If you’re like me, you’re probably reflecting on the events of this past year—your highs and lows, your successes and failures. And if you’re especially like me, you are prone to beating yourself up for your failures. After many years of feeling guilty for my mistakes, I am finally learning to see my failures as […]
This time of year, it’s impossible to avoid the topic of goal-setting. It’s less than two weeks before Christmas, and the New Year is quickly approaching. It’s a natural time to reflect on the past year, and consider what we want to accomplish in the coming year. A little math Let’s do a little math. […]
With less than a week to go before Christmas, we are in full holiday mode. Songs on the radio, TV specials, decorations in stores and homes, and Christmas programs at schools remind us that “in the air, there’s a feeling of Christmas.” However, if you dig a little deeper you’ll see the truth: many people […]
Note: This post is part of the “5 Cups of Creativity” series. For previous posts in the series, click here. One of the hardest things for any creative person to do is set limitations. We like to be free spirits, unchained and unhindered by any limiting factors. That’s what being creative is all about, right? […]
This has been a difficult post to write. Not because of the subject matter, but because I’ve re-written it several times. The titles will tell you how it’s changed. It started out as “3 Things You Should Stop Doing in 2017.” Then it morphed into “Are These 3 Bad Habits Holding You Back?” Finally, after […]
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It’s a day to gather with friends and family and reflect on the blessings of the past year. It’s wonderful to have an annual day set aside for giving thanks, but how would it impact our lives if we practiced it every day? That’s exactly what I’ve […]
Note: This post is part of the “5 Cups of Creativity” series. For previous posts in the series, click here. One of my favorite activities to do with my son Ben is geocaching , which is a worldwide scavenger hunt requiring only the Geocaching smartphone app or a GPS device. I live in St. Peters, Missouri, a […]
For the last couple of decades, I’ve devoted myself to helping people discover and use their creative gifts. In my various roles as a teacher, musician, writer, and editor, I’ve become convinced of one truth: we find the most joy, and we help the most people, when we are doing what we are born to do. […]
Today is July 26, 2016—my 42nd birthday. As a kid, I would sometimes think with a sense of wonder, “When the year 2000 comes, I’ll be 26 … I can’t imagine being that old!” Today I’m many years past 26. Each year on my birthday I stop and take stock of what I’ve learned over […]
One of the dangers of getting older is that you fall into routines that are predictable and boring. No matter what type of work you do—creative or otherwise—this is going to happen unless you take steps to prevent it. If you’ve read my blog any amount of time, you know that I’m a full-time professor. […]
