Creative and Intentional Living

Unlock Your Creative Potential with Time Blocking: Boost Creativity and Stay Productive

Bagel and coffee next to a notebook that reads 'Plan Ahead,' symbolizing time management and planning for creative productivity.
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Creative pursuits often lose to the seemingly more pressing demands of life. Whether it's work deadlines, household responsibilities, or social commitments, our creative aspirations tend to get pushed aside. Many people can relate to the frustration of wanting to pursue their cherished hobby or inspiring endeavour, yet always running out of time. This reminds me … Continue reading Unlock Your Creative Potential with Time Blocking: Boost Creativity and Stay Productive

5 Steps to Prioritize Creativity Over Work for a Fulfilling Life

Person painting small watercolor trees on paper circles at a wooden table, surrounded by a watercolor palette and green plant.
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In a society that often places work at the center of our identities, it’s easy to forget that there’s more to life than our jobs. Many of us feel pressured to derive all our fulfillment from our careers, but what if there’s another way? What if work could be a sidequest, and the real adventure … Continue reading 5 Steps to Prioritize Creativity Over Work for a Fulfilling Life

Why Starting a New Hobby is Hard but Worth It: Tips for Beginners

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The beginning of any project / hobby is much harder than it will be after because: You lack the skills necessary. You lack the gear necessary. But, starting a creative hobby or project is definitely worth the initial effort! Allow yourself to discover the joy of creation. Engaging in creative activities can be deeply fulfilling, … Continue reading Why Starting a New Hobby is Hard but Worth It: Tips for Beginners

Guiding Principles for a Good Life: Be a Criminal

Hands adjusting black leather gloves while gripping the steering wheel, symbolizing readiness, focus, and a touch of rebellion.
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Continuing our exploration of guiding principles for living a good life, we turn to the modern wisdom of Matthew Dicks. While Marie Kondo’s “spark joy” principle and Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia offer valuable insights, Dicks presents a practical approach focused on efficiency, creativity, and intentional rule-breaking. This principle is especially relevant for those seeking to … Continue reading Guiding Principles for a Good Life: Be a Criminal

How to Manage Multiple Hobbies Without Overwhelm: A Simple Approach

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Recently, someone I know struggled with the fact that she has too many interests. There are too many things that she would like to try and be good at. The list she summed up counted over 15 hobbies & projects. Rather than being a positive perk, this characteristic causes her stress. She already feels she … Continue reading How to Manage Multiple Hobbies Without Overwhelm: A Simple Approach

Guiding Principles for a Good Life: Aristotle’s Eudaimonia

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In the previous article, we explored Marie Kondo’s "spark joy" principle as a guiding principle for living a good life. While that approach emphasized simplicity and joy in our choices, Aristotle offers a different but equally profound perspective with his concept of eudaimonia. Eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "well-being," goes beyond momentary happiness to … Continue reading Guiding Principles for a Good Life: Aristotle’s Eudaimonia

Embracing Failures as Datapoints for Growth

Self-Compassion and Creativity
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Understanding failures as valuable datapoints for future success can significantly enhance your journey in creative hobbies and personal growth. Instead of viewing setbacks as reasons to quit, we can learn from them and continue to grow. This perspective shift is essential for cultivating creativity and resilience. Turning Frustration into Creative Growth Years ago, I took … Continue reading Embracing Failures as Datapoints for Growth

How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Boost Creativity with Daily Affirmations

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Today is day 34 in my streak of posting to this blog. There is nothing special about the number 34, but still I felt a moment of appreciation for keeping up with this habit for such a long period of time. Every single day since July 3rd I took the time to create a small … Continue reading How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Boost Creativity with Daily Affirmations

Unlock Your Creativity with Morning Pages

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Feeling creatively blocked? The Morning Pages exercise from Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way might be the solution. This simple yet powerful practice involves writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts every morning. Here’s how it works and why it’s beneficial: What Are Morning Pages? Morning Pages are three handwritten pages of whatever crosses your mind first … Continue reading Unlock Your Creativity with Morning Pages