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Tag: create

Life gives you cycles, embrace them

The natural world has visible cycles. Earth lies fallow but with rain, new plants sprout to life. Leaves fall and spring comes again. Inhales and exhales.

This same life force runs through you.

We exhale in order to breathe.

Sometimes you feel alive and energetic and awake. Other times you feel tired, alone, and shy.

Why do we chase away darkness instead of learning to dance with it? Or sit with it? Or embrace it?

Lulls never last.

Give yourself the space to grieve. To take time off. To rest.

Make yourself a priority. Follow that which sets your imagination on fire. Permit yourself the gift of excitement.

Rhythms should be celebrated.

Take care of yourself.

Write a book in eighty minutes

That’s what this group did — A group of twenty young people, hand picked from many, many applications, were given the assignment to write an ebook together. Except they were only given one hour and twenty minutes to complete it and publish it online.

This wasn’t simply a writing exercise. This was a teaching moment, an experience in vulnerability, connection, community, and risk taking. A practice in connecting ideas and people in a meaningful way. These students learned to alternate between stepping back and seeing the whole picture, then leaning in and dissecting the work before stepping back and reviewing the vision all over again.

They learned that fear is a powerful roadblock, but one that can be picked up and moved. Anytime. Anywhere. They practiced listening. They saw first hand that when you ask the right questions and stop to listen, the world unfolds before you. And they learned to step into the unique role that only you can create for yourself.

You have far more control over your destiny than you could ever possibly imagine.

Recognizing distance

We often consider how far we have to left to go.
Three more days until holiday.
$10,000 to hit our fundraiser.
Two terms left in the fiscal year.
Four more miles in this run.
Six credits to meet requirements.
Yet how often do we measure and appreciate the distance we’ve traveled?
Let the ground you’ve already covered fuel you.

Consume or create

The internet has made it easy to sit back and watch and endlessly consume other people’s opinions, actions, projects, and work. It is now so easy to be a passive observer, to be someone who sits on the sidelines while others play in the game.

It is difficult to create. It takes time and dedication and focus. It takes courage to put something out in the world, something that might be discarded or mocked or rejected or possibly even ignored. But your livelihood requires this of you. Your happiness and passion are fueled by creativity. Building, writing, drawing, pasting, singing, connecting — these actions will inspire you.

Read good writing. Look at art. Find pictures and places that inspire you. But don’t count on others to do all of the work. Set a goal, make a few mistakes, and love the process. Your heart needs this.

Rest days

Athletes and bodybuilders know that taking rest days helps muscles recover. In fact, days of rest are seen as equally powerful as training days — necessary to increase strength and endurance. These “off days” are scheduled into physical training regimens.

Rest days aren’t just for the body; they are important for the mind. Days away from training and routine refresh the psyche and prevent burnout.

Whether or not you’re an athlete, your creativity and ability to plan is enhanced by taking days off. Sleep in, go for a leisure walk, schedule a massage, or pick up a good book.

Schedule at least one rest day each week and allow yourself to enjoy.