I came across this recently in a book and I’ve been pondering it ever since: Steve Chandler is a transformative coach. He teaches his clients that situations themselves don’t cause our feelings. Only thinking can do that. E.g. Thrust a microphone towards a group of people and some will run a mile while others will… Continue reading What if our fears aren’t quite what we think they are?
I don’t know about you, but I’m not massively keen on the unknown. Every time I stare at a blank page (or a blank future), I feel anxious. My brain feels a compulsion to know things for certain. Not knowing = uncertainty = danger. But here’s the annoying thing: uncertainty is the gateway to possibility.… Continue reading A magical way to step into the creative unknown
I have been conducting a little experiment. For the past few months, I have been doing a quick doodle every day. Nothing major. I simply pick up my pen and draw whatever wants to come out. Sometimes what comes out is great. Other times, not so much. It doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. The… Continue reading The joy of making stuff up
Five weeks ago, I wrote a post entitled How to kickstart your creativity without having a meltdown. This turned out to be one of my most popular posts, so I thought I’d give you a quick update on how things are going. If you recall, I was taking ridiculously small steps towards writing and illustrating.… Continue reading An update on taking ridiculously small creative steps
The image above is by Elle Luna, author of The Crossroads of Should and Must. She says that every day we arrive at a crossroads. There are two options: the path of SHOULD and the path of MUST. SHOULD is all the expectations we, and others, put on ourselves. MUST is who we deeply are.… Continue reading The crossroads of SHOULD and MUST
The illustration above is very pertinent right now as 4 weeks ago, I lost my job. There was no warning. I walked into work and was told that there was no more work in the pipeline. These things happen when you freelance. (I have been freelancing for the last 2 years, writing wellbeing books for a… Continue reading Follow your own star
A few days ago, I shared how I go 'weird' if I’m not being creative. I drew a sad monster at the top of the post. Today sad monster is looking much happier as I've discovered an unbelievably easy way to overcome my resistance! How I discovered the technique If you’ve read Oh Sugar! you’ll know I’m not a fan of strict diets. Quite… Continue reading How to kickstart your creativity without having a meltdown
“Have you done any writing or drawing lately?” J asked. “Not really," I said, "why?” “Because you get really crotchety if you don’t create something.” "Huh?!" Strange as it sounds, this was news to me. Everyone has their up and down days but I hadn’t appreciated that not being creative meant I was waaaay more likely to… Continue reading Do you go ‘weird’ if you’re not being creative?
I hinted in my last post that I may be about to take a new direction in life. It requires a bit of explaining and bizarrely, it all starts with a Salsa class… I have always wanted to dance. For years I watched Strictly Come Dancing and vowed to start dancing, but of course I… Continue reading Heading in a new direction: Joy!
Do you know why I love spending time with my nieces and nephews (aside from the fact that I love them to bits and they give life-enhancing hugs?) It’s because if you spend time with children - watch them jump and dance and sing - pretty soon your inner child will be itching to join in too.… Continue reading Want to be more creative? Release your inner child
Katherine Bassford 