The Creative Notebook

Are you harder on yourself than anyone else is?  Do you have confidence in your abilities and take criticism with a grain of salt?  When it’s time for your yearly review at work, what does your self assessment look like?  Are you harder on yourself than the boss is?  Write about it.  Remember, you are your own biggest fan.  If you have a loud inner critic, what can you do to silence him?  Freewrite as the words come to your mind.  Don’t censor, even if it doesn’t make sense.

What do you like?  Wine or water?  Blue Jeans or Business Suits?  Fine China or paper plates?  Pillows on the floor, or home theater furniture?  The farm or the city?  Are you happy with just about anything, or do you like the finer things in life?  I myself am happier with a simpler life.  Of course that could change if I hit the lottery, but…….

You know what I mean.  Write about it!  Paste in magazine pictures.  Take your own pictures.  This is an excellent prompt for visual journaling.

Are you a planner or are you more impulsive?  Are you the type that deals with things as they come, or are you the type to have retirement all planned out and family insurance in case of emergencies?  Do you take a trip with a planned agenda, or get there and see what catches your eye?  Do you make out a grocery list ahead of time, or walk through the isles and see what looks yummy?  Dinner reservations or take your chances?  How do these habits affect your life?

With the economy like it is, what are your shopping habits?  Are you buying only necessities?  Is the economy having an effect on your personal finances?  When you shop, do you hunt around for the best buy or do you shop where it’s convenient?  I find it more beneficial to do all my shopping at once, and in the same place.  Since I’ve really started paying attention to this, I’m saving at least $20 a week on gas, if not more.  How about you?  Write about it.

Creativity, like creative people, comes in all shapes and sizes.  You don’t have to choose just one venue for your creativity, either.  I, for example, love words and books.  I also love arts and crafts.  I collage, journal, art journal, blog, knit, spin my own yarn, paint…………  You get the picture.  It would take a second home to house everything if I could afford to do all the creative activities I want to.  What activities do you love?  If money were no object, what is your dream activity?