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In my training classes with creativity coaches as well as with my regular clients, the question often comes up of how much to reveal about yourself on your website, in your business name, in your artwork, and in your life. Creativity is about personal expression and our creative efforts are hopefully directed at things we feel passionate about and strongly connected to. Our choices reveal what we value and what we are thinking about.

Authenticity is a key dynamic in relationships and support systems of all kinds. People want to feel that they know who we are and what we are about. Also, when we live a false life, it is tedious and unfulfilling.

So here are some guidelines to help you to tap into your creative self and authenticity in your work and personal lives:

1) Write down your top 5 values right now. Are you engaging with them in your life currently? One of my clients wrote down philanthropy and realized that she was not giving any money away so sent a check to PBS.

2) Look in the mirror. Does your "look" support your tastes and delights? If you love cool colors, are you wearing them? How about your love of teak earrings and capes? Dressing for fun and to express your unique preferences lets people know more about your inner self.

3) If you have a business or career, how are you revealing your true self in your day to day work? If you have your own business, are you still doing work you love or is it time to make some changes? If you work for an employer, are you asking for learning experiences and /or new projects that speak to your new interests or what's hot in your industry? Work is a powerful form of self-expression and we want to keep looking for opportunities that evolve as we do.

4) How are you spending your time? Are you having the adventures you have dreamed of or watching too much TV? Are you seeing friends and family that you dearly love or working all the time? Are you spending the time you want on your quilting or volunteer work? We all have the same amount of time and we want to try to use it in a way that tells people what kind of person we are.

5) Many of us have been criticized for being ourselves. As we age, hopefully, we get more comfortable taking risks and expressing our views and feelings to trusted others. If we are a writer or an artist, not everyone will like or resonate with our work. That's okay as long as we are in our truth and telling a story that is meaningful to us. We need to keep some inner armour available for when we get attacked. We need to stay centered as a creative person so that we can express what fascinates us and learn to care less what others think.

Becoming ourselves is a lifetime journey with peak moments and pitfalls. Each of us has an original presence on the planet. Share it and celebrate it! We all benefit from being able to really get to know you.

Special Coaching Offer I have space for a few new coaching clients and have a discount offer of 3 sessions for $550.00--a $50.00 savings. So if you are ready to activiate your creativity, discover fulfilling work, restore inner balance, and/or grow your business, email me with your agenda at Gail@creativesuccess.com and we will help you to figure out What's Next for You!

My colleague, Susan Tiberghien, has a wonderful new book called One Year to a Writing LIfe: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer's Art and Craft. Susan teaches writing all over the US and Europe and has written this manual for both senior and beginning writers. Susan lives in Switzerland and has written three memoirs. I have met her and she is most inspiring. One Year to a Writing LIfe

Creatively yours,
Gail McMeekin
http://www.creativesuccess.com Copyright, 2008. CreativeSuccess, LLC.