simple ways to rekindle your creative soul

Simple Ways to Rekindle your Creative Soul

… and spark anything from fresh writing to passionate living

© 2020 Carolyn Scarborough www.carolynscarborough.com/ page 2

Table of Contents

The Journey Begins… ........................................................................................................... 3

How to Use this Ebook ........................................................................................................ 4

Pause .................................................................................................................................... 5

Creative Permission ............................................................................................................ 6

Taking Space ........................................................................................................................ 7

What Do You Want to Create? ........................................................................................... 9

Creative Resistance ........................................................................................................... 10

What Nourishes and Depletes You? ................................................................................ 12

Your Sourcebook ............................................................................................................... 13

Pausing for Creative Renewal .......................................................................................... 15

Welcome it all… with Compassion ................................................................................... 17

Don’t Go It Alone ............................................................................................................... 18

Bonus: Remember to Relax .............................................................................................. 19

Next Steps .......................................................................................................................... 20

Praise for Carolyn’s Offerings .......................................................................................... 21

About Carolyn .................................................................................................................... 22

https://www.carolynscarborough.com/


The Journey Begins… Mary Oliver summed up the human condition so well when she said “Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?” So many of us desire to live rich, creative, fully expressed lives, yet we find ourselves stuck. We feel disconnected from our creative source and struggle to write our books, re-imagine our lives or simply tap into our full aliveness no matter what we are doing. Yet the older we get, the more we are called to live creatively. We feel the urge to see who we really are, to touch the wildness and freedom beyond our limiting roles, habits and beliefs. We desire to find our true voice and let her speak. To live from our creative essence -- that part of us that is truly alive, percolating with possibilities and connected to something bigger. As author Sue Monk Kidd recalls, “My life had started to feel so stagnant, like it was atrophied. Everything shrunk down to the roles I played. I had loved doing them, I really had, but they were drying up, and they weren’t really me. Do you understand? I felt there had to be some other life beneath the one I had, like an underground river or something, and that I would die if I didn’t dig down to it.” Now, more than ever, it’s time for us to uncover our underground creative river and dip in for refreshment, comfort and vitality. For some of us, kids have left home and we’re ready for a new creative chapter. Others are retiring and ready to express in a way that nourishes ourselves and others. And all of us are in transition now. Regardless, when we reconnect with ourselves and put our creative lives first, it nourishes and enlivens everything else. Relationships spark, words or art start bubbling out, joy visits more often and we contribute to the world in bigger ways. So what to do? How do we tap back into our true selves and create from there? As with most things, we begin with the first step…



How to Use this Ebook Read it all in one sitting or savor a section a day with a cup of tea and your journal. At the end of each section are two invitations. The “If you do nothing else” invitation takes less than a minute if that’s all the time you have. To dive deeper, respond to the “If you want to journal…” invitation. Tune in to how YOU will experience the most pleasure and benefit from this material, and let the creative journey begin!



Pause Oh sweetheart, take a moment and rest. You’ve been pushing yourself for so long. Pushing to get things done, to be more, to give to everyone else but you. Take a deep breath and release. You can slow down now… As you continue to pause -- requiring nothing but your presence in this moment -- perhaps it’s time to greet your beautiful self again? She misses you. She has been patiently waiting. Imagine putting your arm around her and simply saying “I’ve returned my love…” If you do nothing else… Take a moment and give yourself a little head massage. Then take a deep breath and affirm that you are worthy, just as you are. No need to change a thing. Breathe in the words “I am worthy…” then breathe out the words “just as I am.” If you want to journal…

o Try “Compassionate Check-In Journaling,” a good way to reconnect with yourself after the disconnection and stress of too much “other” focusing. The 3-minute check-in below reconnects us with our body, emotions and thoughts.

Body: First let’s see how your precious body is doing. Notice any sensations. Perhaps your shoulders are a bit tight? Or there’s a throbbing behind your eyes? A feeling of warmth/cold in your legs? What’s there? Just notice without judging and jot down 3 things you find in your journal. Emotions: Now let’s check in here. In this moment, what feelings do you notice? Fatigue? Excitement? Anxiety? Numbness? Again, no judgment, simply write it down. Thoughts: And finally, notice your thoughts. “I don’t have time for this.” “What’s for dinner?” “Oh my gosh, my shoulders are tight, time for the chiropractor again.” Write it down.



Creative Permission It can be challenging to slow down and take time for ourselves. Everything in us (and society) applauds the go, go, go mentality. We begin with giving ourselves permission. What I often see is the mistaken belief that our creative life is the reward for getting everything else done -- house cleaned, money made, kids fed, partner happy, porch swept. You get it. Those desires to write, sketch or bounce around ideas for teaching, are the secrets stuffed in a corner of our minds that we promise to set free… someday. What we don’t get -- until we do -- is that it’s the other way around. Our creative lives aren’t the icing on the cake, but the fuel that enlivens everything else. When we let ourselves know that we are worth the time to create, that our desires and voice matters, then everything shifts. When we prioritize our creativity, it pays us back in kind. Our creative energies enlarge and flow out to transform everything else in our lives, from our relationships to living our lives on purpose. If you do nothing else… Write out or read this sentence – I give myself FULL PERMISSION to take time for my creativity. If you want to journal…

o Imagine if you could NEVER be creative. No writing. No singing. No whatever creative activity lights you up. How would you feel living like this? What would be lost? Write it down.

o Remember a time in your life when you were in creative flow. What were you

doing? Where were you? How did you feel? Do you remember what impact it had on other parts of your life?

o What belief stops you from taking more time for your creativity? Perhaps it’s

the thought, “I don’t deserve this time.” What would happen if you could reverse and believe the opposite thought? “I DO deserve this time.” How might your life change if you were guided by this instead?



Taking Space Imagine that you have a fridge full of delicious food and you want to cook a beautiful meal. Now imagine creating that meal while you are thinking about your job, juggling balls and working in a kitchen so piled with dirty dishes that there is no space to work. Fun, huh? While that sounds ludicrous, that’s exactly what we do. We want to write our blogs or recreate the second half of our lives in a new, fulfilling way, but we don’t leave space for it in our heads, in our homes or on our calendars. The result? Leftovers… again. Let’s start with space on our calendars. Block out the time for your creative activity or visioning as you would any other important event. Do you want to block out an hour a day? A weekend afternoon? Even five minutes a day is huge. It shows commitment and launches a new habit. Begin there. Now let’s create physical space. It can be fun to set up a “Creative Hub” -- a separate room or nook that inspires you and reminds you of your bigger purpose. You can post quotes that delight you, hang art, or lasso a window view. You can even choose a favorite booth in a quiet coffee shop or a park bench. The main thing is to create a space that awakens your creative spirit when you enter it, and then return regularly. And finally, what kind of space is freed up in your head? A busy, distracted mind will make busy, distracted creations. Be kind to yourself. Clearing your mind will feel sooooo good. As Brenda Ueland says, “Imagination needs moodling -- long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.” There are hundreds of ways to clear space in our heads and slow down thinking. Maybe for you it’s a 10-minute meditation? Or creating right after a refreshing run. Or pouring your thoughts onto the page until your mind clears. Once that happens, there is room for that shy, creative possibility to appear and root.



If you do nothing else… Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and simply imagine where you could create? Perhaps a room where you live, or a table by the window in your local library? If you want to journal…

o What would be your IDEAL Creativity Hub? If there were no limits? Perhaps a cabin on a mountain in northern New Mexico next to a roaring fire? A house on the Amalfi Coast in Italy? What would be in it? What scents are there? Textures? What hangs on the walls, or are you outside instead? Describe it in detail and really let yourself feel it.

o This ideal hub could be a goal for a personal retreat in the future. Meantime, see what elements could be infused into a personal space at home? The scent of pinon to bring in a slice of New Mexico? A framed photo of the Amalfi Coast? What could you do to pull that inspiring setting into your everyday life?



What Do You Want to Create? Some of us have had a small voice whispering our creative dreams for a long time. Others have struggled to hear our Muse at all. Through living our overly full lives and focusing on everything and everyone else, her words have become fainter. Have faith, she is still there. She’s been preparing for your return. As Valerie Estelle Frankel says, "While the hero journeys for external fame, fortune, and power, the heroine tries to regain her lost creative spirit. Once she hears the cries of this lost part of herself needing rescue, her journey truly begins." So this is where your journey begins. What direction do you choose? Perhaps you’ve conquered a challenge and know in your bones that you can help others in a similar situation by writing a book or blog? Maybe your soul is calling for you to lie under a tree and write poetry? Or dance? Or walk to a nearby park with your sketchbook? Perhaps you have no idea what you want to create, what you even desire, but you can feel something is missing and you are ready to find out what and recreate your life from there. If you do nothing else… Take a minute and close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Ask what wants to be birthed, and listen… You may get an image, or a word, or silence. It’s all fine. You are sending out the message that you are ready to reconnect with your Muse and hear her wisdom. If you want to journal…

o Brainstorm all the things you could create, from silly (planting a garden on top of the doghouse) to heartfelt (finally capture my family’s stories and start writing them down.) Or you might ask for guidance and listen to what sparks your soul. There’s no wrong answer here, just jot down what arises.

o Then get quiet, put your hand on your heart, and ask what calls to you the

most. What brings you alive? Write down what you hear.



Creative Resistance At this point you have set aside time and space and possibly identified a direction. Now it’s time to begin. What, you say? I was really enjoying imagining all this. You mean I actually have to start doing something? Ack, you scream as you run from the room. You’re not alone. Moving into Doing can be the most exciting, or terrifying (or likely both) part of the creative process. Yet this resistance is a gift, because transformation is right on the other side of it if we pay attention. In our everyday, distracted lives, we miss many of the clues about what makes us tick -- what we are drawn to, and what we fear. But when we slow down to create, we can see everything up close. When resistance arises -- and it will -- we get to see her. She has many guises. Maybe yours has a tight hair bun and speaks like your 7th grade English teacher? Or, she wears cat-eyed glasses and her belittling words sound just like your mother? We all have so many of these voices and the more we are in relationship with them, the less they control us. Just be curious and throw in a dash of humor when they appear. You can even give them a cartoonish, sing-song voice to remind yourself that they aren’t real… just an old belief that has never been questioned. Once we see them, however, we can shift our relationship with them. You also may notice that the more serious you get about creating, the louder the voices become. This is a good sign. It means your desires are getting ready to manifest, and your ego (in its dear, misguided attempt to help) is sending scary voices to get you back in your comfort (stuck) zone. But, it won’t work, not this time.



If you do nothing else… Close your eyes and remember the unlimited creative essence that you really are. The light at the center of your being. Notice the other voices coming and going, and stay rooted in your knowing of your true self. If you want to journal…

o How does my resistance look, smell, taste and sound? o What my inner, loving, wise self REALLY knows about this situation is…? o What I most want from my creative time is…?



What Nourishes and Depletes You? Imagine Jane Goodall. She grew to understand apes by quietly observing them in the wild. That’s how we understand ourselves, too. We are all delightfully different animals. This is the time to get to know the soft animal that is you. Does she love the sensory details of cooking? Does she dislike long parties? How does she feel about sitting in the sun and reading prose? Or handing out business cards at networking events? Until we really get serious about noticing what lights us up and what drains us, we continue the same path. Which leads us to the same places. Which isn’t a space of creative expansion, but repetitive depletion. We want to create a project or a life from our true desires, not our stuffy, old beliefs. And, the way you find those true desires is by heading into the jungle of yourself, seeing what’s there, and taking notes. You’ve got to Jane Goodall it. That’s the hidden path that leads to creative gold. If you do nothing else… Start paying attention. When you feel fully alive, what is happening inside and outside you? When you are depleted, what is happening? Or, set your phone to ring hourly, and when it goes off, simply notice if you are energized or depleted and why. Observe yourself in the wild and see what makes you tick… If you want to journal…

o Name 10 things you love? Name 10 things that deplete you? o What in the past two hours has nourished or depleted you? o What system can you set up to track what nourishes and depletes you? o Is there a buddy you can do this with and share results?



Your Sourcebook Have you ever been drifting along in your daily life when suddenly you read, hear or experience something that just feels like truth? Maybe it’s a quote that your whole body responds to with a big “Yes!” Or an “aha” that appears out of nowhere on a walk. Or maybe you see a piece of art that lights you up in some unexplained way? Often these moments are briefly appreciated, and then forgotten. That’s where your Sourcebook comes in. It’s a book where you collect these truths. Then on those days when you have forgotten where your north star is and who you are at your Source… you can return to it, remember, and create from there. The idea for a Sourcebook came to me several years ago when I was working on a big creative project and kept losing the essential thread. I started putting my inspired journal entries into a book (as opposed to cathartic, vent journaling), along with quotes and pictures and anything else that tied into my project idea. It worked beautifully. That’s when I realized I could do this not just for a specific project (although I still do that as well), but for capturing the essence of ME. I began adding lists of what nourishes and depletes me and other essential observations, and it’s been growing ever since. I keep my Sourcebook on my computer, but you may prefer a journal for handwriting or even sketching. Regardless, it is a place to corral your inspiration and those words, images and experiences that point to your highest, truest self.



If you do nothing else… Decide if you want to do your Sourcebook on a computer or in a journal. Find a quote you love, and don’t procrastinate, but begin. How about this one -- “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe If you want to journal… Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and think back over the last few days. Is there anything that inspired you? Touched you deeply? Moved you in an unexpected way? Or simply delighted you beyond measure? Write it down and begin your Sourcebook.



Pausing for Creative Renewal “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes – ah, that is where the art resides.” -- Artur Schnabel Yes, we are back to the pause. Because, my loves, we don’t do it just once. This is an ongoing practice. It’s fun and exciting to get going on the “doing” part of creativity, and equally important is the “being.” As Sue Monk Kidd says, “Stopping is a spiritual art. It is the refuge where we drink life in.” What does this look like? For me, when I notice that my inner taskmaster has been on overdrive and I’m busy doing -- but without joy or connection -- I pause. What is the point of creating if it’s not from pleasure? From there, I move into more presence. This only takes a moment. I’ll notice my ever-patient body, who I’ve forgotten as I’ve slipped into creating just from my head. Maybe my body needs to stretch or adjust how she’s sitting so it feels more comfortable. Then I look around and notice beauty. Outside, I may see sunlight hitting the prickly edges of a potted cactus. Or I crack the window to let the birdsong in. My small furry rescue dog loves pouncing on bugs, so seeing him go after one loosens a chuckle in me and the tightness I’ve been holding. If I need deeper renewal, I may venture out by myself and simply walk, or go somewhere where I can soak in liveliness (a local festival) or inspiration (walking through an art gallery). I let my curiosity lead and explore without any agenda other than being present. That alone is incredibly freeing. And isn’t that what it’s all about?



If you do nothing else… Take one minute right now and notice how your body is feeling. Do something to help her feel a little better, whether stretching your arms, rubbing your shoulders or making circles with your feet. Ahhhh… If you want to journal… Don’t. This is a time of non-doing. Just sit and breathe for a few moments.



Welcome it all… with Compassion This creating is a journey. Do you want to travel with a loud, judgmental inner friend, or a compassionate, loving one? I thought so. An acquaintance once told a story of a little girl who addressed herself as “sweetie.” When she desired something, with great tenderness, she’d ask herself “Hey sweetie, do you want a cookie?” Or “Hey sweetie, do you want to go outside and play?” Treat yourself with this same amount of love. Greet yourself with care. Whether we are creating or simply living, a lot comes up -- anger, frustration, joy, fear, contentment, anxiety. We need to compassionately be by our own sides for all of it. When that positive thought arrives, celebrate! When that negative thought arrives, celebrate… and bathe it in the warm waters of compassion. As Rumi says in his poem The Guest House, “Be grateful for whatever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” If you do nothing else… Take a moment right now, put your hand on your heart, and say to yourself “Hey sweetie, I am with you. You are enough. No matter what you are experiencing, I will not abandon you. You are never alone.” If you want to journal…

o Choose a creative block or challenge that has recently come up and write it down, along with all the feelings you are experiencing around it. Don’t hold back.

o When you have fully written that down, ask to see a more compassionate

perspective on it. Imagine that you are talking to your child or a dear friend, from a place of great love. Let that loving voice speak to YOU, and write down what she says…



Don’t Go It Alone Have you ever jumped into a creative project with great enthusiasm, only to find yourself abandoning it a few days or weeks later? If so, you are not alone. When we start a new creative journey, sections of the trip are smooth and easy, yet we also encounter detours and potholes. Our old beliefs and blind spots, at some point, may either throw us off course or stall forward movement completely. Then we fade back to what we know. Our dis-comfort zone calls us, and there we remain. That’s why we bring in community and support for this transformative journey. Some of my clients have tried to finish books or get consistent with creative practices for over a decade, struggling in ways that feel painful and circular. These struggles are so human. We all have them. Moving into community, we realize we are not alone. We are not the only ones who snack on dark chocolate to avoid writing, or who fall into numbing routines rather than try something new. In community, we can be fully ourselves, and realize that our struggles and celebrations on the creative journey are meant to be shared. If you do nothing else… Take a moment and imagine the kind of support you would love to have. Perhaps this is a wise, non-judgmental friend? A coach? A local writing or creative community? Imagine how it would feel releasing the solo trudge in favor of the warm support of others? If you want to journal…

o What friends or community do you already have who are unequivocally supportive of your creative life?

o Which ones get in the way of your growth, even if they are well meaning? o What are the characteristics of the IDEAL coach or community for you?



Bonus: Remember to Relax Our creative essence doesn’t bubble up when we are grasping. Instead, it’s a letting go process. Letting go of fear, of over-the-top perfection, of harsh inner voices, of the need for it to be anything other than what it is. Relax. You can’t do it wrong. Just hop on the imperfect path and get going. Meet what arises with compassion. Laugh with yourself… a lot. Pause every now and again to notice the monarch butterflies zigzagging across the road. And trust that wherever you are is the right place. Your creative soul is always there, patiently awaiting your return.



Next Steps My hope is that you have been inspired reading this and have already begun to move forward on your creative projects, whether writing a book, recreating yourself in the second half of life or singing more confidently in the shower! My joy is gathering women as we connect more deeply with ourselves and create from there, whether it is in creative women’s circles, small writing circles or monthly mini-writing retreats. Whether you’re not sure what’s next or you simply desire more support, I’d love to connect. One way is a free, 30-minute Creative Momentum Session. This is a no-pressure way for us to chat so I can really hear where you are on your journey. Women often leave these sessions with rekindled motivation, clarity and ideas. To our awakening… Carolyn


https://www.carolynscarborough.com/contact/


Praise for Carolyn’s Offerings

I went to one of Carolyn’s writing retreats right after my child left for college, and it was nothing less than life changing! First, my old confidence returned. I got a break from the busyness of my brain, which led to a deep sense of self-renewal. In fact, I was able to access creative depths I didn’t even know I had. The experience took me away from my mundane living and for the first time in a long time, I felt fully, blissfully alive. Although I had lost hope that I could ever write, at the retreat I not only regained that hope, but I now consider myself a writer. -- Roopa Rau

Thank you, Carolyn! Our session was pivotal for me! I have started 2 different series of paintings and I haven't painted for years! They are just flowing out. Thank you for holding the sacred space for me during our session and for being such a present and skillful spiritual witness to my process... your work Is life giving! -- Ann Walters

The first time my inner writer was released was at one of Carolyn’s retreats. I was inspired and reunited with my love of writing. Alas, it is hard to stay motivated and on track; but enter Carolyn’s ongoing Creative Journey Writing Circles. Shazam! I am writing up a storm and loving every minute of it. Carolyn’s gentle guidance and soul-searching questions keep me exploring my depths and reaching new highs with my writing skills. The ongoing contact each week keeps me focused, creatively stimulated, and deeply connected to other brilliant and talented women. Love it! -- Cynthia Treglia

When I first began working with Carolyn, I felt like something important was missing in my life. As we started working, I was amazed at how Carolyn accessed her intuition to know exactly what to ask me. She led me to imagine out of-the-box possibilities, and I soon realized that I am a Creative… yet that wasn’t reflected in my life. Then my aha came that life coaching would be my vehicle! I now feel clear, confident, am actively coaching and creating a life that is aligned with who I really am.” -– Liz Kearns



About Carolyn Carolyn Scarborough is an award-winning writing and creativity coach, author and guide who clears the path back to your creative essence and what matters most. Through deep, intuitive listening, she dissolves blocks and reconnects people to their authentic voice, purpose and happiness. Carolyn founded and hosts the Creative Soul Community, where she leads writing retreats, intimate writing circles and women’s creativity circles. Author of the book “Backyard Pearls: Cultivating Wisdom and Joy in Everyday Life,” Carolyn has also published more than 500 articles in publications around the world. She is a professionally trained life coach who has done workshops and presentations around the country, including at the Story Circle Women’s Writing Conference, International Coach Federation, Esalen Institute, Unity Church and the National Speaker’s Association. You can reach Carolyn here or via email at [email protected].


https://www.carolynscarborough.com/contact/

mailto:[email protected]

simple ways to rekindle your creative soul

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