Creativity

Are you a creative person? I never thought I was, but I recently have learned that people are generally born creative…

… we just hide it fitting in with everyone else’s expectations, our own self-doubt, etc., etc., etc., until we forget the creativity is even there.

So why not play a little hide and seek, find a few pockets of creativity, let them out to have a bit of fun, and watch them grow.

You’ll be glad you did.

So for today’s writing prompt, write about a time you were creative.

Ready … set … write!

And have fun!!!

What fear?

Denial is a strong coping mechanism … and it can be effective for a while.

But eventually, the truth will not be hidden and our fears will make themselves known … often in explosive and hard to explain ways.

What do I mean by explosive? Well, we often hide our fear behind anger. So when the fear becomes so big, the anger can no longer hide it … the fear creates an eruption, spraying the debris from the anger to everyone within its reach.

Unfortunately, this explosion rarely addresses the cause of the fear, so the cycle of hiding and exploding starts again.

Facing our fears – or at least taking an honest peek at them – is the only way to identify what is actually causing the problem so we can start to fix it.

But oh, is it hard!!! Some of our fears have been so well hidden, they’re difficult to recognize even if we’re looking right at them.

But be brave, take one peek, then another. Find one fear, acknowledge it, and figure out why it’s there. Start to work on it, then take another peek to identify the next one.

It is hard and requires bravery! But oh, is it worth it when you no longer are a slave to your fear!!!!

What do you think? Do you have fears hidden in the corners of your mind?

Be brave, take a peek, and get help if you need it. Today’s free write is taking the first step by writing what you think of fears hiding and requiring bravery to face.

If you’d like to share, put it in the comments. But for now … Ready … Set … Write!

What will you do with your power?

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space lies our power to choose. In our response lies our growth and freedom.

Some version of that quote has been ascribed to various people from Stephen R Covey to Viktor Frankl to several others who have said similar things over the years.

But no matter who said it … it got me thinking about my power as a human being. Power for good … power to create change … power to make the world a better place …

The more I thought, the more I had to agree with this quote. The ability to make good choices requires space (and practice).

Sometimes, I have to consciously expand that space. Other times, there is plenty of space naturally occurring before I can respond.

What do you think? Does your power lie in the space between stimulus and response? What will you do with that power?

Okay. Set your timer and ready … set … write!

How’s Your Balance?

Bear standing on a cliff on one leg, juggling eggs.

Do you ever feel like this bear? Standing on a cliff, trying to juggle all of the tasks and commitments of your life?

If so, it may be time for a “time out” to re-center yourself, prioritize and create a plan for re-centering and moving away from the cliff. Do you need to pass off some of the things you are juggling? Great. Add that to your plan.

Next create a plan for moving forward in a sustainable way.

This will probably take several sessions of freewriting, and will probably take more than 5 minutes, but use today’s free-write to get started.

Bringing balance to your life is well worth the effort – and if you can get started before you are worn to the core it will take much less time and effort to achieve that balance.

So what do you say? Are you ready to start? Okay … ready … set … write!

What Inspires You?

Four pictures from nature that inspire me. A mirror lake with a swamped boat on a cold day, a wooden bridge on a woodland path, a sunset over sea stacks on the ocean, and a trillium blooming in spring.

What inspires you? A sunset? A path that disappears into the unknown? A misty, foggy day at the ocean?

I find that I am inspired by many things, but as you may be able to tell, nature in some shape or form is my biggest source of inspiration (at least in the “awe” category of inspiration).

What about you? Is nature the driving force of your inspiration? Or is it something else entirely?

Think about it for a minute, then set your timer and ready … set … write!

How do you laugh?

8 flower varieties with quote "The Earth laughs in flowers." by Ralph Waldo Emmerson

A famous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson is “The Earth laughs in flowers.” When I see a field of daisies or sunflowers, this certainly seems to be the case.

Other flowers seem more stately and elegant rather than playful and laughing. Nevertheless, they make me smile.

But that leads me to our question for the day. How do you laugh? Is it a great big belly-laugh, or more of a gentle, rolling chuckle? Or something else entirely?

Take a few minutes to think about it and then set your timer and Ready … Set … Write!

Life’s Lemons

Do you know the saying “When life gives you Lemons, make lemonade?”

I have to say that is one saying that I love and hate all at once.

As an optimist, I totally want to make the best of any situation, but as a realist – particularly when I am the one facing some lemons, I just really want to throw them … and maybe stomp on them … and maybe throw a fit like a three year old.

What about you? Do you like orndislike the saying? Do you make lemonade when life gives you lemons?

Let me know in the comments if you’d like to share, then set your timer and ready … set … write!

Writers Write!

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about small changes that have a big impact over time. For instance, one day of intense exercise is not going to make you fit, but consistent exercise will.

In fact, he promotes the idea of starting small so that the habit is easier to form.

This idea is why I have chosen 5 minutes for the preferred time to free write from these prompts. But if you need to do less, that’s ok too.

In fact, James Clear also said in a podcast with Brene Brown … “Writing a sentence a day may not finish your novel, but it is casting a vote every day that you are a writer.

What do you think? Are you writing something every day … even if it is just a sentence? Or 5 out of 7?

Today’s prompt is to write about your plan for writing daily – even if it is just a sentence – and giving yourself the “I am a writer vote” every time.

Okay, here we go. Set your timer and ready … set … write!

April Flowers

These are flowers from my garden. Some are in full bloom … Rock cress, phlox, lilac and lobelia … while others are budding, preparing for their time of full beauty.

That makes me think of people with potential just waiting to be developed and discovered. Writing practice is one way to develop your writing potential so that when opportunity comes your way, you will be ready to accept it and “burst into full bloom.”

So for today’s writing practice, consider what you are doing to prepare yourself for upcoming opportunities, then write about it.

Are you ready? Set your timer and ready … set … write!

Get Curious!

Sometimes I just don’t know what to write about. Life is busy and time is short. But then, something catches my attention. It might be a bright, shiny object stealing what free time I have. Or, it might be something signaling an area where I can grow, learn and in turn share.

In order to create something of value, I have to get curious and dig a little deeper to find those things that will bring value to others – because that is what writing, blogging, etc is all about, right? Sharing things that will be valuable to someone else – otherwise why would they spend the time reading your work?

So today, think about something you are curious about. What questions do you have that you would like to answer? Spend some time following your curiosity and see where it takes you.

Now set your timer and ready … set … write!

I’d love to hear what you are curious about. If you are willing, share it in the comments. Happy writing!