Howdy Listeners,
The book review on The Art of Creativity, 7 Powerful Habits to Unlock Your Full Potential, by Susie Pearl is broken into two episodes. This first episode looks at the first three habits.
Why?
I took sooooooo many notes that the original, rough recording of the full episode was close to two hours! I managed to whittle it down to an hour and eighteen minutes, yay! But, I edit in Garage Band and evidently there’s a maximum allowable length for a “song” and the episode length was too long, boo!
📝Notes on this Episode
We’re looking at the first three habits that will help us to unlock our full creative potential which are facing our fears, journaling our inner world, and 🤞mastering mindful presence.
Each Chapter has a lot of journaling exercises as well as other creative ways to uncover a different way forward. I share some of my answers and reflections.
🧠 Habit 1 - Fears and Blocks and How to Overcome Them
It should be no surprise that fears and internal blocks are universal and not just for those we think of as artists. Susie guides us to identify what holds us back from creative expression encouraging us to meet them with curiosity and gentle awareness. The exercises here are about recognising the stories we tell ourselves that keep us small, and gently shifting our mindset toward possibility instead of limitation.
✍️ Habit 2 - Journaling
Susie feels journaling is a hugely important habit for clarity. Journaling allows us to find the emotions and creative impulses that often remain hidden in the subconscious. Throughout this chapter, journaling is presented as a creative outlet and diagnostic tool, helping us to have a conversation with “the self”.
🧘 Habit 3 - Meditation and Breathing
Creativity flourishes when the mind is calm and present. This chapter invites readers to explore the power of simple meditation, paying particular attention to the breath, as a portal to creative flow. Susie uses meditation to anchor into her body and breath before creating.
🔗Links
Susie Pearl’s website with book information: https://www.susiepearl.com/books/the-art-of-creativity/
Book about Eleanor (& Franklin) Roosevelt, No Ordinary Time, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
More of Me, your host, Bec Forde: https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/
