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“CREATIVITY” is …..

GETTING THE VOICES IN OUR HEADS OUT OF THE WAY

Our creativity can only really come into its own once we begin to quieten our minds.  The voice inside our head.   The  negative, critical voice.  The voice that can so easily undermine our creativity, if we let it.  It’s the voice which says,

YOU’RE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH

YOU CAN’T DO IT

YOU’RE SO NOT TALENTED ENOUGH

YOU’RE  WAY TOO OLD

IT’S TOO LATE

WHAT’S THE POINT?

It’s the  voice that will do absolutely ANYTHING to sabotage and distract you.  The voice that would rather you didn’t make a start.  That will do anything within in its power to distract and put you off.   Anything a bit different or new is scary so the voice will list all the reasons why you really shouldn’t attempt it. Anything that is stepping outside the usual comfort zone. It has your best interests at heart.    The ultimate  job of “the voice” in our head  is to keep us safe,  to protect us.

It is the voice that will say,

Lets just have a little search on Google…..2 hours later you are still Goggling!

Maybe I should Check my emails before I start.  Oh I need a cup of tea, and then I will make a start, definitely.

I don’t have the time today, I will start tomorrow, but then tomorrow never comes.

I’m just too tired.

I’m not in the mood.

The voice will pull out all the stops to distract us from beginning.  It is all for an easy life.  A life that is safe and sensible, but lets face it a tad boring, and a life that is challenging, or a life where you are learning and growing.

We have to override the voice if we want to make the most of our, probably unlimited creative potential.

It is amazing how any of us actually ever manage to even get anything of real value created,with all this background noise that is going on inside our heads!

The voice in your head is neither right nor wrong.  Not good or bad.  It is actually doing a superb job.  Its main aim, as I said, is to protect you and keep you safe.   It wants to make sure you avoid all possible situations where you may feel uncomfortable.  It does not want you to fall flat on your face.  It is the voice of FEAR.  FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

How to deal with the voice

Become aware of it.  Listen to the things it says, but take a step back from it.  Imagine you are a curious bystander.  Listen to it with a detached ear.

Question it.

Make fun.

Accept

Don’t fight it.

Be patient

Be kind to yourself.

Some peoples voice is more powerful than others.

Act, regardless of the voice.

Have an awareness of times when the voice  is at its most strongest.

Keep a Journal and express how you are feeling.

Write or draw

Write a page of excuses. Write all the reasons why you feel you can’t create.  Your fears blocks, worries anxities. Get it all out there on that piece of paper.  The excuses.  The doubts.  Too old, too fat too thin, not enough talent.  Not enough education, too late, would have done it by now if it was meant to be bollocks.  Not enough time, not enough money, can’t afford to,its silly, frivolous, I’ve got better, more important thngs to do.

All your negative thoughts .  spew them out onto the blank page.  Don’t hold back, really go for it.  You will feel much better for it.