Sources

In This Bloutcher
Where Art, Life Change and Leadership Intersect

• Sources
• Announcements

1. Karen's new book
2. Matt White's Film release
3. The Coach's Studio Round 2

Sources

It's not unusual for someone to ask me: Where do you find the sources for your ideas and inspiration?

While this is an interesting question I think the more interesting question is: How do you have the sources of ideas and inspiration find you?

Ideas and inspiration are all around. The challenge is not one of availability but accessibility. We have an opportunity to learn how to access what is already there. Not to place false barriers between our creative core and the sources that stimulate it. We each have the ability to create the conditions where ideas and inspiration find us because we are open to them finding us.

I've certainly been stuck technically. I've had my share of self doubting angst. Still do. I've sagged motivationally. But none of this had to do with lack of ideas to pursue or inspiration to tap into. None of these have stopped me from plowing ahead, perhaps insensitive to the dissenting voices in my head or the inner doubting Thomas scratching at my impulse to step into what I do not know.

So here are some ways I open myself to having sources of ideas and inspiration access me.

Honor the quotidian. A beam of light falling on a bread crumb. The postman's shoes. Sardines. The pattern of water as you wash the dishes. Venerate the mundane in your life. Very rich!

Cultivate mindfulness. Sit quietly. Do nothing. Tune into your breathing. Really tune in. Breathe deeply. Several times. Let your belly out as you breathe in. Listen. Feel. The rhythm. And ask your breath what it is grateful for.

Play with metaphors. They are windows to our world. They are a good salsa to the senses. Everything is a metaphor. A pen. A computer. A garden in winter. Old photos. They are all around us. They are what they are. And they are metaphors of _____? Pick three and play. Any three.

Take a sketchbook/journal wherever you go. Since I carry it I feel an obligation to fill lit.

And if these do not work I do a rapid fire series of self portrait sketches. Really rapid. One after the other. With a pen so I won't be tempted to erase. Some with my eyes closed. Loose. Without thinking. Not trying to get it right but to get it down. Then I look at them and ask "Who is this person? Who am I?" That certainly opens things up. You don't even have to ever have taken a drawing class. In fact, that's even better. Go ahead try it.

And then take a step. In the direction of your dreams.

Announcements:

Karen's New Book

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Clicking by Karen Mandell (yes, my wife of 42 years!)

Love's an iffy prospect, defying proverbs, wishes and expectations. The most wonderful people don't always find the love they deserve. In this collection of stories, the characters defy such fate by meeting the people with whom they just "click."

You will love the quirky characters and the vivid style of the story telling! These are really pre-love stories.

To order the book click here.

To order the Kindle version click here

The Coach's Studio, Round 2

I am happy to let you know that round 1 of The Coach's Studio filled up quickly and we had to close registration at 24. In response to this strong interest we have decided to launch round 2 on April 18th. If you would like to learn more or enroll in the program please click here.

If you have questions please let me know directly.

Matt White's New Documentary Film

Fort Drum: The First 100 Years is the fourth film released by award winning document film maker Matt White (yes, my son-in-law.) I had the opportunity to view the release showing last week and it really was quite stirring, filled with all kinds of human interest stories and surprising historical information. The film tells the story of how a dusty cavalry camp inthe early 1900s evolved into a modern marvel of military training. Over the course of the century soldiers and statesmen associated with the base--from Ulysses S. Grant's son, to Teddy Roosevelt, to Dwight D. Eisenhower--have shaped the history of America and the world.

To learn more about the film and/or order a DVD, click here.

Paradoxes

In this bloutcher (where Art, Life Change and Leadership intersect)

• Paradoxes
• The Coach's Studio; Where OutRaGEouSLY Creative Coaching Happens

Paradoxes

The dictionary defines paradox as a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.

I have spoken before about being both lost and found at the same time. A paradox? When I am doing my art I am lost because I have a sense that I do not know what I am doing or where I am going. I push myself beyond where I have been and so I have no compass. Yet I am found because I know that this is the journey I am meant to be on.

But there are many more paradoxes in my life.

I seek coherence and practice disruption. That is the nature of creating art. In so far as art is language, it is also story, narrative. Perhaps in a very different language than we are familiar with, but language nonetheless. So we must always seek new forms of language that disrupt and reinterpret old language. Living in this paradox is also in the nature of growing as a human being. We grow more whole by disrupting our comfortable but incomplete selves.

In the process of creating art I both believe and am permeated by self doubt. I believe in what I am doing but am invaded by self doubt in my ability to pull it off. I don't think this is confined to art.

And so I succeed and fail at the same time. I try, fall short (fail), try again, and again, and again until I realize a small redemptive success. At least in my eyes. I believe success and failure are the ying and yang of creativity.

Sometimes I create by doing nothing. I daydream. I sit and wonder and stare, hands folded on my lap. I am very still. I am doing nothing. And ideas seep in. A pathway opens up. Imagination begins to play. It is all a wonder and magic. There I am doing nothing and creating at the same time.

I honor my antecedents by breaking with them. I study the work of the great masters. I am captivated, mesmerized, seduced by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velasquez, Goya, Soutine, Kollwitz, de Kooning. I want to be able to do what they do. Of course, it is hopeless. I know I can't. I am humbled by their work. I breathe it in. And yet...something different comes out of me.

• So how about you? Where does paradox show up in your life? What form does it take? Think of at least one paradox in your life.

• Then let me know. Shoot me an email with your thoughts.

• Then we can think about why paradox is important in our lives and what role it plays and possibly how paradox sparks creativity, growth and wonder.

The Coach's Studio; Where Outrageously Creative Coaching Happens

We're live!

We launch February 29th

Check it out here!

And receive a special introductory offer.

We are working on a first come, first serve basis.

Or, if you have questions, shoot me a note by replying to this email.