure we nurture them.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Secret # 5 ~ Committing to Self Focus
I feel like I am repeating myself, but again...wow! This 5th secret and chapter was so important and relevant for me. The 5th secret is committing to self focus. I understand how difficult it can be to commit. As women, we might have to break down some obstacles. The author explained for example how artists need to sink themselves into their work completely, but that, as much as it is accepted for men, it isn't as much for women. She also talked about the possible effects on mothers that come from not allowing ourselves a little bit of time and space to commit to our creativity. I have experienced this first hand. I always "feel" better after having spent a little time creating something. It doesn't have to be a long time, and it can be anything. Sewing, quilting, photography, and even cooking, these are all things that I can do to express my creativity.
How true that last quote is!
The interview with Christine Mason Miller (listen here) had such a clear message for me...JUST DO IT! That was my advice to myself during NaNoWriMo, just sit there and start typing. And it worked! I will follow the same advice for sewing, quilting, taking pictures, anything creative that I like doing.
"Self-fulfilled people have more positive energy available for the challenges of parenting."
How true that last quote is!
The interview with Christine Mason Miller (listen here) had such a clear message for me...JUST DO IT! That was my advice to myself during NaNoWriMo, just sit there and start typing. And it worked! I will follow the same advice for sewing, quilting, taking pictures, anything creative that I like doing.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Secret # 4 ~ Surrendering to creative cycles
This week the chapter talked about cycles, and how to remember to embrace those times of our lives that we might not feel the creativity flowing. I do understand that creativity comes in cycles. I can look back on my experiences and see different periods in my life when I have been more creative than others.
I could also relate to certain parts of the chapter, and understood more why I felt the need to be creative a few weeks after I hung up my "homeschool mom" hat. It was difficult at first to listen to my inner voice who was telling me to start doing things for myself, to pick up my quilting, to grab a paint brush and play, to take the camera and just start shooting, or even to cook and bake. I felt at that time like I was being selfish, and that it was almost wrong. It took me some time to listen to that little voice and follow it, but when I did, it felt so good!
In my reading notebook I copied a quote from this chapter because it was exactly me:
"As we release an old identity and move into a sense of being lost, purposeless, undefined, or confused, we must encounter the darkness in ourselves." (page 63)
I had an identity when I homeschooled my children, I was the homeschool mom. That was my passion, my "job", where I put all my energy. Even when I wasn't actually teaching my kids, I was busy researching what we would be doing next, or reading up on a different learning/teaching philosophy, or preparing for the next lessons at the library or on the internet, etc... I loved it, so it never felt like work. When we stopped, even though we all agreed on trying out the public school system, it was a difficult transition, for me mostly, the kids did fine! When Gail McMeekin wrote that sentence that I copied above, talking about being purposeless, undefined, lost, that is exactly how I felt. The darkness in me wasn't pretty either. But now that I am out of the darkness, the world is a beautiful place again, and I am excited to discover it.
I could also relate to certain parts of the chapter, and understood more why I felt the need to be creative a few weeks after I hung up my "homeschool mom" hat. It was difficult at first to listen to my inner voice who was telling me to start doing things for myself, to pick up my quilting, to grab a paint brush and play, to take the camera and just start shooting, or even to cook and bake. I felt at that time like I was being selfish, and that it was almost wrong. It took me some time to listen to that little voice and follow it, but when I did, it felt so good!
In my reading notebook I copied a quote from this chapter because it was exactly me:
"As we release an old identity and move into a sense of being lost, purposeless, undefined, or confused, we must encounter the darkness in ourselves." (page 63)
I had an identity when I homeschooled my children, I was the homeschool mom. That was my passion, my "job", where I put all my energy. Even when I wasn't actually teaching my kids, I was busy researching what we would be doing next, or reading up on a different learning/teaching philosophy, or preparing for the next lessons at the library or on the internet, etc... I loved it, so it never felt like work. When we stopped, even though we all agreed on trying out the public school system, it was a difficult transition, for me mostly, the kids did fine! When Gail McMeekin wrote that sentence that I copied above, talking about being purposeless, undefined, lost, that is exactly how I felt. The darkness in me wasn't pretty either. But now that I am out of the darkness, the world is a beautiful place again, and I am excited to discover it.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Secret #3 ~ Following your fascinations
This week's secret is so important. Following your fascinations. Taking risks. Realizing what might be holding you back (inner patriarch). This chapter was so inspiring again, and I have to mention that I really find the quotes in the margins as inspiring as the text. My favourite this week was from Dolly Parton (of all people?!):
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
Now for the questions of the week from the book group:
"What helps you be brave? List anything you'd like to draw on when the journey gets tough or scary, including what has worked for you in the past."
What helps me be brave is knowing that my family is there for me, no matter what the outcome is of my adventure. Another thing that helps me is looking back at the challenges that I have gone through in the past.
When things get confusing or stressful, what has helped me in the past is to take a couple of hours by myself and go somewhere. It could be a walk or bike ride by the lake, or a drive in the country, or even spending time in a book store or at the library. Many times I bring my camera with me. I took this photo on a de-stressing walk. I always come back feeling refreshed, fresh air and taking pictures always works for me.
When I have to complete something I have a difficult time with, I tend to think of how good I will feel when it's done. During NaNoWriMo last November, there were many days when it was difficult, but I just kept thinking of how great it would feel to know that I finished, that I wrote 50 000 words!
"This week I'd like to offer you the challenge of taking one brave step towards your dreams"
This week I opened an etsy store, more for me than for profit. I started with a couple of my photographs and will add some fabric creations soon. It is something I have been thinking about for a few months, but finally decided to take the leap this week.
My other brave step that I want to take is to read the book I wrote last November. I did complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, but once I was finished, I didn't want to read what I wrote...not sure why, but now I will take that brave step and see what I wrote!
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
Now for the questions of the week from the book group:
"What helps you be brave? List anything you'd like to draw on when the journey gets tough or scary, including what has worked for you in the past."
What helps me be brave is knowing that my family is there for me, no matter what the outcome is of my adventure. Another thing that helps me is looking back at the challenges that I have gone through in the past.
When things get confusing or stressful, what has helped me in the past is to take a couple of hours by myself and go somewhere. It could be a walk or bike ride by the lake, or a drive in the country, or even spending time in a book store or at the library. Many times I bring my camera with me. I took this photo on a de-stressing walk. I always come back feeling refreshed, fresh air and taking pictures always works for me.
When I have to complete something I have a difficult time with, I tend to think of how good I will feel when it's done. During NaNoWriMo last November, there were many days when it was difficult, but I just kept thinking of how great it would feel to know that I finished, that I wrote 50 000 words!
"This week I'd like to offer you the challenge of taking one brave step towards your dreams"
This week I opened an etsy store, more for me than for profit. I started with a couple of my photographs and will add some fabric creations soon. It is something I have been thinking about for a few months, but finally decided to take the leap this week.
My other brave step that I want to take is to read the book I wrote last November. I did complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, but once I was finished, I didn't want to read what I wrote...not sure why, but now I will take that brave step and see what I wrote!
Monday, 19 January 2009
Secret # 2 ~ Honouring your inspirations
Wow! The podcast this past Friday was perfect. Suzie Ridler calls herself an accidental domestic diva and her interview was very inspiring.
The questions this week, to go along with the second secret are :
"What have you always loved? What inspired you? Catches your eye? Makes your heart sing?"
I thought about this most of the afternoon, after listening to the podcast this morning. I had never really given any thought to it before...What inspires me?
For as long as I can remember, I have been attracted to beautiful things. What I think is beautiful that is. I think I am a visual person.
I was given a camera in my teens, and loved taking pictures. My father used to have his camera with him almost everywhere he went. His passion was taking pictures of people. Me, I preferred taking photos of places that we visited, or nature.
I have always loved being surrounded by nature. I have come to realize that being in a natural environment helps me "recharge my batteries". It doesn't matter if I am by the ocean, or the lake, on a farm, or walking in the woods, as long as I am surrounded by nature. I still get amazed at the wonders of nature. How intricate or simple a plant can be, how powerful a tree seems to me, even the weather still amazes me, especially storms. Seeing the birds at my neighbour's bird feeder always puts a smile on my face, no matter what mood I was in before!
Nature inspires me. Patterns created by nature, its colours, things that might not get noticed by others, all those tend to catch my eye. So often, I have been asked "why are you taking a picture of that?" or "what exactly are you taking a picture of?"... I usually answer with a smile and depending who is asking, I take the time to show them what I see.
I have posted this photo on my blog before, but I thought I would share it again, because it illustrates what I am saying. This is a photo of dirt, with snow. I just had to take a picture of the patterns the wind, the dirt, and the snow created together. Isn't nature amazing?
Another important and inspiring activity for me is sewing or quilting. Playing with the fabrics, seeing what colours and patterns go well together, trying a new project and seeing it all come together...all these make my heart sing.
The questions this week, to go along with the second secret are :
"What have you always loved? What inspired you? Catches your eye? Makes your heart sing?"
I thought about this most of the afternoon, after listening to the podcast this morning. I had never really given any thought to it before...What inspires me?
For as long as I can remember, I have been attracted to beautiful things. What I think is beautiful that is. I think I am a visual person.
I was given a camera in my teens, and loved taking pictures. My father used to have his camera with him almost everywhere he went. His passion was taking pictures of people. Me, I preferred taking photos of places that we visited, or nature.
I have always loved being surrounded by nature. I have come to realize that being in a natural environment helps me "recharge my batteries". It doesn't matter if I am by the ocean, or the lake, on a farm, or walking in the woods, as long as I am surrounded by nature. I still get amazed at the wonders of nature. How intricate or simple a plant can be, how powerful a tree seems to me, even the weather still amazes me, especially storms. Seeing the birds at my neighbour's bird feeder always puts a smile on my face, no matter what mood I was in before!
Nature inspires me. Patterns created by nature, its colours, things that might not get noticed by others, all those tend to catch my eye. So often, I have been asked "why are you taking a picture of that?" or "what exactly are you taking a picture of?"... I usually answer with a smile and depending who is asking, I take the time to show them what I see.
I have posted this photo on my blog before, but I thought I would share it again, because it illustrates what I am saying. This is a photo of dirt, with snow. I just had to take a picture of the patterns the wind, the dirt, and the snow created together. Isn't nature amazing?
Another important and inspiring activity for me is sewing or quilting. Playing with the fabrics, seeing what colours and patterns go well together, trying a new project and seeing it all come together...all these make my heart sing.
Friday, 9 January 2009
Creativity...my word for 2009
I mentioned taking the two days that Celeste is in school to focus on creative projects here. My intuition and "gut feeling" is telling me that it is what I need to do. And funny how I just happen to stumble onto this site which is an online book blogging group that will explore for the next 12 weeks the book "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin.
I considered first just following the blog, but after listening to the pod cast, I knew I would do more than just follow, I would participate by posting once a week about my journey. I was completely certain once I searched and found the book at my local library's website!
The first secret is acknowledging your creative self. and the first post is supposed to be about where you are on the journey to your creative self. I feel that I am at the doorstep, at the boarding gate, just putting my shoes on, or just starting the car...in other words, I feel like I am at the beginning. Some people in my life would argue that I am already a creative person. It is true that I have done quite a few projects and enjoyed all of them. Scrapbooking, quilting, sewing different useful things for my children or for the house. Even during our busy homeschool years, I used to enjoy doing lapbooks with the children, or taking a few hours together to paint, experimenting with different medias. I also love playing with my camera, taking photos of everything and anything. This past November, I spent the month writing my first novel, challenging myself with the help of NaNoWriMo.
But I feel that I am only at the beginning because I have so much still to learn. I would love to explore more, trying to find and focus maybe on one particular creative outlet for myself.
To start this creative journey, I put together a Dreamboard, inspired by an idea I saw on StarShyne Productions blog. I haven't done many collages before, only a couple with my kids, but they are fun.
I considered first just following the blog, but after listening to the pod cast, I knew I would do more than just follow, I would participate by posting once a week about my journey. I was completely certain once I searched and found the book at my local library's website!
The first secret is acknowledging your creative self. and the first post is supposed to be about where you are on the journey to your creative self. I feel that I am at the doorstep, at the boarding gate, just putting my shoes on, or just starting the car...in other words, I feel like I am at the beginning. Some people in my life would argue that I am already a creative person. It is true that I have done quite a few projects and enjoyed all of them. Scrapbooking, quilting, sewing different useful things for my children or for the house. Even during our busy homeschool years, I used to enjoy doing lapbooks with the children, or taking a few hours together to paint, experimenting with different medias. I also love playing with my camera, taking photos of everything and anything. This past November, I spent the month writing my first novel, challenging myself with the help of NaNoWriMo.
But I feel that I am only at the beginning because I have so much still to learn. I would love to explore more, trying to find and focus maybe on one particular creative outlet for myself.
To start this creative journey, I put together a Dreamboard, inspired by an idea I saw on StarShyne Productions blog. I haven't done many collages before, only a couple with my kids, but they are fun.
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