Coffee Shop Art: "Perfunctory" pages

I asked myself this morning:

"If I already know what I want to do today and I am rearing to go, what use is there in doing my pages?

Is there really any point in whipping out 3 perfunctory pages of nothing just to say I did?"

What the heck, I said to myself, I'll just do something and then get on to the "real" stuff ......

Coffee Shop Art: Ticket Bird

Coffee Shop Art: Sweet Sun

 Here's what I wrote on the rays of Sweet Sun: 

....play 

....use what you have

....do what makes you smile

...don't worry who's lookin'! (they probably want to play too!)

...go ahead: waste something in the name of art (the sugar packets!)

...can't think of words? pick a color...

...when in doubt, turn the page

...just start!

Wow! I'm so glad I took the time to be "perfunctory".....How about you?

Inner Critic Kryptonite Files: What's Your Dream?

When we last saw our heroine the Princess, she had just discovered Inner Critic Kryptonite (I.C.K) #1 Expose it! She was thrilled, excited, and dare I say giddy with power--complete with Kung-fu fantasies of black-belt Inner Critic ninja-dom.....

"Don't wear yourself out yet Princess," Captain Creative said smiling as they made their way down the tower's dark stairs. "You'll get your battles. But this is bigger than just your Inner Critic."

"What do you mean," asked Princess Katherine, stepping out into the late afternoon sunshine. "I thought the Kryptonite was all about going after my Inner Critic? "

"The X-Ray glasses, along with all the other Kryptonite you will discover, will be invaluable. But, remember this Princess, " Captain Creative warned. "Your dream is more precious than all the Kryptonite in the world. If you put too much focus on your Inner Critic, he'll blind you to your dream and have you right where he wants you--in the palm of his hand. He'd like nothing more than to keep you running around in circles, too busy to go for your dreams. It's the oldest trick in the book."

"Good Grief! He's trickier than I thought!" said the Princess, looking worried.

" Let me ask you this, Princess. Where was your Inner Critic when you were back up there in the tower?" Captain Creative asked. 

"Hmmm...  I don't remember seeing him," the Princess said.

"Of course not!" Captain Creative exclaimed, "When you're safe in your tower, locked up from the world, your Inner Critic can nap all day long. He only shows up to stop you when you're going towards something that really matters to you."

" So, what's your dream, Princess?" asked Captain Creative. If you could do anything, what would you do?"

"Do anything? My dream?" the Princess muttered, sounding confused. "I'm not used to thinking about my dreams. I'm usually so busy with day-to-day grind of being a Princess."

"Of course! That's what Inner Critics do--they keep you so busy, distracted, or tired, that you don't even have time to think about your dreams."

"Really?" gasped the Princess. "It's my Inner Critic that gets me to volunteer for all those committees?"

"I wouldn't put it past him!" said Captain Creative. "But never fear! That's why I'm here--It's my job to  help you reconnect with your dreams!"

Captain Creative asked the Princess to close her eyes and imagine stepping through a door to her dreams. In her imagination, she looked around and saw her passions and loves as a child, as a girl, even as a grown up! She started to remember this and that, all the things she had always wanted to do.


When she opened her eyes and Captain Creative asked her again " What's your Dream?".... this time the Princess had an answer!

"Name what? " asked the Princess. "I won't know the name of the cookbook until it's done, and doesn't the publisher get to decide the title?"

"Name your DREAM," said Captain Creative. "Your dream is a very big deal. It's going to be your hero's quest. You'll be trekking all over the kingdom and battling gremlins inside and out to get to it. You've gotta have a good name for it--one that inspires you, gives you strength, and helps you remember what it's all about when the going gets tough. Besides, when you name your dream, you make it that much more yours."

"Can it be a funny name?"

"You bet! Inner Critics like funny just about as much as they like Kryptonite. The more fun the better!"

"Well, when I was little I actually got started on the Sparkle-o-Rama Best Ever Cookbook...I had almost forgotten that," giggled the Princess. "That's what I'll call it!"

"You're so much fun, when you let your hair down Princess!" 

"Ok, let's see how we're doing," Captain Creative said, going through her list. "Inner Critic X-ray glasses--check; exit tower--check; name your dream--check. Now, it's time to make a vision board for your dream!"

"A vision board? " asked the Princess "What's that?"

"Oh it's a collage of things that remind you of your dream. Look, I have scissors, glue, and some old magazines right here in my utility belt. Just tear out pictures and words that you like and glue them down on this poster board. You can use your markers and glitter too. It's easy!"  

Tearing and pasting was so much fun that the Princess completely lost track of time. When she stopped and had a look at what she'd done, at first she was thrilled. But almost without realizing it, old familiar thoughts slowly crept into her mind, and she began to second guess herself. She felt like a wet blanket had been dumped on her free-spirited happiness. 

" Hold on a minute!" thought the Princess, reaching for the Inner Critic Kryptonite X-ray glasses...

 

With the X-ray glasses on, the Princess did something she'd never done before. She saw her Inner Critic, exposed him, and sent him running with his wet blanket between his legs. The look of shock on his face was priceless. She would remember it forever!

"I love these glasses!" squealed the Princess triumphantly.

"You did it, kiddo!" cheered Captain Creative. " You're a natural at Inner Critic busting! But keep those X-ray glasses handy, Princess. We haven't seen the last of that masked man...."

 

To Be Continued...

Tune in next time as Captain Creative reveals Inner Critic Kryptonite #2 Name It! and Princess Katherine sets out on her Sparkle-o Rama Dream Journey!

In the Mean Time Make Your Own

Vision Board!

You can make a vision board just like the Princess! Remember to keep your X-ray glasses handy to expose your Inner Critic, as well a little notebook to write down and any "wet blanket" messages your Inner Critic throws your way.

  

Gather your Supplies:
Glue stick, scissors, paper or poster board, and magazines to tear up, plus any other supplies that makes you happy (glitter highly recommended!)  

The Steps:

• Give yourself permission to play for 30 minutes and make sure your Inner Critic is off doing the dishes or watering the lawn.
• Gather your supplies and find a comfortable spot.
• Flip through magazines and rip (yes rip!) out images, words, textures that "speak" to you. When I say speak, I mean they make you say ooo!  yum!  love that!  etc.
• After about 15 min of tearing and collecting images, get out your glue stick and paper. Start sticking the images down in any way that you like. Feel free to decorate with glitter, stickers, whatever makes you makes you gleefully happy.
• That's it! You've done it! Now you can display your vision board proudly or tuck it into your journal. It will help activate and manifest your dreams either way.

 Tips:

• Don't worry about figuring out what the images you choose mean or why the appeal to you, just listen and gather.

• Remember to listen to what matters to you--rather than pictures of yachts, stacks of cash, and designer clothes. Unless, of course, those things make you tingle with aliveness and pleasure--in which case use 'em!

• Please share! Post a picture of your vision board on
  The Inner Critic Kryptonite Facebook Page.
  Or tell me about it on my Blog.
  I'd love to see what you've done and so would everyone else! 
  

Adventure Club:

• Do your vision board on the cover of your journal. (You may want to cover with clear contact paper to protect it when you're done

• Scan it and use it as your computer desktop

• Take a picture of it with your phone and use it as your background

• Continue to collect images, words, textures, colors in the pocket of your journal and sprinkle them through your pages. 

Enjoy!

Floating: Guided Visualization

Floating: Guided Visualization 

 

My gift to you: a custom visualization I created for a client today.
It takes just 10 minutes, and you'll take a little peace, lightness, wonder and inspiration into your day.
Please post your expereince in my blog comments, if you feel inspired.

Inner Critic Kryptonite #1: Expose It!

In Once Upon a Time, we left Princess Katherine hiding out in her tower and staring wide-eyed at the mysterious arrival of Captain Creative. We rejoin the Princess as Captain Creative introduces herself...

Before Princess Katherine could say anything, Captain Creative darted over to the tower's  home entertainment system. With the press of a button a strangely familiar video popped up on the screen. "Wait a minute!--these are scenes from my own life!" the Princess exclaimed. With the glasses on the Princess began to see things she had never noticed before. 

"Oh, I remember that day at the Talent Show!" she gasped. "I remember the panic, the embarrassment, the failure!... but wait--Who's that guy?" she asked, pointing to a shifty character in a black mask peeking out from behind the curtain.

 

 The Princess took off the glasses. Suddenly she couldn't see him anymore. When she put them back on, he reappeared. "So these X-ray glasses let me see my Inner Critic?" she asked incredulously. She put the glasses on --and off--on--and off--just to check it wasn't a trick. Grudgingly convinced, she paused and turned to Captain Creative, "What is my Inner Critic anyway?" 

"Your Inner Critic, Princess, is nothing more than that voice of fear, guilt and self-doubt in your head. You know the one I'm talking about?" The Princess shook her head, knowingly.

 

Captain Creative went on," It sounds like 'you can't,' 'you shouldn't' or 'who do you think you are?!"  It hates change and  just wants you to stay small and safe up here in your tower, even if it makes your life miserable."

 

"Why me? What have I done to deserve this?" protested Princess Katherine.

 

"Oh, It's nothing personal, Princess. Everyone's got an Inner Critic. Some people are just better than others at outsmarting it."

 

"Great!" the Princess whined. "So what can the rest of us do?"

 

"Never fear!" Captain Creative beamed."That's why I'm here! I'm here to show you the Inner Critic Kryptonite and teach you its secrets. You'll be a pro in no time! Look how you're already using #1 Expose it....

 

 

Faster than a speeding doubt,

more powerful than your Inner Critic,

able to leap creative blocks in a single bound,

It's Inner Critic Kryptonite! 

 

 

To Be Continued...

 

 

Tune in next time as Princess Katherine takes her Inner Critic head on with Kryptonite#1 Expose It!

 

In the meantime, you can practice too. Inner Critc busting homework (Goody! my favorite kind!) 

Try This At Home

 

Put your Xray glasses on and Expose YOUR Inner Critic! 

 

Wear your Xray glasses this week and carry a mini-notebook with you. Whenever you feel the Fear Phaser shining on you--simply stop for a moment and write down any critical, fearful or worrying thoughts you have. Just notice them, write them down and get on with your day.

 

Play with being an observer of the process. Without judgement or attachment, pay attention to the following things:

 

• Notice what happens before, during and after you expose your Inner Critic
• Notice what thoughts come up again and again
• Notice what physical sensations accompany your Inner Critic

 

If you haven't got your notebook handy, write the words down anywhere--on a napkin, deposit slip or simply say them out loud. Don't worry about fighting your Inner Critic or disproving it just yet. It's a huge first step just to notice it. You'll see the effect of Inner Critic Kryptonite #1: Expose  it! and you'll be ahead of the game for Inner Critc Kryptonite #2--Coming  soon!

Let me know how it goes by posting your Inner Critic's 3 favorite low-blow lines on my blog! 

 

I'll Tag it Journal Juice

I love journaling! Search for the tag "journal juice" for journaling ideas, or check out the Journal Juice page for a list of journal ideas I'll keep adding to. 

Project Idea: Stitched Journal Cover

To make my stitched journal cover, I simply poked holes (with an awl-probably anything sharp and pointy would do) through the cover at regular internals and then proceeded to do some basic embroidery down the side (blanket stitch). So simple, and yet so fun-must be breaking the old taboo of poking holes in a book that was so thrilling! It would be fun to do this with wire and beads or ribbons......give it a try and let me know what you create!

Flower Scavenger Hunt

Take 30 minutes

during your lunch

hour today and

see how many

different flowers

you can find.

 "Pick" them

with your camera,

a doodle in

your journal,

or a brush

against

your cheek.

 

Pretend

you're

a bug.

Get low,

get high,

discover
a new
view.

 

Whoever has

the most fun

wins!

I found 26

just on my

walk this

morning--

along with

the energy

and inspiration

to have a great day,

despite waking up tired and a little down.

Now it's your turn. How many can you find?

Once upon a time.... (The beginning of the Inner Critic Kryptonite Files)

Once upon a time, in a prosperous kingdom not that different from our own... 
there lived a bright young spark named Princess Katherine. She loved to be plugged into
the aliveness of the world--wherever there was something to be learned, figured out, or invented. She delighted in people as much as in art and learning. Her smile and her creativity were like rays of sunshine, lighting and warming the lives of those around her. For this she was beloved by her people, her family, and the royal court.

But all was not completely right in the land of Princess Katherine. It was SO joyful, so easy
to pick berries in the forest of possibility and to gather flowers in the fields of ideas.But, whenever she actually decided on an idea and sat down to really make it happen, something always seemed to get in her way...

Like the time she decided to make a make a pie and decorate it with flowers. She couldn't have been more in love with the project. She could see it, she could taste it--this would be easy and fun!


But as she planned the recipe the ideas came faster
and faster, building until there were so many ideas that Katherine didn't know what to do with them!

"I could put the extra flowers in a vase. I've always wanted to try floral design.... Oh, and then I could paint the flower arrangement...If it's good, maybe I could even sell my painting, ooooo--I could even have a show!" Katherine squealed.

This all felt so exciting, so spectacular. Little did she

know that her evil saboteur lurked in the shadows playing one of his favorite games. By sprinkling distraction dust on Princess Katherine's dreams they quickly began to overwhelm her rather than inspire her.


The possibilities began to spiral out of control. With the grand new ideas came other voices too, that gripped her heart like a fist: What if no one likes it, what if it's awful ?!?

Disoriented and confused, Katherine ran away from all that shouting and clamoring. She retreated to her tower to catch her breath. It was so fun to be creative, so why was it that whenever she decided on a project, actually finishing it became noisy and overwhelming?

 Safe in her tower, she started to blame and doubt herself "Maybe I don't have what it takes. The writers and artists I see just know what to do. They don't seem to struggle with focus or motivation like me. Oh well. I'm good at other things. Maybe I'll stick to what I can be good at and not deal with all this crazy hard stuff." And she curled up on her bed for a nap.

Luckily for Katherine, she had a fairy godmother--or rather the personal super hero, Captain Creative, who had her eye on the princess. Captain Creative decided the time had come to step in and reveal the Inner Critic Kryptonite-- the powerful weapons that would help Katherine escape from the tower, defeat distraction, sail past her Saboteur, and finally get to taste the fruits (and pie!) of her labor....to be continued......





Tune in Next Time as Captain Creative reveals the secrets
of the Inner Critic Kryptonite Files..... Saboteurs beware! 

Demon In the Dark

Demon
demon
in my head
Leave me alone!
Get outta my bed!

I could sleep
in peace
but you come
in war
slithering darkly
'cross my floor.

I'm tired. I'm wired.
panic is coursing through my veins.
my heart is gripped by primal fear
of what? --it's not exactly clear.
but no matter!
the impending doom is real,
or so urges your incessant chatter.

How does my Inner Hero
sleep so sound?!
She should know by now
It's nighttime that I need
my bodyguard in town.

I'm sick of this--Enough!

I'll have to handle this myself.
groping through the darkness
for my notepad on the shelf.

my pencil scratching,
the only sound
my heart already
begins to pound
more slowly.
can't see a thing,
but the words are there.

demon boy has retreated to the chair.

Fabulous Focus: Indulging in Distraction Within the Project

So here’s the gig—everyone has always told me “you have to focus, Katherine.” I’ve always harbored the rebellious fantasy that I could get away without it. I could work harder, work faster, delegate, stay up late, but say no to distraction?!?—NEVER! And I’m not talking about lame things I didn’t want to do anyway; I mean all the yummy

“yes” things I love to do—all the books to read, the deep, urgent conversations to have, all the mixed media projects to start, all the incredible classes to take and to teach….

But the day has finally come, I’m ready to embrace FOCUS.

Why? Well, you see, all these years I thought I was stealing from someone else’s cookie jar—just a little detour here, just one teensy side project over here, and one minor delay for something really cool over there… who could it possibly hurt? Truly a victim-less crime, I assured myself.

But recently it’s really sunk in that the cookie jar is MINE!—and all those cookies (and all that time) were mine to use as I wanted anyway! Which changes the whole game, of course. It means the real question was never how much I could steal or whether I could get away with it, but what I really wanted to do with my cookie jar.

Woah.... If you put it that way, I guess I want to be coo

king up new batches (and new recipes), rather than playing mind games with the crumbs. Is THAT what focus means? Hmmmmm…. Now that’s starting to sound pretty interesting…. Somehow I

don’t think My Inner Team is going to buy it so easily.

“Not so fast, ”interjects Madame,

the Choreographer of My Inner Team

—who loves grandiose plans and delicious diversions and has aspirations of going to Carnegie Hall. “I would rather die a happy,wandering gypsy than some big, stuffy, focused CEO or bean counter, or even some fame hungry star who can pick and choose her projects…oh wait…I don’t want that?, but I do want freedom to be fabulous and choose any project I want… well….” She stops mid sentenceand

the wheels begin to turn behind her hoop earrings and dramatic makeup. “Wow so focusing means I can create any type of cookie I want? Even brownies? I could get behind this.

Done deal. Madame is in, I’m ready to go to the kitchen and start creating!

“Over my dead body!” shrieks another voice of dissent—Mia, my inner toddler—who wants what she wants when she wants. “I want the cookie and I want it now!” She crosses her arms, daring me to defy her. She’s not buying one word of this focus-pocus. So I don’t even bother with the focusing-means-making-bigger-and-better-cookies argument. She doesn’t care about making cookies, she just wants yummy and she wants it now! And she’ll hold her breath till she passes out to prove it. Delayed gratification never has been her thing.

Listen Mia, What if you could do whatever you want?

Mia’s ears perk up. I have her attention, So I plunge forward.

You could do all the things you love- within the project we’re focusing on.

Hrmm, she says, “So, if I want to write something else when you’re doing your book proposal, I can?” “Well,” I answer, “Maybe we can write that down in the inner team blog.” “What if I feel like stitching and beading?” Mia continues. “You could make an inner team puppet or art doll,” I answer warming up to this,“ And if you’re feeling like collage you could work on the book cover design.”.

Here’s the deal you can eat the cookie dough while I make more cookies, rather than stealing cookies from the jar. “ OK!” Mia squeals, “I’m in. What are you waiting for?” She toddles off to get the chocolate chips.

I better get in the kitchen before the flour starts flying without me. Stay tuned and wish me luck…this maybe messy, but at least I know we’re all on the same team.

A Valentine to Myself

A Valentine to myself.... I love the way you turn your angst into art!
I love that you start your Saturdays with Yoga.
I LOVE that you finally got blue highlights-so FUN!

I love that you spontaneously wrote this newsletter!

I love that you wrote valentines (like this) to your kids!

I love that you're knitting a blue scarf to match your hair.

I LOVE your courage, your fierceness and your boldness

I also LOVE your softness, your quietness and your shyness.

I love that you keep thinking, noticing, feeling and learning.

I love that you've found and made friends that love you and lift you high.
I love that you keep at things that matter to you, even when it gets hard.
I love that you journal every damn day! It's not true that you're inconsistent!

I love that you figured out how to make exercise a natural, easy part of your life.

I love the way you can dress up on a dime and wear peacock feathers in your hair!

I love that you make the bed in the morning and create a little oasis of order in your life.
I love that you clear you desk off and leave your studio clean and ready for play. (most days)

I love that you are willing to examine and un-collapse your beliefs, judgements, and assumptions.
I love your mango, and papaya colored sheets and bedding! They make me happy every single day.   

love, me

Homework:
Now write yourself a Valentine! Set a timer for :15 minutes and just keep writing until it rings. easy-peasy!

Extra Credit:

Start your journal each day this week with a mini-Valentine to yourself.

Hint: If you're having trouble, write a valentine to a loved one first, to get the love juices flowing. If If you're still having trouble with a self-love valentine, imagine your loved one writing one to you! If your Inner Critic* still won't get out of the way, visit my website for a free workbook download that can help: Summon Your Inner Hero, Outwit Your Inner Critic and Get up to your Greatness!--click on the picture of Captain Creative in the right hand column and you can instantly download a fun and effective way to name and tame that pesky little Inner Critic*.

 *Who's your Inner Critic? -Just the the voice inside your head saying "it's vain and conceited to say anything positive about yourself"... "I would love you if only you __(fill in the blank)," blah blah, blah.....BLAH! You know, that voice?