Tapping Into Your Inner Peacock

photo by Jill Allison Bryan taken at Kalachandji's in Dallas

Imagine a world where peacocks tried to hide their magnificent colors away because they worried they might be presumed too bold or showy...or because they were afraid they weren't just the right shade of blue, green or purple...or because they thought all the other birds were so much more beautiful than them so why even bother?

Sounds downright unnatural, doesn't it? That's because it is! Peacocks were born to proudly parade their brilliant feathers in all their glory.

Now if you happen to be one of the many people who try to hide your own magnificent creative colors because you're worried that you might be seen as "showing off" or because your afraid your own personal creative process "isn't good enough" or because you think everyone else's creative endeavors are so much better than yours "why should you even bother?" I'm here to tell you that line of thinking is just as unnatural as a peacock trying to hide its brilliance.

I truly believe that you and I are born to share our creative light with the world in a multitude of ways whether it be painting, writing, crafting, gardening, dancing, making music, taking photos, hosting dinner parties, decorating, acting, scrapbooking, knitting...the list goes on and on. As I love to say, your Creative Oasis is whatever makes your heart sing and time fly!

What's one small way you might tap into your 

inner peacock and share your creative colors with the world today?

If you could use some help making the time and space for creative fulfillment in your life sign up here to receive a free copy of my short e-book Permission to Be Creative 101, Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration served weekly) and my monthly Creative Oasis Pages newsletter.

And if you're interested in learning more about how one-on-one creativity coaching may be just what you need click here to read more about Creative Oasis Coaching and how to schedule a complimentary session to see if it might be right for you.

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

Jill Allison Byan

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Looking on the Sunny Side of Life

I tend to look on the sunny side of life, at least I try to more often than not. Though I know we need the dark to see the light and bad times come hand in hand with the good…at this stage in my life, I’ve come to see the power in dwelling in the positive rather than the negative…expecting the best rather than the worst…seeing the good in people rather than the not-so-good whenever possible…remaining hopeful!

When I found this wonderful Helen Keller quote I knew I wanted to pair it with a photo I took on an early morning beach walk last week. What’s more hopeful than a sunrise? It’s literally the beginning of a new day…the opportunity to begin again…a fresh start.

With that in mind, what’s one small way you might “keep your face to the sunshine” today? What’s one simple way you might begin again? Do you have a project you’ve laid aside you’d like to revisit? Has it been too long since you last played the piano, picked up your needlework or took out the scissors and glue? What if you gave yourself five or ten minutes to get reacquainted with your creative calling?

"I Am Not Alone" painted and donated by Michelle Stroescu for Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women"

I wrote and recorded a song called “I Am Not Alone” for my CD, “Dancing In Limbo” that shares the reminder that rain combined with sunshine can create the magic of a rainbow. How might you play with the concept of light and dark in your creativity? My talented friend, Michelle Stroescu, painted and donated the artwork above for my CD release/silent art auction event, "Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women" which raised more than $10,000 for Women for Women International. (click here to see all of the amazing artwork which was donated by my generous, talented female friends for the event)

As always, I’d love for you to share anything that was sparked for you by this post and please feel free to share it with anyone you feel could use some permission to make time for their creative passions.

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Shining Brightly or Running on Empty?

“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save;     they just stand there shining.” 

– Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott says it so beautifully. Be yourself. Let your light shine. Stand tall and proud like a lighthouse being exactly who you’re meant to be…doing exactly what you’re meant to do…shining your own special light into the world. When we run around trying to be what everyone else wants us to be rather than standing firmly in our own brilliance, we end up draining our precious creative resources, energy and light.

What is it that you love to do? What makes your heart sing and time fly? That is your Creative Oasis™! That’s how you can let your light shine.

Do you like to try recipes from around the globe? Do you like to create cards to share with family and friends or even total strangers? Do you like to belt out songs for your kids, your grandkids or just for the sheer joy of singing?

Then please…by all means…cook, create, croon!

And know this…not everyone is going to love your Swisschard, chickpea and tamarind stew, but the people who do will ask for the recipe and daydream of the culinary delight your shared for days!

Recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi

Not every stranger will know quite what to make of your homemade cards, but the people who desperately need to receive a word of hope and encouragement (especially from a total stranger) will be lifted up by your creative kindness in a beautiful ways you may never even see.

Card I made for my daughter just cuz

And if even one child, grandchild or neighbor with an open-window experiences the musical joy you exude while singing a song at the top of your lungs as much as you do, then consider that a bonus to the freedom you feel when you let yourself croon a tune.

It’s worth your time. It’s worth your effort. It’s worth the expense. It matters. You matter. Please don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. We are here to let all of our talents, passions and dreams shine!

Will everyone like this Mid-Week Oasis Moment? No. Does my Creative Oasis Coaching appeal to everyone on the planet? Certainly not.  Am I trying to share my message with all the people of Earth? No way.

But, I know that this will resonate with a few of you, and that today you’ll allow yourself to shine a bit more brightly than you may have otherwise and the world will be a bit better and brighter for it and that is enough for me.

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously                                                       give other people permission to do the same.” 

– Marianne Williamson

As I write this I’m looking out the window of our rented beach house watching the waves crash ashore, the seabirds fly by and the clouds roll in. Before we left Dallas last week I’d already chosen the Anne Lamott quote for this week’s post and created the visual below. When we arrived here on Dauphin Island I saw a fun lighthouse statue and decided to add my own dash of island light to this Mid-Week Oasis Moment. How’s that for a heemeesheemee? (my word for a serendipitous moment)

What’s one small way you can use creativity to let your light shine today?

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours wherever you may be,

Jill

All rights reserved 2013 - Jill Allison Bryan - www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

5-Minute Flash of Creative Freedom & Fun

My latest 5-minute flash of creative freedom & fun!

I’m always looking for new ways to weave a littlelow-pressure creativity into my life and share it with others looking to do the same. Though I’m blessed to experience lots of creative satisfaction through my Creative Oasis Coaching work, I still want to practice what I preach and explore all manner of creativity for the sheer joy of it. Even a short burst of creative play can infuse our busy days with an amazing feeling of freedom and fun!

Although I’m a singer/songwriter and a creativity coach, I don’t consider myself a visual artist. Nevertheless, I love to play with art supplies, compile collages, dabble in photography and explore other forms of arts and crafts.

Mandala I made during a Creative Oasis Day Tripper outing

The latest, greatest way I’ve found to enjoy a quick flash of creative freedom is by using an app called “Over” on my iPhone. Last week I took a photo of my calendar (I love the Japanese Woodblock images), then wrote a quick haiku inspired by the shot and finally used the “Over” app to combine them to create the image you see above which I then posted on Instagram (creativeoasiscoach). I'm so happy with the way it turned out. The project took about five minutes from start to finish and was super easy and fun to do.

Today we have hundreds (if not thousands) of great, easy-to-use apps (many of them free) literally at our fingertips. I’ll continue to share my favorite findings with you as I search for the best and brightest that allow us to infuse a burst of creative energy into our busy lives.

BTW - I’m not an affiliate or associated with “Over” or “iPhone” in any way. Just like to share what’s working for me creatively in the hopes you might enjoy exploring it as well.

If you have a favorite app you use to add a little creative play to your day, I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Thanks so much to all of you who have donated to help my fundraising for Love Hope Strength!   I just returned from the hike which was seriously challenging, but doable and an amazing experience. We hiked with cancer survivors, their loved ones, musicians and hundreds of wonderfully caring people from all over the world to create awareness and raise money for Love Hope Strength - fighting cancer one concert and one hike at a time!       Near the summit and feeling fine! There's still time to donate to this fabulous foundation that's building cancer centers around the globe, helping to staff them with doctors and raising awareness about how easy and painless it now is to be a bone marrow donor.        Click here if you'd like to support my fundraising efforts with a donation of $5, $10, $15 or more.

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

Jill

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Pick a Color...Any Color

Blue Color Pages in my Creative Oasis Journal

How does a quick, low-pressure creative project sound?

One of my favorite activities to share with my classes and workshops is creating a color page.  

It’s a fun way to play with whatever supplies you have lying around and 

enjoy some pure creative process in a short amount of time. Here's how:

#1 – Choose a color you like.

#2 – Get a blank piece of paper or page in a journal.

#3 – Set a timer for 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

#4 – Use crayons, colored pencils, markers, paints, and/or images from magazines and quickly fill your blank page or pages with the color of your choice. (Any creative supplies you happen to have on hand will do.)

The image above is one of my favorite spreads from my Creative Oasis Journal – a blue color page. I filled these pages with magazine clippings, watercolors and a bit of marker. 

There’s no right or wrong way to create a color page. As you can see, I used many different hues of blue and there are other bits of color as well. I also added a few words that were inspiring to me. 

I love color pages because they’re such a simple and fun way to play with creativity. By combining limits (such as setting a timer and choosing one color to use) with freedom (such as having no expectations of what a color page should look like) – we lower the pressure and open the door to creative satisfaction and joy.

Want to create your own color page? Why not take the next five or ten minutes and give it a whirl? If you do and want to share, I’d love to hear about your experience or see a photo.

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours – whatever color it may be,

Jill

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

Slow Down – You Move Too Fast

If you’re of a certain age, or a Simon & Garfunkel fan, you know what comes next – “You got to make the morning last just kickin’ down the cobble stones, looking for love and feelin’ groovy.”

This song has been stuck in my head lately for a few reasons. First it was used by the leader of my business coaching group, Mapping and Mentoring with Marney, a few weeks ago as a prompt to tap into ways to “feel groovy” while growing our business – which resulted in a very energizing and inspiring mind-map for me.

Next, I had three turtles visit me in one day last week – my little niece’s stuffed turtle, a large snapping turtle on a country road and a smaller lake turtle on the side of the highway. I decided it would be fun to check out an animal symbolism website or two to see what the message might be.

You won’t be surprised that the turtle can be seen as a message to slow down the pace of your life (not the first time I’ve received thismessage - so apparently I need to hear it from time to time!) but there were other meanings I found interesting as well. More than one site said that turtles are reminders to :

Honor and protect your creative source within.

Practice patience (I can always use this reminder!)

And perhaps the timeliest message for me:

“The turtle buries its thoughts, like eggs, in the sand 

and allows the sun to hatch the little ones.

 This suggests that you develop your ideas 

before bringing them out into the light.”

I’ve been practicing giving myself permission to slow down my schedule and withdraw a bit from my in-person events, classes and workshops this summer so that I can focus on completing several new creative courses and e-books I’m excited to finish and share with the world.

My heemeesheemee turtle visits (heemeesheemee is my word for serendipitous) felt like a playful affirmation from the universe that slowing down, practicing patience and honoring and protecting the time I need for my inner creative source is definitely the right path for me at this time. Though I knew this in my heart, I’ve been struggling with the notion of pulling back on my offerings to give myself a creative sabbatical of sorts over the summer.

It may be pure coincidence that turtles kept popping up for me last weekend, but it’s so much more exciting and fun to see that bit of serendipity as a sign that I’m on the right path with my own Creative Oasis™!

photo credit Pegasus News

One splendid experience that came to from my new found intention to slow down was allowing myself to simply sit on a bench and look out over the lake after a morning walk for ten full minutes. I often see people just sitting and enjoying the view at the lake, but it seems I’m always in a hurry to get back home and get to work, so I usually just give them a longing glance and walk on by.

Not this week! This week I gave myself permission to pause. (Re-reading my posts from two summers ago on this exact subject has helpedrenew my commitment to this as well.)

I can honestly say those ten minutes I gave myself to simply sit and enjoy the view and the breeze put me in a wonderful frame of mind for the entire day. This is so in-line with Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coaching philosophy of giving ourselves permission to enjoy small amounts of time with our creativity, exercise, relaxation – whatever it is that we’re longing to do. We don’t have to have a full hour or more – ten minutes can do the trick nicely.

What’s one small way you might slow down this week? It could be as simple as taking one thing off of your to-do list or enjoying ten glorious minutes to just sit and daydream – inside or out.

I’d love to hear your favorite ways to slow down. Please feel free to share in the comments below. If you'd like to receive my Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite size bonbons of creative inspiration sent weekly to your inbox sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html. You'll also receive a free copy of my short e-book, "Permission to Be Creative 101."

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

Jill

Founder of Creative Oasis Coaching

Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

Singer/Songwriter

Turtle Lover

www.creativeoasiscoaching.com

Wanted Dead or Alive – Procrastination

(Click here to request a free printable version of this poster.)

Procrastination...it's one of our most common creative blocks.

It keeps us from enjoying our creative endeavors by allowing our inner critic to whisper in our ear: "You're no good at this. You don't have time for this nonsense. Who do you think you are?"

Procrastination convinces us that everyone else's stuff is more important than our own.

It causes us to hop up and look for something to eat when we're not the least bit hungry.

It fills us with a strange desire to re-organize our perfectly organized sock drawer or pantry or creative closet.

Procrastination tempts us to check Facebook, Twitter and email about ten times more often than we need.

It thrives on busy-work that could easily wait until tomorrow or even never in many cases.

It encourages our stubborn refusal to delegate and assures us that we must do everything ourselves.

Procrastination sucks. Literally. Procrastination sucks the creative life out of us. 
So how to we rid our lives of this insidious creative block?

Simply acknowledging our various procrastination habits is a great first small step. When see our blocks for what they are...when we're aware of the many ways they creep into our lives, that's the first step to hunting down procrastination and putting it behind bars where it belongs.

Here's an easy way to start. What if you make a quick list of all the various ways you might procrastinate today? By taking a moment to acknowledge the different ways you might keep yourself from making time for creative joy, you'll be more aware when your excuses pop up through out the day.

You may realize: 

"Oh, look - here I am on Facebook again. I could spend the next 15 minutes here, 

or I could get out my watercolors and paint." 

You may find yourself staring into your fridge and think,

"I'm not the least bit hungry for food. I want to play the piano!"

You may find yourself shuffling papers around your desk and have the epiphany

"I'd much rather be writing!" 

The idea is, when we're on the look out for our blocks we can stop them in their tracks. We can remind ourselves that we have a choice. "I can spend more time doing this thing I don't really need or want to be doing, or take this time back for my creativity." It takes practice, but it's a doable way to begin. And even if you only open up an additional ten or fifteen minutes in your day for creativity – well, that's ten or fifteen minutes more than you had before – so it's great movement in the right direction! 

Here's to rounding up our procrastination habits and locking them up where they belong so we can free up more time for creative satisfaction in our life!

Need more help saying NO to procrastination and YES to creative fulfillment? One-on-one creativity coaching may be just the ticket. 

Click here to check out Seven Reasons You Might Benefit from Creativity Coaching.

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

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

Recovering Procrastinator

Singer/Songwriter

Master Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

Founder Creative Oasis Coaching

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!