Being All Tangled Up About Selling My Art

By Andrea Schroeder / November 18, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, healing

During our last Treasure-Mapping Adventure my intuition and my dreams gave me some clear information and guidance about what to do next.? They asked me to MAKE MORE ART and I agreed that this is a good idea!

My plan was to include an inspiring image of an inspiration card every week in my weekly email, (I already do that part) and to offer these cards for sale, individually or in groups (that’s the new part).

But I keep putting off actually doing this.

As you know, inner critics are VERY good at coming up with bullshit excuses that sound like reasonable reasons.

I have a lot of reasonable reasons why I just don’t have the time or energy to do this right now.

But when I remembered how I FELT when my intuition said to make this art (like my heart had tiny sparkling wings and was flying around, fueled by glee) I was sad because I realised that I had obviously fallen victim to believing bullshit excuses and putting my dream aside.

And I remembered that this happens every time I want to start doing something new, and that the fastest way to move through it is to turn around and face the uncomfortable feelings.

So I journaled about it:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++[from my journal]

What is up? I know I want to do this.

Is that true?

I do want it, my heart wants it, my creativity wants it, my soul wants it (it is smiling about it).

Who doesn’t want it?

Perfectionist and scared little girl who doesn’t want to get hurt or be made fun of, which hurts.

She is sure this would be opening myself up to ridicule. How dare I call this “art”? It’s stupid and a 5 year old could make it. It’s an embarrassment to my education. It really does make me look ridiculous, to take my silly stuff as serious art that I can sell. It’s like letting everyone know that I have no taste or maturity or understanding of what art really is.

I think I’m better than the quality of the art I’m making right now. I want it to be better. Better, how? Better as in? more elegant, cleaner. Less play, more technical execution.

I have technical skills that I am not using!? But the thought of doing that makes my creativity shrivel up, and now it’s no fun to even think about it so I certainly don’t want to DO it.

I like making art to make art, to play, to express myself. Yes, but I want the self I express to be “better”.? More polished.

Even though the lack of polish is an important part of what I want to say with my art – that you don’t have to do anything to be “good enough” that you’ve already earned that just by being here.? I want to encourage more true heart-felt expression and less polishing, unless polishing makes your heart happy, then it’s fantastic and perfect.

People respond to the art I make for myself.? They respond to the energy and inspiration behind it, and the spirit of it – it has nothing to do with technical execution.

What would it take for me to be comfortable with this?? And not tighten up about it, just enjoy making art and put it out there?

I could remember that I’m not forcing anyone to buy it.? That there’s nothing wrong with making the offer.

I could remember that I feel so tangled up because I am being vulnerable – I am sharing my creative expression and creative spirit. It’s ok to feel vulnerable about that.

I could let it be tangly.

Could I?? I think the problem is that because of the tangles I tense up so the art doesn’t work the same, it’s not a true creative soulful expression, it’s distorted by lack of believing in myself.

Yes, that doesn’t work. But if I can accept that vulnerability is scary, can I do this anyway?

NO it’s tangled. I can’t think my way out of the tangle. I can talk to the tangle.

OK, hello tangle.

(nothing happens)

No, this isn’t going to work on its own. I am going to bring the tangle into the Field of Creative Soul Alchemy that we work with in the Creative Dream Circle.

OK, that’s better. The tangle is relaxing in the field. Now it’s sitting on a chaise lounge, reclined and happy. The tangle likes it in the field of Creative Soul Alchemy. That is kind of interesting, since the field is something I CREATED and the tangle is about appreciating my creations.

I do like my/your creations. I want to like them more. I want to feel supported in sharing them with the world. There is no support!

What kind of support?

I like this chaise lounge. I especially like that it is lounge-y. I like lounge-y support. Relaxed. Casual.

You want me to support you in relaxing?

Well, yes.

Well, yes, of course that makes sense. Being tense got you tangly.

Tangly isn’t all bad! That’s a part of the problem – you’re upset that I’m tangled instead of letting me be tangled.

(Tangle stretches out her arms behind her head and snuggles down deeper into the chaise)

OK, you are pretty adorable. If I am ok with letting the tangle be tangled, then what do I do?

Make. Art. Anyway.

Get into the joy of it, remember how you feel once you’re REALLY into it. Art your way into that place instead of waiting to be there when you start!

MAKE BAD ART. Find your trust that you’ll come up with something, don’t try to make it be something from the start. You’re controlling the edges and shape of it too much, and not giving it enough room to breathe. Just hold the intention of creating something to share, don’t try to control it so much!

Well, but I am pretty sure I can sell cards. I don’t know if I can sell other things, so why make other things, if I am specifically making things for other people, doesn’t it make sense to make what I know they want?

Just because you don’t know what you can sell, does not mean you should be limited to what you do know you can sell, do you hear for completely ridiculous that sentence is?

You know you can’t limit yourself only to what you already know, that’s insanity and small thinking.. that is dream killing!

I know you don’t want to do that.

No, you’re right. I want to experiment and try things and in the process learn things.

It’s your approach that needs to loosen up.

(As the tangle says this, she stretches and untangles, then curls back up in the tangle and I see that it’s not knotted as tightly as I thought)

Your job is to pay attention to how you’re feeling, and stay connected.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So that was yesterday. Today I decided to share my journaling, so I’m typing it into my wordpress box.

I’ve got an inner critic screaming that this is ridiculously personal and I should not be sharing it here.

I know that I have clients who struggle with this very thing.? And if I can’t model how I work through this stuff, I can’t be effective as a mentor.

If I only show the shiny side of being on the other side of processing all of this and feeling comfortable and HAPPY about selling my art (and I know I will be there soon), well that actually hinders more than it helps others.

And if I only show my struggles after I’m successfully through them, all I’m demonstrating is a lack of faith in my own process.

I know I’ll get through this.? I’ve done it hundreds of time already.? I’ll do it hundreds of times more.

I’m reminding that voice that I know that so deeply that I can share the messiness while I’m in it.

I really wanted to end this post with an image of the art that I made and now have ready to sell.

The truth is, writing this out and getting it ready for public sharing may be the biggest step I can take with this today (I’m writing this on Sunday morning, and planning to post it on my blog Monday morning).

I’m curled up on my yellow couch, looking over at my art table which is an absolute explosion of colour and pattern and gorgeous creative chaos.

I understand where I’ve been going off the rails with what I’ve been creating.? I have my mission, to pay attention to how I’m feeling, and stay connected.

So, instead, I’ll share a photo of my creative chaos.

And a promise to write an update to this as I work through it.

Being All Tangled Up About Selling My Art Read More »

How Do I Start Each Creative Journaling Session?

By Andrea Schroeder / November 17, 2013

Dreamtastic Creative Journals is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

If you?re playing along in your journal, share your photos and/or blog posts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the #creativedreamincubator hash tag so we can easily find YOU!

How do you start the creative dream journaling? By meditation, by having a theme in your head?. How do you connect to your inner self?

I have been doing your Rainbow~licious Creative Healing Circle (still am) and there the guided meditation (by you) is the start. But I feel that to bring my dreams to live something more is needed. Maybe more practice…

Well, yes, the answer is in the question: practice.

As you explore and develop your own unique creative journal practice you’ll find what works for you.

You can watch the 30 Days of Creative Journals series to see how I approach this from day-to-day.?? I don’t have a specific starting process, it totally depends on where I’m at and what I need in the moment.

It’s less about finding a starting technique that works and more about developing a relationship with your practice.

This way, your journal can meet you where you are and help you get to where you want to be.

Some ideas for ways to start:

You can ask yourself: What do I need? as you get started and let the answer direct your explorations.
You can make a list of Things That Look Like Fun To You from my 30 Days of Creative Journals series? and try them out, one by one.
You can write about your day, complain about your boss, describe your dream in all it’s technicolor glory or write love letters to all the things you want to invite into your life.

Experiment and play.? The more time you spend journaling, the more you’ll learn about what does and does not work for you.

The way I approach my journals is so different today than it was just a year ago, it’s changing all the time.

And, sometimes education is needed.

Bringing your dream to life is usually a bigger job than anyone can do on their own.? I’ve worked with TONS of teachers and mentors in the process of bringing my dreams to life.

There is something extra-magical about working with a transformational program.? Programs create a container for the magic to happen in, they lead you through the process so you can play and explore with confidence knowing that you are headed towards where you want to be.

creative journaling — This is an example of a Treasure Map I made in my journal that I made during one of my Virtual Playdate events, where I lead the group through a transformative journaling processes over the phone.

A good teacher will introduce you to whole new worlds of possibility and show you how to create Creative Dream Momentum.

But it’s your commitment to your own personal practice that determines how much you and your dreams are going to thrive.

How Do I Start Each Creative Journaling Session? Read More »

What Kind of Music is Best for Creative Journaling?

By Andrea Schroeder / November 16, 2013

Dreamtastic Creative Journals is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

If you?re playing along in your journal, share your photos and/or blog posts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the #creativedreamincubator hash tag so we can easily find YOU!

Today’s question:

What type of music should one listen to while journaling?

The whole point of journaling is to get in touch with what’s going on in your inner world.

If you’re listening to music or watching tv, you’ve got someone else’s words/thoughts/ideas/stories floating around in your head!?

This totally defeats the purpose.

Journaling is quality time with yourself.? Surround yourself with things that support this.

For some, instrumental or new age music is helpful.? When I do live workshops sometimes I create specific playlists of different styles of music for each part of the workshop – focusing on rhythm, energy and emotion and using instrumental or non-English/French music so my participants wouldn’t be able to understand the words.

But usually – SILENCE.

Even new age or classical music puts you in a certain energy space.? If that certain energy space is not the right space for where you’re at emotionally – well, you’re just fighting your own process.

What Kind of Music is Best for Creative Journaling? Read More »

[FREE Tele-Class] Who’s Talking To Me? How to tell Fear from Intuition

By Andrea Schroeder / November 14, 2013 / healing

Bringing a dream to life is about dancing this inner dance, of uncovering and activating intuitive wisdom + superpowers while spotting and transforming fears before they can create roadblocks.

This gets confusing because your fears are really good at presenting logical, reasonable and safe arguments for staying inside your comfort zone, even when it’s not comfortable at all in there.

And while everyone is intuitive, if you’ve never learned how to really listen to your intuition, then it’s hard to be able to hear it.

Plus sometimes, when you do hear it, your intuitive wisdom is kind of weird and it’s hard to know what to do with it.

Most of us hear our inner fear loud and clear, while our inner wisdom seems to be whispering very very quietly, sometimes in a foreign language.

When you flip this around – impossible dreams become possible realities!

It’s tempting to think that it’s a simple matter of: if my intuition wants me to succeed, and my fear wants me to fail, this means that all YES voices are intuitive wisdom and all NO voices are inner critics and fears.

It’s NOT that simple.

Again, because fear is so good at presenting logical, reasonable and safe arguments, and because most of us did not grow up in a culture that taught us to trust our inner instincts, and because the risks involved in bringing a dream to life can be scary sometimes, it just gets really hard to know, for sure, which voice you’re listening to.

Since listening to your intuition leads to Creative Dream Success and listening to your fear leads to running on endless hamster wheels – it’s really important to know which voice you’re listening to!

In this class we will:

learn how to tell the difference between fear and intuition
explore how to turn down the volume on fear and turn up the volume on intuition

This live tele-class is completely free for everyone who is signed up for my email list.

It will be juicy, inspiring and mega-helpful.? It WILL be recorded. The recording will be only available to my Creative Dream Circle members. (The Circle is amazing, you can join it right here)

[FREE Tele-Class] Who’s Talking To Me?

How to tell Fear from Intuition
Tuesday, November 26, 1PM, Central (North American Time)

If you’re not already on my email list, sign up here:

[FREE Tele-Class] Who’s Talking To Me? How to tell Fear from Intuition Read More »

Creative Journaling: Where To Find Inspiration?

By Andrea Schroeder / November 13, 2013

Dreamtastic Creative Journals is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

If you?re playing along in your journal, share your photos and/or blog posts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the #creativedreamincubator hash tag so we can easily find YOU!

Today’s question:

I’m incredibly busy, where can I look for inspiration?

Busy or not, there is only ever one place to look for inspiration: inside you.

The point is Creative Dream Journaling is not, EVER, to make pretty pages, because making pretty pages is NOT the same process as using a journal as a tool for healing, transformation and dream-growing.

So, when you have time for your journal (and you really don’t need more than 5 minutes) write about what’s happening in your inner world – write about how you’re feeling.

Write about what you want.? Give your desire space to express itself in your journal!

Draw your soul.? Collage your dreams.

Let yourself be your inspiration.

You’re fascinating!? Let your journal be a testament to how amazing you and your dreams really are.

Creative Journaling: Where To Find Inspiration? Read More »

Creative Journaling: Do I have To Do It Every Day?

By Andrea Schroeder / November 11, 2013 / healing

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

Today’s question:

Does journaling at the same time daily work better? Is it OK to journal only a few times per week?

There are NO rules to Creative Dream Journaling.? Or, well, there is one rule: do what feels right for YOU.

Remember that Creative Dream Journaling is about being engaged in the inner process of bringing your dream to life, so the more you do it, the more helpful it’s going to be.

But, since this is an inner process – approach is everything.

If your inner drill Sargent is forcing you to do this every day, you may have a hard time finding the magic in it.

And if you’re doing it when you’re truly inspired this can be a deeply helpful and transformative process even if you aren’t making time for it every day.

If you’re having a hard time making time for your Creative Dream Journal practice, explore why.

Are you you living in your excuses about why you’re not doing it?
How can you make this more fun + inviting for you?
Where can you make your journaling practice SIMPLER so that it’s EASIER to keep up with it?

Or you can explore this in more depth.

Usually rules like this “If I don’t do this every day that means I’m not doing it right and I failed” do not come from your creative genius – they come from your inner critics disguised as your inner perfectionist.

It’s saying if you can’t do it perfectly you’re better off not doing it at all.

That’s not true.

Ten minutes of truly enjoying playing in your journal, once a month, is FAR better than holding yourself to some bullshit standard of perfection.

And here’s the magic part:

Just thinking about all of this counts as your practice.

Being in resistance to doing it counts as your practice.

It’s all a part of it.

I got the sweetest email last week, from a woman who has been receiving my emails for three months and hasn’t done anything with them.

She was feeling kind of guilty, like she should be DOING SOMETHING with this fabulous information + inspiration I was sending out.? She felt overwhelmed and like maybe she was sabotaging herself…

And then one day she sat down and this just came out:

And she said:

Today this came from within me… no planning, no reason it simply came forth and it felt amazing.? So thank you, the seeds you’ve planted are sprouting and as a keen gardener I am going to learn all I can to support this dream within me.

Those three months of resistance were a part of the process.

Those three months were important!? That was the incubation period.? That’s what it took to get to that place of spontaneous creativity and connecting with her dream.

You may need three months or two days or ten years.

Because this is inner work, we simply can’t apply outer rules to it.

So when you’re wondering how often to journal – look inside for the answer.

Creative Journaling: Do I have To Do It Every Day? Read More »

Creative Journaling: It’s NOT about how it looks, at all, really.

By Andrea Schroeder / November 8, 2013

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

By far, the question I am asked the most about Creative Journaling is “How can I make sure it will, you know, look good?” usually followed by “I’m not an artist but I really want to play….”

And I always talk about how it’s not (AT ALL!) about how it looks and it’s ALL about how it feels. It’s about the process.

And people say they get it, but still, you know, they want their journal pages to be cute.

If you need your journal pages to look cute, or funky, or any other way – you’re NOT doing Creative Dream Journaling.

That’s practicing art, keeping a sketchbook. That’s a great thing to do, it’s also totally different from what I am talking about.

Creative Dream Journaling is 100% about the inner process.

If you are focused on how it looks,? you’re missing out on the magic.

This is the thing people really struggle with.

So while I was on my Creative Retreat, I had a chance to take an intuitive painting class with Chris (which is something everyone should do!!!!).

And wouldn’t you know it – I struggled with this very thing, ALL NIGHT.

I was enjoying the process but then I’d step back and look at my painting and wish it looked cuter.

Chris?kept coming around to talk to me about it and I kept feeling flustered. Like “Hello! I’m having fun but I want to also LIKE my painting!”

Which is exactly the opposite of the point.

Then the next morning I was sitting by the lake near the studio, enjoying a latte, smiling at the ducks and geese everywhere and playing in my journal. I grabbed what I thought was a pen, but was a brush-marker, so when I went to draw something I was using pen pressure, instead of brush pressure, and my drawing came out really odd.

I smiled. I was enjoying it. I did not care, not one bit, what any of the marks on my page looked like. I was too deep in enjoying the process.

I was just delighted to make marks on the page. Did not matter one bit what the marks were.

It struck me, how this was the opposite experience of the one I had the night before.

I noticed how freaking good it feels to be in the inner process and how freaking tangly and uncomfortable it is to want your creative expression to be different from how it is.

I want you to know that YOUR creative expression is perfect and inspiring, exactly the way it is. That you don’t have to learn how to do things “right” before your creations will be perfect and inspiring.

And if you find your creative expression to be anything less than beautiful – you might need a new perspective on beauty, more than you need art classes.

Here is the painting I struggled with so much:

Now that I’ve got a little distance between it and me – it’s kind of funny to remember how frustrated this made me!

Now when I look at it I remember the joy and freedom I felt while I played with the paints.

I remember stumbling and then finding my truth and then stumbling again and then finding my center.

I remember the dance of it all and how awkward I felt. I remembering hearing some noise in the kitchen and thinking “I hope?Chris is making us cookies because I have really earned a cookie!”

I remember, when?Chris made me stay present with the part of the painting that I hated the most, when I really looked at it, how much PURE SPARKLING LOVE I actually had for it.

Every single mark you make is precious because it’s YOUR unique creative expression.

That’s a part of you, on paper for you to see and adore and celebrate.

The fact that you are alive and can create is a miracle.

Celebrate it, as it it. Honour it, as it is.

Even if you think it’s ugly, honour it for what it can show you about yourself and your perspective.

And then imagine how this changes your whole LIFE.

What if you could delight in every mark you made, without judgment, in your journal, on your canvas, and in your life??

You know how when you see a baby kicking it’s legs, it’s just soooo adorable?

And how when your cat sits a certain ways it’s just soooo adorable?

What if you are just soooo adorable just because of whatever you’re doing right now?? Because you’re expressing your unique self in some way and it’s the most amazing thing ever.

Obviously, this is not an easy thing to do.

This is advanced, advanced practice.

So if you’re thinking “Oh no, I could never do this!” – that’s great!? Because you don’t just DO it, you PRACTICE it.

And I dare you to practice this kind of radical self-acceptance today.

Creative Journaling: It’s NOT about how it looks, at all, really. Read More »

The woman who is a goddess who is a galaxy

By Andrea Schroeder / November 7, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

A lot of what I teach is about getting to know the heart and soul of your dream, which is perfect and whole and complete and real right here right now, because developing this inner relationship with your dream opens up whole new worlds of possibility.

A dream is really anything you want to do.? Anything you feel inspired about.? Anything you wish you had.

I have a gazillion dreams.? Each one of them is a real, live thing – energetically.? Each one of them has a heart and a soul and a personality.

These energy beings hold the blueprints for the perfect unfolding of the dream here on earth.? Working with them makes everything a gazillion percent easier.

So, I get to know the heart and soul of EVERYTHING that I want to do.

____________________________________________________________________

Right now there are a whole bunch of things I want to do in my business.? Each one is it’s own dream, but the dreams play together in the playground of my business.

The biggest one is: creating smooth systems that incorporate all the things I want to do.

I used to see smooth systems as a roller-coaster type thing – a support structure that created the conditions for the adventure of being on the roller coaster.

And that worked, while it worked.? Now I’ve got too many moving parts.? It’s like my little roller coaster cart is so full of toys that there’s no room to play with them!

Dreams grow and evolve just like we do.

Now smooth systems is woman who is a goddess who is a galaxy.

There are planets and moons.? Milky ways.? Stars and sparkle.

And there is the endless dance and flow.? Each element doing its own dance and then this infinite kaleidoscope of a pattern coming out of the interactions between everything.

Freedom and flow and gravity and pull.? Creativity and magic.

Beauty.? The universe of my business.

The woman who is a goddess who is a galaxy sits at the center of this (which is everywhere) and sings silently with delight.? All of the motion of the dance comes from the silent song in her heart.

Once in a while she brings a new planet to life, on her finger, and then flicks it out into her galaxy where it finds it’s perfect place to dance it’s perfect dance.

She sees all the secret invisible ways that all things are connected.

She holds it all in harmony.? In her silent song.

I’m getting to know her and learning how to work with her and with the ever-changing rhythms of the galaxy.

She says they’re not changing at all!? She says that everything has it’s own rhythm.? I need to see the individual dances and be present with the individual dances and PLAY with the individual dances and stop worrying about the larger dance that they all dance together.

She says that what I’ve been trying to do is CONTROL the larger dance and that’s not how it works and that’s why I’ve been getting stuck.

This makes me nervous. I want the larger dance to look and be and feel a certain way.

She says – it’s time to take off the training wheels, sweetie.

And I get this flash of – I don’t know, something.? Seeing a new perspective. Internal transformation.

If I am controlling the larger dance I am LIMITING the larger dance in the name of “feeling safe” which is bullshit anyway.

Oh.

Whoa.

Ha! I sat down here to write (I am in a coffee shop and forgot my little travel journal bag with pens, so I couldn’t put this in my journal like I usually would so I thought – why not put it here then?) out a meeting/plan to figure out how to get this larger dance dancing the way I want it to.

What I got instead feels like an invitation to JOY and DELIGHT and POSSIBILITY and PLAY.

I’m watching the obstacles crumble and a sparkling new path emerge.

Suddenly everything feels easy and clear.? Dancing with the individual dances seems so obvious now.

Trying to control the infinite kaleidoscope of a pattern coming out of the interactions between everything seems ridiculous now!?

No wonder I kept getting all overwhelmed trying to do what felt a huge huge huge huge impossible job. ?Because that was never my job to do.

This is the kind of sparkling transformation/shift/healing you can expect during next week’s Treasure-Mapping Tele-Circle.? I highly highly recommend it!

The woman who is a goddess who is a galaxy Read More »

[The magic of disappointment] Canceling my retreat.

By Andrea Schroeder / October 30, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

This is kind of a long story but I am hoping that you’ll read it.

There IS a lot of magic in disappointment and there is a lot of power in following your creative impulse even when you don’t get what you (thought you) wanted.

But the magical stories of disappointment are rare because we live in a world that shouts about success from every rooftop while carefully sweeping failure under the rug.

This skews your perception of what success actually is (it actually isn’t anything that you can measure with a number). And it skews your perception of what it takes to bring a dream to life.? These two skews leave you kind of screwed!

My story starts in January of this year.

I was running a session of the Creative Dream Incubator e-course and playing along, exploring what was happening in my inner world, looking for new dreams that were ready to come to life.

And the dream that came to me was: Creative Dream Retreats.? I saw myself leading life-changing dream-growing retreats in beautiful, nourishing, creative spaces around the world.

The essence of the dream was about adventure and discovery and spaciousness and glee.? The dream was beautiful and it was also all kinds of stuck.

Week after week I wrestled with my doubts, fears and inner saboteurs.? Week after week I followed along through my Creative Dream Incubator, gently un-sticking the stuck, activating the magic and learning how to give my dream what it needed to grow.

And then Chris Zydel, one of my creative heroes, began appearing in my dreams – like, the dreams I had while I was sleeping.

So Chris and I got together to explore why this was happening, maybe it was a sign?? Maybe we had something to share with each other? We talked about what we were working on, but couldn’t find any message or reason why she kept showing up in my dreams.

We were about to end our call when I said “Well, since I’ve got you here, maybe you can give me some pointers?? I’ve been working on putting together a retreat and I’m stuck….”

And it all snapped into place.

Chris talked her Creative Juices Arts studio, which solved ALL of my stucks about the retreat – where to have it that was inspiring and had the right space for creative explorations but was also in an interesting place where there were other things to do too… everything was perfect, down to the massive amounts of art supplies and a delicious caterer.

And we both kind of lit up with the idea of doing a Creative Genius Retreat together.

I started telling some of my clients and friends and had so many “Ohmigosh YES I am so totally coming!” responses that I didn’t promote it very much because it seemed like it was already sold out.

I happily went through my year, knowing I’d be leading this AMAZING life-changing dream-growing retreat in a gorgeously inspiring space.

Except, well, all of those “Ohmigosh YES I am so totally coming!” responses didn’t translate into actual registrations.

The timing was off.? Things came up.

And this fall we realised – the retreat wasn’t going to happen.

And you know what?? I didn’t feel sad or disappointed.

I felt a little confused because of the amazing response I had, but mostly it just felt right.

I’ve shared this story often, that when I first started doing creativity workshops I often had events where no one showed up.? And it was horribly disappointing back then.

But today? This is just one retreat, not doing it doesn’t impact my business.? No, I didn’t feel disappointed.

I felt proud.

Proud that I honoured my creative impulse.? Proud that I worked through the stuck parts.? Proud that I put it out there.

I took a big step and I learned some stuff and now I know more about how to take the next step.? This is how it works.

And underneath that, I felt glee.

Because I’d already bought my plane ticket to San Francisco for crazycheap because I had a voucher that expired earlier this year.? Which means I’m still getting my adventure and my creative retreat.? I’m getting the essence of my dream in a different package.

In the video I made about The Magic of Disappointment I talked about how feeling disappointment helps you to see how very much you still want the thing, and you can use that desire to move yourself towards it.? In this situation, the magic of non-disappointment is showing me that this wasn’t really what I wanted.?

The truth is, and for some reason I couldn’t admit this to myself before – right now I? just want to go on amazing creative retreats by myself.

Because every day I’m supporting my people through the inner transformation that creates outer change… retreating on my own replenishes me so I can keep doing that.

Following your creative dream and working through the stucks does NOT guarantee that you get exactly what you wanted.

Your dream is wise!? It will bring you somewhere new.? Somewhere a little more aligned with your unique creative soul.

Sometimes, somewhere you didn’t even know you wanted to go to.

Having things not work out does not mean that you failed, ever.

The only way to fail is by giving up before you start.

Something magic will happen every time you take a step towards trusting your dream.

Fear of failing stops us from doing that.

And it’s stupid.

Because, like I said in the beginning, our perceptions of success and failure are skewed.

You are a success for being brave enough to claim your dream.

You are a success every time you follow your creative impulse.

You are a success every time you put it out there.? And each time you do – you’ll learn something about how to do it differently next time.

So every time you take a creative risk you deserve to be celebrated.

Just like I am celebrating cancelling the Creative Genius Retreat, and going on to California on my own.

I still get to have my own Creative Genius Retreat.? I still get to have a totally amazing time.

My flight leaves first thing tomorrow morning and I am very happy.

Expect to see lots of happy photos from my creative retreat on my Instagram and Facebook over the weekend.

[The magic of disappointment] Canceling my retreat. Read More »

Help! I Want To Do Creative Journaling But I’m Not Artistic

By Andrea Schroeder / October 29, 2013

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

I get a lot of questions about how to approach creative journaling when you’re not artistic, like this one:

One of my questions would be about using a journal in this way if one is not artistic. For example, I’ve noticed you have a lot of cool lettering and sketches in your pages, but that is something that would be difficult for me. I’m not sure how I would overcome that.

First of all, I want to say… really?? You look at my work and think you can’t do these kinds of sketches?

It’s likely that you can draw stick people if you give it a try!? Or bubble people, as I prefer.

But your journals won’t look like my journals.

They’ll look like your journals.

So if sketching isn’t your thing, you might not do it.? Maybe you’ll do collage:

Or, if you want cool lettering without writing it yourself, you can use scrapbooking supplies in your journal – stickers, rub-ones, stencils, alphabet stamps, collage.

And you can check out this post I wrote about how to draw mandalas (REALLY, it’s easy-peasy).? And once you get started you WILL develop your own drawing style if you stick with it.

Or you can not use art supplies at all if that’s just not your thing.

The CREATIVE in Dreamtastic Creative Journals is about claiming your power to CREATE your WORLD.

I promise – being creative in your journal is NOT about being artistic.? It’s about:

learning to act on your creative impulse
being willing to make your mark
trusting yourself
creating your own way instead of following the beaten path
dealing with the voices that say “you can’t” and “you’re not good enough”

… this is the stuff of Creative Dreaming!

This is how you build up your Creative Dream Muscles!

Help! I Want To Do Creative Journaling But I’m Not Artistic Read More »

Treasure-Mapping!

By Andrea Schroeder / October 28, 2013 / Manifest Your Dream Life

Treasure*Mapping lights me up.

It’s such a beautiful creative tool for bringing dreams to life – it helps you meet yourself where you are in a way that actually propels you into where you want to be, with grace and healing and delight.

Every time I do a Treasure*Mapping playdate with my Creative Dream Circle, and we have the best time ever, as you can see:

Harriet?s Treasure Map and the Magical Monkey who is helping her find her treasure:

Sylvie?s first map: Showing how it all works/plays together:

Sylvie?s second map: leading to a surprising discovery about what her dreams really need right now:

Cora?s treasure map, showing how it all leads to her dream:

We’re Treasure-Mapping again on November 12 and you’re invited!

If you join the Creative Dream Circle before Nov 11 – you’ll get this Treasure*Mapping adventure for FREE!

Or you can sign up for just the Treasure*Mapping for $49.

Sign-up + details are here.?

I’m looking forward to playing with YOU!

If you want to know more about how Treasure*Mapping works, I did a Treasure-Mapping Adventure Series on my blog recently, treasure-mapping my way to growing my business, and sharing the honest actual story, AS IT HAPPENED, as I fumble along this path with creativity, heart and soul.

1. What no one tells you about marketing + creative business

2. Be open to the adventure of being where you are

3. The Path to creative business success.

4.? A plan emerges from the treasure map

5. Why I?ve been stuck, plus exploring EASE and JOY

6. How Ease is the ticket and what that means

7. The end of the Treasure Map

Treasure-Mapping! Read More »

FAQ: I’d LOVE to do Creative Journaling, but I don’t know how to get started?!

By Andrea Schroeder / October 26, 2013 / intention

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

I’d LOVE to do Creative Journaling, but I don’t know how to get started?!

I get asked this all the time!

And really, all you need to do is grab your journal and a pen and do it.

But it’s not that simple, is it?

Getting started is really a lot less about getting started and a lot more about navigating your internal resistance to change.

A Fabulous “Getting Started” Resource:

Why It’s So Hard To Get Started And What To Do About It

from my Creative Dream TV Video Series

The easiest way to get going is to recognize that it’s hard to get going.

That seems counter-intuitive, but until you acknowledge that it’s hard to get started, all you’re doing is living in your excuses about why you’re not getting started.? I’m too busy, I’m too tired, I don’t know how, I don’t have the right journal, I tried once but it didn’t work…

(This is true for creative journaling and it’s true for your dreams.)

Once you acknowledge that you’re not getting started because it’s scary, because you might fail, because you might learn things about yourself that are uncomfortable… then it comes down to deciding to do it anyway.

If you’re still reading this, you’re ready to do it anyway.? So let’s do this:

Get a journal.? If you don’t already have one, go get one.? It can be a simple notebook from the dollar store or an art store sketchbook or a fancy moleskine – does not matter.? Just get it TODAY.
Get a pen.? Or glitter markers or other art supplies if that’s how you want to play.
Pick any video you want from the 30 Days of Creative Journals Videos on this page.? Play along with whatever I’m doing.? If you don’t know which one to pick – pick Day 30: Hello Dream.

If you catch yourself falling back into your excuses…? I’m too busy, I’m too tired, I don’t know how, I don’t have the right journal, I tried once but it didn’t work… STOP.? Give yourself a hug.? Starting something new is hard!? Watch this.? Be gentle.? And keep trying.

You’ll be Creative Dream Journaling in no time.

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Creative Art Journal Supplies + How To use Them

By Andrea Schroeder / October 25, 2013

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your art journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

Art Journal Supplies List

Just use what you want to use.

Thinking that you need the right journal, the right markers, the right paints? these are all excuses that keep you from getting started. (More here about how to get started with your Creative Dream Journal)

Start with what you have.? Even if it’s just a pen and a sheet of paper.
Grow your creative supply stash however and whenever you’re inspired to grow it.

You can paint, draw, collage, scrapbook… it’s about being in the energy of WILD CREATIVE ABANDON and PLAYING with this stuff, it is NOT about learning how to use it “properly”.

Play play play play play play play play play play.

Everything is a toy.? Use the toys that you’re inspired to use.

If you have NO art journal supplies at all and do not know how to start – go to the grocery store or the dollar store.

Get whatever looks fun in the kids school supplies section.? That stuff is cheap and fun so you can experiment to find what kinds of things you like playing with.

The only rule is to be somewhat aware of what kinds of paper work with the media that you want to use.? If you want to use paints or thick markers, a cheap journal with thin paper isn’t going to hold up very well.? Strathmore makes a line of affordable mixed-media and watercolour sketchbooks which are great for when you want to get messier with art journal supplies.

How does your creative spirit want to express itself?

Some ideas for things to play with:

glitter pens/markers
crayons
oil pastels
chalk pastels
acrylic paints
pencil crayons
collage (old magazines, books, ephemera)
scrapbooking supplies
stamps
stencils

Should I limit the amount of materials/colours I’m using at once?

No!? Listen to your creative spirit and do what it says.

This isn’t about making great art (though really, all art is great!), this is about being present with your inner process.?

As you do this, you’re learning how to listen to your creative impulse and act on it.

This is the art of bringing dreams to life: listening to your creative impulse and acting on it. ?The art of letting go of what other people think and what you’re supposed to do and following the rules.? The art of making up your own rules.? The art of honouring your intuition.

That’s where the magic is – it’s NOT in having the “right” art journal supplies.

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Creative Art Journal Supplies + How To use Them Read More »

Calling all dreamers!

By Andrea Schroeder / October 23, 2013 / healing, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

Working with dreams isn’t something you do, and then you’re done.

It’s a way of life. The best way, if you ask me.

At the heart of every dream is the desire to simply be who you are.

To live in a way that feels true for you.

Not dreaming big and bold just for the sake of dreaming big and bold, but not compromising or playing small either.

It?s about connecting to your heart, your soul, your purpose and your power.

And what the world needs right now are more people who are connected to their heart, soul, purpose and power.

THIS is why I’ve spent the last two years filling the Creative Dream Circle with magic potions and secret shortcuts that help you bring your dreams to life with way more ease and joy than you think is possible, plus tools for approaching dreams (and life) in a creatively play-filled, spiritually grounded way.

And this is why I’ve made the Creative Dream Circle more affordable than ever at $100 for a whole YEAR of magic!

The Circle includes crazy-amazing tools and resources like:

Un-Sticking Station

Un-Sticking Station: From inner critics to outer critics, from moments of doubt to facing the GIANT boulders in your path. This is where you detangle the tangles, transform the obstacles, smooth out the path and get the heck out of cranky town.

How amazing is it to have a place you can go to to get un-stuck?? The Un-sticking station un-sticks the stuck and gets you back in the flow in no time.? (This alone is well worth the cost of the Circle)

Creative Genius Mojo Dojo

Creative Genius Mojo Dojo: D?j? is a Japanese term which means place of the way.

This is the place of the way of living from your Creative Genius.? Your Creative Genius is bigger than any obstacle, and contains within it everything you need to make your biggest dreams real.? Living from your genius is a total game-changer.

The Mojo Dojo is full of tools and processes to activate + nurture your Creative Genius to make your whole world more sparkly and amazing.

Creative Genius Planning Sessions

Creative Genius Planning Sessions: Unleash your Creative Genius with a playful, creative process that is so fun you?ll want to do it every week.

And powerful enough to keep you in your creative flow no matter what the universe throws your way.

Crazy-Smart Wisdom Council

Crazy-Smart Wisdom Council: To bring a dream to life, you need a lot more than good advice.? You need crazy smart wisdom. We?ve got you covered.

Bring any and all questions to the Council and you?ll have crazy-smart answers in no time.

You’ll also get access to my gigantic library-o-magic. Videos. MP3s. Hours and hours of amazing ideas – none of this is available on my blog or in my kits and courses.The Library contains everything I know about being a Creative Badass (AKA: creating your life the way you want it – not living by anyone else’s rules).

It includes:

* The Creative Business Incubator (an in-depth course in the art of turning your Creative Dream into a sustainable business)
* The Abundance Activator
* The Visibility Tele-Circle
* How Meeting Your Fears with Creativity and Love Means You Never Have To Stay Stuck Tele-class
* Daily Practice for Activating your Superpowers
* Long, in-depth videos on topics like: Sovereignty, Self-Care, Desire, Enoughness, Superpowers (and more!)
* What to do when the Comparison Monster strikes
* Creating Containers + Structures that Nourish and Grown your Dreams
* Energy Clearing
* Success Meditation
* A huuuge section on What To Do When Things Are Hard

… and lots more! The Advanced Creative Badassery Resource Library keeps growing all the time.

Once you’re in the Circle, you can even suggest what topics we’ll explore next!

Dream Journal

When you join the Circle you?ll get your very own online dream journal.

This is your space in the Creative Dream Circle to document your process as you play with all of this amazing stuff. You can keep a written journal or a photo journal, or both.

This is where you can invite in support + encouragement from other circle members and let us cheer you on!

Discounts

And you get BIIIIIG discounts on the Virtual Playdates!? (Also known as: How To How To Fill Your Life With So Much Magic It Actually Sparkles.)

Virtual playdates offer deep creative soul support for people who are ready to make the magic happen ? and do ?impossible? things, with ease & joy. Treasure-mapping. Magic Tele-Circles.? Creative Dream Retreats + Strategy Sessions.? Crazy-good times.

This is not like anything you?ve done before ? these events unleash serious magic.? You can expect something amazing to happen every time.? The calendar of upcoming events is right here.

If you attend events even somewhat regularly, the annual Circle membership will quickly pay for itself.? Plus you’ll be in the magic.

SO?? Are YOU one of the dreamers I’m looking for?

Imagine what you can do with a whole year of Creative Dream Support.

Plus, if you join the Circle by Nov 11, you’ll get a FREE ticket to the Nov 12 Treasure Mapping Playdate.

Click here to read all about the Creative Dream Circle and join today.

I can’t wait to welcome you and your dreams into the Circle!

Calling all dreamers! Read More »

[Dreamtastic Creative Journals] When something is in the way between you and your Dream

By Andrea Schroeder / October 22, 2013 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

Inspiring videos, helpful tools + a heartfelt invitation to share your journey with us.

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals post.? I’m sharing what I’ve got going on my in Creative Dream Journal and I want to encourage you to share your photos and stories, too.

So if you?re playing along in your journal, share your photos and/or blog posts on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using the #creativedreamincubator hash tag so we can easily find YOU!

I’ve been cranky and frustrated with the construction/repair work in the Dream Loft – the noise and the mess and the workmen coming and going and how hard it’s been for me to focus on my work.

I heard myself tell myself that I’ll get back in touch with my creative spirit after this work is all done.

This is something we do, all the time!

We put off our dreams.

We think that we have to wait for things to change BEFORE we can do what we want to do.

But when you treat your dreams like they’re not important, it’s not hard to figure out why they don’t come true.? Would you want to go live with someone who thinks you don’t matter?

So that’s what this week’s Dreamtastic Creative Journals video is all about.? Figuring how to create tiny openings for your dreams and your creativity and your joy and your magic, even in the times when that feels impossible.

VIDEO:

[Dreamtastic Creative Journals] When something is in the way between you and your Dream Read More »