Monday, June 23, 2014

Mondays in June – Part 4

Hello again. There’s only one post remaining in this series after this one. I hope these have been helpful to you in one way or another. Here are a few more thoughts on Creativity, Ideas and Inspiration: Getting Where You Want to Go.

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We’ve discussed ways we can increase the quality and quantity of our ideas and how fear can paralyze us to the point that we give up rather than fail. Now that we have gotten loads of ideas and have overcome our inertia and fear

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It’s time to put the lessons we’ve learned in our back pocket and move forward

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from having ideas to acting on them. How do you make that happen? How can you avoid being a bump on a log?

First, do something! Do anything! Sometimes you have to do something or anything in spite of your doubts. It becomes necessary to take a chance, to act. You have to start somewhere. Take one small step.

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If you don’t think it can be done, that may well be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

How do you move forward even if you don’t know where you will end up? If, for example, it is making a new pattern that has you immobilized, perhaps you can start by just getting out your pattern drafting supplies – pencil, paper, etc. Then make a mark. Once you have begun, you might be surprised at how much progress you will make.  You don’t have to be a Jedi to appreciate Yoda’s wise words:

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Speaking of beginning, there is a perfect time to begin a project that you have been considering. It’s not when you know where you are going or when you have it all worked out in your head. It not even when you have all the things you will need gathered around you. The perfect time to pursue a new idea or project is . . . NOW.

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Scott Woody says that “Just by taking action you are better off than ninety-nine percent of the people.”

Secondly, give yourself parameters and/or constraints.

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Telling someone about something you are working on can have two effects. On one hand, it makes success or failure of an idea very public. On the other hand, it gives you incentive. It makes you accountable. It’s kind of like telling the world you are going on a diet. If you do, you feel some obligation to keep up the hard work. If you don’t tell and you fail, no one is the wiser but then you also don’t have the same degree of motivation to keep it up. Parameters, deadlines, budgets, lack of resources and time, can positively influence your creativity. The most satisfying conclusions to a new idea are the ones that didn’t come easily. There is more of a sense of triumph if the route to success is strewn with obstacles and challenges.

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Do you see yourself in any of these situations? I have been there many times and it helps to know that being stuck or immobile or confused about where to begin or where to go is not a permanent condition. No one has all the answers or has it all figured out. What is encouraging is that by making an effort of some sort – no matter how small you are setting your ideas in motion. And remember from my last post that you might not always be successful but if you learn from your failures you are closer to success than you would be if you had never tried, never begun, never made an effort at all.

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So, as one of my favorite bloggers put it, “sometimes it's just a good idea to put your coat on and get out there”. Thanks Alan!

See you all next time!

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4 comments:

  1. Hi Ginger,
    How do you know how my mind works? I get lots of ideas, from losing weight to photographing all the local cafés, but often I can't get started until I tell people. Then I have to do it. The Café Culture project will take a while, but it's going. It involves taking photos of all the cafés within a five minute walk of our coastal tramline. I just want to the get them recorded before they all turn into another Starbucks or KFC. When I'm done I'll do a book. I enjoy creating books and sometimes I need an impetuous. For example it was the knowledge that I was off to India again this year that finally spurred me on to making the books of our 2012 trip.
    It's been a pleasure reading these blogs and thanks for the honourable mention :-)
    Hugs to Sebastian from Jock and the rest of the bears,
    Alan

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    1. Hi Alan,

      It would be kind of cool if I was some sort of mind reader but alas, I have to admit that I think a lot of creative people tend to approach things in a similar way - they just personalize it to their particular way of working. But as you say, sometimes you just need to be accountable to get motivated. Your ideas for the cafés and books sound really interesting. Maybe one day I'll have a chance to see them. I'll just add it to my never-ending bucket list!

      Thanks so much for your contributions and insights on this subject! It's great to share ideas!

      hugs,
      ~ginger

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    2. I really hope you don't know how his mind works, you'd never be the same again!

      LT

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    3. Hi LT,

      That doesn't affect me much because people have said the same about me for years. I know. It's kind of no surprise at all, right?

      hugs,
      ~ginger

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