10 Wonderful Ways to Ignite Your Creativity

By Lawrence Neal Katzman

Each of us is born with a unique set of talents and gifts.

Whether you paint, write, sculpt, dance, compose, sing or play music... whether you're an entrepreneur or an aspiring leader in your field... or looking to be more fulfilled in your chosen profession...

When you get your creative juices flowing you feel more alive. When you express yourself in some creative fashion, you feel more joyous, fulfilled and free. We are all born to create and be creative.

With that said, here are some wonderful ways to help you get those juices flowing...

1. Connect to the place of wonder and awe within - Play with crayons and let your inner child out. Watch the sunset. Find the awesomeness and wonderfulness in life. Creative inspiration will follow.


2. Let go of any "conscious" agendas - Getting out of your own way can spark the creative impulse. Be guided by your intuition or "Higher Self" and allow the creative spirit to move through you.


3. De-Clutter - While "creative types" may have a knack for messiness, clutter can block the flow of your creative juices. Do a spring cleaning regardless of the month of the year!


4. Get out in nature - Nothing like majestic mountains, towering evergreens or an expansive ocean to stir the heart and inspire a creative burst. Take a walk, a hike, a jog, a bike ride or a drive through nature and your creativity will blossom.


5. Listen to great music - Music adds color and dimension to life. Play one of the great classical pieces or any other music that inspires you and unleash your creative genius!


6. Follow your bliss - Passion is the essence of creativity. It's what gets you up in the morning and keeps you going all day long. Focus on what you're passionate about and ignite your creative fires.


7. Dance as if no one's watching - Dancing is a great way to move energy. If you're feeling stuck or in a rut, get your groove on! Pretend no one's watching... even that part inside you that may think the whole idea is just plain stupid. Rekindle the fun.


8. Watch an inspirational movie - Inspirational movies connect you with your heart wherein creativity is given birth. Make some popcorn and rent a good movie this weekend!


9. Break for beauty - Find beauty in your surroundings... in the opening of a flower, the setting of the sun or a star-filled sky. Take beauty breaks throughout the day and reconnect with what inspires you.


10. Unplug - Turn off the cell phone and television. Leave your inbox alone. Decompress from the constant bombardment of our hi-tech world. Find your creative center and live from that place.


11. Bonus Idea - Meditate. Take some time each day to meditate. You can sit in mindful silence... focus on a "mantra" or phrase... or even do a walking meditation. However you choose, meditation can help you stay connected to the inner source of your creativity and vitality.


12. Bonus Idea - Gratitude. Overwhelm and stress are creativity-killers. Sometimes just thinking about all the things you are grateful for in life can lift the fog and weight of your concerns. You'll feel more free to be the creative, magnificent person you are meant to be..

Life can be a creative adventure... even when the path is rocky or the road ahead is unclear. Use these suggestions to help unlock and ignite your creative genius. As a wise person once said, the journey is the destination.

Here's to making it a creative journey!

Lawrence Neal Katzman is an artist, writer and visionary spirit, whose art is inspired by love, beauty and the cosmos. He paints and writes about lost civilizations, ancient wisdom and the quest for love. You can view his art at http://www.theartmystic.com.

Lawrence's beautiful soulmates art is featured in his eBook, "101 Soulmates Quotes", which you can download for free by visiting: http://www.101soulmatesquotes.com/.

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10 Keys to Bring Inspiration into Your Life or How to Be Inspired

by Rochman Reese

Have you ever asked yourself what is inspiration? What is being inspired?

When the word inspiration is broken down into its component parts, it simply means "in - spirit".
When you are living "in - spirit" You feel excited about yourself and your life. You have a special connection with all parts of your mind and body.

The question is how can you connect to your spirit at all times to take actions that enable you to be inspired?

Below are the ten keys to opening the doors to your inspiration.

1. The first key to inspiration is enjoyment. It would take a spiritual master to be inspired about doing the dishes. So find something that really excites you. It can be anything that you really enjoy. You have to have fun.

2. The second key to inspiration is love. When you are actively pouring love into what you are doing, this will guarantee that you are opening yourself to experiencing more inspiration. If you love what you do and do what you love, this will guarantee that you will be inspired.

3. The third key to inspiration is to trust in yourself. Listen to that little voice inside yourself and know that this comes from heart. This is called intuition. Intuition is the spark the sets off the fires of inspiration.

4. The fourth key to inspiration is to follow what your intuition tells you. The more you listen to it, the stronger your intuition will become. If you don't pay attention, that little voice gets fainter and fainter until you can no longer hear it. The spark goes out, and gets harder and harder to rekindle.

5. The fifth key to be inspired is to believe in yourself. Keep telling yourself "I can". These are some of the most powerful words that you can ever use. When you say this to yourself often enough, you build a bridge between yourself and your inspiration. When you are backed by a strong belief in yourself and your dreams, nothing is impossible.

6. The sixth key to inspiration is not to listen to anyone that says "no you can't". They might think that they are helping you, and try to project this negative belief onto you, but remember to keep telling yourself that, "I can!" Nothing will kill your inspiration quicker than listening to people say “no you can’t do that” Understand that often what they mean is “No, I can’t do that, so you shouldn’t either” Its best to simply thank them for their advice, pay no attention to it and not discuss it further.

7. The seventh key to being inspired is to avoid negativity. Ask yourself, do you really need to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV every day? Nothing kills inspiration quicker than being surrounded by bad news. How you can you possibly feel inspired if everywhere you look you are getting reports of doom, gloom and destruction. What if instead of watching the news, you spent time doing what it is that you really love? What if you just spent just 1/2hr a day doing what you really love? What sort of a change would it make in your life after a whole year?

8. The eight key to inspiration is acceptance. Accept that on some days you feel much more inspired than on others. This is normal. Nobody can be completely inspired every minute of the day. So on the days when you feel flat, just know that this will pass and don’t feel too troubled about not feeling inspired.

9. The ninth key to inspiration - Take action every day, no matter how small a step it seems. Action is the fuel to the fires of inspiration. Make it a daily practice to keep your fire burning. The taking of actions, no matter how small, will fill you with inspiration for taking the next step.

10. The tenth key to inspiration is the most powerful of all. Simply put, it is to surround yourself with things that inspire you. This is so laughingly simple that many people over look this. It could be inspiring music, inspiring recorded talks, inspiring books and inspirational art.

One of the most powerful ways to be inspired comes from surrounding yourself with inspirational art. Artworks come in many forms such as paintings and sculptures, and have such an amazing power to influence thoughts and emotions, to uplift and also inspire. By the careful placement of inspiring artworks, you can transform your living and working environments to be places filled with light and inspiration.

All of these 10 keys to inspiration are very simple things. Try them today and you will be amazed at what a difference it will make in your life.

May your life be filled with Love and Happiness and Inspiration!

Inspirational Artists Sofan Chan and Rochman Reese create inspirational artworks that will inspire you to experience more love, happiness and tranquility in your life. You can view inspirational pictures of their artworks, and read more inspirational articles at www.theartofhappiness.net - be inspired.

Article Source: 10 Keys to Bring Inspiration into Your Life or How to Be Inspired

Daily Goal Setting Tips

by Evelyn McFarland

To make your days as productive as possible, the first step is to clear the clutter from your mind and life. Here are some very simple yet effective tips, which will make the most of your day.

1. Chalk out a detailed plan to reach your target. For instance, let's assume that you want to clear the clutter in your room. What if your room looks like a pigsty, and you have not found the time to clean it for months? You will feel overwhelmed and may not even know where to start. So to achieve the goal of cleaning your room, break the goal into small steps. Jot down a list of things you need to do, in order to clear up all the stuff that you have collected. Decide on things you want to throw away like old shoes, clothes, make-up products etc. Once this is done, set up a time limit for each of these steps. You have now broken down a task that seemed overwhelming, into a doable task that has several small steps.

2. Ask someone in your life to be your accountability partner. It could be your sibling, partner, parent or a good friend. This person can help you attain your goals, since you would have to keep updating him/her on your progress regularly. Your accountability partner will help you achieve your goals and overcome hurdles.

3. Remember that there might be hurdles along the way. Several people give up on their goals, just because they face a few unexpected obstacles. It could be an internal obstacle or an external one. Obstacles could be things like discipline issues, negative thinking, limiting belief system, lack of time etc. Try to analyze the situation and understand the hurdles that might come up, so that you can get past them.

4. Once you know the kind of hurdles you might have to face, have an action plan ready. Let's say you have set a goal for yourself, according to which you will give up smoking in 6 months. What if you are in the company of smokers? What if someone offers you a cigarette? Initially, you can try and excuse yourself when you are in the company of smokers. You can try out nicotine patches. When you go to restaurants, you can choose to sit in the non-smokers zone. Just have a plan to cope with various obstacles that might come your way.

5. Every time you succeed, celebrate and rejoice. As you work towards your large goal, you will have to get past various small ones. Every time you achieve one of these smaller goals, reward yourself. This will help you stay motivated, since you will always be aiming at finishing a small goal to get to the reward. It might take years before you can reach your long-term goal, but your efforts towards this goal need to be rewarded.

Reaching your target is not always easy, but every time you move away from the path, get right back on. You may have to take a few detours, you may have to get some rest, but never give up. Never lose hope and before you know it, you will be where you have always wanted to be.

For more advice, information and support on inspiration for motivation, visit: http://www.empowersu.com. Download our free motivation boosting course here: http://www.empowersu.com/resources/free-motivation/motivation-exercises.html

10 Keys to Bring Inspiration into Your Life or How to Be Inspired

by Rochman Reese

Have you ever asked yourself what is inspiration? What is being inspired?

When the word inspiration is broken down into its component parts, it simply means "in - spirit".
When you are living "in - spirit" You feel excited about yourself and your life. You have a special connection with all parts of your mind and body.

The question is how can you connect to your spirit at all times to take actions that enable you to be inspired?

Below are the ten keys to opening the doors to your inspiration.

1. The first key to inspiration is enjoyment. It would take a spiritual master to be inspired about doing the dishes. So find something that really excites you. It can be anything that you really enjoy. You have to have fun.

2. The second key to inspiration is love. When you are actively pouring love into what you are doing, this will guarantee that you are opening yourself to experiencing more inspiration. If you love what you do and do what you love, this will guarantee that you will be inspired.

3. The third key to inspiration is to trust in yourself. Listen to that little voice inside yourself and know that this comes from heart. This is called intuition. Intuition is the spark the sets off the fires of inspiration.

4. The fourth key to inspiration is to follow what your intuition tells you. The more you listen to it, the stronger your intuition will become. If you don't pay attention, that little voice gets fainter and fainter until you can no longer hear it. The spark goes out, and gets harder and harder to rekindle.

5. The fifth key to be inspired is to believe in yourself. Keep telling yourself "I can". These are some of the most powerful words that you can ever use. When you say this to yourself often enough, you build a bridge between yourself and your inspiration. When you are backed by a strong belief in yourself and your dreams, nothing is impossible.

6. The sixth key to inspiration is not to listen to anyone that says "no you can't". They might think that they are helping you, and try to project this negative belief onto you, but remember to keep telling yourself that, "I can!" Nothing will kill your inspiration quicker than listening to people say “no you can’t do that” Understand that often what they mean is “No, I can’t do that, so you shouldn’t either” Its best to simply thank them for their advice, pay no attention to it and not discuss it further.

7. The seventh key to being inspired is to avoid negativity. Ask yourself, do you really need to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV every day? Nothing kills inspiration quicker than being surrounded by bad news. How you can you possibly feel inspired if everywhere you look you are getting reports of doom, gloom and destruction. What if instead of watching the news, you spent time doing what it is that you really love? What if you just spent just 1/2hr a day doing what you really love? What sort of a change would it make in your life after a whole year?

8. The eight key to inspiration is acceptance. Accept that on some days you feel much more inspired than on others. This is normal. Nobody can be completely inspired every minute of the day. So on the days when you feel flat, just know that this will pass and don’t feel too troubled about not feeling inspired.

9. The ninth key to inspiration - Take action every day, no matter how small a step it seems. Action is the fuel to the fires of inspiration. Make it a daily practice to keep your fire burning. The taking of actions, no matter how small, will fill you with inspiration for taking the next step.

10. The tenth key to inspiration is the most powerful of all. Simply put, it is to surround yourself with things that inspire you. This is so laughingly simple that many people over look this. It could be inspiring music, inspiring recorded talks, inspiring books and inspirational art.

One of the most powerful ways to be inspired comes from surrounding yourself with inspirational art. Artworks come in many forms such as paintings and sculptures, and have such an amazing power to influence thoughts and emotions, to uplift and also inspire. By the careful placement of inspiring artworks, you can transform your living and working environments to be places filled with light and inspiration.

All of these 10 keys to inspiration are very simple things. Try them today and you will be amazed at what a difference it will make in your life.

May your life be filled with Love and Happiness and Inspiration!

Inspirational Artists Sofan Chan and Rochman Reese create inspirational artworks that will inspire you to experience more love, happiness and tranquility in your life. You can view inspirational pictures of their artworks, and read more inspirational articles at www.theartofhappiness.net - be inspired.

Article Source: 10 Keys to Bring Inspiration into Your Life or How to Be Inspired

Mindset Techniques for Your Journey to Success

by Roberta Mittman

There's no denying, the road to seizing a goal can be rough. And when the prize is something you've reached for before (perhaps even more than once) but not yet grasped, it can feel even harder. Past obstacles and underlying fears can sabotage our efforts, making the effort seem futile.

But that may be about to change for you! I've seen people grab success after the most difficult of struggles. My patients and telecoaching clients have uncovered the secret to meeting those seemingly impossible challenges: maintaining a healthy mindset. It's true: Changing your thinking can help you radically alter whatever it is in your life--relationships, career, health, or any other facet of your world--that isn't what you want it to be.

Feeling beaten down and defeated? Pull one of these tried and true techniques out of your bag of tricks. Better yet, incorporate them into everyday living, and watch your whole world brighten and expand.

Practice gratitude.
When you start to notice the universe doing something right, it changes your day. Gratitude moments needn't be earthshattering; even the small details are precious. Think of the sun shining after a lot of rain, or the smile from a stranger. Recognizing these gifts is like wearing an inner smile for the day.

Make time for yourself.
It can be just 5 minutes a day, but make this time solely yours. This little moment can refuel you for the rest of the day. Eating well, sleeping, exercising, and just quiet time all count when you embrace them. Please don't think of it as a luxury--personal time is a necessity. Without it, you'll feel even more overwhelmed and resentful, two obstacles to success.

Keep an inspiration archive.
One of my favorite places to go is a "quotes/inspiration" folder I keep on my computer. In just one click, all the thoughts that I found helpful, uplifting, and supportive are there for me to refresh my attitude, doubt, and second guessing. Whew.

Learn, but do not obsess.
Being fearful sometimes means that you need to educate yourself. It's like turning on a light in a dark room. Sometimes you need to consult an expert, read, or enroll in a class to tackle your fears. But always remember that balance is key. When we find ourselves asking "Dr. Google" for so much information that we become overwhelmed, confused, or even more fearful, it's time to take a step back.

Get a better script.
Negative self-talk is an ingrained habit that's hard to change. If your routine is to constantly blame, berate, or insult yourself, you need a new speech model. Need a few examples?

The old tape: "Figures this would happen to me. I have no luck."
The new message: "OK. It's all a test and now I know where I stand."

The old tape: "It was only a matter of time before I blew it again."
The new message: "There's no failure--it's just information to use for the future."

The old tape: "Nice, but what's the catch? Good things don't happen to me."
The new message: "I am deserving of the good and abundance that the universe has to offer me."

With practice, your new script will become second nature.

Know that there's only one you.
That's good news! Although having a mentor to guide you is beneficial, you alone are responsible for and the captain of your ship. It's what you think about and apply life's opportunities that really counts. Comparison to others will drag you back down to that "not good enough" place again, but the reassuring truth that you are doing your best and taking slow but steady steps is your ticket to success.

Don't let fears or a long-standing habit of negativity derail your efforts. You can reach your goals--you just need the right support. Take steps to strengthen the most important force of encouragement of all: Yourself.

Roberta Roberts Mittman, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., M.S., is a nutritional and lifestyle consultant, holistic mindset mentor, and nationally board-certified acupuncturist. Roberta believes in complete mind-body health and empowering individuals to be their own best healers. Ready to take that step? Call 212-686-0939, or visit online at RobertaMittman.com.

Just Believe

Self Improvement - The 5 Step Personal Development Plan

Personal development has become increasingly popular in today's busy world for everything from career improvement and weight loss to public speaking. While the methods and tools used to achieve the desired personal development outcome may vary from high priced seminars to moderately priced books, there are a number of simple steps that can be used to get you started on the right path to reach your own personal development goal, such as:

1) Identify the Cause
A good starting point with personal development is to look at how you got to where you are right now. For example, if your area of personal development relates to weight loss then look at what lifestyle factors contributed to your weight problem to start with. Write down everything you can think of that contributed to the problem and then analyze how you can modify each factor to get the result you desire.

2) Goal Setting
It is essential to have a clear goal in mind to achieve your own particularpersonal development requirements. Ask yourself exactly what it is that you wish to achieve and the more refined and clear your goal the more chance you will have of successfully attaining it.

3) Make a Plan
Once you have decided on your goal then formulate a plan that details the steps you will take to reach your goal. Use the details you uncovered when identifying the cause of the problem and expand on these to incorporate as much detail as possible on how you can achieve your personal development goal.

4) Focus and Commitment
Once you know your goal and have designed your plan you then need to focus on your goal and commit to the plan you have designed. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to work on your plan and do not allow general daily chores to distract you from what you need to do. Once you have become accustomed to working on your plan each day it will become a habit and therefore easier over time to stick too.

5) Look for Inspiration
It will be of great benefit to look for inspiration from others that have overcome the same personal development challenge as your own. This can be in the form of books, seminars, courses or even a person from your local community that you may be able to contact to get some tips or advice.

Personal development is about identifying areas of your life that you wish to change for the better and having an attitude of continual self-improvement. No matter which area of your life you intend to improve by following the steps outlined above and committing to the plan you can be assured of achieving your goals and in doing so gain more confidence to not only achieve other personal development goals but do it quicker and easier each time.