Once a month, Writers’ HQ (the incredible writer’s community and school I belong to and work for) runs a goals workshop. When I lead this session, I like to emphasise that the most important part isn’t setting the objective(s) of your goal(s). Instead I draw particular attention to the fact that these goals are not chiselled in stone. They are malleable; by checking in and reflecting throughout the month, you can change the objectives or actionable steps for your goal. Even the goal itself.
One of the battles I face, especially when challenging myself, is shiny new ideas. Shiny new things, especially ideas, became particularly interesting when our enthusiasm for our goal or project is waning. But you can get back on track not only by reflecting and updating your plan, but also by engaging your curiosity.
Curiosity in storytelling (and life in general) can be sparked by asking “what next”? It produces that feeling when you turn something upside down and get a different view. Tadashi had the right idea to help Hiro…
At this end of month point when out imaginations could do with a little boost, I’ll share three sparks to help springboard your own thoughts and ideas. Who knows where they will take you, but if you are a paying subscriber you can share your findings in the comments - I’m sure others would love to know more, and we can continue learning together. Let’s see how we can feel, think and do things differently.
Feel: Let’s put a record on
My very first post for Our Shared Magic referenced Barbie a lot, so let’s look at Ken’s choice in music. Once upon a time, when I was 16, I loved Matchbox 20. I brought their albums home with the having done my first solo trip to America to meet my extended family. Fast forward, some years, and Push is being sung by Ryan Gosling. And those lyrics do not age well. Earlier this month, I listened to Mad Season album until I could no longer bear it. The lyrics truly are terrible.
However, this sparked some nostalgia and I wondered how my other teen music choices would stand up. I’m pleased to report that Bleed American by Jimmy Eat World is still incredibly relevant (song and album).
Take this as an invitation to listen to a favourite song or album from your past. How did you feel when you first listened to it? What stories are invoked about yourself or others at that true? How have those feelings changed with age or nostalgia?
Think: Check your psychological immune system
A friend and colleague shared this article last week and it coincidentally come at a point where I was thinking a lot about the stories we tell ourselves, our inner voices and chatter that can lead us in different directions.
I’m going to be sharing more about that on the podcast soon but for now, have you considered your psychological immune system and how it can help us to build resilience?
Do: Show yourself a creative time
As I briefly mentioned last time, I’m currently ‘doing’ The Artist’s Way. One of the pillars to reimagining you creativity with Julia Cameron’s methodology is an artist’s date, once a week. The rules are pretty simple: two hours (minimum really, you can have however much longer) by yourself.
So far I have:
visited The Bodelian Library and taken myself to visit the exhibitions and walked the buildings with an audio tour.
done two hour workshop of Kundalini yoga
walked a nature reserve and laid in a hammock amongst the trees
learnt to embroider a design that makes me smile every time I see it
created a collage of who I am and what I love by tearing apart magazines and pulling it together with washi tape
photographed flowers at a botanical garden
When was the last time you spent time alone just exploring your creative side/artist self? It doesn’t have to be grand or expensive, but for September I’m inviting you to date yourself in this way. If you are in any doubt, take these messages with you: