Improvisation, Creativity, and Living in the Moment

“The key to improvisation is motion—you keep going forward, fearful or not, living from moment to moment.” ~ Bobby McFerrin

It’s no secret I idolize the great Bobby McFerrin, vocalist and most famous for his song “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” Aside from being a huge fan of his music, I am also a fan of his philosophies about life, fun, and improvisation. There’s a lot to be learned in how he creates music, taps into creativity, and goes with the flow. Learn more for yourself by reading an interview with Bobby as he shares some of his wisdom.

And just in case you don’t know the magic of Bobby, check out this video, just ONE of many amazing performances illustrating his wicked talent.

11 Ways to Crush Your Creativity

While inspiration may be fickle, there are certainly things that can help it, and things that can hurt it. Over the years, I’ve become intimately familiar with things that get in the way of my own creativity, as well as things that seem to help it flourish.

But this is not your typical “how to” list. Hold onto your hats for the lighter side – as humor is actually something that HELPS. Enjoy. And if you have any other ideas for what NOT to do to help your creativity, please post a comment below.

1. Act serious all the time. No silliness, playing, smiling, or laughing…ever!
2. Let hours and hours go by without taking breaks, eating, drinking water, or moving from one spot.
3. Always err on the side of caution and avoid taking any risks.
4. Do the same things every day, day in and day out, without variation.
5. Let other people make decisions for you.
6. Work in a job that requires not much more of you than showing up and being physically present.
7. Skip vacations and weekend getaways to do extra work.
8. Avoid fresh air and being in nature.
9. Listen to that inner voice that criticizes everything you do, think, and feel.
10. Stay away from all physical activity.
11. Delay going to bed until you’re about to pass out from exhaustion.

Remember, this is a list of what NOT to do if you want to boost your creative spirits. Any other ideas? Leave a comment below.

Using Creativity to Practice Good Self Care

What is your ONE THING? You know when you do it over and over because it puts a smile on your face, helps calm you down, connects you with your inner wisdom (or Spirit some might say), allows you to express yourself fully and without limitation, and is something you are so passionate about, you light up ever time you think about it, talk about it, and do it?

For me, that THING is songwriting. Sure, I have lots of other interests and things that give me the same (or similar) benefits. But songwriting is my first true love and one that’s always there for me, no matter what.

While it took me a really long time to be able to express WHAT songwriting does for me, I’ve certainly enjoyed the benefits for a really long time. I realize that songwriting has been my own form of self care since I was a teenager.

Songwriting helps tap into feelings and thoughts that hide and get trapped in some deep, dark places. I sometimes write and don’t know what a song is about right away. But then once it unfolds, I realize it expresses exactly what I needed to say. I’m also able to express myself in safer ways with songs because I can use metaphors and poetic phrases instead of being very direct. I love the power of words to be subtle and strong at the same time.

You may (or may not) consider yourself a songwriter, but I bet there’s that ONE THING, a creative way you have to get to those deep feelings and thoughts. Think about it. Here’s some possibilities:

• Poetry
• Writing
• Journaling
• Dancing
• Songwriting
• Singing
• Playing a musical instrument
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Drawing
• Scrapbooking
• Pottery
• Crafting
• Sewing
• Graphic design
• Photography
• Cooking
• Baking
• Fashion

I challenge you to identify what creative activities you do that allow you to take good care of yourself by allowing you to express yourself without inhibition. Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Photo: Colores © by Enzo Ferrante

YOU are Creative, Really!

It amazes me how often people tell me how un-creative they are when they find out I am a songwriter, as if I am standing there in judgment. Can everyone write songs? Well, I believe yes, they can. But that’s beside the point. The point is everyone is creative, whether it be in making music or something else entirely.

The trick is first defining the word creative. Broken down, creativity can be defined as the ability to create. That’s simple enough. We create every day, whether it be a daydream while waiting in rush hour traffic or a task on the job.

Many people associate creativity with art or music, but what about problem-solving? When’s the last time you came up with a creative solution that no one else around you thought of (that really worked)? Or looked at a situation in a whole different perspective that really helped you get through a difficult time?

We often fail to recognize smaller feats of creativity, passing them off as unimportant or uninspired. But truly it is the smaller moments and our reaction to them that create the bigger picture…how we live and experience life, which in turn affects our overall well-being.

Here’s some things you might try to tap into your creative side:

1. Write a list of things you created that you are proud of.
2. Sing your favorite song in the car as if no one is watching you.
3. Get some sleep. Creativity flows better when you are rested.
4. Write a poem (or song) about something you do every day, like brushing your teeth or fixing breakfast. Sound silly? Good! Silliness is a sure sign that creativity is nearby.
5. Find 3 ways to solve the same problem, then try all of them to see what happens.

So, redefine what creativity is for you and then get creating. I’d love to hear about what you created today – leave a comment below.

Photo: Brush Teeth © by kkinjo

What Creativity Taught Me About Getting Unstuck

How many times to do you hear people talking about being stuck? Stuck in financial situations. Stuck in jobs. Stuck in relationships. Stuck in thoughts. Stuck in fear. Stuckness seems to be an epidemic. But the idea of being stuck is really more about perspective and less about all that other stuff.

There’s an ebb and flow to life, to moods, to progress. Yet, it seems in our Tweeting, drive-through, instant-gratification society, we just don’t want to have anything to do with that. Any moments we aren’t moving at the speed of light toward happiness we perceive as wasted time.

As a creative person, the idea of ebb and flow is quite familiar to me. Inspiration strikes and I’m working for 10 hours straight on a song without moving from one spot. Inspiration evades and no ideas come or nothing I write sounds good. When I was younger, I would get upset that inspiration didn’t follow my commands of showing up when, where, and how I wanted. I used to call it a slump, or writer’s block, or being stuck. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to look at it a bit differently. From my own experience with the ebb and flow of inspiration, I’ve learned to:

1. Allow, not force or coerce, an idea to flow. It will show up in its own time. Sometimes this means focusing on something else entirely and giving my brain a rest. It also means not getting in the way of an idea once it comes. I call this a “stream of consciousness” approach, à la Freud, just letting the ideas flow, even if they don’t seem to make sense at the time.
2. Accept my ideas without judgment, as both part of and separate from myself. Inspired ideas come from anywhere and everywhere and are not only a representation of my experience and my perspective but also a manifestation of messages from intuition, spirit, or whatever you call that place that just knows. Sometimes I find my thoughts seem very random but as they unfold, they blossom into nuggets of wisdom. If I passed judgment during the process, these insights might never see the light of day.
3. Honor the quiet moments. Because writing music is a cathartic experience for me, I often have very strong emotional responses during the writing process. It’s not uncommon for me to weep with joy or sadness, depending on the theme of the song. But, if I had to live in that intense emotion all the time, I wouldn’t be able function. I’ve come to enjoy the times between the inspiration – the stillness, the anticipation – knowing they are preparing me for what is yet to come.

Think about how these seemingly simple, yet powerful, ideas about creativity and inspiration translate into other areas of our lives. Take a difficult relationship for example. What would happen if you allowed the relationship to unfold without forcing your opinions or ideas onto the other person, accepted the relationship (or the other person) without judgment, and honored the space and time away from that person? Would you feel differently about the relationship or other person? It’s important to realize that stuckness is just a temporary state of thinking.

For more creative ideas on how to get unstuck and back on track in your life and business , please join me for the annual “Creativity and Wellness Summit,” where I interview experts – psychotherapists, coaches, authors, and spiritual healers – who will give us their best tips for dealing with stress and burnout, improving relationships, and living happier, healthier, more balanced lives. Get all the details for how you can listen in LIVE for FREE at http://www.CreativityAndWellnessSummit.com.

Photo: Gum Shoe © by mahalie

Songwriting Imitates Life: Process Vs. Outcome

With songwriting, there is often (but not always) an outcome or finished product called a song. But the joy of songwriting for me is in what happens during the writing process. I like to remember that the word songwriting (for me) is an action word, not an outcome word, otherwise it would be called “song-wrote.”

During my songwriting process, ideas come, seemingly from no source (or maybe THE source), and flow through me. I just let it happen. I get in touch with feelings and thoughts I didn’t know were there, or that were buried or hidden just out of my reach. It is the one area of my life I am routinely not a perfectionist. I don’t expect too much from myself. And I allow myself to go with the flow.

When inspiration strikes, I let it carry me where it wants to go. Someties it’s a long journey, sometimes short, and sometimes it turns and takes me in another direction. Often, I can sit down and write the lyrics and melody of a song within 30 minutes. Other times, I get a verse or a phrase written and the flow stops. Maybe the song isn’t ready to go further at all, it was just a quick expression and now it’s over. Sometimes, I’ll look at it a few days, weeks, months, or years later and the rest of the song flows and gets finished. The point is that I don’t force it. I let the process happen and know that whatever is meant to be will be.

But it took me a long time to figure out that the process was the key. I remember getting frustrated when inspiration didn’t come when, where, and how I wanted. I longed for the finished song and cursed any interruptions in getting me there. Interruptions like

• the obligation of going to a job
• needing to be somewhere at a certain time
• the phone ringing
• a knock at the door
• my stomach growling
• or any number of other things

I just wanted to get through the process to the outcome of a finished song, and I was content to pay little attention to what was going on around me.

Sound familiar?

So often, our society is bent on outcome – realized goals, acquired possessions, tangible evidence of success, doing whatever it takes to get the job done. But often, we go after the outcome at the expense of ourselves. We can lose sight of what’s important, lose sleep, skip meals, avoid friends and family, not take care of ourselves. In other words, compromise our physical and mental health…all for the sake of a goal.

Process is the journey. It’s about keeping our eyes on the goal but not allowing our focus to be so all-or-nothing, tunnel-vision, all-consuming, that we forget what’s going on around us. It’s about honoring ourselves and our vision for the future at the same time. And it can be a real challenge.

Are you outcome or process focused? If you have a to-do list a mile long, rarely take breaks, eat on the run, multi-task, don’t schedule time for yourself, and are challenged by the idea or practice of taking good care of yourself, chances are you are more focused on the outcomes, or goals, in your life. If you routinely schedule time for yourself, don’t get too bothered by detours and changes in plans, rest when you need to rest, and make self care a priority, then you are likely a person who is focused more on the process, or journey, of your life. So which one are you?

The good news is you don’t have to stay stuck on either side. Life often changes course and there’s always an opportunity to shift the way you live your life. Being aware is always the first step in any healing journey. The next step is doing something about it. Here’s some tips you might try to get less focused on your goal and more focused on your journey:

1. Let go of your perfection and remember…done is better than perfect.
2. If things aren’t working smoothly, or flowing easily, let them go and focus on something else.
3. Honor yourself by taking small breaks throughout the day. Stretch, change your scenery, or get outside for some fresh air.

Got any comments about process vs. outcome? Please share them below. And please feel free to share this article via your social networks.