doug smith training

Creativity, like leadership, requires us to stretch. To be at our most creative we must grow. Since we are surrounded by limitations, that can cause some discomfort. Which boundaries should we cross? Which lines are mental and which are metal? How do we create without getting hurt (or worse, hurting?) I'm not sure. Maybe that's the wrong question. Maybe the question is -- what limits should we ignore today? What limits should we buck against and stretch? If a limit is telling you that you are NOT creative -- ignore it. If a limit is telling you that you cannot grow -- defy it. If a limit is telling you that the world doesn't need your creativity -- laugh it off. The world needs you. The world needs your creativity. The world needs you at your creative best. The creative life pushes against limits. Keep pushing. -- doug smith

We are about as creative as we want to be. We may know people who seem much more creative. We may situations when we ourselves felt more creative. Still, creative is a choice. How you live your life is also a choice. Why not choose a creative life? Creative in what you do and how you do it. Creative in how you think. Creative in how you solve problems and achieve your goals. Creative. The creative life is a choice that you make. Let's make that choice. -- doug smith

It's easy to get distracted. Screens call out to us everywhere. Even a once peaceful wait in a reception area is now punctuated by a wide-screen TV. Heads down, we miss opportunities. Eyes locked on a screen, we miss the people around us. That screen might spark a little creativity in you but most of the time it might also be standing in the way. Let your mind wander. Pay attention to your surroundings. Let nature spark a little creativity in you. Flow with that creativity and give it your full attention. Not just a second, not just a moment, but your full attention. Creative notions have a habit of dissipating if we don't focus on them, pay attention to them, keep them alive. The creative life is not a part-time creative swipe. The creative life is rich, deep, and full AND very jealous of screen time. It would rather have you spend time being creative. The creative life wants your full attention. How are you doing with that? Creative Actions Take a wa...

Everyone needs a little affirmation once in a while. Here are some quick creative affirmations for you. Creativity is my middle name! When my friends think of me they no doubt think of me as being creative I can develop my creativity in a million ways My creativity is unlimited! -- now, go create something wonderful! -- doug smith

You deserve a day of creativity -- and you are well-equips to bring it on! These are for you: I know creativity when I see it because I am filled with creativity! However creative I have ever been has been just enough and now I can do more! I can create on my own and I can create in collaboration -- my creativity is my choice. No one can EVER talk me out of my creativity! Creative stuff is about to happen! -- great for you! Now go get creative! -- doug smith

The creative life shakes hands with your better self, your happy self, your complete yet untapped potential self - a quick and colorful and powerful entity of sensational art. Living, walking, breathing creativity in the moment, in all moments, for ourselves, and for everyone. -- doug smith

Do you still draw? All of us draw when we're kids. Some better than others but all with imagination and enthusiasm. My first sketches were yellow wax pencils (designed for writing on glass) on black photo-album paper. Not brilliant. Not representational. But I still remember the moment of fun and abandon. Draw something today. Draw it with total abandon. Let your tool decide, let your hand go wild, draw something. Drawing something with open up a part of your creativity that will serve you well wherever you need it. And, don't you need it right now? -- doug smith

Have you ever been fooled into following what you thought was your creative muse only to discover that it was an excuse for bad behavior? There's nothing about anti-social or criminal behavior -- nothing -- that makes a person creative. It's possible to feel a sense of excitement from danger that may feel like a burst of creativity, but don't be fooled. Your true creative muse, your resident inner artist, the creator within the creator, would never do harm intentionally in the name of artistic license or creative freedom. We are all creative, we are all valuable, we must all take care to take care of each other.  Thrills, selfish inclinations, and power seeking sinfulness can all mask as a creative impulse but they are poor imitators indeed. Artists can easily differentiate these imitators from their real muse when they take the time to assess, and then apply, and then live by a set of noble values. The creative muse in not a thing, or an impulse, or even a spirit. Th...

Creativity gives you a lot and needs a little from you in return. It's not completely free. It needs creative people to stay positive, curious, and pro-active. See the possibilities. Wonder what would happen if...or when...or how...and then experiment. Play! Take action. Move things. Mix things up. Staying positive helps you to deal with the inevitable challenges you will face to your own creativity. Staying curious helps you to look for the nugget of gold in a sea of sand; to seek the fascinating detail in a swarm of noise and to act on that curiosity while being pro-active and innovating -- to put your hands to work at creating. Creativity is worth the effort. What will you be positive, curious, and pro-active about today? -- doug smith

Do you like to dance? Do you skillfully combine the carefully practiced steps that let your partner know where you are going and let you flow effortlessly with other dancers? Do you respond to dancing nuances, new leads, new ideas for leads? It takes more than a life time to master and yet your ability to execute on the physical requirements of the skill and knowledge you acquired diminishes as you age. Is that the end of your dancing? The creative muse can keep its distance, like a stranger dancing with you for the first time, scoping you out. In the more than a life time that it takes to fully actualize your creative muse your physical (and perhaps mental) abilities may slow and degrade but the dance is most decidedly not over. The true dance has just begun. Flow with the one who brought you, go as far as you can with what you still hold and then dig, dig, dig, until you've dug a new way, a new dream, a new way to dance. Build more time, energy, skills, knowledge, d...

Are you in good physical shape? Do you know how it feels when your muscles are strong, exercised, and flexible? Have you felt that way today? You play the major role in determining the fitness of your muscles. Left ignored and under-utilized, the muscles become less effective. Neglected long enough, they can even atrophy. The creative muse likes activity. It conditions, like a muscle, under exercise and nutrition. It responds with ever greater efficiency and effectiveness the more that it is exercised. Have you exercised your creative muscles today? -- doug smith

Keep writing. Keep painting. Keep drawing those wonderful sketches. Keep dancing. Sing every day with your heart ablaze. Keep stoking the fires of your dreams until the light is so bright that you warm others with its glow. Keep on creating, because creativity changes everything. -- doug smith

Your creative power is amazing! Try these creative affirmations to reinforce that power: I am a creative and powerful force of energy and creativity There is great music inside me to share I am filled with creative stories worth sharing! I create success through artistic play! I open the creative doors that others want to walk thru! My work inspires and sustains the positive power of creativity Now -- go create something wonderful! -- doug smith

Where do you look for your own creative muse? It may be there. It may sometimes hit you exactly as you expect or precisely as it has before. It may also surprise you by hiding out in the least likely places -- in your own back yard, at a volunteer community service project, at the local fire station, in your public library, in your local hardware store, on a farm, anywhere and everywhere you can think -- and catch a new spark, a new connection. You can find the creative muse communing with the unexpected. Are you ready? -- doug smith

Cheer yourself up! Spark your own creativity! Try these creative affirmations on for size. The more you create, the better you create. You can create something truly wonderful today. Everything you've ever done can feed your creativity now. Creativity extinguishes doubt. You care fabulously creative! Now -- go create something wonderful! -- doug smith

What are your "office hours" for creativity? Are some times of the day better for you than others? Do you enjoy periods of creative peak activity when you might work creatively for extended hours? That's OK because your creative muse works overtime. No time and a half or shift differential is needed, either. Just keep your focus, keep moving on your creative impulses and your muse will tag along. No questions asked, no explanation necessary, no deposit no return. -- doug smith

Be good to yourself. Say nice things. Things like... Creativity is good for me, and I am good for creativity The world gets better when my creativity grows My creativity is under my control and today I will ramp it up! I feel creative! Wherever I need to go, my own creativity will help me Have a great and creative day! -- doug smith

Have you ever excused yourself from creating because you weren't in the mood? Have you ever talked yourself out of an important piece of work or creative activity because your mood was all wrong? How did that feel? Did it help or hinder your mood? Creativity likes all moods. The creative muse doesn't care about your mood swings. It won't run and hide from you just because you aren't feeling at your best. The creative muse can help you with that. So what if you're not in the mood to create? Create anyway. Make something. Design something. Paint, play, write, tune, dance, cut-and-paste-something -- just go ahead as if the mood were optimal and guess what? Your mood will mysteriously rise to the occasion. Do something really great -- create! -- doug smith

Let the imperfections of the world spark your creativity. -- doug smith

Some positive phrases to energize you and your creativity: I can always think of a creative and interesting new idea My creativity makes travel a pleasure Using my creative skills helps me to do a better job People respond favorably to my creativity We all admire creative risks and it's good that I'm courageous My creativity is an always available resource My creativity makes problems easier to solve Today I will develop my creativity Creative Reflections: When was the last time you took a creative approach to a routine situation? How did it turn out? What are your three best creative opportunities for today? What will you do that's fresh and new about them today? What will you do first? -- doug smith