Creative-Free-Time Treasure Hunt Challenge

 If some easy–breezy, guilt-free creative time sounds good to you, I invite you to accept my 

15-Minute Creative-Free-Time Treasure Hunt Challenge.

How does it work? You simply swap 15 minutes out of your busy schedule for 15 minutes of guilt-free creative free time this week. 

Easier said than done? Maybe this will help...Did you realize you have 10,080 minutes at your disposal each and every week? It’s true! (I was kind of jazzed when I did the math. I mean, just look at all those minutes waiting to be enjoyed!) 

Sure you’ll need lots of those minutes to sleep, shower, eat, wash dishes and the like. You’ll need more to work, chauffer kids, run errands, do laundry and other assorted life “stuff.”

Even so, I invite you to go on a treasure hunt of sorts and come up with just 15 minutes (of those 10,080 minutes) to you give yourself permission to enjoy a 100% guilt-free Creative Oasis experience. (If you already have a nice creative habit going consider this Bonus Creative Free Time!)

Where oh where oh where will you find this fifteen minutes?

Here are a few places you may find hidden pockets of time. 

~ While your morning coffee or tea brews

~ Before, after or instead of Facebook time

~ Rather than laying games like Words with Friends or Candy Crush

~ Swap for online shopping or browsing

~ Instead of watching mindless TV

~ Sleep (I’m all for enjoying a good night’s sleep, but setting your alarm 15 minutes early to enjoy a little Creative Me time can be a great way to start the day!)

~ Grocery shopping (make it a game to try to finish your shopping fifteen minutes faster than you usually do)

~ Waiting in the carpool line

 ~ or better yet…RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE! 

That’s right. You heard me. You’re sitting someplace reading this email, so why not set a timer and use the next 15 minutes to treat yourself to a Creative Oasis moment?

When you find your hidden pockets of time please take a moment to see them for the gems they really are! They're time you get to  choose to spend freely on your creative passions!

Don’t know which Creative Oasis you'd like to visit? Here are a few ideas:

~ Open your journal and enjoy some free form writing

~ Listen to music that you love and haven’t heard in ages

~ Dance

~ Fill an entire page with doodles

~ Pick up your knitting, crocheting or needlework

~ Make a homemade card for someone you love

~ Write a letter to your creative idol (you don’t have to send it)

~ Come up with as many creative ways to use paperclips as you can think of (you can think way outside the box here if you like ~ curtains anyone?)

~ Look through a coffee table, art or other creative book or magazine for inspiration

~ Play an instrument

~ Sing a song

~ Pick up a creative project that’s been gathering dust lately

~ Make up your own yoga routine by stretching and breathing in ways that feel good

~ Make a list of as many creative experiences as possible that you’d like to try

~ Sit and breath (outside if the weather’s nice)

Of course, once you enjoy your 15 minutes of Creative Free Time you may decide you want to find another 15 minutes to play again.

To that I say, go for it! Rinse and repeat! Do it to it! By all means! Be my guest! Excellent! Yay you!

Please share this with your friends and invite them to join us in The 15-Minute Creative-Free-Time Treasure Hunt Challenge.

If you’d like to share your experience please do so in the comments below! I’d love to know the details of your challenge experience. Where did you find hidden pockets of time? What did you swap to make time for your Creative Oasis moments? How did it feel to give yourself permission to really dive in and enjoy your creative time guilt-free?

You may be surprised at how truly rewarding, relaxing and freeing 15 minutes of creative play can be. And 15 minutes of creative fun is way better than no creative fun at all!

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. ~ If you enjoyed this post please share on Facebook and twitter using the buttons below!  If you'd like to receive bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration like this Mid-Week Oasis Moments plus a free copy of my e-book "Permission to Be Creative 101" join me here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html.

Is Creating Beauty a Waste of Time?

"There are so many creative projects I would love to do...

IF I only had more time!"

Sound familiar? I'm guessing it does. Of all the reasons people tell me they don't get to their creative passions as often as they'd like, "lack of time" often tops the list. 

(Click here to share what's standing in the way of your creative dreams for a chance to win Creative Oasis Goodies including a 30 minute one-on-one creative coaching session with me.*)

Even though you know in your heart of hearts that time spent in the creative flow is good for your mind, body and spirit, you're waiting for hours and hours of free time to magically appear. (Not likely, right?)

I get it. I mean I really get it! 

The truth is I don't have time vast quantities of free time to get to every single creative project I dream of either. (Is that a shocker?) 

In addition to coaching my awesome one-on-one clients and creating new Mid-Week Oasis Moments and Creative Oasis classes and workshops to share with you, I'm also a chauffeur for my daughter...upkeep manager of the household...payer of the bills...doer of the laundry...feeder of the dogs...sorter of the mail...buyer of the groceries...maker of the meals...planner of the vacations...you get the idea.

Though it may not look exactly the same as mine, I'm sure that you also have a to-do list that just keep coming day after day...week after week...year after year.  Here's the thing, as I like to remind my clients, the day we have nothing left to-do on our to-do list it's pretty much game over. 

So, if we agree that our to-do lists aren't going anywhere and that it's highly unlikely we'll suddenly have hours and hours of unscheduled free time out of the blue, I invite you to answer this question: 

Is creating beauty and restoring your soul a waste of time? 

Great news! If your answered a resounding no (perhaps even "Hell no!") then you're ready to the next small step...literally. 

If the number one issue my clients come to me with is "lack of time" ~ the number one take-away they leave with after working with me through my classes or coaching is this transformative bit of knowledge:

"Wow! I really and truly don't need hours and hours of unscheduled free time to enjoy creative fun, fulfillment and flow!" 

And guess what, neither do you. 

People who work with me are amazed at the amount of creative satisfaction they experience after something as simple and fun as coloring in a mandala for a few minutes. (Google "free printable mandalas" and you'll find lots of wonderful options!)

Click here to read more in my previous "Mandala Making Magic in Minutes" post.

Sure, your creative heart's desire might not be to color in mandalas with colored pencils, but it's a start. Plus, it's a great way to experience low-pressure creative play quickly. 

Want to hear another thing people who work with me discover?  

Once they give themselves permission to enjoy these small bursts of creative play their overall passion for creativity returns only now since they're actually diving in and enjoying some hands on creativity rather than waiting for loads and loads of free time to appear, the experience of being in the creative flow becomes real...doable...and something they can actually weave into their busy lives on a regular basis. 

Ten or fifteen minutes of dive-right in creative fun can be just the thing to spark your desire to dust off your piano and play, pull down your watercolors and paint or open your journal and write! In fact, why not try it right now? This very minute? 

I invite you to set a timer for 15 minutes and enjoy some simple, creative fun whether. You could play an instrument, do a few yoga stretches, fill a page with doodles, fill a page with words, take an inspiring book off the shelf and enjoy the next 15 minutes of uninterrupted reading ~ all guilt free! I give you permission! 

If by chance you tend to (every once in a blue moon that is) spend 15 minutes or more on Facebook, playing Words with Friends, or online shopping (Who...me?) why not try substituting one of those (very fun...but not very creatively fulfilling) habits for a new creative habit? 

If this sounds good, I'd love help you do just that. How? By sharing the gentle accountably, compassionate reminders and powerful tools and techniques of one-on-one creative coaching that will have you creating more beauty and restoring your soul faster than you can say "If only I had more time!" 

As of today I can accept two more one-on-one coaching clients. If you'd like one of them to be you please leave me a message in the comments below or send me a direct e-mail message by clicking here. 

Still feeling stuck? 

Click here to take my short 5-question survey to share what's standing in the way of your creative dreams. As a thank you for your time you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win Creative Oasis Goodies including a 30 minute one-on-one creative coaching session with me. All entries must be complete and submitted by midnight Monday January 26, 2015.

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. ~ If you enjoyed this post please share on Facebook and twitter using the buttons below!  If you'd like to receive bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration like this Mid-Week Oasis Moments plus a free copy of my e-book "Permission to Be Creative 101" join me here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html.

Win Creative Oasis Goodies

Want a chance to win Creative Oasis goodies? It's easy!

Here's all you need to do for your chance to win a 

Creative Oasis "Keep Calm & Be Creative" t-shirt 

plus a 30-minute one-on-one coaching session? 

# 1 ~ Click here to complete my short and sweet 5-question Creative Oasis survey.

#2 ~ Complete and submit your survey by Monday, January 26, 2015 at midnight.

I'd love to sit down with you over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine to chat about your personal creative journey. But in the name of connecting with you and others from all over the world as quickly and easily as possible, I hope you'll do me a favor and share you story with me by answering a few quick questions.

I've created a short 5-question survey to help you quickly and easily share your personal creative story with me. (Click here to take it now.)

By sharing your creative dreams, challenges and struggles you'll help me provide the most helpful features possible to serve you with my all new Creative Oasis program. Knowing what's standing between you and your Creative Oasis will help me put the finishing touches on this special program designed specifically to help you spend more time enjoying your creative pursuits and passions.

To thank you for your time and for sharing your creative story with me, I'm holding a random drawing for a Creative Oasis  "Keep Calm & Be Creative" t-shirt plus a 30-minute one-on-one coaching session with me by phone. The winner will be randomly selected from all of the completed surveys I receive by midnight Monday, January 26, 2015.

As you answer the questions below please go into as much detail as you like and know that your answers will remain absolutely confidential!

I know your time is precious so I kept this survey short and sweet ~ just five questions. Feel free to write your answers in paragraph form or even just a quick list of words and phrases would be great!

Again ~ thank you so much! I look forward to helping make 2015 the most creatively fun and fulfilling year for you yet!

Click here to complete your survey and have your chance to win Creative Oasis goodies!

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours ~ Jill

The Creative Magic of 15 Minutes

Does experiencing this type of creative transformation sound good to you? If so, I invite you to set a timer for 15 minutes and dive into one of the creative prompts below. If you like Click Here to download a free printable PDF version.

 ~ "Even When" Creative Prompts ~

# 1 ~ Even though I feel so tired...one small doable way to spark my creative energy for the next 15 minutes might be to...

#2 ~ Even though my to-do list is sooooooo long...one thing I can release from my list right now without the world crashing down around me is...

#3 ~ Even though I feel like I don't have any time for myself...I can hop off the computer for the next 15 minutes and enjoy some creative play by...

#4 ~ Even though I feel so uninspired right now...I open myself to finding some creative inspiration for the next 15 minutes by...

#5 ~ Even though I just want to zone out in front of the TV...I give myself permission to enjoy 15 minutes of Creative Oasis time right now by...

Here's to seizing the next fifteen minutes to experience the positive transformation of creative time!

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan ~ Creative Oasis Coaching

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

P.S. ~ If you enjoyed this post please share on Facebook and twitter using the buttons below! 
If you'd like to receive bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration like this Mid-Week Oasis Moments plus a free copy of my e-book "Permission to Be Creative 101" join me here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html.

Be Here Now = Be Happy Now

It's so simple. Right here...right now...this moment is our life, as so beautifully put by Omar Khayyam:

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."

~ Omar Khayyam (1048 – 1131)

Khayyam was a Persian philosopher, mathematician, poet, musician, polymath, astronomer, physician and a bit of an overachiever if you ask me. (Just kidding.) Though Omar was definitely what I would call a multi-passionate creative! 

We all have memories of the past and dreams for the future...but it's only in the present moment that we truly live our life. 

So why does it often seem so difficult to "Be Here Now" as the western-born yogi Ram Dass was advised by his guru Bhagavan Das. (I googled it.)

Do you ever find the "if only" mantra playing in your mind? It sounds a little something like this:

If only my space was completely uncluttered and organized then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

If only I had more time then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

If only I was younger then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

Notice, the dreams remain the same...only the excuses differ. And I've got a million of 'em – don't you? A million dreams and a million excuses. 

But luckily, I also have the wonderful tools and techniques of Kaizen-Muse Creative Coaching to help me move gently past my million excuses as well as common creative blocks like procrastination, perfectionism, lack of time, overwhelm and get stuff done! 

Today my energy is zapped and truthfully I don't feel so hot. I'm shaking off the tail end of a head cold. Given how I'm feeling it would have been easy to go straight into "if only" mode...

If only I felt better I could write my Mid-Week Oasis Moment.

But by using a few of my favorite Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching methods and allowing myself to accept and embrace the moment for what it is, I'm in a pretty good place. In fact, I'm even creating this post! Here's how...

Small Questions

By asking myself questions such as: "What's one thing I am grateful for today?" and "How would it be if I'm be gentle with myself while I"m not feeling so hot?" I opened the door to practice permission and compassion. 

Permission/Self-Compassion 

By giving myself permission to be gentle with myself (which means rather than force myself to get up, get dressed and go work at my desk I get to remain huddled in bed wearing two sweatshirts with a cup of hot tea) I'm happily creating today's Mid-Week Oasis Moment in this moment. 

In the next moment I may be napping...and that's okay too. (self-compassion)

Small Steps/Timer

Since my energy is much lower than usual, using small steps is the perfect, low-pressure way to make it through my day. I'm setting a timer and working for 15 minutes or so then giving myself a break to close my eyes or make another cup of tea or read my Joni Mitchell book. 

I hope that you feel fantastic and healthy today, but the next time you're feeling under-the-weather or overwhelmed, I invite you to try using these simple (but so powerful!) methods to move past "if only" and into the now because for most of us, the now is a pretty wonderful place to be. 

All the best from my "Be Here Now" Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. ~ If you enjoyed this post please share on Facebook and twitter using the buttons below! 
If you'd like to receive bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration like this Mid-Week Oasis Moments plus a free copy of my e-book "Permission to Be Creative 101" join me here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html.

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

Wishing You These True Gifts...

In celebration of the Christmas season I wish you peace, love, light

and permission to fully embrace your creativity in 2015! 

How have you delighted in your creativity this season? 

How will you embrace and enjoy your creativity in the coming year? 

How will you nurture your creative spirit? 

Here's to good self-care, laughter, love, light and

fabulous creative experiences that make life worth living ~
at Christmas time and throughout the year! 

Merry Everything from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com