Beruflich Dokumente
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DESIGNER
Estelle Williams
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S h a r r o n Ta n c r e d
Jon Michail
Marguerita Cheng
Stacey Odgers
Kris Deminick
Sasha Deguara
Michelle Brown
Amy Applebaum
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Copyright © 2018 Smart Healthy Women Magazine. All rights reserved.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 1
CONTENTS
11 Coaching Creatively
by Jon Michail
22 Creativity in Leadership
by Stacey Odgers
52 12 Signs of Creativity
by Estelle Williams
2 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 3
FROM THE
EDITOR’S DESK
Welcome to our latest issue -
the Creativity Issue.
ESTELLE WILLIAMS
Editor
4 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 5
by Sharron Tancred
6 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
...todays interiors are the most
elegant and restful when the
colour palette flows throughout
the home
Having a child is expensive! 1. Colour for purpose: throughout your home. With
As a mother of 2 girls myself your child’s room, take your
and a house proud mum Have you ever heard of colour wall colour in and then, choose
at that, I know the costs. psychology? It’s a soft science one favourite colour from
There’s something delightful used over the millennia and your palette and add more of
but wasteful in setting up a by advertising, marketing and it, but how do you know which
nursery, then a room for a interior design companies, colour? Avoid red - it’s not
toddler, then that older kid hospitals, prisons etc. For restful for a bedroom!
but not yet teenage décor and kids, colour is essential so
finally, they are ready to let they embrace it and it reflects Avoid black, except in
go and want change, but not their personality. For longevity small punches for contrast -
completely! and a beautiful décor, unless colour will engage healthier
your walls are white, a full- emotional habits. Blue, green,
How do you plan ahead for on multicoloured décor can yellow, pink, orange are all
some obvious change of be overpowering, especially great. The colours that create
bedding furniture, your child’s in a small space. If you the illusion of more space, if
own input into their space and love multicoloured, then the room’s small, are green and
how it feels, it’s functionality put all the colour in your yellow and a blue violet-like,
and durability? Everyone artwork, rug, toys, cushions far away mountains!
has some creativity in them. and floral arrangement and
Using a few decorating rules keep the greater décor more Choose two other colours
about colour, style, texture, straightforward so that it lasts. from your décor as accents.
accessories and artwork can As your child grows, you add
help make your creative Todays interiors are the most new accessories in this colour
choices better and longer elegant and restful when palette rather than changing
lasting. the colour palette flows the entire décor!
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 7
2. Style and Theme to 3. Textures that warm: buy frames that suit your style
values: Your family may be Did you know that texture, and in your chosen metal/
all about an appreciation like colour, or a good heater, timber/colours.
of nature, sports, fantasy, will warm a space!.
animals, travel etc. This is Position toys in your décor
what is important to you! How can you add texture? colour on display and have
Buy furniture that suits your baskets for the rest, neatly out
home’s overall interior décor Beautiful wool knit throws of sight.
style so that as your child or feaux furs if you’re that
grows, it can be re-purposed glamorous mum; knotted Lamps can be an investment
with a lick of paint or placed timbers, shag pile or hand for them to last into the
elsewhere to suit. woven rugs and baskets will all teenage years so again, buy
add texture and appease your quality.
If you are very social, get your creative needs for pattern and
child a bunk bed for sleepovers! design. If your doorknobs or furniture
If you are glamorous, get them hardware are all brushed silver
a double sized bed or queen These things last the years then get a lamp in the same
straight off and sleepovers will and are gorgeous for winter metal, or, if you are that really
never be a problem. cuddles and bedtime stories. creative Mum, why not hand
paint some hardware, like
The thing is, keep the furniture 4. Accessories that do and on the drawers or cupboards
stylish and practical so it lasts don’t change: The things that for instance in a black with a
the long-term and remember, will change will be toys! Photo design feature.
you can always paint it. frames tend to stay so again,
8 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
I
f you would like wallpaper, heirloom. Children can paint A mural is another way to add
don’t go kiddy and create their own artwork, like in art to your décor.
a headache for later, and my Private Kids or Adult Art
never buy wallpaper made Workshops, from which you I never suggest kiddy, but
in China, from Bunnings or can take inspiration. again, think on a theme that
online, but a good quality will last, like horses and grasses
design to match your home I like to suggest encouraging in a lovely metallic silver, or
directly from a quality curtain/ children to visualise their trees for a forest feel with a few
wallpaper studio. Faux floral ambitions with a portrait. birds, or go a texture wall like a
arrangements for girls’ rooms Haymes Artisan Feature Wall
can change and are a lovely Unlike photos, which are great effect, with a mural or artwork
addition and present another in frame groupings neatly layer over the top.
way to use your creativity. hung 5-10cm apart as a small
gallery of memories, Kids This is how you can use
5. Art that resonates: So, Fantasy Face Portraits define your creativity to the fullest!
with your base created, what a décor, a child’s personality, Layering adds heaps of interest
will express your child’s childhood dreams and create to your child’s room.
dreams and aspirations? a room’s atmosphere.
Adding art to your child’s
Posters may be one room, gives them an
option, although, I appreciation of the
restrict those to my finer things in life and
children’s study as a precious keepsake
eyesores! or a value-add to
your home’s property
Art is a great way to value and if you have
enhance your décor with created it yourself, a
something that lasts and great deal of pride and
can become a family fulfillment.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 9
Creativity is not a solitary
movement. That is its
power. Whatever is touched
by it, whoever hears it,
sees it, senses it, knows
it, is fed. That is why
beholding someone else’s
creative word, image, idea,
fills us up, inspires us to
our own creative work.
A single creative act has
the potential to feed a
continent. One creative act
can cause a torrent to run
through stone.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 11
by Jon Michail
C O A C H I N G C R E AT I V E LY
Founder and award-winning Chief Imagemaker Jon, together with his team at
Image Group International, help executives and entrepreneurs to build, grow,
and monetise their personal brands, (online and offline) by positioning them to
stand out so they attract their ideal clients. They are committed to maximising
an individual’s personal impact, influence, and value in the ever-changing
and disruptive business environment. Image Group International is recognised
as Australasia’s leading personal brand image advisory, with over 29 years of
proven results.
O
ver my years of image reliance on an underpinning to create anything at all. If
coaching I have structure. we abandon creativity as
kept returning to frivolous, then the architect
the teaching I received from A building will collapse if designs an ugly, grey box of
Robert Fritz, and have found it has been poorly planned a building, and the composer
this immensely useful, both and lacks structural integrity. never bothers to create music
when structuring my own Music with no rhythm (even at all.
business, and to utilise when the most experimental jazz)
coaching my clients. What I is just noise. Living a creative I’ve worked with many
found so valuable in Robert’s life does not mean abandoning creatives over the years (visual
teaching was the idea of our practicality. artists, authors, and others)
lives as a creating process. and I’ve also worked with
Conversely, when we focus too sportspeople, entrepreneurs,
Now before you go thinking much on practicality (when and bankers.
that this is a nice idea with we are caught in the rat race of
no practical grounding, think corporate culture, practicality What I’ve found is that these
again about what really goes linked to productivity tends to very different people and
into creative processes. Art, be revered and worshipped) personalities all benefit from
literature, music, architecture, and we lose sight not only of treating their lives and careers
and business - all are created creativity, but also the act of as creating projects.
with vision, purpose, and “creating”, then we struggle
12 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
A
s human beings we to problems - avoidance,
have an innate desire overpowering, or creating.
to practice creativity, The first response, avoidance,
and stifling our creative power is pretty straightforward. You
is one of the surest paths to have a disagreement with your
failure. Choosing a creating partner, and in order to cope
life is a matter of free will - you simply ignore it. You avoid
and it doesn’t have to cost you the issue. Sound familiar to
a cent. anyone?
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 13
I
t is natural and healthy for because we have swallowed the incredible artist, Deborah
us to practice creativity. the lie that creativity is an Halpern,
When we aren’t creating indulgence, a distraction from
we become bored. This doesn’t our “serious” work. “Live a creative life! Early
mean you aren’t busy - we in my career I travelled in
all know that you can have a We are most alive when living Europe looking for Outsider
hectic work life, and yet find a life of creativity. Creativity Artists. Some of their work
that work boring and tedious. demands a willingness to was judged to not even be
When we are bored though, understand, it requires vision. good and interesting as art,
or suffering from a sense of Through creativity we become but it served their expression,
purposelessness, our next step nurturers (of ourselves and and it reflected the creator. I
is to seek distraction. And we others) and that nurturing met people living fully creative
tend to distract ourselves produces growth. lives, who were not constricted
with destructive behaviours. by concerns of exhibiting nor
All because we don’t indulge So why not take the excellent selling their work. It was very
our natural creative bent. All advice of my good friend, liberating!”
14 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
TOP TEN
CREATIVE
WAYS TO
SAVE MONEY
by Marguerita Cheng
Her mantra is “So many people spend their health to gain wealth,
and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health” -
A.J. Reb Materi.
O
ne dollar here...another with limited finances. Some
one there! In April 2018, people learn to save after receiving
a viral video of a mother their first pay check when they
teaching her child financial are 16, while others never learn.
responsibility went online. Lynn Once you earn a pay check, you
Brooks posted it on Facebook, realize that there are too many
which included a “work schedule” bills and too little income to pay
that included chores and school them. Despite the odds, saving
for her daughter, Londyn. Many is possible—you just need to be
people approved of Brooks’ creative.
actions, while others chastised
her. When do we start learning There are numerous ways to save
to save? Saving money is never money, but many people are not
an easy goal to achieve, especially aware of them.
16 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
O
ne method will not help you save
thousands of dollars but combining
several of them will go a long way toward
that goal. Here are some smart and creative ideas
to consider when you are trying to save more.
Review your plan annually and set a goal of When you are buying an item, do not settle for the
increasing the amount that you are saving. first offer you receive. Do your research and look
for other offers.
ENHANCE NEGOTIATION SKILLS
Draw from your network of friends and
Get better deals at low prices by bargaining. While workmates—they may know where to obtain
not all businesses will allow negotiations, take discounts and which establishments to avoid.
advantage of those that offer this option. For instance, Mostly, interact with people you share common
bargain for lesser charges on bills or subscriptions. interests with and exchange helpful ideas.
Big-ticket items such as cars and houses are always
subject to negotiation. You can also inquire about Numerous websites review products and prices.
discounts when buying commodities. Some stores These reviews are a suitable guide for decision-
even allow price adjustments on commodities. making. Compare and contrast all your options
and choose the best deal. One store may sell the
For example, if you purchased an item and one item at a given price, while another is ready to offer
week later it is available on clearance, you can return you the same item at a lower cost.
to the store with your receipt and request a refund
for the extra charge you paid. For instance, an item at Costco may be cheaper
than the same item on eBay.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 17
BULK BUYING do not have to pay the rent alone. It
also includes other services shared
Economies of large scale have in this office. For example, you
always been cost-effective. Buying and the other individual can share
in bulk instead of buying smaller the expenses for internet service.
units of items will help you to save Alternatively, look for a business
some money. Sellers encourage or company willing to sublet office
bulk buying by giving discounts space, which can save money
to increase their sales. It is a win- on rent. Another arrangement
win situation for both buyer and that some families take part in
seller. Buyers receive discounted to save money is sharing Netflix
prices while sellers increase their subscriptions.
profit margin.
CAPITALIZE ON ANNUAL
ADD AN EXTRA INCOME PAYMENTS
AVOID WASTE
Develop
Most people use too much toothpaste, shampoo,
and lotion. Reducing portions by half also means
you have reduced their costs by half. For instance,
toothpaste that lasted two weeks will now sustain you
an entire month. Encourage your family members a habit of
saving,
to serve only as much food as they can finish. The
entire family can practice using resources wisely.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 19
Don’t be satisfied
with stories,
how things have
gone with others.
Unfold your own
myth.
- Rumi
20 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
WE THINK YOU’LL LIKE...
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 21
by Stacey Odgers
C R E AT I V I T Y I N L E A D E R S H I P
As founder of Lead and Succeed Resources and Succeed with Stacey, Stacey’s company
assists business owners to cultivate leadership and “deepen their benches.” Other than
financial advising, she saw the need businesses had for increased productivity, growth
and key person retention. So she added private leadership consulting as an offering
to her clients, owners of affluent privately held businesses. That led to her developing
programs for their employees.Her newest book was just released in July, “Train Your
Brain; 5 Ways to Master Your Mindset and Achieve Your Life Goals”. She is also a
keynote speaker and an Executive Director and Coach with The John Maxwell Team.
A
t the office, how continue to be successful
writing a thing to do for later.
often have you sat in in a 9-5 work environment.
It amazes me how some of
a conference room This couldn’t be further from
the older companies in the
and someone got up to speak the truth. Many companies
country have their trainers
and yet there was no audience are hiring outside speakers
and compliance staff speak at
participation? and trainers to engage with
people and not with them.
their employees and they are
I bet ten minutes into the talk The business atmosphere smart to do so. Interactive
you were texting under the is changing and yet some communication is where
table, checking social media or businesses think they will creativity happens.
22 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
spill into the company’s
environment in a negative
way. Growth and creativity
are stunted. How are leaders to
bring out the creative juices in
their team if they have personal
concerns overshadowing?
Companies are now realizing
that people perform and create
at maximum levels when they
are receiving help from their
employer by hiring executive
coaches to train in leadership
development. Leaders can
grow other leaders on the
I
team. However, if they have
f everyone is stuck in their of companies are starting to never learned the coping
own separate cubicle or do. Develop the person within skills to help a person be less
box, how can a company the position, give them clear anxious and therefore more
expect them to think outside of direction and watch them fly. productive, how can we expect
the box and let the innovation This is what true leadership is them to develop others. They
of new ideas flow? all about. can’t.
Millennials and Gen Y think Create leaders by developing Many companies are bringing
differently than Gen X and people personally. When you in experts to create personal
Baby Boomers. What they offer leadership training, you growth programs and engage
want from a workplace is very will see that employees are their top-level executives in
different. And they are the able to free up space in their working with a business life
future of business. They want minds for more creative ideas coach. You don’t have to be
to collaborate with each other, to flow. If people are angry, born a leader to be a leader.
grow and make the workplace upset, or feeling hurt, that Leadership can be learned
more fun. They are interested translates into low productivity and skills developed. There are
in personal development in the workplace and their millions of leaders that have
programs and they are starting mind is not fully engaged in untapped potential to unleash
to be heard. It would be a great their position. They can be their creativity. An engaging
add-on to employee benefits preoccupied with their own workplace also helps people
and that is exactly what a lot struggles and troubles which to be more creative.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 23
E
mployers need for collaboration which allow
to e st abl i s h an people to feel less confined.
environment to engage When you are confined to an
workers and make them feel office, cubicle or conference
GREAT
leaders
CREATE MORE
leaders
24 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
E
mployees no longer from their cubicle and allows These companies taking these
feel trapped in their them interaction with others actions are winning in the
cubicle . These new age in the company and creativity marketplace in several ways.
environments have coffee bars, blossoms. They are making the
exercise rooms or personal workplace somewhere people So companies using executive
pods take a mental breaks. enjoy their careers and not coaching and personal
some job they hate showing development programs and
Isn’t that better than going to up to every day. And whoever who engage their staff have
the restroom just to be alone said someone had to work 9-5 a higher rate of return than
for a few minutes. Interactive in the first place. those without.
companies engage employees
from various areas of the Times are changing thankfully. These companies grow the
company and allow them to Companies are allowing individual and create leaders
have brainstorming sessions. flexible work hours. That alone by doing something different.
reduces some people’s personal Many companies now have
These work environments stress when it comes to family open spaces that allow a freer
allow the person to feel freed and children. feeling.
ACCORDING TO A MANCHESTER US SURVEY POLL:
W
hen an executive or manager is According to Forbes, the returns for executive
trapped within their own heads, coaching while they are at work produces
how are they supposed to grow all the above and a 357% - 700% return on
other leaders? Programs that combine focusing investment.
on the individual rather than the group expand
their leaders base and from there they then Just remember creativity flows where energy
teach others through their example. goes. If people had less anxiety at work and
in their personal lives, imagination has more
Free flow in leadership allows the ideas to room so that they would to grow. In this case
emerge that can take the individual and the it is a win/win for all.
company to new heights.
26 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
Creativity takes
courage.
- Henri Matisse
by Kris Deminick
W
Kris is a certified mindset coach h a t’s your present moment, and most
and self expression advocate. creative streak importantly connect us to
After years of hustle and stress you’ve always joy. So what if you don’t
within a corporate career, Kris said you’ll get back to “when think you’re creative?
realised she had traded in her you have time”? Creative
happiness. She believes that a self expression seems to WIDEN YOUR
creative life is a playful life, get left on the cutting room DEFINITION
is a happy life, so through her floor in the adult pursuit of
business This Electrified Life, she happiness and success. There is no such thing as a
aims to shift self-expression from non-creative person, just a
optional to optimal. Kris coaches It’s cast as a luxury only limited definition. You don’t
bored, burnt-out rebels, tomboys available once we have the have to be paid for your
and creatives who are left wanting respected job, supportive creativity for it to count,
by the status quo, and depleted by partner, stable income, nor be practising at any
all-work-no-play. Kris helps her modern home, tight particular level.
clients swap expectation for self circle of BFFs, superfood
expression, perfection for play, smoothies, and Instagram- Those of us who draw stick
and should into could, to live this worthy exercise routine. figures are still artistic. Those
electrified life. Yet creativity is worth so of us who sing out of tune
much more than we give it in the car are still musical.
credit for. It helps process The value of our creativity is
and regulate emotions, in the way it makes us feel,
build our sense of identity, not in the way it markets to
develop mindfulness in the others.
28 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
A
ny expression joy that is waiting. Your
that makes us fear of not being ready,
feel electrically being judged, or failing is a
charged, and gets us out of sneaky illusion created by
our heads, is creativity. the ego because it doesn’t
like not being “the best”
For you it may be painting, at everything. Break this
film, dance, pottery, illusion down by checking
writing, fashion, poetry, what else you feel alongside
makeup, yoga, drawing, fear. You might find
photography, f lower anticipation, exhilaration,
arrangement, interior curiosity, or bravery. These
design, cooking, knitting, sensations feel very similar
the way you dress, or even so try swapping the word
just creative exploration. fear with curiosity and see
The list is endless because what shift that brings to
our self expression is your willingness to play
endless, but one thing I with creativity.
know is that we all have it.
SWAP
START BEFORE PERFECTION
YOU’RE READY FOR PLAY
On the other hand, perfectionism
(in extreme cases) can cause
Now you’ve acknowledged Play and creativity go
conditions such as anxiety, stress
your creative self you’re hand in hand, while
related illness, eating disorders
likely thinking “but I’m not perfectionism stifles both.
and obsessive tendencies. It’s time
ready, I’m not good enough Like creativity, play in adult
to uncouple our creativity with the
yet”. This is where we need life has more benefits than
need for achievement, and return
to put our ego in a box and we acknowledge.
to the reason we do it in the first
just start.
place - joy.
Dr Stuart Brown’s research
High expectations and the shows that regular play
Express yourself without worry
rigidity of an end result improves our resilience,
about the results. It doesn’t matter
means we’ll never feel the optimism, self expression,
if no-one comments on it, sees it,
state of readiness we seek. problem solving, trusting
hears it, buys it, or even likes it!
Your creative self is ready, relationships and stress
What matters is that you’re in the
yearning to be expressed, regulation.
energy of creating.
and wants to bring you the
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 29
W
hen you do this, you
shift your vibrational
frequency from control,
overthinking, and people-pleasing to
flow, intuition, and trust.
TRADE IN COMPARISON
FOR CREATIVE
COMPANIONS
30 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
S
o surround yourself by those who are in tune with
the electrically charged feeling of creation, both
your peers and your muses. What are you scared
to show them, or what do you think they’ll think about
you?
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 31
Take a chance
on what could
evolve if you
trusted yourself
more...
32 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
No Juicer? No problem!
Organifi is 100% safe and natural and includes gently dried superfood
powder infused with coconut water crystals and ashwagandha. We
have helped many thousands of people supercharge their lives, restore
glowing good health and feel much younger!
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 33
One must still have chaos
in oneself to be able to
give birth to a dancing
star.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
34 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
IF YOU LOOK
AT THE
ADVANCEMENT
OF HUMANITY IT
FUNDAMENTALLY
DEPENDS ON
CREATIVE
INNOVATION
- JONATHON SCHOOLER
C
reativity is a key humanity it fundamentally impulses and emotional
part of intelligence. dep ends on cre at ive behaviours and learn new
When you become innovation.” things. It also separates us from
more creative, your skills at the other animals. For human
solving problems improve So how do we get our creative beings, the frontal lobe is
dramatically, your brain juices flowing? It all begins in almost 40% of the entire brain.
efficiency speeds up and the frontal lobe! For apes and chimpanzees, it is
you develop more and more about 15% to 17%. For dogs it’s
effective ways of thinking and Our frontal lobe in our brain 7% and cats 3.5%.
behaving. is our creative centre. It’s the
CEO of the brain. It’s the So if this is what separates us
Jonathon Schooler, professor Executive of the Mind. from the animals, why don’t
at University of California we utilise this more? Perhaps
suggests creativity is what is The frontal lobe is where we we lack the awareness and
driving us forward: “If you speculate on what is possible, knowledge to understand its
look at the advancement of make decisions, control capability?
by Sascha Deguara
HOW TO
BUILD YOUR
C R E AT I V I T Y
MUSCLE!
Sascha is an accredited Master NLP Coach, NLP Practitioner, TimeLine Therapist®, wife, toddler tamer
and founder of gamechanger coaching. She coaches and facilitates solution based programs to assist
individuals and groups transform and breakthrough their fears and limiting beliefs so they can achieve
their ultimate life goals. Sascha’s mission is to help other people find their true purpose by providing
clients the tools and techniques to re-program their brain and design the life of their dreams. You can
connect with Sascha on Instagram and Facebook.
36 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
V
anderbilt So how do we dial up our
University lobes and tap into this
management powerhouse?
professor Richard Daft says
“the average human spends 1. ASK OPEN-ENDED
only about 2 per cent to 10 QUESTIONS TO
per cent of their time each CREATE A NEW MIND!
day using the frontal lobe”.
The rest of the time we are Neuroscientist Dr Joe
on autopilot. Dispenza says, “The frontal
lobe has connections to all
Thinking the same other parts of the brain
thoughts, feelings and and when you ask open
emotions day in, day out. ended questions like; what
would it be like to…? How
A brain on autopilot is a would it have to be…?,
bored brain. We get so the frontal lobe (like a
distracted and hypnotised symphony conductor, looks
by our external world the out at the landscape of the
rest of the brain is active entire brain and begins to
while the frontal lobe select different networks
“creative powerhouse” is of neurons and seamlessly
dialled way down. pieces them together to
create a new mind.”
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 37
When we change our routine...
we are creating new brain
connections...
W
henever we make time you brush your teeth try The average individual doesn’t
our brain work brushing with the opposite activate imagination and if
differently, we are hand, think about how the they do, they use it against
literally changing our minds colour pink tastes, what the themselves. They imagine
and we turn on the frontal lobe, clouds smell like or simply what they don’t want and the
our creative centre! When the just try out a new recipe. associated problems instead
frontal lobe turns on, it begins When we change our routine, of using creativity to imagine
recruiting circuits in the rest experiences or change the way what you do want. Don’t get
of the brain that are related we do things we are creating pulled down this rabbit hole.
to things we’ve learnt and/ new brain connections. You Activate your imagination.
or experienced in life. When are activating these new brain Daydream. Think of all the
this occurs, we now have a connections. possibilities your life could be
new intention or vision of the - it really is limitless.
future. With the intention 3. IMAGINATION
locked in our frontal lobe, the If we keep thinking about
new thought becomes a new “The true sign of intelligence making that future become a
possibility or potential in the is not knowledge but reality, we naturally begin to
quantum field. imagination” Albert Einstein. insert ourselves into the scene
of our future.
2. CHANGE IT UP! Your imagination is the
true source of creativity. According to research on
Let’s be honest, most of us are Napoleon Hill points out mental rehearsal, once we
creatures of habit. We have that “imagination is the immerse ourselves in that
a tendency to do the same most marvelous, miraculous, scene of our imagination,
things and think the same inconceivably powerful force changes begin to take place in
thoughts every day. So next that the world has even known”. our brain.
38 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
be. We need to train our brain had a plan for a new film he
to think less. Or maybe even seemed to go through three
have a nap! Companies like phases of thinking which they
Google, Uber, Ben & Jerry’s named Dreamer, Realist, and
and PwC have adapted sleep Critic.
at work. They provide nap
T
pods, sleeping nooks, or have • Dreamer: dream all
herefore each time napping policies for their the possibilities without
we do this, we’re employees to rest and recharge any inhibitions. Anything is
laying down new so their creativity remains possible. Then take that dream
neurological tracks (in the high throughout the day – yes to the realist and make a plan;
present moment) that literally please!
change our brain to look like • Realist: How are we
the brain of our future. In 5. THE DISNEY STRATEGY going to make this work? This
other words, the brain starts would mean a step-by-step
to look for the future we want When it comes to creativity plan using logic, reason, and
to create and has already and imagination there is no pragmatism.
happened. WOW! bigger inspiration out there
other than Walt Disney. NLP • Critic: What am I
4. UNPLUG Pioneer and author, Robert missing here? What obstacles
Dilts, identified how Walt are we going to face, how do
Sometimes your mind just Disney brought these visionary we get around them? The
needs to unplug from the ideas from dreams to reality. Devils Advocate.
influx of information and just He observed that when Disney
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 39
W
alt Disney used disenchantment, and inaction, same manner.
each of the which leads to mental
three styles – roadblocks to creativity. So I challenge you to try each
but in sequence rather than of the techniques above over
simultaneously! The Disney technique is a the next week to see what
powerful tool to help channel changes start taking place in
This produced action. Many inner creativity in an effective your life. Are you a leader or a
of us muddle up the three way, while ensuring all paths follower? Build your creativity
styles – producing confusion, to success are flowing in the muscle today!
40 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony.
There is time for work. And time for love.
That leaves no other time.
- Coco Chanel
by Michelle Brown
HO W TO GE T S TA RT E D WH EN
Y O UR CRE AT I V E URG E IS
P U LL ING
Michelle Brown is an Engineer, a Mixed Media Artist and an Out-of-the-Box
thinker! She is passionate about encouraging women to find their inner passion
for creating and offers many ways to fulfil these needs! Michelle believes that
everyone can be creative, and with a few craft supplies and techniques, you will
be ready to start exploring. Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her very
understanding husband and two teenage boys. You can connect with Michelle on
her website, Facebook and Instagram.
T
here are times in our doesn’t need to be a tragic we have some extra time on
lives when we have a event, just a major shift in our our hands (that we don’t need
moment to pause and own perspective of our lives - to use cleaning the house!) or
reflect. suddenly on maternity leave, when the kids finally move
waiting for the baby to arrive. out - it’s at these moments that
This may be on a regular basis we get to reflect on what we
for some of us; for others it The moment when we realise REALLY want to do with our
takes one of life’s big moments that our kids don’t need us lives.
that cause us to pause. It quite as much anymore and
42 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
I
t’s all very well to be the best want to create something. We you. Writing in an easy creative
mother and housekeeper or need to explore what that may outlet to get started with - all
whatever our chosen field of be - and it doesn’t necessarily we need is pencil and paper,
carer is, but in these moments of need to be one thing, it may be or something to record your
reflection, a tiny voice reminds a combination of things. thoughts.
us that we used to make stuff
and be creative and we LOVED IS IT WRITING? To get you going, there are lots
how that made us feel - so how Were you one of those kids who of great online resources for
do we get started when we feel wouldn’t go anywhere without a generating ideas. One of my
the creative urge starting to pencil and paper, just in case a favourites is the use of Morning
pull? Let’s dive in! brilliant story idea popped into Pages, introduced to me by Tim
your head and you needed to Ferriss. The concept is to spend
Some women use their jot it down? I was! And if that a regular amount of time each
creativity to bake or dress and was you, then writing might be day to empty your head onto
style themselves, others of us the creative urge that is pulling paper.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 43
HERE’S HOW
TO ACHIEVE IT:
T
his can be therapeutic materials - pencils, pens, will fulfil your creative urge!
for thinking our markers, pastels, charcoal - Let me introduce you to art
thoughts and feelings whichever calls to you - and journalling and the wonderful
at any point in time. These start drawing. Again there are world of mixed media art!
sessions can also be used to many online resources to help
“prime the pump” and get us you perfect your approach, as Art journaling and mixed
accustomed to using writing well as Facebook groups to media art are where craft and
as a way to develop our share your work with others. fine art cross over! They are
thoughts and ideas. However creative approaches where
it presents itself for us, writing OR IS IT you don’t need to be a great
is one way to develop those SOMETHING ELSE? writer or a intuitively talented
creative urges into a fulfilling Were you of those kids who drawer to have fun!
pastime. Writing can also give didn’t have a natural talent for
us support in those moments writing or drawing but still felt Art journalling combines
we need them. the need to create?!? many crafts and writing; it can
include using paints, inks and
IS IT DRAWING OR I hear from so many women, markers, along with rubber
PAINTING? women in their 50’s and 60’s stamps, stencils and collage to
Were you one of the kids who tell me they were told create colourful pieces within
who loved coloured pencils at 8 or 9 that they “couldn’t a book or journal.
and had a talent for drawing? draw” and have listen to that
Similar to the writing urge, the voice for many decades, but The “mixed media” part is
drawing urge is also easy to their creative urge never went simply combining more than
identify and fulfil - get yourself away! If this is you then there one of these mediums in your
a sketch book and drawing are still creative options that artwork.
44 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
L
ike many crafts, your art journaling
practices can be as simple or as
complex as you want! And its all
about what YOU want to create! There are
few rules; only guidelines that are created
to harness the different art products
characteristics (some media really shouldn’t
mix!)
- Stella Adler
46 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
G RASPIN G F O R
I NSPIRATIO N?
10 S TEPS TO B O O S T
Y O U R CRE AT I V I T Y
Amy Applebaum is an
entrepreneur, business coach,
author, media personality,
wife and mom of precocious
5-year-old. She understands
the struggles that come with
running your own business, and
has been there firsthand. You
can read more about Amy and
get in touch through her website,
AmyApplebaum.com.
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 47
F irst… why should you be creative? I mean, who cares?
There are many steps you can take to get inspired and release
the creativity you have inside!
1 ACCEPT
The first thing you need to do is accept that it’s ok. You work
hard and its normal to hit a “lack of creativity” wall.
2 BE PATIENT
Don’t Push It. The best things happen unexpectedly. It’s important
to trust that it will happen - if you create the environment for it..
4
just the thing to bring about but Huffington Post and Thrive
PUT YOURSELF inspiration. Global (Arianna Huffington
IN CREATIVE is a huge practitioner of yoga)
Abstract artist Pablo Picasso recommend a few. Here’s the
ENVIRONMENTS was quoted saying, “Every top two: Strala at Home, and
child is an artist. The problem Yoga Journal.
When I need some creativity is how to remain an artist once
7
- like when I want to come up we grow up.” What he meant
with a new marketing strategy
- I do something creative in
by that is that as we grow up we
lose the childlike curiosity and
TRY
another realm. freedom to be open, unafraid, MINDFULNESS
uninhibited. Forget what you
Sometimes I bring out the have to do, drop everything
canvas and brushes and start and take the kids out to play. According to Mindful:
painting. Sometimes I make
bracelets with my daughter. YES! It’s important to get your “Mindfulness is the basic
Sometimes I color on my head out of the computer and human ability to be fully
coloring app. The idea is to get some new perspectives - present, aware of where we are
stop fixating on the task at those are where my best ideas and what we’re doing, and not
hand and just get creative. come from. overly reactive or overwhelmed
by what’s going on around us.”
6
So put yourself in creative
environments and then, relax TAKE UP YOGA Being present and aware isn’t
and let things happen. foreign to us - it’s natural but
5
we have learned to create
When I am lacking creativity distractions that move us away
GET PLAYFUL - I do yoga. It’s life-changing from being present.
for me. I have come up with
some of my best ideas during To begin being mindful, try
Instead of fighting or a Warrior 1 pose or laying in meditating. Guided meditation
mourning what seems to be a Savasana. And don’t say you is typically the easiest place to
loss of inspiration, try playing. don’t have time. Make time. start as you will notice your
Literally. Get your mind off of mind wander less. Listening
the task at hand and play. You have time for anything to ‘Unleash Your Creativity’
you deem a priority. Where may be just what you need to
Plan a pie fight with your kids to begin? Try Youtube Yoga in get the ideas flowing.
and honey. Play pictionary or
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 49
8 TAKE A BREAK
9 BE ADVENTUROUS
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 51
W e are all born creative, and yet as we get older many of us tend to forget that. In this
world of ‘froth and bubble’, our creative natures are devalued (unless they are bringing
in a profit!) and even then, the act of tying monetary value to creativity is often the
death knell of inspiration.
If we could only get back to our childhood, when everything was so simple and our acts of
creation were not judged as a waste of time or deemed either worthy or unworthy.
Well the good news is, we can! And looking into one’s Sun Sign is the perfect place to begin
our exploration of what lights us up creatively. Every Sun Sign has her own creative spark, an
arena in which she feels most comfortable and at ease in her creations.
There was said to be a sign above the entrance to the Oracle of Delphi – it read “Tempet nosce”
- “Know thyself ”. Astrology affords a unique view into your inner world, where the planets and
signs are archetypal signposts to the riches of human experience.
There’s a lot of information that can be gleaned from the Sun sign alone, however if you really
want to know what your Creativity Quotient is, then you need to consider other points in the
chart such as the position and aspects of Venus, the Part of Fortune, the Fifth House and the
house that contains Leo.
by Estelle Williams
12 S IGNS
O F CREAT I V I T Y
Estelle is the Founder & Editor of
Smart Healthy Women Mag. She
is an expert Coach, Author and
Speaker, who has also studied
Humanistic Astrology over the last
25 years. She is passionate about
providing her clientele and readers
with successful strategies for
realising a life of purpose, meaning
and fulfilment using the best in
change tools, and believes that by
reaching their potential, everyone
can make the world a better place.
She loves to share strategies to
enhance the many facets of the busy
woman’s life, and has also been
seen on the Huffington Post and
SheSavvy sharing her insights.
52 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
ARIES
MARCH 21-APRIL 20
CARDINAL FIRE ~ RULED BY MARS
TAURUS
APRIL 21-MAY 21
FIXED EARTH ~ RULED BY VENUS
GEMINI
MAY 22-JUNE 20
MUTABLE AIR ~ RULED BY MERCURY
LEO
JULY 23-AUGUST 22
FIXED FIRE ~ RULED BY THE SUN
VIRGO
AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22
MUTABLE EARTH ~ RULED BY MERCURY
54 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
LIBRA
SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22
CARDINAL AIR ~ RULED BY VENUS
SCORPIO
OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21
FIXED WATER ~ RULED BY PLUTO
SAGITTARIUS
NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 21
MUTABLE FIRE ~ RULED BY JUPITER
SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E 55
CAPRICORN
DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 20
CARDINAL EARTH ~ RULED BY SATURN
AQUARIUS
JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18
FIXED AIR ~ RULED BY URANUS
PISCES
FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20
MUTABLE WATER ~ RULED BY NEPTUNE
56 SM ART H EALTH Y W O M E N M A G A Z I N E
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