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Living the Creative Life: Issue 95: Uncertainly Creative
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Sharon Good
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Oct 10, 2007 09:20 PDT
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LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE
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For Creative People
and Those Who Want To
Live Their Lives Creatively
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October 2007 ~ ~ ~ Issue 95
In this issue ~~
* Opening Notes
* Feature Article: UNCERTAINLY CREATIVE: Inspired by Alan Alda
* Action Challenge
* Wise Words
* Bookshelf
* Upcoming Classes with Sharon
- In NYC: Coaching Classes at NYU
- In NYC: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do
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OPENING NOTES
As "Living the Creative Life" nears its tenth anniversary, I've taken
the opportunity to ponder once again what creativity means to me.
Creativity has been a part of my life forever, from playing music to
doing theatre to writing to exploring photography and painting.
Like many creative people, Alan Alda is creative in many ways. We know
him for his acting, but he has also channeled his creativity into
directing; writing, with 2 books and several episodes of M*A*S*H to his
credit; and science, as the host of "Scientific American Frontiers." His
second and latest book, "Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself," is
filled with entertaining and inspiring anecdotes, as well as insights
gained from experiences that came out of Mr. Alda's delightful
propensity to scare himself.
In reading this article, I hope you'll be inspired, as I was, to take
some new risks with your creativity and find some new frontiers for
yourself!
Creatively yours,
Sharon
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UNCERTAINLY CREATIVE: Inspired by Alan Alda
I've been a fan of Alan Alda's since I was a teenager, when I saw him in
"The Apple Tree" at the Mineola Theatre on Long Island. I loved his TV
show, "M*A*S*H," and always admired his activism on behalf of women. My
admiration grew further after reading his latest book, "Things I
Overheard While Talking to Myself." Along with his humor – which is
evident from his book titles – Mr. Alda shares wisdom gleaned from many
years of richly living life and learning from his triumphs and tribulations.
This new book includes the texts of several commencement addresses that
Mr. Alda gave at various colleges over the years. In one, he encourages
the graduates to contribute their creativity to the world and to allow
themselves to be "uncertainly creative." What an intriguing phrase! When
you think about it, doesn't true creativity include an aspect of
stepping into the unknown, not knowing what will emerge?
Years ago, I had the opportunity to edit a book on film acting. As a
theatre actress, I rarely went on the stage without at least *some*
rehearsal of my role. I was shocked to find out that film actors
generally don't "set" their performances. They do their homework on the
role, learn their lines and then allow the scene to emerge organically,
as they interact with their fellow actors. What courage that takes! And
what exciting work comes out of it!
Being creative means having the audacity to face that blank canvas or
page or stage and to plunge in, even when you have no idea where it will
go. It means being open and trusting enough to get in the flow and allow
it to take you in uncharted directions that can be both exhilarating and
scary.
And here's the kicker: You don't *want* to know what's going to happen,
whether in life or in art! Creativity happens in the surprises, the
paths you go down, not knowing where they will lead. Having everything
be certain and predictable might give you a sense of peace for awhile,
but wouldn't it eventually become stagnant and boring?
New forms don't come from following the tried-and-true path. Being
uncertainly creative means allowing the wild ideas to come forth and
putting them out into the world. Our greatest artists and inventors had
the courage to face rejection and ridicule, to honor their creative
impulses and introduce once-radical ideas that have brought more beauty
or comfort into the world.
We need to get comfortable walking into the unknown. Lench Archuleta, a
Yaqui Indian spiritual teacher, tells about the times he would put his
kids in the car, and they would set out to get lost, spontaneously
taking whatever turn appealed to them in the moment. The adventure was
in finding their way back.
Even in writing this article, I started with a phrase that inspired me,
but I had no idea where it was going to go. As I lived with the
question, "What does it mean to be uncertainly creative?", ideas began
to show up, either spontaneously or sparked by things I came across in
my environment.
To be truly creative, we need to actively and courageously invite
uncertainty into the process, to learn to be comfortable with not
knowing where our creativity will lead us. Alan Alda has boldly walked
into many challenges. Starting from childhood, he was encouraged to
explore, which, he says, "gave me the nerve to go places that scare me,
but where I find excitement and adventure."
It is by intentionally going to those scary places that we create art,
and lives, that are exhilarating and that enable us to fulfill our
purpose: to contribute our unique talents and ideas to a world that is
longing for them.
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ACTION CHALLENGE
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What are the places that scare you most? Pick one that you're willing to
venture into. List 5 steps you can take to move in that direction in the
next month.
WISE WORDS
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"If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin
with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties."
~ Francis Bacon
"There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go."
~ Robert Frost
"Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you
unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity."
- R. I. Fitzhenry
"The more of it [our vision] we can describe, the clearer we also become
about the vision's unknown aspects. Our intuitive drive to fill these
blanks or unknown aspects will eventually take over and become a
powerful force to guide us with a remarkable sense of certainty into an
uncharted future."
~ Kurt Wright, "Breaking the Rules: Removing the Obstacles to
Effortless High Performance"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0961438339/sharongoodlifeco
BOOKSHELF
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"Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself" . . . Alan Alda
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1400066174/sharongoodlifeco
"Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned" . . . Alan Alda
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0812974409/sharongoodlifeco
"The Creative Spirit" . . . Daniel Goleman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0452268796/sharongoodlifeco
"The Writing Experiment: Strategies for Innovative Creative Writing" . .
. Hazel Smith
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1741140153/sharongoodlifeco
"Expect the Unexpected (or You Won't Find It): A Creativity Tool Based
on the Ancient Wisdom of Heraclitus" . . . Roger Von Oech
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1576752275/sharongoodlifeco
"Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius" . . . Michael Michalko
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1580083110/sharongoodlifeco
"Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most
Creative People" . . . Robert and Michele M. Root-Bernstein
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0618127453/sharongoodlifeco
"Creative Decision Making Using Positive Uncertainty" . . . H.B. Gelatt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1560526904/sharongoodlifeco
"Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People" . . . Carol Eikleberry
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1580088414/sharongoodlifeco
"Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your
Career" . . . Herminia Ibarra
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1591394139/sharongoodlifeco
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UPCOMING CLASSES WITH SHARON
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL CLASSES, please visit
www.goodlifecoaching.com/Classes.html.
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FOR THOSE IN NEW YORK CITY . . .
COACHING CLASSES AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
* Creative Marketing Tools for Coaches:
Fall 2007 Semester: 6 Mondays, November 5 to November 10, 6 – 8 pm
* Career Coaching:
Fall 2007 semester: 2 Saturdays, November 17 and December 8, 9 am – 5 pm
For information and registration links, go to
www.goodlifecoaching.com/Classes.html.
~ ~ ~
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
So many people are dissatisfied with their jobs or careers. They'd love
to get out but they don't know where to go or how to get there. Learn
how to uncover new career possibilities and take the first steps in
finding a career that will make you happy.
Investment: $25
Location: 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC
Date and time: Monday, February 4, 7 - 9 PM
To register or get further information, please contact the 92nd Street Y
at 212-415-5500. Register online at www.92y.org (course # T-MM5LP42-01).
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Sharon Good is a Life/Career/Creativity Coach, Workshop Leader and
Author. Her books include "Managing With A Heart: 222 Ways To Make Your
Employees Feel Appreciated," "The Tortoise Workbook: Strategies for
Getting Ahead at Your Own Pace," and "Self-Publishing Basics."
Sharon is available for one-on-one coaching for:
* whole life balance using the Whole Life model
* successful career and life transitions with the Life Purpose Process©
* support in achieving your goals and dreams
* guidance in writing or publishing your book
* developing your creativity
* enhancing and integrating spirituality in your daily life
For a **FREE INTRODUCTORY COACHING SESSION**, contact Sharon at
212-564-2073 or sha-@goodlifecoaching.com.
For further information, see her website at http://www.goodlifecoaching.com.
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Sharon Good, CC / Good Life Coaching Inc.
Life, Career and Creativity Coach
Certified Life Purpose Process© Consultant
"Being a Tortoise in a World of Hares"
400 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
sha-@goodlifecoaching.com
www.goodlifecoaching.com
www.beingatortoise.com
www.goodlifepress.com
"Making your dreams a reality through partnership"
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(c) 2007 Sharon Good. All rights in all media reserved.
For reprint rights, contact sha-@goodlifecoaching.com.
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