Being vulnerable

When I get a spare half hour or so, I love visiting the Ted website where so many inspiring and creative people share their thoughts and ideas. This is the internet at its absolute best.

One of my favorite videos is by Brene Brown who is a researcher and storyteller, and in this particular video she talks about the power of vulnerability which is something she has spent many years researching.

I was particularly interested in her findings that while vulnerability is at the core of shame, fear and struggle for worthiness, it’s also the birthplace of creativity.

Dealing with my creativity is a daily challenge for me and that can be a problem particularly as it’s the basis of my business.

Some days I have so many creative ideas I cant’ write them down fast enough.

A lot of days I spend turning those creative ideas into reality.

But some days there’s nothing in my head, and I mean nothing. It’s totally empty in there. It’s like someone blew out the creative candle and I’m stumbling around in the dark trying to find it. And that induces fear. Fear that I’ll never find it again.

Of course I always do. But this is a recurring cycle. And it’s exhausting sometimes. And then there’s the anxiety of waiting for the cycle to come around again and again because you know that it will, and … well, I know you know how this goes.

So …

If, as she says, vulnerability is at the core of fear but the birthplace of creativity, my very own personal cycle of doom, if I deal with my vulnerability issues instead of worrying about the fear and the creativity, then I might learn to disconnect from my cycle of doom?

An interesting thought and worthy of investigation.

Grab a cuppa, you’ll enjoy this talk; she’s funny and touching and of course, vulnerable.
(PS – if you’re reading this post in a reader or by blog-email, you’ll need to click through to the website to view it)

If you enjoyed Brene Brown’s talk, you might also enjoy her blog. You can find here.
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Cocoons

This week I’m taking some time off. Taking time to catch up on things that have a way of creeping up and sitting there patiently while you ignore them, until they finally demand attention. So now of course I’m paying attention, but I notice there’s so much I’ve ignored over the last few months that I need a week to sort it all out!

This could also be just the excuse I need to take a mini-break; a couple of days of relaxation, to do … well, nothing really. Read some trashy novels, catch up on some sleep. A couple of days of doing nothing is just the perfect amount of time to apply a little self-care and recharge the batteries. And we all deserve that from time to time.

But I’ll still be around! Daily for the next week I’ll be reposting some of my favorite inspiring posts, beginning with this lovely video; one of my favorites. Enjoy and be inspired!

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Transient Art – Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Transient art such as that created by environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy, and even the beautiful and mysterious sand mandalas made by the Tibetan Lamas of Drepung Loseling Monastery is often quite controversial and certainly leave us feeling awed, mostly by the concept that art can be impermanent.

Recently I discovered another type of transient art, animated sand art.

This video is of Kseniya Simonova, a Ukrainian artist who recently won Ukraine’s version of “America’s Got Talent.” She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and “sand painting” skills to interpret Germany’s invasion and occupation of the Ukraine during WWII. Simply stunning.

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If you’re not prepared to be wrong …

… you’ll never come up with anything original.

So says Ken Robinson. And I tend to agree.

Growing up, I’m sure most of us were told to avoid making mistakes and this has subsequently contributed to a whole generation of “perfectionists”. Yes I’m talking about you. And me. Maybe not so much me anymore, I simply don’t have the energy for it that I used to have. And of course being a perfectionist is one of the easiest ways to kill your creativity. It’s only through mistakes that we learn and grow. I wish they’d taught that lesson in school.

Enjoy this TED talk by Ken Robinson; it’s very humorous and inspiring.

The ElementA few days after I saw this TED lecture I happened to be in the book store and came across his book The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, so I grabbed it as I thought I might enjoy it.

This was a really quick read and very inspirational with lots of examples (maybe just a tad too many) of how many famous people found their element – the place where passion and natural talent collide. Some of us are very fortunate to have found this place, and I know some are still looking. But I don’t think it’s ever too late and you’re never too old to find it.

I really enjoyed the book. It was very thought provoking and entertaining. I hope you do too.

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