1. Creativity takes time and silent space. It is best to schedule time daily or at least weekly to allow yourself time to develop your creativity.
2. There are cycles of creativity. We are not always in a harvesting: phase and there will be times when you feel as if nothing is happening. Don't become concerned.
3. Select mentors, friends and dream partners wisely. A sad, but true, fact is that not everyone (sometimes even those closest to you) will support your dreams. You don't have to sever any ties, just carefully select the members of your creative team.
4. Commit to yourself. Overcoming guilt is a big factor in unleashings1 creativity. It may mean having a messy house or not overcommitting2.
5. Set strong boundaries. Choose your commitments carefully. To paraphrase3 Oprah Winfrey -- \"I say No to many things, so that I may say Yes to what gives me life.\"
6. Work from your strengths. We have a tendency to focus on our weaknesses and spend enormous4 amounts of time trying to \"improve\". The reality is that were you to spend 80% of your effort to become good at a weakness you might improve that area by 20%. But if you were to spend that same 80% of your effort to improve an area of strength, you might improve it by 100% or more!
7. Fear is a companion of creativity. Make friends with fear, you will probably feel fear when you venture out into unfamiliar territory. Expect it and redefine it as energy so you can move on.
8. Stop criticizing yourself. Stay positive about your performance. Yes, you can polish it and improve, but focus on the fact that you are taking action in the first place.
9. Get over perfectionism5. A tough one! You will rarely try anything new if you only stick to the things you have already mastered.
10. Play, have fun, feel joyful! Creativity is about play. When you do the things you love and abandon yourself to your feelings of joy, you know you've found your highest expression of creativity.
1.創造需要時間及安靜的氛圍。最好每天或至少每周制定時間表,為自己創造力的開發留些時間。
2.創造力是有周期的。我們不可能總處于收獲時期,肯定會有毫無進展的時候。所以,你不必憂慮。
3.明智地選擇良師益友和志同道合的搭檔。并不是所有人(即使是你最親近的人)都會支持你的夢想——這雖令人難過,卻是一個事實。你沒必要與外界斷絕來往,只是在擇友時一定要慎重。
4.忠于自己。戰勝愧疚與自責是發揮創造力的一大因素。當然,這樣的話,房子可能會一團糟或是沒有盡到某些該盡的職責。
5.嚴格地劃分界限。要審慎地做出許諾。如奧普拉·溫弗里(美國著名“脫口秀”主持人)所說的——“我否定許多事,這樣我才能接受生活賦予我的新事物?!?/p>
6.發揮特長。我們常常只關注自身的缺陷,并花費大量時間努力“修補”??墒聦嵤?,倘若你用80%的努力去修補缺陷,你可能只會修補好20%。如果你用同樣80%的努力去提高你的強項,你很可能會將其提高100%或更多。
7.恐懼與創造力同行。當你冒險涉足一個陌生領域時,很可能會害怕,那么,與恐懼交友吧!事先做好心理準備并重新定義恐懼,把它看作一種推動力,這樣你就可以繼續前行了。
8.不要自我責備。要對你的表現予以肯定。的確,你應該精益求精,但你已經盡力了,認識到這點至關重要。
9.抵制完美主義。要做到這點并非易事!若你只滿足于已有的知識,你就不會接受新的東西。
10.盡情去玩吧,享受生活的樂趣!創造本身也是一種游戲。當你做自己喜歡的事,陶醉在快樂中時,你就找到了創造力的最佳表達。
注釋:
1.unleash v. 釋放
2.overcommit [計] 過量使用
3.paraphrase v. 解釋
4.enormous adj.巨大的;極大的
5.perfectionism n.完美主義;求全思想