Empty Nester

I remember thinking years ago as I drove my sons to Little League practices or games every day of the week, “When I am an empty nester, I will move to France for a month or two and see what it’s like to live there.”

“Empty Nester” defined by the dictionary is “a parent whose children have grown and left home”.  Translation:  now you have lots of time to do all those things you have been meaning to do.

Am I the only one that finds that being an empty nester is nothing like I expected? I love my parents and as they age (and I feel blessed that they are still here so I am not complaining), I want and need to return the love and care that they gave me as a child.  That takes time and is sometimes mentally exhausting, both because of the actual job and because it reminds me that life is short.

Then, there are the kids that went off.  They went off, but they still have issues that I am sure I worry about unnecessarily.

So, what am I getting to?  It’s difficult.  It’s not what I thought it would be.  I love many people around me and, many times, I can support and love them, but I can’t always fix things for them.

I am trying to make a special effort to do nice things for myself and not run myself down. I know that isn’t good for anyone.

I guess I never really thought that much about this time of my life.  I was so busy up until now following the path that I knew, that is, raising children, getting them off to college, out of college and then on to the next step. 

I don’t think I really had much of an idea what this time would be like. So, the good news is that I am learning day by day how to make the most of each moment that is mine and to appreciate all that I have.

I just don’t think I will be moving to France anytime soon.

Maybe this time of life is meant to teach us how important life’s little blessings are and remind us to slow down and pause.  Fixing, controlling and worrying have yet to be helpful actions for me.  What does help is making sure that I find my way to the beach to  enjoy the beauty of the ocean, sip a cup of coffee slowly in the morning, or make sure that I am really present with the family and friends I love.

And, maybe, it helps feeling that I am not the only one going through it.

Hoping that you are finding time to relax and take care of yourself...

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Gratitude

I have been thinking a lot about gratitude lately.

As I age, I notice the importance of health more, my own, and others I love and care about.

It's a double edged sword.  One side is thinking more about one's own mortality and having more ailments than I remember in years past, but the other side is a gift.

I allow myself time to enjoy and have fun because there are enough difficult things going on that I need to let myself recalibrate now.  I am finding the oxygen mask metaphor of "taking care of yourself first so you can take better care of others" is really true.

I find having coffee in the morning in the quiet is a special occasion not just something to rush through.  I truly understand the concept of mindfulness and being in the moment you are in and appreciating it.

I spend a lot of time around college students with my teaching and I love their energy and determination, but I am very appreciative of the perspective you gain with age.  It is so much easier to be grateful for small things and you realize that who you are as a person and the kind of person you are is based very little on your "accomplishments" measured by the outside world.

Many of the students with whom I work are extremely accomplished and have done amazing things.  When I first started working with them, I couldn't imagine what I could offer them or why they would ask to meet one on one with me.  But, slowly, I realized that I actually could offer them something they didn't have: a sense of perspective.  I was able to hear their thoughts and angst and had a better full view than they did.  Some of it was just the fact that I was on the outside and they were in the midst of a dilemma, but most of it was that over the years, I had gained an ability to see more of the whole picture.

That's what they wanted and that's what I was able to contribute to them.

So I am very grateful for that ability and try hard to apply it to my own life on as much of a daily basis as I can.

I am also grateful to you as a reader.  I find the gift of being able to write about life's trials and tribulations allows me a deeper connection with others and myself.  So, thank you for reading this blog…

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Those Memories You Remember Exactly...

I have noticed lately that I dive back into those “remember when” moments when things are tough and I want to think back to the good old days.

As I move forward in my career meandering journey...as I think back to the days that the kids were still kids...everything seemed easier “back when”.

It’s easy to remember the good old days without remembering the difficulties that came with them.  That’s not fair to the present and it’s not even real.  It’s just my perception of what was.

The other day I was with my younger son watching sports on TV and the Tennessee Titan football team came on briefly.  “Oh,” I said, “I remember when you were a little boy and you had a sports crush on the Titans.  They were the first team you really loved.”

My mind began a lovely tale of moments picturing my young son in his Titan jersey and Titan banners hung proudly on the walls of his room.  It was such a warm feeling to enjoy the memories. I knew for a fact that it was the Titans and no one would be able to question those memories because they were real and factual. I can see everything perfectly to this day and in great detail.

Then, poof, my younger son said to me, “Mom, that wasn’t me.  That was my older brother (name being withheld as both sons will kill me if they know I am writing about them).

“Wait, that wasn’t you?” I asked.  “No, don’t be ridiculous,” he said.

That’s what life is like.  You swear that your memories are EXACTLY they way you remember them. How could they be any different?  You remember every detail.  But, you don’t.

We remember what we want to remember or sometimes we just forget.

I am keeping that thought close to my heart now when I think of the good old days and I want everything to go back to the way it was.  It’s difficult to try new things...some work, some don’t, but they are part of who you are now and where you are going at this moment.

It’s not to say memories are not wonderful and helpful.  I just want to remember to take them with a grain of salt, especially when I am using those old memories to help me learn lessons and move forward.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Lessons of a Lost Voice

I lost my voice last Friday.  I don’t mean I was hoarse.  I mean I picked up the phone to call someone and nothing came out.  If you know me, you would know that I am not a shrinking violet and keeping my mouth shut is a non-experience for me.

I must have had a cold and then just ran myself into the ground, but I am a firm believer that every experience is a lesson.

I kept asking myself through all this quiet time, “what I am I learning?”.  First, I learned that I am grateful for my voice.  It is really hard not to be able to talk.  And, I learned that I am stressing myself a bit too much these days and I need to take it easy.  Those were easy lessons to see.

But, the next two lessons were surprising to me.  

I did have a few conversations (one sided) in person and a few on the phone (though nothing coming out on my end).  I realized that I am a terrible listener.  When I was forced to listen (and had no choice), I did.  I didn’t interrupt though I so wanted to (as I do often).  I didn’t give advice because I couldn’t.  I just listened and I realized I don’t really listen to people.  I am usually thinking about what I am going to say, giving my two cents, but not actively listening to people’s words and emotions as best I could.

Suddenly, I was.  I could feel a difference.  As I very slowly get my voice back, I hope I will continue to actively listen to others more often.

The last lesson I learned is that I was more peaceful.  I talk a lot and sometimes I think that causes more anxiety than just sitting or even listening.  I remember a teacher I had in high school used to always say, “if you’re talking, you’re not learning”.  Sometimes, I learn when I am teaching students, but more often than not, I learn more when I listen.

My voice is hoarse today and that is a huge step forward.  But, I am hoping not to forget what it feels like to give someone my full attention.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Creativity: Music to My Ears

One of my favorite professors at Stanford, Tina Seelig, is repeating her online course on Creativity, but this time she is using music to complement it and will be working with recording artists from Warner Music such as Linkin Park, Jason Mraz and more. You will learn how to develop creativity skills through music.

“Creativity:  Music to My Ears” is an online course which begins Wednesday, April 2nd.  The class is free.

There is more info in the links below as well as a short clip with Tina and Jason Mraz.

Class information

Tina & Jason Mraz

Denise
entrenoususa@gmail.com

The Notes Without the Music

“The notes without the music.”   I had never heard that phrase until a few weeks ago.

I have been teaching college students for the last two years and, ordinarily, I create the content of my lecture and then present it on my own.  This quarter, I am working with some extraordinary mentors and I was asked to present their material in my lecture.  It was a big moment for me as it was a bit of a test to see how I would teach with this format. I prepped every day for a week.

It was both new to me and difficult to teach someone else’s content. I prepared as best I could, memorizing the material and presenting it the way I thought my mentors wanted.

Ironically, the topic of my presentation was about emotional intelligence and listening to your gut instincts.  I have worked so hard for the last couple of years to follow those gut instincts and listen to my own voice.  I don’t know if it was because I was new in this particular class or I wanted so much to please my mentors, but I made a mistake.  I didn’t follow my gut.  I memorized the materials, hit every point that I was supposed to, and I didn’t even choke.  But, in the end, I felt like a little of my soul had died. I hadn’t taught the lesson the way "I" would teach it.  I taught it like a lawyer and not the new person I had discovered in myself over the last few years, that is, someone who had found great joy and fun interacting with college students as they make important choices going forward with their lives.

I have been teaching that failure is important and that learning from failure and improving the next go around is how you become the best “you”.

So, in my mind, my latest lecture was a failure because I was not me.  I was trying to be someone else.

In the end, my mentor was kind and supportive, but he smiled and said, “It was the notes without the music”.

That phrase caught me by surprise.  That was it.  He had said in just a few words what I have never been able to encapsulate.

It wasn’t just about this experience. It was about all those times in life when it looks like everything is right.  There is nothing from the outside to indicate what is not working...a job, a relationship, or an experience.  I never had those exact words to describe when something is just missing.

The notes are there, but there is no music.  That is what happens when you don’t follow your instincts.  It’s very hard to describe in words, but you know when the music just isn’t there.

How ironic that the topic of my lecture was exactly what I was not doing.

“The notes without the music” in just a few words reminds me when I need to be aware that even with all the checklists marked, it can still be wrong. Even though it may be difficult to describe why there is no music, what is important is recognizing that it’s not there.

Just having that awareness can be a huge step in helping us to go forward.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Rubber Ducky Problem Solving

What if instead of internalizing ideas and thoughts or discussing them with a friend, we periodically explained the problem out loud and talked it through to an inanimate object?

I know it sounds strange, but a friend of mine who is a computer programmer told me about the “Rubber Ducky” debugging idea.  I am about as far from a computer programmer as they come, but I love this concept.

Rubber Ducky debugging is when a software engineer is stuck on a problem with the coding.  To help them work through the issue, they put a rubber ducky on their keyboard and try to describe the problem line-by-line or in great detail.  The idea is to explain to the duck the issue at hand, assuming the duck knows nothing about the problem or coding (which is not too much to assume).

By doing so, the engineer is forced to explain what should be happening (or what he wants to be happening) versus what really is happening.

I tried this a couple of times and I found it to be very fun.  Of course, it’s like talking to yourself, but when you are forced to explain a problem you are struggling with to an object that has no background on the issue or your past emotional baggage, it’s quite illuminating and extremely productive.  You have to like to play games and not be concerned about how silly you look.  It does force you to closely analyze what is really happening.

I love the idea and the image of the rubber ducky sitting on my keyboard listening to me is pretty silly, but it has worked wonders.

Having immersed myself in design thinking for most of 2013, I find myself being quite a bit more creative and a lot less judgmental of all sorts of ways to be a more grounded person.

I’ll be writing more about Creative Confidence in my next post.

Happy New Year!

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Make It Up As You Go

Make it up 

As you go 

Future's wide open 

Nothing's written in stone 

I can't tell you what's best 

I don't know what comes next 

All I know is that I don't know anything 

All I got is today, and I prefer it that way 

Make a plan, but I know it's gonna change 

And that's okay 

Lyrics by the Plain White T’s

I have been at war with the concept of “uncertainty” for most of my life.  I like the lyrics in the song above because it helps me on my journey of trying to make peace with wanting to know what is next or feeling the need to make things black or white.

There are a number of reasons why I am slowly, very slowly coming to see uncertainty as my acquaintance, not yet my friend, but at least not my enemy.

When I want certainty so badly, I shortcut life’s lessons.  Most of the time, it takes a while to let things play out.  When I do that, I have more information with which to work.  I have more clarity because decisions I think I need to make don’t even come to pass because things change as life unravels at its own pace.

It helps if I take things more slowly and not jump to a decision. It tends to feel more in alignment with who I am.  By not rushing things just to have that feeling of certainty, it allows my internal voice to speak more loudly and stand out against the noise of other’s advice and even my own inner critic. 

Also, I find that if I don’t feel such a desperate need for certainty, I don’t make assumptions that aren’t necessarily true or miss red flags all in the hopes of shortening the process and feeling I am in control.

So, I am trying the motto, “Make It Up as You Go”.  It’s not easy, but I have to admit I am beginning to enjoy it.  

I ask myself what experiences over the last couple of years have been most meaningful and most in alignment with who I am.  They have been those I didn’t see coming and that had no certainty in them.  In fact, I just made it up as I went along and stayed open to opportunities.  I let things take their time and I didn’t rush just so I would feel certain.

As 2013 comes to a close and the new year is around the corner, it seems to me interesting questions to ask ourselves are: “What if you were really comfortable with uncertainty?  How would that change your life?  What would you do differently?”

Happy Holidays!

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Ask for 100% of What You Want 100% of the Time

“Ask for 100% of what you want 100% of the time.”

I heard a friend of mine say he was living by that motto.  I have great respect for this individual and I was struck by this concept.

It seemed selfish to me and it didn’t seem as if it took the other person’s needs into account.

I asked him about that and he said, “This has nothing to do with ignoring other's needs or not being empathetic.  In my version of the idea, this is all about aligning your objectives and your heart with the future that you are trying to manifest.  My experience is that I "get" exactly what I imagine my future will be.  When I'm fuzzy about what I want, I get a "fuzzy" future.  

It is also a personal challenge to myself - I have a hard time believing that I deserve what I want.   I've come to realize that I pretend that it's all about the "other’s needs" when it's really just managing some fear and self-worth issues.”

I had a better understanding after he explained his thoughts on the idea. I have wanted to write about this concept, but I was still thinking hard about how I felt about it.

Now, I feel more comfortable for two reasons.  One, I think not demanding, but letting another person know what you are looking for is helpful.  It doesn’t mean you expect it, but it does put it out there and you never know what kind of compromise is possible.  You certainly don’t know if you don’t communicate it.

Second,  I agree with my friend who first mentioned the statement to me.  It is important to really ask yourself: “what do I want?”.  I think we are “fuzzy” sometimes about what it is we really want and taking the time to seriously consider that question leads to clarity.

It’s not so much about clarity in the details as clarity of the vision.  I wrote about this a few years ago regarding putting the emphasis on the “whats”, not the “hows” of your life.

What's and the How's 

Anyway, it’s a starting point and not a specific path.  

Asking for 100% of what you want 100% of the time is a way of being clear with yourself and others.

Let me know your thoughts.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Attitude is Everything

Lately, I have found myself being  “slightly more down” than I would like to be.  I know so much of life is how we think about it and what we tell ourselves.

I know that “attitude is everything”.  I have heard it a million times.  I also believe there is a higher authority that reminds us of what is important, especially when we are not paying attention the way we should.

Many times, I find there are signs that I have no choice but to notice and heed.

This morning, I went for a walk up into the hills behind where I live.  It was just me walking out on the trail.  It was early so there was no one around.  Then, kind of out of nowhere, this young girl walked by me and then stayed in front of me for at least 20 minutes.

On the back of her T-shirt, the words read, “ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING”.

She remained walking in front of me with those words yelling at me and then she ran off and I didn’t see her again.

Somehow, my walk was not only a good physical outing, but I couldn’t help but incorporate the advice that someone thought I should live by more deeply.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Attached to Outcome

“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” ~Dalai Lama

I have spent much of the last couple of years reading, writing, and thinking about how I live my life and how to be a better and more content person.  Throughout those years, one particular concept constantly comes up for me:  being attached to outcome.

It means that much of our suffering and pain comes from feeling that only one ending or only one thing will make us happy.

That concept can permeate our lives, but lately I have watched myself in a pattern on a very small scale that reminded me of what I do on a much larger scale.

I am a creature of habit.  I like to try new things, but there are areas of my life that make me feel secure and give me a sense of control (not that it’s really true, but it feels that way).

Every morning, I have a cup of coffee in a very particular cup.  I love it.  It is shaped and painted in a way that is “perfect”.   A few months ago, I dropped it.  I looked everywhere for a cup just like it.  It was a hunt.  The replacement cup had to be shaped the same and look the same.

I felt lost without my old cup and the tradition of drinking from it every morning. I finally found something that looked fairly similar, but it wasn’t exactly the same.  I noticed when I was searching for the replacement that I looked only for that identical type of cup.  I couldn’t see anything else.  No variation of the cup would enter my view regardless of what store I was in.  I literally blocked out anything that could have been a new style or pattern.

Then, one day, I saw this amazing, clear, glass cup that had double walls (I know you have seen them) and it was beautiful and clean and it kept the coffee hot while the outer shell stayed cool.

I loved it!  I loved the shape, the feel, the look...it felt awesome and new!   I enjoyed it for months and then, I can’t believe this, but I broke it.  So, again, I looked. But, this time, I found a cup that was similar, but the shape was slightly different.  It was wonderful, but in the back of my mind, I missed the one I had broken and I looked everywhere for it.

Finally, a few days ago, I found the exact one I had broken.  I was so excited!  But, when I used it, I didn’t love it nearly as much as the newest cup I had been using.

OK, very long story, for a very simple point.  I was so stuck, so attached to my outcome of that original cup that I didn’t see anything around me.  It wasn’t until a new cup “spoke” to me that I opened up and let it in.  

I have seen this in my life over and over again.  Attaching to only one outcome is the end of creativity and peace and it does cause suffering, at least for me.

When I open my eyes and allow good things to come that don’t fit with my expectations or very specific goals, life changes. It isn’t exactly the same as I thought it would be, but it is beautiful and special in its own way.

I am so glad my first cup broke because if it hadn’t, I would never know how much joy is possible.  Obviously, this is not just about coffee cups.  It’s about life and what we make of it.

I feel grateful that we are never too old to change, never too old to grow, and that there are a myriad of “cups” that will make us happy.  

Denise
entrenoususa@gmail.com

When You Have to Talk Yourself Into Something...

“When you have to talk yourself into something, it’s a bad sign --  that’s true of relationships, hiring and so many other parts of life.”

Paul Graham, Y Combinator Co Founder

I really like this quote.  I am a thinker...I have been trying to make decisions with my heart more, but my head is so damn noisy.

This quote means what it says.  Sometimes, you just know what to do and those are the best times.  For me, they are the quintessential decisions.  The pros and the cons are all well and good, but you really shouldn’t have to talk yourself into the answer your heart and soul already know.

Happy Summer!

Denise
entrenoususa@gmail.com

Being In the Moment or Not

I know you have been getting a lot of information from me lately, but I haven’t been writing and, honestly, I miss it.

I don’t know about you, but I am finding that my will power level with technology is zilch.  I was in Target yesterday (which I actually enjoy) and between 3 text messages, 5 emails, and 2 phone calls, I didn’t focus very well.

I noticed two things: I didn’t enjoy the moment that I was in...and I did a lousy job of responding to the technological distractions.

Why did I have to even look at my phone, you may ask?  I don’t know.  I wish I knew the answer. Do I feel that the world cannot go on without my immediate assistance?  Am I afraid of missing something, the oh so ridiculous FOMO (fear of missing out)?

I don’t have an answer.  I just know it takes away from the moment and whatever I am doing, it becomes less enjoyable and less productive.

I can’t multi-task, well I can, I just don’t do it well. 

Do you have this problem or is it just me?  All I know is that I like just doing one thing at a time and I am fairly good at it.  This is the basis of mindfulness and why it brings peace to one’s life (I am told).  Anyway, I will be pursuing more mindfulness next time I am in Target.

I would love to hear your suggestions if you have found a way to temper your temptation to check your email or read a text when you are in the middle of doing something else.

I know there are times when you have to answer a text, email, or call.  That is the wonder of cell phones.  But, I am not a brain surgeon.  Life will go without me for an hour or a day or even longer.  

I am sure there is a “creative” solution I have not considered...

By the way, a very insightful reader, Johanna, just sent me this  5 minute video which perfectly describes what I am feeling.

"What The Internet is Doing to Our Brains" video

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

A Crash Course on Creativity - Weeks 5 and 6

Here are the final two weeks of “A Crash Course on Creativity”, the online course from the Stanford Venture Lab.

Week 5 is based on how to challenge assumptions.  Tina Seelig’s 6 minute video summarizes this concept.  She covers how to make brainstorming a truly productive experience.  

Challenging Assumptions video

Week 6 is based on how to master a creative mindset.  Tina spends 4 minutes explaining this concept with the emphasis on the importance of failure.  She says, “If you aren’t throwing away a large percentage of your ideas, then you aren’t trying enough options.”  She discusses the two mindsets people have in taking on challenges:  those who have a fear of failure and those who are afraid of missing out.  There also those who struggle with a little of both.  It helps to know which end of the spectrum you tend to fall on.

The attitude is key.  As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”

How to Master a Creative Mindset video

As Tina says, “Every problem you face is an opportunity for a creative solution.” 

I have been, and continue to be, drawn to this type of thinking because it feels positive and open to me.  I feel less limited and more hopeful.

I hope you have enjoyed the summary of this course with Tina and if you want more, read her book, “inGenius:  A Crash Course on Creativity”.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

A Crash Course on Creativity - Week 4 - Connect and Combine

Tina Seelig summarizes the idea behind this week’s lesson in this 3 minute video.

Combine and Connect video

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

A Crash Course on Creativity - Week 3 - Reframing Problems

This is my weekly summary of the online course "A Crash Course on Creativity", taught by Tina Seelig, through the Venture Lab at Stanford.

Watch this quick 3 minute video where Tina gives you an overview of reframing problems and the importance of this tool.

Reframing Problems video

In the video, Tina starts by quoting Albert Einstein,  “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first fifty-five minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

This is such an important issue.  For example, it's so easy to discuss things with people in terms of black and white which creates two problems.  First, it limits the discussion and creative alternatives don't even come into play.  Second, it increases the chance of miscommunication because you may not understand why the other person wants what they are asking for.  If you understand "why" they are requesting something, it can change the whole discussion and make it much easier to solve the problem.

Tina will also tell you, "we create frames for what we experience, and they both inform and limit the way we think".

If you are interested and want another short video which addresses reframing problems by comparing other cultures to ours and how different everyone does and sees things, here is a quick 2 minute TED talk by Derek Silvers called "Weird, or Just Different".

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

Mind Mapping - A Resource for Becoming More Aware

OK, I am hooked on this creativity stuff, so feel free to hit “delete” if you are tired of it.

I have been using a resource for becoming more creative in the last week.  It has been around for years, but it’s new to me and it’s working wonders.

It’s called “Mind Mapping”.  It helps with this week’s lesson in creativity because I am seeing things more clearly than I have before with the help of this visual aid.

Many people use mind maps to organize and prioritize their daily thoughts.  I have been using it to become more aware of issues that tug at me and to help me get unstuck.

Here is a quick 2 minute video from Tina to briefly describe what mind maps are:

Mind Mapping Video

Now, I will tell you how they are changing my life.  I have always thought I was completely a “word” person.  I journal and write, and obviously, blog.  I never realized how visual I really am, probably because I can’t draw.  I get distracted just trying to draw a perfect circle (yes, for me, it has to be perfect...don’t ask).  So, a friend told me about an app called, “Simple Mind”.  This app is for the iPhone, iPad, or Android (also for the desktop, if you want).

This app has really made a difference for me.  For example, I put my problem or my issue in the center (and I have found doing two mind maps in a row really helped because I could see the parallel patterns and what I was doing).

First, I put the the main issue in the center, then each circle attached to that is a sub part of the problem and then you repeat.  Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items related to a central key word or idea.

Maybe it was just me, but suddenly I saw the patterns that I was repeating over and over.  Now, I should have been able to be more aware of this by just thinking about it or writing about it, but that didn’t happen.  When I saw the mind map, particularly two mind maps of different issues one right after another, I could see how I was getting stuck.  The clarity that came from the visual made me so aware of what I was doing that I have actually been able to stop some of my patterns.  I don’t know how long it will last, but just being aware of the pattern was a real “aha” moment, as Oprah would say.

Give it a try.  It can’t hurt and it might just help.  Best of all, it was really fun. If you are artistic, paper and pen is sufficient.  But, if you are like me, and even drawing stick figures is a challenge, consider the app or something like it that helps you overcome the hurdle of “ugly” shapes.

For just a general overview of mind maps, go to the Wikipedia link or this link on LiteMind. 

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com

A Crash Course on Creativity - Week 2

Welcome to Week 2  -  Observation: Are You Paying Attention?

In this week's class, Tina is trying to get us to open our eyes and not live on autopilot so much.  Part of being more creative is noticing more about what is going on around you.

Here is a short 3 minute video where Tina talks about people who think they are lucky versus those that don't and how that affects what they see and do:  "Paying Attention".

This next video really hits home for me as I love to travel alone.  When I do that, I am hyper aware of my surroundings and the most amazing things happen to me.  In this short 4 minute video, Tom Kelley, a partner in IDEO, discusses how "Thinking Like a Traveler" changes your view, and consequently, makes you more creative and open to opportunities.

"Thinking Like a Traveler" video

He quotes Marcel Proust in the video to explain the phenomenon of paying attention, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes".

If you can have a higher state of awareness, you will see more opportunities.

I know it sounds like magic, but put into action, it opens up doors and new experiences.

Denise
entrenoususa@gmail.com

A Crash Course on Creativity - Week 1

As promised, I will be taking you through an abbreviated version of “A Crash Course on Creativity” offered by Stanford’s Venture Lab and taught by Professor Tina Seelig.  You can still sign up on line and participate if you like.

To get a great overview of the course and get started (and feel some of Tina’s contagious energy), watch her TED video.   

The reason I love this course is because I think creativity can change how you view your life and they way you live it.

In the first assignment, Tina mentions “that the renowned American inventor Alan Kay famously said, ‘The best way to predict the future is to invent it.’ We are all inventors of our own future. And creativity is at the heart of invention.”

So, to begin being creative, you need to remind yourself that there is always more than one answer to a question or to a problem in life.

Tina uses this simple example.  If you ask someone, “what does 5 + 5 equal?”,  there is only one answer.  If you ask, “what 2 numbers add up to 10?”, there are a myriad of answers.  

Her point, “The way you ask the question determines the answers you get.”

Consider this next time you are stuck.  See if there isn’t a different way to look at the situation and “open up the box”.  Just being aware that you have the ability to create more possibilities can sometimes be empowering in and of itself.

Just be aware, you can get “unstuck” by adding a little creativity to the situation.

More next week.

Denise

entrenoususa@gmail.com