Retreat for Creative Risk

Saturdays are usually my day of retreat and contemplation, and on this late Saturday of May I'm contemplating a transformative shift towards hope, resilience, and flow. I've opened the door, done some planning, and the next step is to take a creative risk.

"Creativity is our greatest super-power, the rich resource that leads us towards transformation. ... Creativity is risky by nature, because it puts us on an uncertain path that we can only see by taking it. Your journey towards transforming your world will lead to more and more unpredictability - it's the nature of transformation. The trick is to learn how to be comfortable with uncertainty, and trust in the creative process. You have the map, and your Truth is a beacon of light shining the way; you just need to take the first step, and trust that your process has been good."  (Ducks in a Row)

Agenda:

1. Read "The Creativity Book"

2. Brainstorm some risks to take

3. Simple project list

1. Read "The Creativity Book":

A few years ago I started but didn't finish this book by Eric Maisel (one of my favorite writers). The subtitle is "A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance." Who doesn't want that? 

I've started Part 7: Connect, and the topic today is to Buddy Up. "Each of us is helped by a good art buddy -- an everyday creative person like ourselves with whom we chat, exchange ideas, share our creative work, and give and get help."

I do think I could benefit from this kind of partnership, and I have a person in mind. I will call her today, and propose that we start a bi-weekly chat to keep each other grounded on our transformation projects! (This is definitely a creative risk.)

2. Brainstorm some risks to take:

One of my key intentions for this Flow Project is to be passionate and brave - let go of caution and involve myself wholeheartedly with what I love. Stretch beyond the way I’ve always done things.

My query today is, "What are the creative risks I want to take to aid a transformation towards hope, resilience, and flow?"

• Arrange for an art buddy relationship and bi-weekly meetings.
• Teamwork plans and visuals for IRA project. (Consider how I am creating synergy with my teams, developing trust relationships, and realistic expectations with my community.)
• Teamwork plans and preparation for Grandma Camp!
• Build mindful thinking into daily interactions (to improve the underlying system of my life by handling challenges and conflict with resiliency).
• Risk actually making art for creative self-care at least one hour, 2-3 times a week, to build a hopeful flow that anchors me, builds my resilience, and helps me to impact the world.
• And the really big risk: Go with the flow of the day, at peace – slow down and just BE, in this moment- aware and awake, listening to my intuition. 
  

3. Simple project list:

In the fall I started using Leo Babauta's "Simple Projects List", with my top three projects. (A "project" is something that has several steps, and takes only a week or two.) "The top three projects on your Simple Projects List will be your entire focus until you finish all three ... This ensures that you aren't spreading your focus too thin, and that you are completing your projects." 

Tips: You can't actually do projects - you can only do tasks. Make a list of tasks for each project, and focus on doing one at a time. Each day, choose three tasks to complete. 

My simple projects list this week:

• Clean Studio: Prepare space for Grandma Camp, and pack a box for MECCA
• Flow sign
• Kids Art projects: Stick caterpillar, bug scavenger hunt,