The Monday Maker Motivator #3

I used to be afraid of opening my umbrella at the wrong time. I don't mean like inside because it's bad luck wrong time, but during that in-between stage when it starts to drizzle but isn't fully raining yet. I'd carry my umbrella with me, waiting to see when other people would open theirs and then I would finally open mine. I know this sounds bizarre, but it's a quirk in my character that I've learned to conquer.

And I think this insecurity in truly being ourselves and doing what we want comes in many forms as creatives. It's easy to worry that what we want to do won't be good enough so we set ourselves up to fail before we even start. To let ourselves live the fullness of our creative capabilities, we have to let go of the fear of being different or wrong or flat out failing. So this week, I challenge you to step out beyond a fear of yours and do something you've always wanted to do in your creative work.

Here are my Monday Maker Motivator recommendations to get you started!

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1. The Motivation App pops up different inspirational quotes on your phone throughout the day. I love the reminder to pause and be mindful; it helps me step out of the whirlwind of my day and refocus. Sometimes the quotes are more poignant than others, but this free app is a great tool. 2. This Huffington Post article on the 18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently.

"Creative people are insatiably curious -- they generally opt to live the examined life, and even as they get older, maintain a sense of curiosity about life. Whether through intense conversation or solitary mind-wandering, creatives look at the world around them and want to know why, and how, it is the way it is."

3. The Accidental Creative Podcast is all about sustaining our creative ideas and work in this create-on-demand world. Host Todd Henry interviews the likes of Seth Godin, Jon Acuff, and Lisa Congdon for stimulating conversations on living the creative life. I love his recent interview with DJ Z-Trip. 4. 16 Quotes about Creativity to Inspire You Because sometimes all you need is a good quote to keep your eye on the prize.

5. If you're looking for a little more sustenance, check out this list of 37 Books Every Creative Person Should Be Reading. Some of my personal favorites on this list include Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Manage Your Day-to-Day by Jocelyn K. Glei, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, and Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg.

I hope you're feeling inspired and motivated to make your mark this week! What fears are you going to challenge yourself to overcome? I'd love to hear what you're working on!

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