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Dear Friends,
For those of you who were unable to see the Good Morning America
interview on January 9th, here's a link to "Living Outrageously in
the New Year".
We've received a new shipment of the "You Can Heal Your Life," DVDs
so they're in stock again! You can watch a trailer and read all
about the movie here.
Join me for this week's "Coach on Call" radio show where I'll talk
about "The Back Story" -- the importance of considering what might be
going on behind the scenes for the people in your life. I'll also
take your calls. To join me, visit www.hayhouseradio.com on
Monday at 5pm ET (2pm PT, 10pm GMT) and click on the "listen now" button.
Have a wonderful week...
Love,
Cheryl
p.s. - Need a little Divine Direction? Use the "Touch of Grace" button on our homepage here: http://www.cherylrichardson.com.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
A few years ago I wrote a newsletter about getting our creative needs
met. It was in response to the fear I experienced as I prepared to
finish my fourth book, The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, because the
book shared intimate details of my own personal journey of
self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Because I've written about
reawakening hidden parts of ourselves and expressing our creative
desires over the last couple of weeks, I decided to dig this
newsletter out and share it with you again because they're so important.
You see, all of us are creative. Yes, there are painters, writers,
interior decorators, architects, dancers, and so on, but creativity
is much more than the "artist" view that many of us hold. Creativity
is expressed in many ways: how you dress, how you decorate your
office, how you choose gifts for others, or how you cook a meal for
your family. And these talents can be applied to any creative desire.
Think about the hidden part of you that you'd like to reawaken this
year -- the part that will require you to use your creative muscles
in a more pronounced way. Then, consider these creative needs:
1. Creativity needs safety. The beginning stage of any creative
process is one of the most fragile and vulnerable periods of all. Our
creative dreams are so delicate and it only takes one negative
comment to throw us off track. This is why you might need to keep
your idea to yourself, holding the energy in, so to speak, so you can
gain clarity and allow your idea to build strength and momentum.
Otherwise it's too easy to be influenced by the fears (or
expectations) of others. Too many people I know have abandoned great
ideas because of someone else's insensitivity. You need to protect your dream.
2. Creativity needs space. When you begin working on a project you'll
need plenty of emotional and physical space. This might mean
scheduling uninterrupted time to yourself, clearing out a room to
work in, or letting loved ones know that you'll be less available and
asking for their understanding and support. Creating anything new not
only takes physical energy, it takes emotional energy. The best
creative projects are birthed from a "reserve of space" not from
being squeezed into a busy life. You need to make space for your dream.
3. Creativity needs nurturing. Once you're ready to share your ideas
with others it's extremely important to choose those people who will
be positive and supportive. This doesn't mean that they have to agree
with you, but it does mean that they need to play by *your* rules. In
other words, be sure to let people know how you'd like to receive
feedback and what kind of feedback would be most helpful. It's not
fair to expect colleagues or loved ones to automatically know what
you need to keep your dream alive. Take responsibility for the kind
of support you receive. You need to nurture your dream.
4. Creativity needs a strong advocate. There's a good chance that
you'll doubt your idea, question your direction, or wonder whether or
not you have what it takes to follow through. When this happens
you'll need a strong advocate to keep you on course. My four books
would never have been written had I not had people in place who
reminded me of my strengths and challenged me to keep putting one
foot in front of the other. The completion of a creative project
takes perseverance and commitment. You need a strong advocate to help
you get to the finish line.
5. Creativity needs love. Like a flower that requires plenty of
sunlight to fully blossom, your creative project will need to be
nourished with lots of love. Who supports your creativity? Who keeps
encouraging you to take the first step? Where will you get the
sustenance you need to follow through? As you continue with the
creative process, surround yourself with people who can love you
through your fear, self-doubt or exhaustion. Sometimes you'll need a
gentle reminder to take a break. Other times you'll need someone to
listen carefully as you talk through an idea. The love you need will
also come from *you* in the form of extra sleep, patience, healthy
food, or time spent doing something fun and completely unrelated to
your project. You need to nourish your creative idea with love.
Give that wild and wonderful hidden part of you a chance to emerge
this year by protecting your creativity. Print out the following and
keep it nearby as a reminder of what you need to breathe life into
this important part of you:
You need to protect your creative Self.
You need to make space for its expression.
You need to nurture your creativity.
You need strong advocates to help you express it in the world.
You need to nourish your creative side with love.
~*~ Take Action Challenge ~*~
Think about a creative project or idea that you'd love to pursue this
year. Then, consider the needs listed above and ask yourself, "Which
one would be at the top of my list right now?" Is there one need, in
particular, that derailed an important project in the past because it
wasn't being met? That might be the one to get met first. This
week, honor yourself (and your soul) by taking your desire for
creative expression seriously. Get your creative needs met now.
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