I started off the new year re-reading a great creative resource, The Genius Zone by Gay Hendricks.
In this mini-episode, we talk about Hendricks’ advice to woo our creativity like a beloved and to ask ourselves the question, do you appreciate your creativity? Learn more here.
Transcript
Tricia: [00:00:17] Hey there, I’m Tricia Rose Burt. And welcome to another of our mini episodes that we’re offering before we launch Season Three. Now, this year, to shore up my creative reserves, I started rereading a book by Gay Hendricks called The Genius Zone. The subtitle is “The Breakthrough Process to End Negative Thinking and Live In True Creativity.” Now, if you just rolled your eyes at the sound of yet another creativity self-help book, I will tell you firsthand that it’s a great resource and it’s resonating more on the second read than when I first received it last year. Timing is everything. [00:00:52][34.3]
Tricia: [00:00:52] At any rate, Hendricks has a whole chapter called “How to Woo Your True Creativity,” and he compares creativity to a beloved. He says that when you’re wooing a beloved, you go to great lengths to cultivate the relationship. You make space and time to be together. You speak to your beloved with kindness and respect, and you celebrate their very existence. According to Hendricks, your creativity needs to be wooed just like that. Based on that criteria, I think sometimes my creativity might want to break up with me. Hendricks says the questions we need to ask ourselves are, how much do I appreciate my creativity? Am I grateful for it? And do I visit it every chance I get? [00:01:36][43.8]
Tricia: [00:01:36] I remember years ago when the actor Gina Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for her role in Jane the Virgin, one of my favorite series ever. And the first thing she said was, “Thank you, God, for making me an artist.” I was so struck by that because I’ll admit, sometimes I get cranky about being an artist. It’s hard. We live in a society that rarely appreciates working artists or the creative process. And for those of us who do this full-time, money can be tricky. But then I remember what it felt like to bill my time in 15-minute increments when I worked at a financial services firm, and how every good thing in my life, every good thing — my husband, my faith, a rich circle of friends, amazing experiences on and off stage and in and out of my studio — all of that has come from being an artist. So this year I’m going for an attitude of gratitude when it comes to my creativity. In fact, I’m going to plan a play date for us right now. I hope you’ll join me. [00:02:36][60.3]
Tricia: [00:02:36] If you want to jumpstart your creative courage, go back and listen to Seasons One and Two of the podcast. Learn more about No Time to Be Timid at my website, triciaroseburt.com and make sure to follow me on social media @triciaroseburt. No Time to Be Timid is sponsored by Interbang Books, a Dallas-based independent bookstore, which was named one of the top five bookstores in the country. They have a fabulous curated online collection. Check them out at interabangbooks.com. That’s interabangbooks.com. No Time to Be Timid is written and produced by me, Tricia Rose Burt. Our episodes are produced and scored by Adam Arnone of Echo Finch, and our theme music is Twists and Turns by the Paul Dunlea Group. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show, spread the word, and review us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen. No Time to Be Timid is a presentation of I Will Be Good Productions. [00:02:36][0.0]