O'Keefe, Van Gogh, Sunflowers and You

(*An update from last summer's post.)
If you're inspired by the outrageous, sunny beauty of sunflowers you're in good company. Artists Georgia O'Keeffe and Vincent Van Gogh were clearly taken with the hopeful brilliance of the sunflower. 

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."

                                ~ Georgia O'Keeffe

"Great things are done

by a series of small things

brought together." 

~ Vincent Van Gogh

Why not enjoy some time playing with your own creative response to the sunflower?

You may choose to take O'Keeffe's words to heart and slow down for a few minutes to simply hold a sunflower in your hands and absorb its beauty. Or you may follow Van Gogh's Kaizen approach and choose a few small steps to take for a sunflower inspired creative piece of our own. 

Of course, you don't need to be a painter to enjoy a little sunflower power in your life. I've shared a few simple suggestions above and below to help you get started.

What if you:

* Add a dash of bold gold to your outfit for the day.

* Write a quick "ode to a sunflower" in haiku form.

* Doodle a page filled with sunflowers.

* Stay on the look out for sunflowers and notice how often you see them, letting each sighting serve as a fun reminder that creativity comes in all shapes, forms and sometimes in the most unexpected places.

* Download and print this free Van Gogh Sunflowers coloring page or google your own. (There are lots and lots of wonderful free coloring pages to be found on the internet.)

Click here to download your copy to color or paint. 

Since creating my Create the Summer of Your Dreams Kit with a sunflower as its symbol I see sunflowers everywhere! On my walks, in stores, on the side of the road, in a friend's headband, on billboards, even in my twitter feed in a Huffington Post story about 3D printing. 

Click here to learn more about the "Create the Summer of Your Dreams" Kit.

Until next time, I hope you enjoy your sunflower creations and inspirations whatever they may be and that they bring an added splash of color and creative play to your summer!

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

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.

Happy Independence Day from Me & Georgia!

Here's to celebrating and embracing your creative independence today! 

From my star-spangled Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

The Dalai Lama Vs. Your Inner Critic

"Everything else on your to-do list is more important than creative projects!"

"Are you kidding? You don't have time for this!"

"You're not an artist, writer, photographer, musician, gardener (fill in the blank)!"

"Who do you think you are?"

"Everyone else's needs are more important than your silly creative stuff!"

"Why bother?"

"You're wasting time!"

"You're wasting money!"

"You stink at this!"

Let's face it...our inner critic voice can be truly awful!

If you ever find yourself thinking insidious thoughts like these, you are not alone.

As a wonderful woman in my recent workshop at the Creative Arts Center put it, "My inner critic is a total asshole!"

We all laughed, while at the same time nodding our heads in agreement. Every woman there could relate on some level to the toxic messages our inner critic spews forth at times.

I'm lucky to be going to see the Dalai Lama speak today, so I've been revisiting some of his quotes that I love.

When I came upon the words above I figured he'd probably approve of the message being used as a reminder for us to be kind to ourselves as much as to others.

So, in true Kaizen form, I leave you with this one small question to ponder today in your journal, or on a walk or right now for that matter.

What's one small way you can be kind to your creative spirit today? 

And maybe the next time your inner critic comes calling you can call on the compassionate words of the Dalai Lama and show yourself a little love and kindness.

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

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.

Want To Shine A Light On Your Creative Power?

Want to tap into a feeling of more creative freedom and ease this summer? 

Why not take a cue from the sunflower and reach toward the light? 

When things on your to-do list start to feel overwhelming, difficult or unappealing try lightening them up by asking yourself these questions: 

* What's one small way I can make this easier?

* What's one small way I can make this more fun?

* What's one small way I can make this more doable? 

* What's one small way I can reward myself when I've finished?

It's amazing how asking ourselves these simple questions can help shift our perspective and shine a light on a whole new way of looking at situations and responsibilities that have us feeling bummed out, bogged down or blue.  

Click here for your free Sunflower Power Reminders printable. 

You can post it on your desk, tape it to your fridge, keep a copy in your car, or add one to your day planner  to help you remember you have the power to lighten things up. All you have to do is ask!

Another easy way to embrace a summer that feels light, fun and free is get yourself a copy of my Create the Summer of Your Dreams Kit. 

Until next time, here's to tapping into your own sunflower power and reaching toward the light!

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

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.

Want to Be In Love With Your Life? 10 Quick Questions to Help

Want to be in love with your life?

Specifically, do you want to be in love with your creative life? (Or as I like to call it, your Creative Oasis.)

You know those creative experiences that fill you up with happiness? Anything from gardening to yoga to painting to writing to making music to art journaling to traveling to visiting museums to cooking to photography...all of the creative experience that makes your heart sing and time fly!

Today I'm sharing 10 quick questions to help shift your focus to what's working well and what could use a little help in your creative life. (You know how I love questions! Asking them tends to lead us straight to the good stuff!)

Doesn't it make sense that the more time you spend having creative experiences you love the more you will love your life? (Jack was onto something! Woot!)

To join me, set a timer for 5-minutes and quickly write your answers in your journal or on a sheet of paper.

Either way, please try writing them down somewhere. There's something powerful in the act of writing your thoughts on paper rather than just thinking them in your mind.

Ready? Here we go...

#1 ~ Are you in love with your creative life? 

#2 ~ If yes...what do you love about it? (If no...skip down to question #6.)

#3 ~ What's one simple way you can expand what's working well to enjoy it in a new and different way? 

#4 ~ What's another creative experience you've been dreaming of that you haven't yet tried? What's one small step you could take toward making that happen next?

#5 ~ What if you take a moment right now to enjoy a nice deep breath of gratitude for your wonderful creative life?  (Yay! Gratitude works like fertilizer to feed the flowers of our creative spirit and keep it growing strong! Please proceed to question #10.)

#6 ~ If no...what's worked well in the past? What's one small way you could revisit that?

#7 ~ What's one new thing you'd like to experience that you've never tried before? What's one small, doable step you could take to help make that happen?

#8 ~ If you're feeling stuck coming up with answers for 6 and 7, where might you find help? 

#9 ~ What's one way you can show some compassion and be kind to yourself around this? (*Hint: see question #10.)

#10 ~ How can you spend the next 5 to 10 minutes in a way that feeds your creative spirit and energizes and delights you?* 

(*Ideas: doodle, color, take a few photos with your phone, write a haiku, play a song on the piano or guitar, make a meal using as many colors as possible, take a walk around the block and look for pink things, write your creative self a letter telling her all the things you wish for her!) 

Questions are creative lighter fluid! Here's hoping that by pondering these questions you'll spark your creative curiosity and passion today and move one or two steps closer to being in love with your creative life!

Still need help? The one-on-one creative coaching I offer provides compassionate support, gentle accountability and ongoing inspiration to help you stay motivated and loving your creative life!
Learn more about it here.

You'll also find easy-to-use creative instigation and motivation in my "Create the Summer of Your Dreams  Kit" available here.

Until next time, all the best from my "I Love It!" Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

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.

Do you live in DFW? Please join me Saturday June 20, 2015!

Building Creative Confidence Workshop ~ Creative Arts Center of Dallas ~ Saturday, June 20, 2015

You dream of spending more time with the creative endeavors you love. 

You have lots and lots of ideas for creative projects and possibilities but you don't know where to begin. 

You know you want to experience more creativity in your life, but you're not sure what that would look like. 

Everything else in life pushes creativity to the bottom of your to-do list.

You find procrastination and perfectionism keep you from your creative passions. 

You just feel stuck.

If any of these sound familiar I hope you'll join me for my next live workshop at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, Saturday June 20, 2015.

During our afternoon together I'll introduce you to several of the same simple yet powerful Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching tools and techniques I use with my one-on-one creative coaching clients around the world. 

The methods I'll share will help you: 

*Move past common creative blocks such as procrastination and perfectionism

*Diffuse feelings of overwhelm and not knowing where to begin

* Dive into low-pressure, hands-on creative activities to start your creative juices flowing  to 

* Help you quickly and easily make more time and space in your life for the creative experiences and expressions you desire

* Build your creative confidence

* Give yourself permission to live the creative life you're meant to live 

* Enjoy more time with Creative Oasis Moments (creative experiences that make your heart sing and time fly!)

"Jill's workshop gave me permission to take time for myself and 

not feel guilty about it. It inspired me and got me going!" 

~ Sherry Houpt, Creative Oasis Coaching class participant

Your Creative Oasis can be so much more that art, music, writing or other traditional artistic outlets. It's any activity or experience that makes energizes and delights you. 

It could be gardening, cooking, yoga, dance, entertaining, comedy, reading, scrapbooking, photography, jewelry making, traveling...you name it. 

Whatever puts you in that lovely creative "freedom zone" where you're fully engaged in the joy of the process...that's your Creative Oasis and I'm delighted to help you weave more of those experiences into your life on a regular basis! 

Sound good? 

Join me for my Building Creative Confidence Workshop, and take the first small steps into the wonderful feeling and flow of creative momentum! 

What:

Building Creative Confidence Workshop

When:

Saturday, June 20, 2015

1 to 5 pm

Where: 

Creative Arts Center of Dallas
2360 Laughlin Dr.
Dallas, TX  75228

Cost:
$65 for CAC members
$95 for non-members
plus $10 material fee

*Note: This workshop is limited to 10 participants with
pre-registration required.To register call the Creative Arts
Center of Dallas at 214-320-1275 or visit their website at www.creativeartscenter.org

“I absolutely loved Jill’s workshop. I’m more mindful and aware of new ways to acknowledge and incorporate creativity in my everyday activities. I'm inspired to give myself permission to get my creative stuff out and use it.  It was like a massage for my mind! Thank you!” ~  Denise R.

Hope to see you there!

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. ~ If you don't live in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area, or you can't make it to the workshop but still want to add some creative fun and fulfillment to your summer check out my "Create the Summer of Your Dreams Do-It-Yourself Kit" by clicking here. 

Two Minutes to Remind You How Good It Can Feel

Remember how good those first few days of summer felt when you were a kid? 

Waking up and realizing you didn't have to go to school? Taking off in the morning with friends to explore the neighborhood for hours on end? Reading book after book just for the fun of it? Selling lemonade and running through sprinklers?

How'd you like a taste of those carefree summer days again? Let me guess. That sounds lovely, BUT... 

"Who has the time?" 

"The kids may be on vacation, but I still have to work." 

"My days are so full and fly by so fast, I don't even know where to begin doing something just for me." 

"I have too many responsibilities to do the things I'd really like to do ~ even in summer."

"Vacations end up stressing me out more than relaxing me."

Sound familiar?

Want to experience how quick and easy creating more "me" time can be this summer? 

Simply click here to download a special Summer Dreamin' play sheet featuring prompts straight from my "Create the Summer of Your Dreams Kit" that you can use with right now.

Next set a timer for two minutes, fill out your Summer Dreamin' sheet and let the fun begin!

Before you know it you'll be well on your way to enjoying the first of many quintessential summer moments. (Remember, you only need 10 minutes or less a day to create a summer to remember!)

That's the whole reason I created the "Create the Summer of Your Dreams" Do-It-Yourself Creative Oasis Kit ~ to help you quickly and easily envision and enjoy more delightful "me time" this summer.

Click here to grab your kit and start today.

Here's what Marney K. Makridakis, author of Hop, Skip, Jump and Creating Time had to say about her experience with "Create the Summer of Your Dreams." 

"Now, THIS is the way to start summer! Jill's unique kit is ideal to guide people step-by-step to set summer intentions and, better yet, keep them. Her playful prompts and delightful presentation are inspiring but never overwhelming. Thank you, Jill, for this simple, fun way to turn creative summer dreams into reality."  

BONUS ALERT ~ Purchase "Create the Summer of Your Dreams" during the first week of its release (by midnight (CST) Tuesday, June 9, 2015) and you'll be invited to a free "Let's Get Started Q & A Call" on June 11th. (If you picked up your copy last summer, you're invited to join us too!)

It can be a challenge to start off on your own, even with something you really want to do, so on our call we'll dive into the kit together and begin. I'll help you take the first small steps to creating the summer of your dreams right then and there. (And no worries in you're unable to join us live, the call will be recorded for everyone who has registered.)

Still not sure if "Create the Summer of Your Dreams" is right for you? Visit this page for more details and your chance to get in on the free "Let's Get Started Q & A Call" on June 11th. 

I'm so excited to walk you step-by-step through the special prompts and experiences I created to help you envision and enjoy the summer of your dreams. Click here and your dream summer starts today! 

All the best from my "Dream Summer" Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill