Chapter 1: Understanding Your Creative Mind

In this series, titled "Your Creative Life," we will explore ways to enhance your everyday creativity and maintain a fulfilling creative existence. If this topic resonates with you, consider exploring a role as a creativity coach. For more information, check out my latest certification and diploma program or read my newest publication, The Coach’s Way.

Your primary responsibility as a creative individual is to effectively manage your thoughts and foster a mindset that encourages creativity. It’s essential to engage in self-talk that enables you to delve deeper into your creative endeavors, helps you detach from the daily chaos, reduces anxiety, and reinforces the idea that you are in control of your creative journey.

Many individuals struggle with effectively managing their thoughts, often succumbing to self-sabotaging beliefs without challenging them. If more people could improve their mental oversight by recognizing their thoughts and replacing negative or unproductive ones with positive alternatives, they would experience less distress and significantly increase their chances of achieving their desired life.

The process is almost straightforward: become aware of your thoughts, challenge those that undermine your confidence or lead you astray, and substitute them with more constructive thoughts. This practice is crucial! Cognitive-behavioral techniques can provide valuable strategies to help you think more positively and productively. Here is one approach I’ve developed.

Consider this common scenario: you may have a constructive thought, but it quickly gets overshadowed by a negative one that halts your progress. For example, you might think, “I’d love to practice the piano,” but then add, “I’m too old to tackle complex pieces.” Alternatively, you might say, “I want to finish my novel,” followed by, “But I’m uncertain of its theme.” Or, “I adore my photographic collages!” quickly followed by, “But many others are doing the same.”

This form of cognitive self-sabotage is prevalent. It is almost instinctual for us as humans. I encourage you to observe how this dynamic manifests in your own life. Examine your tendencies toward defensiveness and self-sabotage concerning your aspirations.

Many people engage in self-sabotage, declaring their passions yet talking themselves out of taking action through detrimental thoughts. I urge you to recognize this and make a change!

Complete the following exercise by inserting your own thoughts: “I assert that X is important to me. However, I frequently follow that with Y, a thought that does not support me. I refuse to accept that thought any longer.” Feel free to include multiple Y thoughts, as the clearer you are about what hinders you, the better equipped you will be to eliminate those thoughts.

Your exercise response could look like this: “I claim that finishing my novel is significant to me. Yet, I often follow this with thoughts like ‘I lack talent,’ ‘The competition is fierce,’ ‘I need to focus on earning money, not writing,’ and ‘I don’t have sufficient time to write.’ I choose to reject those thoughts.”

Try this exercise: “I declare that X is important to me. Yet, I often follow this with Y, a thought that does not serve me. I choose to dismiss that thought.” Give this straightforward exercise a chance!

"The Coach’s Way is perhaps the best resource available for anyone looking to enhance their coaching skills. This book aims to instill confidence and structure in coaches’ practices, leading to tangible results for clients. Anyone in the coaching field will benefit from Dr. Maisel’s extensive experience and training as a therapist, coach, and individual. I am grateful to have this book as a guiding resource for my own coaching endeavors and will recommend it to others in the helping professions." — Jacob Nordby, author of The Creative Cure: How Finding and Freeing Your Inner Artist Can Heal Your Life

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About Eric Maisel

Eric Maisel is the author of over 50 books, including his latest works Redesign Your Mind, The Power of Daily Practice, and Lighting the Way, which introduces the concept of kirism. His other notable titles include Coaching the Artist Within, The Van Gogh Blues, and The Future of Mental Health. He writes the "Rethinking Mental Health" column for Psychology Today and is recognized as one of America’s leading creativity coaches. For more information, visit his website at www.ericmaisel.com, contact him at [email protected], subscribe to his newsletter, and check out his latest book Redesign Your Mind.

Chapter 2: Practical Strategies for Enhancing Creativity

In the video "Design Thinking for Creatives," viewers will learn about innovative approaches to enhance creative processes and the importance of empathy and collaboration in design.

In the video "Left-brained Creatives vs. Right-brained Accountants" featuring Chris Do, the discussion revolves around the different cognitive approaches to creativity and the value of diverse thinking in problem-solving.