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| Cultivate your Creative Power |
"Each of us has the ability to make something from nothing. We can tap
into our creative power by being attentive to what's needed in the
moment and acting accordingly, whatever form that takes. For one woman,
that might mean choreographing the right people to attend an important
meeting, to another it means giving birth to productive ideas, and yet
to another, it is shopping for and preparing a sumptuous meal. Using
our creative energy is what makes our lives vital. It turns the
ordinary into extraordinary. And it allows us to transcend ruin and
decay.
Lisa is a woman who has used her creativity to overcome a tragic loss.
She says, "A few nights ago, I woke up at 1:30 in the morning because
I heard screaming coming from the community beach and bath facility. I
ran out of my house and saw the structure on fire. I called for help
and the firemen came but most of the building had already burned to
the ground.
The families in our neighborhood were devastated by this disaster. The
next day, one of the other residents came with me to inspect the ashes.
We cried together, mourning our loss. To see the place that had given
so many of us so much joy this summer, gone, was tragic. As a group,
we had taken out insurance on the facility so there is money to
rebuild it. I have decided to volunteer my services as part of the
restoration committee. I am determined that we can build a new
structure that will be even more functional than the old one.
Some mothers have talked about adding a playground next to the bath
house for small children. With the help of my neighbors, next summer
we will not only have our beach house again, but a park, too." Like
Lisa, we can always tap into our creativity to deal with life's
circumstances.
Right now, let's do an experiment that I call Creative Observation so
you can experience the ordinary become extraordinary: Pick up a pen
and hold it in front of you. See the texture of the pen. Take note of
its different surfaces. Really look at it.
If your mind starts wandering off, bring it back by observing the
pen's colors. Do not allow yourself to get distracted. Keep your
attention on the pen. Now, see if the pen has any other textures,
colors or shapes that you hadn't noticed. As your attention gets more
focused, the pen will seem to come alive.
When we view people, places, and things in our lives creatively, we
experience them as if we were seeing them for the first time.
-- Helene Lerner |
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