3 Steps to a Creative New Year

In the spirit of celebrating the coming New Year, I invite you to try this simple 3-step process to help set your intentions and spark a year of joyful creative living in 2015.

Grab some colored pens or pencils (I love writing with colorful felt-tip markers! ) and a blank piece of paper or, better yet, a beautiful journal you haven't been able to bring yourself to write in yet because you don't know where to start. Click here to download the prompts in printable form below if you'd like.

Ready? Let yourself answer the following questions quickly and intuitively without overthinking them. Your first answers are usually your best and most true.

#1 ~ Give Yourself Credit ~

~ What creative projects, pursuits and experiences did I enjoy most in 2014?
~ What helped give me permission to enjoy these creative experiences?
~ What worked well when it came to living a creative life last year?

#2 ~ Give Yourself Ideas ~

~ Which creative projects, pursuits and experiences would I like to continue in 2015?
~ Which new creative projects, pursuits and experiences would I love to explore in 2015?
~ What's one small way I can experience creative joy every day in the coming year?

#3 ~ Give Yourself Permission ~

~ Where can I find compassionate support to help me make time and space for my creativity? (Think friends, groups, classes, coaching, etc...)
~ How can I practicing giving myself permission to enjoy creative experiences more often?
~ What's one loving way I can allow myself to experience more creative joy than ever in the coming year?

Here's to living the creative life in 2015! May your year be filled with many wonderful Creative Oasis moments, laughter, love and light!

Jill

10 Things I Learned Doing the 2012 Whole Living Clean Eating Action Plan

The magazine cover that intrigued me enough to begin.

10 Things I Learned While Doing the 2012 

Whole Living Clean Eating Action Plan 

#1 – Life still has meaning without cheese.

#2 – Healthy food is beautiful food.

#3 – There are lots of yummy breakfast options that don’t include bread, eggs or cheese. (who knew?)

#4 – Sweet potatoes might taste even better with a spritz of fresh orange juice and toasted almonds than butter.

#5 ­– I can eat kale every day, sometimes twice a day, and still love it.

#6 – It’s okay to drink breakfast (as long as it’s a smoothie.)

#7 – Making a delicious pot of soup is a huge time saver for a few days of quick, tasty meals – breakfast, lunch or dinner!

#8 ­– I would just as soon eat a bowl of crispy roasted cauliflower as potato chips or popcorn and I’m not even kidding!!!

#9 – A small handful of raw nuts with dried cranberries satisfies my sweet tooth. (Would it be even better with a square of dark chocolate? Of course!)

#10 ­– I actually really like tofu, at least when it’s scrambled with some garlic, ginger, turmeric and kale. (I wasn’t kidding about loving the kale!)

I love food, so I’m not about to last on any kind of warm lemon water and cayenne pepper for a month detox! This plan found in the January 2012 Whole Living Magazine and website was sensible, satisfying and delicious. It introduced me to some wonderful new recipes that I’ll continue to incorporate into my weekly meals.

I found great creative satisfaction in preparing such beautiful, healthy food, as well as trying out new flavor combinations and now I love having all of these new options for yummy, well-balanced meals! When combined with my 1,200 miles in 2012 challenge (walking, running and biking and average of 24 miles plus a week) I do indeed feel lighter and brighter!

Bonus alert – I also met some super cool people on-line who were following the plan too. If you like, check out their great blogs below.

http://eatplaylove.blogspot.com/

http://theromanticlife.blogspot.com/

http://www.ruth-writes.com/

http://www.wholeliving.com/153124/how-2012-challenge-works/@center/152870/2012-whole-living-action-plan

All in all, a wonderful way to start of the New Year!

If you try it out, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

New Hair Style to Add to the 2012 Changes!