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 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
I learnt a big fat creative lesson recently. As you know, I have been doing a doodle a day for the past few weeks. So far I have drawn frogs, dogs, bees and spiders. A few weeks ago, I decided to go off-piste and make something up. So I drew this: Er, except… I almost didn’t.… Continue reading A big fat creative lesson
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
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?
If you're struggling right now. If you're wondering what the point is. If you've got so far with your novel or painting but you've stopped because you're plagued with self-doubt. And you don't have the energy to write another word or paint another stroke. Watch this.
When I was a kid, I collected rocks. (I really did - unusual ones, fossilised ones and ones with sparkly bits in them.) Nowadays, I collect quotes. When the chips are down, people can’t always be relied on to say the right things. A quote will hit the spot every time. But you need to… Continue reading My favourite inspirational quotes
I had planned to write a post about my next venture. That’s still the plan but I'm taking a quick detour to share something important. I’m reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. (I wasn’t sure about the book at first but it's just got better and better and now I am ever… Continue reading Stop whining and get back to work
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!
Katherine Bassford 