doug smith training

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

The creative life keeps us energized. -- doug smith

"Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected." -- William Plomer

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

Take what works, bathe in your own inspiration, motivate to create. I suggest saying these aloud: I possess an inexhaustible supply of creativity My creative efforts always connect to the greater good God smiles on my creativity I help others when I express yourself -- doug smith Creative Actions: Write three of your own new creative affirmations and read them aloud. Rinse and repeat. Write your favorite affirmations on an index card and carry it in your pocket or purse. Read it frequently today.

Are you ready to expand and develop your creativity? Experience the joy of finding that flow where your hands and mind meet in a space of innovation — where possibilities touch reality.  Creativity for Everyone  is for your inner artist — and also for your inner child. Spend a full day enjoying yourself, creating and interacting with others who are also creating like never before. The kinds of creativity are endless and we can’t explore them all in one day, yet you will explore, discover, and perform creatively in several ways including improv, music, writing, movement, and drawing. You could end up with a masterpiece or two (or even more) or you could end up with the learning needed for your next step toward a masterpiece. What you are assured of is a fun, relaxed time of harmless and noncompetitive play. Join us and grin! This creativity workshop is truly for anyone who is interested in creativity and having fun. Materials (what to bring) to  Creativity for

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

Corner Office Collage: Corner Office,  (c) 2007 douglas brent 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

"Skill to do comes of doing."  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson Whether or not it's fun, we do need to practice. To gain some momentum, to grow considerable skill, to develop creativity we must work thru our mistakes, discover even more mistakes, and keep going and doing. To stretch one's self requires motion. When I toured with Child's Play Touring Theatre we worked so much, practiced our craft so consistently, that we came to believe that we could do anything on stage. As a result we would try anything and if we would sometimes make noble and glorious mistakes it was just one take out of dozens, one sketch out of hundreds, one turn out of thousands (and nothing in this sentence is hyperbole) it was one of many. Relentlessly in motion we learned, expanded, stretched, adjusted, grew Action propelled us forward. Every day our practice was to practice in earnest. And then we would practice some more. I say it to myself as much as to anyone else: be a doer. Ac

Are you a perfectionist? I can be. It can take endless revisions to reach the point of self-satisfaction with something that I'm working on. The problem is, it will never be perfect. There are no perfect processes, no perfect people, no perfect projects, no perfect products. Perfection is the ghost of an illusion too tempting to ignore but too imperfect to perfect. Creativity doesn't care. Creativity goes on. Creativity fills the gaps. Besides. Imperfect leaves room for growth. Imperfect leaves room for collaboration. Imperfect invites change. Your art is not perfect but that's OK. Make your art anyway, whatever it is. Your art is not perfect because imperfect is better. -- doug smith

Do you have a secret creative project lounging around in your imagination? I always have at least five projects floating around, just waiting to begin. We get busy and put those projects off though, don't we? What if you didn't put it off? What if you got started on the biggest of big projects? What if you launched the project to complete your masterpiece? You aren't limited to just one creative masterpiece, but your next masterpiece is there, ready and waiting for you to begin. Get creative. Get motivated. Get busy. What if you started now? -- doug smith