Crankin' Up Creativity

Here’s a big word: authenticity. Authenticity—the practice of acting and communicating in authentic, that is, genuine ways—can be surprisingly difficult to do. There’s so much at stake. For better or worse, a person’s words and actions not only influence others’ perceptions of him or her, but they also affect the way people feel about themselves. In fact, the pressure to meet others’ expectations and personal agendas can cause people to act outside their true nature, creating friction in their relationships and a divide between their beliefs and actions.  Yet authenticity is at the heart of meaningful expression and genuine interactions. It grounds personal relationships, business affairs, discovery work, and creative pursuits in solid principles that can be felt. More than that, authentic behavior has been shown to benefit a person’s self-esteem and sense of well-being. In her bestseller, “Presence” (Little, Brown and Company, first edition Dec. 2015), social psychologi

Creative expression may come naturally to you, but maximizing your creative process can be a great way to keep those inspired juices flowing and boost the outcome of your efforts. Here are a few ways to stir up yours.    Take up a new hobby . Learning something new pushes the brain’s neural network to forge new pathways, expanding its circuitry. So, pick up a new language, get into golf, write poetry or study the stars. Not only will you open yourself to new experiences, but you’ll also stretch your creative muscle. My latest hobby is embroidery. I love its tactile, detailed-oriented process. It's also fun to design and create something new. Try a new approach. Following a regular routine can promote productivity but changing how you do what you do can inspire different ways of seeing the world. Find ways to work within a structured framework that’s outside your norm and see how your perspective widens. Switch up your space. While you’re at it, make a few changes