Be a Creative Force for Nature

Many years ago I set the intention to “be a creative force for nature” - I didn’t coin the phrase but it has been a powerful mantra for me. It means to use all your creative skills:

• To give a voice to nature. 
• To inspire empathy and critical action for nature.
• For education, to help to shift the paradigm.

The Wild Voices Collective is a group of artists with that same mission. I am inspired by their artwork. But creativity takes many, many forms. We each need to seek and find our personal way to be a force for nature. 

Agenda:
1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"
2. Simple project list
3. Do the smallest thing

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage":

I'm just starting this beautiful book by Irene Smit and Astrid van Der Hulse (2018) with the subtitle of Dare to Think Differently. Every page is a work of art.

Chapter 3 is Dare to Sleep More. This chapter is really about resilience and self-care as ways to be successful. Good nights of sleep (and naps, and daydreaming) lead to better ideas and greater creativity.

I don't have a big problem with sleep - I really LIKE it. But I'm not really getting long enough nights. And I must admit that my passion project (with its obsessive thinking) is getting in the way a little bit. 

2. 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 for this week:

• Write summer chapters for Nature-Culture book.
• Summer N-C garden: New butterfly bed and neighborhood outreach.
• Draw and paint motifs for N-C book
• Kids Art Camp projects: Paint butterflies 

3. Do the smallest thing:

Eric Maisel has many suggestions for managing creative anxiety. Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening. I made a list of small things I need to do for each of my current projects, and assigned one or two per day. 

Today's tasks are:

• Write about creativity and nature-culture
• Iron and sew a patch on my new Earth Coat of Many Colors 
• Paint a butterfly motif for my Nature-Culture Book
• Prep for camp: Collect butterfly books and ideas