Be Playful!

We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.
Charles Schaefer

The Oscars: A Celebration of Creativity

copyright A.M.P.A.S.

 
Millions of us will be tuned in tonight to enjoy the Academy Awards presentations on television.  Whether or not you love the films they celebrate, there's no denying that the Oscars do bring together and showcase an amazing amount of creativity:  from script-writing to musical composition to makeup and costume design.  Creativity and it's benefits have been closely studied by Positive Psychology researchers.   One of the fathers of Positive Psychology, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, studied the commonalities between ninety of the most successfully creative people.  These were people who embraced and nurtured their creativity, and lived full, happy, self-actualized lives as a result.  These are suggestions made from his study of the life-enhancing benefits of allowing our creative selves to shine:

1.) Try to be surprised by something every day. Embrace the atypical. Be open to what the the world is showing you. Life is a stream of experiences. Swim widely and deeply in it, and your life will be richer.

2.) Try to surprise someone every day. Don't always be predictable and patterned. Embrace the unconventional.

3.) Each evening, write down what most surprised you that day, and your response to it. What was your most surprising action, and what was a person's response to it? After a few days of notes, go back and reread them. In a few weeks you'll likely see a pattern of interest developing, waiting to be explored in greater depth.

4.) When something sparks your interest, follow it. Oftentimes we'll find something curious or interesting and tell ourselves we'll do some Internet research on it later. We then let it slide because we're too busy with other things banal, and simply forget about it. If you can't drop everything to follow your interest at any given moment, then carry a small notebook around with you. Write down those things which demand exploration.

5.) Wake up in the morning with a specific goal to look forward to. Creative people start each day with the feeling that there is something meaningful to accomplish, no matter how seemingly small.

6.) Spend time in settings that stimulate your creativity. Physical activity is important. The most profound sparks of creativity generally happen when a person is jogging, swimming, walking, or even just traveling somewhere in the car. Sitting in a natural setting, enjoying a sparkling stream or a sunset is beneficial. And the half-asleep / half-awake state we find ourselves in when we're deeply relaxed or barely awake is a powerful state for the reception of novel ideas.

Okay, so we don't all have to produce Oscar-worthy works of creativity.  Ask yourself, though, could your life be fuller, if you let your creative side explore a little?

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1996). Creativity : Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 0-06-092820-4

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1998). Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-02411-4 

The King's Speech - The power of Friendship

www.cachestudio.net

If you haven't seen this Oscar-worthy movie - please go!  It's  a beautifully told story about King George VI's incredible triumph over an abusive childhood and his distress at being unexpectedly thrust into the  spotlight and responsibilities of the throne he did not desire.  It's a wonderful tale of courage, as the future king struggles to overcome the limitations of the speech impediment that held him back. For me, it is most importantly about the incredible healig power of friendship.  Bertie embarked on the journey of speech therapy as a technical exercise only.   His therapist, Logue's, attempts to draw him into more personal conversation were met with harsh reprimands - he refused to share himself on a more intimate level.  He made no progress when the therapy remained "business-like".  As Bertie began to trust, to share, to open up about his inner world and feelings, he began to receive the true gift of Logue's greatness.  His methods may have been controversial - who knows if there may have been better techniques or not?  But what really worked was the close friendship the two shared.  They were able to share their vulnerabilities with each other, find acceptance , belonging and understanding. As the friendship grew, Bertie began to experience the change and progress he so desperately needed.  His speech grew stronger as trust in his therapist grew stronger.  He became more confident as he shared more of himself with Lionel.  It was truly the friendship that healed the king!

Unconditional Puppy Love Works Wonders

www.trupanionpetinsureance.com

Don't We All Need a Hug?

www.visualizeus.com 

There's nothing better than a hug to make us feel comforted, loved, supported and appreciated.  Newborns need to be fed touch just as much as food in order to thrive and develop normally.  Children instinctively reach out for touch to settle themselves, to feel secure and safe, and to meet their needs for connection. As we get older, we typically receive less opportunity for touch, but no matter how old we are, touching is a necessary ingredient in a healthy life.  Reach out and touch someone today - you'll both feel better for it!

Say No to Bullying: Wear Pink!

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

Take a look at this link for lots of inspiring stories of kids standing up against bullying.

It's Wear a Pink Shirt Day today!  Whether or not you choose to wear pink today, take a moment to honour all the kids who've been hurt (or worse!) by bullying.   When children are dying because of the grief caused by their peers, it's the adults that must stand up and say ENOUGH!  When adults model tolerance and  acceptance, and when we encourage our kids to be their own unique selves, we'll have a chance to make change.  If we all take a stand, there could be so much less heartache. 

Say No to Bullying: Wear Pink today