Day 91 - Ch 1 & 2 - The Creativity Habit

In Chapter 1, Twyla Tharp starts with her review of a collaborative process as some other depend upon us holding our integrity to the product as their livelihood depends on it, as with the author’s dance group.  For some beginning a creative process, there is so much anxiety before the creativity even begins that they would rather walk away from even starting. Procrastinate is an extreme form of putting off the beginning of a creative process.  Some of the reasons one might not even begin, is as a creative process puts out their “identity” for everyone to become witness to -- the flaws & the imperfections. They would rather not expose themselves to the criticism. Creativity has its own daily patterns that when established assists with writers setting up a specific time to write.  A painter a space in which to paint. These daily routines become habits over a period of time allowing the creative process to emerge. Creativity is not only for artists -- it’s for everyone, opening a perspective to see the world in many different ways. She discusses that creativity is a habit. Habits are routines which are practiced, daily. The author dispels the myth of genius as “there are no natural geniuses,” only ones who have practiced -- a lot.  She prepares her readers, “In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative.” The book provides exercises to prep for the necessary skills to ensure daily habits of creativity. Her first point is toward “everything is usable,” within your day. In Chapter 2, she prepares her readers for the skills to assist with daily habits of creativity

1. What’s your pencil?  Have your one tool that you never leave home without.  For me, that’s my ipad and apple pencil. I always have drawing resources at my disposal.
2. Build up your tolerance for solitude - She states, “it’s not the solitude that slays a creative person.  It’s all that solitude without a purpose.”  Establishing a goal for your creative process.  She encourages her reader to think of 5 things they might like to do all by themselves, such as a hot bath, coffee on the deck, reading a newspaper…
3. Face your fears - she suggest naming the fears, as this “helps to cut them down to size.” She shared her fears -- for example one was “People will laugh at me” and she challenges the cognitive distortion by reframing the fear.  
4. Give me one week without - she offers another tool of doing without to strengthen your creative health.  For example, not looking into mirrors, using a clock, stop reading newspapers, or even speaking for a specific amount of time.  She suggests to look for those every day things that distract -- TV, telephone, computers, coffee shop, the car .. pick yours to do for one week of the year to move one out of a life rut
   
   

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