Discovering Your Creative Fire with Eric Maisel, Ph.D.

As a creativity coach, Dr. Eric Maisel talks about the lineage of our creativity. There is a point in our lives when we fall in love with something – a book, a painting, a piece of music, a film – and we long to be part of the lineage of that creation. This longing emboldens us to enter the path of our own creative spirit. However in the hubbub of post-modern life it is not easy to organize our day around our creative expressions. Maisel has some advice for us, “I think for a lot of artists it’s imperative that they carve out an extra hour before their real day starts to get their creative work done. That they then not scorn small increments of time during the day, if 20 minutes arises here or 20 minutes arises there, to make use of that.” He also talks about establishing a ceremonial bridge for our creative projects and advises us to notice the things that invoke an experience of meaning in our lives and also to know these activities will change as we age. He shares ideas about how to keep creativity flowing every day and to pull it from every part of ourselves, including our limitations. Further, he says that the messes and mistakes are an integral part of the process that cannot be skipped. He maintains that manifesting our creative potential requires a healthy ego structure and the humility to know that we can’t ask for great work. Rather, we have to “show up and make ourselves available to it.” (hosted by Roger Housden)

Bio

Eric Maisel, Ph.D. is a licensed family therapist, a creativity coach, and author of more than 40 books. He also conducts writing workshops and trains creativity coaches.

His books include:

• Life Purpose Boot Camp: The 8-Week Breakthrough Plan for Creating a Meaningful Life (New World Library 2014)
• Secrets of a Creativity Coach (Motivational Press 2014)
• Why Smart People Hurt: A Guide for the Bright, the Sensitive, and the Creative (Conari Press 2013)
• Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide To Starting and Completing Your Work of Art (Tarcher 1995)
• The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression (New World Library 2007)
• Mastering Creative Anxiety: 24 Lessons for Writers, Painters, Musicians, and Actors from America’s Foremost Creativity Coach (New World Library 2011)
• Making Your Creative Mark: Nine Keys to Achieving Your Artistic Goals (New World Library 2013)
• Natural Psychology: The New Psychology of Meaning (Natural Psychology Press 2012)
• Rethinking Depression: How to Shed Mental Health Labels and Create Personal Meaning (New World Library 2012)
• Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions (New World Library 2010)
• Creativity for Life: Practical Advice on the Artist’s Personality, and Career from America’s Foremost Creativity Coach (New World Library 2007)
• Coaching the Artist Within: Advice for Writers, Actors, Visual Artists, and Musicians from America’s Foremost Creativity Coach (New World Library 2005)

To learn more about the work of Eric Maisel go to www.ericmaisel.com.

Topics discussed in this dialogue include:

• What is the difference between self-expression and creativity
• Why we need a ceremonial bridge for our creative projects
• What are the three definitions of creativity
• What are some ways to keep creativity flowing
• What is fragmentation
• Why is scheduling regular practice important to the creative process
• How do you move from seeking meaning to making meaning
• What is meant by the “menu of possibilities”
• How do we detach from our work
• What is the creative process and why is it important
• What is a “healthy ego structure”
• How do we use existing ideas as inspiration
• What is divergent thinking

Host: Roger Housden                Interview Date: 1/15/2015               Program Number: 3531

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