Famous Writers on the Creative Benefits of Keeping a Diary. By Maria Popova Reflections on the value of recording our inner lives from Woolf, Thoreau, Sontag, Emerson, Nin, Plath, and more.
“You want to write, you need to keep an honest, unpublishable journal that nobody reads, nobody but you,” Madeleine L’Engle counseled in her advice to aspiring writers. W.H. Auden once described his journal as “a discipline for [his] laziness and lack of observation.” Journaling, I believe, is a practice that teaches us better than any other the elusive art of solitude — how to be present with our own selves, bear witness to our experience, and fully inhabit our inner lives. It was also her way of learning to translate the inner into the outer, the subjective into the universal: Tell Your Story & Win … For your chance to win over $800 worth of prizes, submit your story to the digital time capsule of Australian history, Federation Story.
Competition is open 1 – 30 April thanks to Federation Square and Melbourne Writers Festival. Federation Story is a collection of personal stories tracing the events, people and ideas that have shaped Australia. From tales of immigration and long-lost love to feats of courage and human survival, read the stories that make Australia what it is today and submit your own. Browse federationstory.com or see the multimedia exhibition in The Atrium at Federation Square, Melbourne. The prize includes: - Tickets to the value of $400 to MWF 2014 Profession Development Sessions - A package of new release books - $300 Fed Square dining voucher - Plus ‘money can’t buy’ features on Fed Square’s Facebook, Twitter & Fed Mail Terms + conditions apply Terms & Conditions: - Instructions on how to enter this competition form part of the conditions of entry.
. - Fed Square Pty. Getting creative: Vision boards, God boxes, and crafty things. You are what your deepest desire is.
As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. Upanishads As I got myself deeper into contemplation about the science of intention in my last post, almost convincing myself to become a physicist – just to prove my own theories – the thought occurred to me that, perhaps, I had got a little off track. Art and Creativity - Discovering the Artist Within - Soulful Features - Soulful Living. Soulful Features August 2000 Click here to see the current month's features Art & Creativity.
I cannot do without something which is greater than I, which is my life--the power to create. ~Vincent Van Gogh This month, we are exploring "Art & Creativity," discovering the artist within. Creative self-expression allows us to connect with the wisdom and desires of our souls for better self-understanding and healing. Our Feature Articles present the thoughts and ideas of experts in the fields of art and creativity, including sacred artists and art therapists, who offer us practical advice and techniques for connecting with our creative souls. Click Here to See Our Selection of Book Titles on Creativity and Spirituality May peace and joy be yours as you express your soul through art!
"Visual Prayers" by Dana Reynolds, author of Be An Angel (Simon & Schuster). "Accessing Inner Wisdom Through Creative Expression" by Aviva Gold, M.F.A., C.S.W., A.T.R. Midlife Wisdom Serenity. Find your story. Last Friday, I saw three companies talk with absolute passion and authenticity about what they are doing and why.
Every company had a story to tell – a story filled with drama, anguish, tears, laughter, breakthrough and conviction. It was the kind of communication that leaves you feeling humble, inspired and, yes, ready to buy! It’s a fascinating experience. One of these companies had been through a process of reinventing their business with Carolyn Tate, a woman who reinvented her own business in the past two years, and is now determined to overturn the old paradigms of marketing and promote “conscious marketing”.
Tate leads her clients through a deep, year-long process of reflection and questioning of their business purpose before even discussing marketing material such as websites or brochures. It’s easy to see why. As a journalist, it’s rare to find company leaders who have the courage to speak out. Awakened Spirit. How Stories Change the Brain. Ben’s dying.
That’s what Ben’s father says to the camera as we see Ben play in the background. Ben is two years old and doesn’t know that a brain tumor will take his life in a matter of months. Ben’s father tells us how difficult it is to be joyful around Ben because the father knows what is coming. But in the end he resolves to find the strength to be genuinely happy for Ben’s sake, right up to Ben’s last breath.
Everyone can relate to this story. A recent analysis identifies this “hero’s journey” story as the foundation for more than half of the movies that come out of Hollywood, and countless books of fiction and nonfiction. Why are we so attracted to stories? Why the brain loves stories The first part of the answer is that as social creatures who regularly affiliate with strangers, stories are an effective way to transmit important information and values from one individual or community to the next.
Think of this as the “car accident effect.” What makes a story effective?