Day 1: The Power of the Words Within Us
"Creativity is intelligence having fun."
- Albert Einstein
What does creativity mean to you? I don't mean the dictionary approved definition, but more the personal feeling and embodiment of the word. I have found that my definition of creativity has changed over the years. I used to think it was something reserved only for fine artists. I never identified as creative, until recently, when I redefined what the word meant to me and how I perceive it. Now I assign feelings to the word creativity instead of just thinking of what it is. Creativity is more than the act of turning ideas into reality.
Creativity is practicing the cycle of thinking, producing, sharing, and reflecting...over and over again. Because of this, creativity is something that can be nurtured and improved over time. It knows no limits besides the ones we place on it. Please feel welcome to share your questions, comments, ideas, challenges, and creativity with me privately or in the comments below, on social media, or in my Facebook Group: Susan Harbourt's Creative Space focused on cultivating creativity and nurturing joy.
Welcome to Day 1 of my 30 Day Challenge: Cultivate Creativity and Nurture Joy. Today we will look at The Power of the Words Within Us.
There are endless things that you can try to help manifest abundance, prosperity, and joy in your life. The most important lesson I have learned in 2020 is that joy and creativity can be nurtured and will grow to bring you endless abundance and prosperity. But the work has to come from within yourself, no one else can do it for you. The good news is that you can learn how to cultivate the change we wish to see.
Words are so very powerful, especially the words that come from deep within ourselves. I want to start 2021 with words that are powerful, positive, and purposeful. But where should you start? Why not start with yourself!
To begin today’s challenge, gather a few pieces of paper (or your journal) and something to write with. Start by brainstorming descriptive, powerful, and positive words that start with each of the letters in your name. You can use your first name, last name, nickname, or whole name for this challenge...the choice is yours. Write the words down as you think of them.
Next write your name vertically on a fresh piece of paper. Select the word that feels the most powerful to you that starts with the letters corresponding to your name. Go down your name, writing the words beside each of your name letters.
Read through the words to see how they feel to you, do they all resonate? If there are any that don’t sit right, change them out for one that connect with you. It should feel harmonious like an instrument playing an perfectly tuned chord.
Now that you have your words, I want you to write “I am” before every letter. This will become your daily affirmation during this 30 Day Challenge.
Take your paper and stand in front of a mirror and read this list out loud to yourself at least 3 times. Say the words with clarity and intention. Feel them and believe them, they are your truth, they come from you. Read these words to yourself every morning and every evening.
Congratulations, you are on your path to nurturing you joy and cultivating creativity!
XOXO Susan
If you choose to share your daily challenge, please tag me (@SusanHarbourt) in your post or story. I’d love to see what you did and hear what you thought of this challenge!
Please join my private Facebook Group: Susan Harbourt's Creative Spaces for more conversation.
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Also in Artist's Journal
Day 4: Remembering the Past with Positivity
When you complete a big accomplishment, and you are asked how you did, do you normally focus on what you did wrong...or do you celebrate what you did well?
I admit that I have a habit of dwelling on what I didn't do as well as I had wanted. Sometimes I even get on a fixation loop of replaying my mistakes in my head. But what I have learned is that this is not a productive behavior and can lead to anxiety and depression.
What I have started to do is focus on what I did well and acknowledge that first. Then instead of looking at my errors as mistakes, I view them as areas of improvement instead of calling them failures. For every area of improvement that I identify, I assign a new action or make a plan to improve so that maybe I don't repeat that behavior or pattern in the future.
Today I want you to reflect on 2020. Push those negative thoughts aside.
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Every great movie has a great soundtrack that accompanies it. The music sets the stage for the emotions of every scene. It pulls you in, your heart syncs with the rhythm of the beat, and you will connect with the moment and really feel the emotion more deeply than if there was no music.
Visualize this: If you could write your movie, the way you would want it to look, what would the story be?
Day 2: Sensory Scan to Connect with Yourself
The ability to relate and to connect, sometimes in odd and yet striking fashion, lies at the very heart of any creative use of the mind, no matter in what field or discipline.
-George J Seidel
Welcome to Day 2 of my 30 Day Challenge: Cultivate Creativity and Nurture Joy. Today we will look at connecting with yourself using a sensory scan.
To begin this challenge, simply sit down. You can do this exercise anywhere you are that is a safe place to just sit and exist for a few moments.