Creativity Cookies: Rocky Road Reward

[Dan Goodwin]

The road we travel in our creative lives isn’t always a smooth one. What doesn’t help is that we overlook, forget and sometimes completely dismiss the effort we put in and the progress we make as creative artists. As a result, we mock and criticise ourselves for not creating, when in reality we’ve done so much more than we realise.

This Creativity Cookie is called “Rocky Road Reward” and will help you to start to recognise and reward the progress you’re making in YOUR creative life that you haven’t even been aware of.

Head over to Creativity Portal for the full Cookie, try it out for yourself, then head back here to share your comments and experiences.

Click here to get the Creativity Cookie: Rocky Road Reward

[Kris]

Dan,
Thanks for the "Rocky Road Reward". It's always great to be aware of any progress we make in life....especially CREATIVE!!! Too often we go through life on what I like to call 'automatic pilot'...just doing what we're used to doing without being consciously aware and embracing life. I'm excited to put the "Rocky Road Reward" into action and know it will motivate me in every area of life.

[Anne Westlund]

I just started a Creative Landmarks calendar. I've even written "read part of writing a novel book", as well as some actual crafty stuff I've been up to. I like your idea of recognizing when we are being creative, even in the little things.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

This is a good idea ... except that the title has made me now have a serious craving for Rocky Road ice cream! It's on the grocery list for tomorrow, and I really will create before rewarding myself with some :)

I am going to begin doing this chart, or keep a separate journal for it. I did reward myself for my recent creativity by going to the auction event on Sunday, enjoying good food and music, and purchasing a few lovely things for the cause and for my own enjoyment. It was great fun!

[Victoria Young]

This is a great idea, however one of my problems is that I have so many ideas that I get overwhelmed! MANY things get lost or unfinished because before I'm finished with one, another idea comes and before you know it I'm drowning. I know prioritizing may be the key . . . but how does one really do that.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Hi Victoria ... I'm sure Dan can probably point you to some of his articles here on CCS about prioritizing creative ideas.

One of the helpful tools for me to keep focused and avoid overwhelm is to keep a little idea book for jotting ideas down when they come. Then I can let go of that after it's been recorded, and keep focus on the thing I'm working on currently, because I've got something written down to jog my memory later.

[Dan Goodwin]

Great technique Barb, one I use all the time when writing and keep getting spin off ideas... Often the thread of an idea that's come as a tangent from the main one turns out in the end to be better than the original...

[Dan Goodwin]

Hey Victoria, having too many ideas and getting overwhelmed is as common as not having enough! There's a balance in there to be found somewhere.

Try these articles for some help:

How To Swim When You're Drowning in Creative Ideas

How To Focus When You Have Too Many Creative Ideas

Creative Ideas - How To Deal With An Overload Of Creative Ideas

Let me know how you get on...

Dan