breakTHROUGHArts
a free newsletter for visual artists

Thanks to all who have passed breakTHROUGHArts on to other artists! To share this newsletter with friends who want more creativity in their lives, use your e-mail Forward button. To subscribe or schedule your complimentary coaching hour click: connect@dianreardon.com.

June 2007 Contents
I.   Discounted Strengths
II. Energy Management: Translations from the Psych Research Lab, the Board Room, and the Shrink’s Couch
III. Friends in Print: When you feel like reading
IV. Creative Links
V. Newsletter and Info: Share this newsletter, subscribe, or unsubscribe

I. Discounted Strengths
”But it was so easy!”
There was that note in the voice of one of my fiber art friends, a note of surprise, a bit of disbelief, and suspicion that there must be something missing in this beautiful piece she was showing us. It “just came together so easily.”

What is it, in us, that is suspicious when we create a work without a major struggle? Of course, such work is riding on the shoulders of many hours of work that was not so easily birthed. But why such a startle reaction?

Recently, two similar experiences have given me a hint of what’s going on here. In both cases the amount of appreciation for some non-art work startled me. The first was from art class participants who thanked me for doing such a good job of being a teacher’s assistant. As agreed, I was taking care of making coffee, getting lunches and helping the teacher with paper work. It was work but, in my mind, no big deal, and I was startled to get so much appreciation.

The second event was a fellow singer complimenting me on the sound and blend of my low voice. In the world of group singing that I know, I’d always envied those sopranos and soloists whose voices soared, so again I was startled because singing low and blending is easy for me.

Is there some odd kind of internal bookkeeping that actually subtracts points when I do something easily? Do I believe that lack of struggle signals less than good work? It could be that, even though I know that it takes organization to be a class assistant and that having a low, blending voice is a given trait, I live with these abilities like my most comfortable old shoes. Do I believe that comfortable shoes can’t be my best ones?

My friend’s piece, that came so easily for her, rested on long experience with large scale compositions and the wisdom in her fingers about the power of the well-placed quilting line. But for her these were familiar givens in her creative life, perhaps marked down in value because taken for granted. Keep your antennae up when appreciation for your creative work that has you thinking – “Oh, that? Oh, that old thing? Oh, it’s just my color sense, my sensitivity to texture, my use of line, my ability to innovate.” Watch out for the signal of that word “just”.

Yes. That old thing. If you hear these words in your head, you’ve rediscovered a discounted strength and maybe it’s time to raise it back up to full value.
(Return to Top)

II. Energy Management: Translations from the Psych Research Lab, the Board Room and the Shrink’s Couch
DeRoo, Carlene & DeRoo, Carolyn. What’s Right with Me. 2006.
After a few chapters of filling in the blanks in this book, I found memories bubbling up of times I’d felt supported, successful, and confident. DeRoo and DeRoo, a mother/daughter team, lead you through an inventory of your own experiences where things “went right.” The term for this general approach in corporate coaching is “appreciative inquiry”, a process of identifying times and sectors in our lives when we have experienced success. Not only does this bring up very personal, gut-level patterns for future success, it also can move one back into that emotionally confident state, not a bad place to be.

As a creativity coach, I often prefer to help my clients work from their strengths rather than focusing on problem areas. However, it is important to also keep in mind the reality factor, so I rarely suggest positive affirmations that are not, in fact, yet true. DeRoo and DeRoo handle this problem very deftly by keeping the reader focused on real events that actually did go very well. Everyone has these experiences but may need help looking past those not-so-great memories that cut in line to get your attention. The power of focusing on “what’s right with you” creates a treasure trove of fully-lived success experiences that is uniquely yours and one you can draw on in your current life.
(Return to Top)

“Time devoted to hard work is generally poorly used time, whereas time given to creativity and imagination is the most effectively used time.” Zelinski, E. 2002

III. Friends in Print: When you feel like reading
Zelinski, Ernie J. The Lazy Person’s Guide to Success. 2002.  The main idea of Zelinski’s approach is to use your “relaxed creative actions” rather than “work”. He is not promising that you get whatever you define as success by doing nothing, but is a champion of trusting your creative brain power rather than the pure sweat of effort. Much of what he says on his right-hand pages will encourage creative types to take their next step in defining a creative life with time for productivity and a very human life of relaxation, family, and just hanging out in ways you really choose and care about. (His left-hand pages are filled

with inspirational quotes.) He encourages us not to follow the herd into 9 to 5 jobs, but to decide how much money you need and what you need it for and then balance that against your time and what you truly want it for.
(Return to Top)

IV. Creative Links

“….falling in love releases waves of captivating energy, carrying you on a tidal wave of passion that transcends your "earthly" needs for sleep, food, and any companion other than your beloved. What if you could "fall" for your creative work the same way you fall in love with another being or a cause or a place? What if you could tap into those currents of energy, letting them carry you along where they wish, caressing you and feeding you and replenishing your soul?” Louden, 2007

www.ComfortQueen.com
It’s not often I send my readers off to other coaching sites, but Jennifer Louden has been a steady touchstone for me, and the words of her latest newsletter fit right in with my theme of doing what is easy and full of energy for you; not as simple as falling off a log, but as powerful as falling in love. If you like her thoughts, you might want to subscribe to her e-newsletter.
(Return to Top)

V. Newsletter Info
E-mail changes. To change your e-mail address, subscribe, or unsubscribe please e-mail connect@dianereardon.com. If you use a spam filter, please add this e-mail address to your list of approved senders. This material is included on the breakTHROUGH Creativity Coaching website (www.dianereardon.com) All material is copyrighted ©, 30 May 2007, Diane Reardon. All rights reserved. Visit the website for back issues and details on scheduling a complimentary one-hour coaching session.
(Return to Top)