Wake Up Your Creative Life and Find the Courage to Release it to the World

creativity emerging writer Mar 07, 2017

Since I began Periscope, I have shared “I love helping people wake up their creative lives.”

I want to share with you what that means to me, and what my goal is in what it means to you.

Sally Latimer came to me in the depths of despair 3 years ago. She’d just lost her son and was stuck in the mire of grief that some of you can relate to. I could. And it broke my heart.

I took her through my grief recovery program, and I began to see a spark of something that was rising up inside of her.

Not only was she learning to live with the death of her son, but, in the process she began to wake up to things that would soothe her. She talked with other parents who were struggling, joined a group program, reconnected with her love of animal rescue. Her heart came alive again.

She began a cosmetic business, then found joy in waking up to doing something she loved and something that made other women feel good about themselves.  And then she uncovered her desire to tell her story.

She hired me to take her through my writing program and today she has her published book.

"A Light at the End of the Tunnel: Surviving a Grief Storm."

I think the thing that brought me the most joy was what she said about the process:

“I knew I had a story inside of me, it just took Andy's death to bring it out of me. I am so happy to be honoring him with this book.  And no words could describe my gratitude to you for mentoring me thru my writing as well as the timeline helping me see a pattern of my life. I feel that I am not the same as I was on March 6th, 2014.” 

And that’s what I want all of you to know about the importance of your stories.

Another writer I worked with, Jessica Lyngaas, wrote her story, My Pulse, His Will. Her life changed in a flash when her husband died suddenly, but his heart was donated to another man who is alive today because of it. Her story was featured on the Today Show and became inspiration for others to sign up as potential donors.

Jessica’s story changed lives… and most of all hers. Knowing your story awakens the person you were always meant to be!

Even if you never write a book, you can benefit from what I’m able to teach you about your stories!

Our stories are the clues to who we’re about to become!

When I say “wake up your creative lives, I’m not talking about all of you becoming artists, or photographers, or writers.

I mean really bring out the potential in you to live your life open to the possibility of new things coming your way, of life bringing surprises and gifts, and living life to the fullest.

What is potential? The dictionary defines it as having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future

Sally had an inkling long ago to tell her story. It wasn’t until she experienced grief and the desire to rise up that she committed to developing her potential. She triggered her future by committing to doing the thing she desired to do long ago!

How many of you have something you’ve always wanted to do but have never committed to your potential?

Realizing your full potential doesn’t mean you have to change jobs, or move somewhere, or make all new friends that are headed where you want to be. It just means bringing out your heart’s desire, and making a commitment to it in one form or another.

Sally writing her book added to the quality of her life. It finally released those pent up stories that she held in for so long. Her children didn’t know all of these stories. Now she’s created a legacy.

This is what happened when I wrote my book, How to Survive…

I longed to write my story from the moment someone handed me the book, the Bereaved Parent.

I had the potential within me to do it. I just had to find the courage.

Elizabeth Gilbert in her book The Big Magic, talks about “living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”

For me this meant doing something I always wanted to do, knowing it likely would not be my career or that I would ever earn a tremendous amount of money. Most books only earn the author a few thousand dollars.

I did it because I was driven by my desire to give meaning and purpose to my son’s death.

AND I LOVE TO WRITE

As Lady Gaga says. “I was born this way!”

The thing is, writing takes courage. It’s putting your work out there to be judged, scrutinized, and sometimes maligned.

I belong to a writer’s Facebook group and today a writer said she was devastated by her first bad review. She said it was so cruel and hurtful. I remember my first bad review. It was my very first book. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. But then I had to think of all the other wonderful reviews and know my book made a difference.

I told this broken author today that someone once shared they didn’t trust a book with no bad reviews. People have different opinions and that means some are going to love it and some are going to hate it. This person said it’s the bad reviews that give the good reviews credibility.

Are you courageous enough to open up to the possibility of waking up your creative life to one of curiosity, possibility, and joy?

Creativity is a habit, born from your own desire, your own mind, and your own commitment. Won’t you make that commitment now?

Consider a supportive writing program, here’s the info:
The Emerging Writer Mastermind
The Emerging Writer Intensive

Thank you!!! I knew I had a story inside of me, it just took Andy's death to bring it out of me. I am so happy to be honoring him with this book. And no words could describe my gratitude to you for mentoring me thru my writing as well as the timeline helping me see a pattern of my life. I feel that I am not the same as I was on March 6th, 2014. Thank you my dear friend. - Sally Latimer

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