Dan Goodwin : Creativity Cookies : One Full Flavour

Creativity Cookies

One Full Flavour

By Dan Goodwin

One of the biggest causes of creative block is being overwhelmed by too much choice in what to create.

“Should I start a new story? Maybe I should work on my novel? That website I found on getting started with Altered Books was great, maybe I can begin one of those? Although I have those new paints I bought last year and are still sealed and unused? But then I promised myself I go out with my camera and take some black and white photos this weekend too!"

The list of possible creative projects we can start is virtually endless!

So this Creativity Cookie is called One Full Flavour and will help you choose one of those projects, get started and enjoy it to its fullest flavour, rather than feeling so confused and under pressure that you create nothing.

Little Nibble:

Here’s a fact to help you focus and have more realistic expectations about how many different projects you can create well: You will never have all the time, energy and focus to create every possible project you want to do, and develop every single idea into its full potential.

Knowing and accepting this is a POSITIVE thing. It means you can free yourself from unnecessary pressure, pick a project, give it your best and see where it leads, without worrying about clearing some never ending creative project “to do list”.

Write out your own version of this statement: There’s a limit to how many different projects I can create in my lifetime. Knowing this gives me the permission and focus I need to pick one project at a time, enjoy it, and freely explore it to its full potential.

Pin it up somewhere you’ll see it and recite it often. Enjoy the freedom of not having a huge list of creative projects you MUST create in the next day/ week/ month/ lifetime.

Big Bite:

Time to pick one project to begin with. The easiest way is to just go with your natural energy and motivation. Which project most appeals to you right now, which is calling you most? It’s easier to begin small, so if your chosen project is more like “write my seven novel historical saga” than “write a poem about Spring”, you might want to rethink your choice!

Next, commit to this one project for its duration. Simply say or write: “I have chosen this one project and will give it my full creative energy and attention until it’s reached a natural stopping point and I’m happy to move on.”

Final step: Get started! The most effective way is to set aside time each and every day to work on your chosen creative project. The amount of time depends on you and the size of the project. Once you’ve reached a point where you can let the project be complete, move on to the next one and start the process again.

Focusing on one project at a time — enjoying One Full Flavour — will help you become more creative and ENJOY your creativity more.

Would you rather be sat here in 12 months time proud of a dozen distinct new projects you’ve created, or STILL pondering which project to start with and feeling totally overwhelmed with choice?

Head over to CCS to share your experiences of One Full Flavour and see what others have shared: Join in on the discussion here. •

© Copyright 2008 Dan Goodwin

About the Author | More by Dan Goodwin
Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin is the author of “Create Create!”, a FREE twice monthly ezine for people who want simple and powerful articles, tips and exercises to help them unleash their creative talents. Sign up right now and get your FREE “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook, at www.CoachCreative.com.

04/26/08