THANKS Molly
setting priorities is about creating
and CREATING is about setting priorities

seems like CREATING requires us to be aware of time and the temporary nature of our lives - it's a reminder of our mortality - so many options, so little time

saying YES to something means saying NO to something else and when we bring consciousness to that, we really CAN have the deep fulfillment of CHOOSING what we focus on, rather than scattering or squandering our creative energies

thanks for the helpful post

Molly - What comes to mind when I read your post is "Spontaneity happens when I'm in movement". Setting priorities gets me to take action which triggers my creativity. I've learned to always keep a notebook or a spare window on my screen open to jot down ideas that come to me when doing something else.

We were born with the creative and the logical in the same brain. Let's make them produce, together! :)

Great post!

success
-davender:)

I love this post Molly.

I spent years saying I didn't want to set a schedule because I didn't want to stifle my creativity. What I really meant was that I didn't want to be disciplined. And, of course, I didn't get much done.

For me, setting priorities is like creating space for good stuff to happen. When I give my creativity a container it can really do its thing. Otherwise I feel like I'm waiting for a special guest to arrive without given them space to show up.

I love your smart suggestion about pulling pieces of paper to set some priorities. That's perfect. And I'm going to do that the next time I find myself spinning in circles about what to do next.

And Free Play? One of my very favorite books.

Thanks again for the fabulous post!

Hey- love the jar idea.
But...I'm struggling with this whole dictate/don't dictate to the Gods idea.
What does humility do here?

I love this post, Molly!

I'm a huge fan of mind-mapping, and can't wait for Julie Stuart's teleclass on Thursday.

I'm going to get a bowl and start writing down ideas. Except rather than trying to order them, every time I'm not sure what I should tackle next, I'll just draw something from the jar. If I don't feel moved about that particular idea at the moment, I'll just throw it back for another time.

Molly- I really like what you say about not knowing the future- 'setting priorities is an adventure into the unknown' that's great!

I think so many of us have a fear of 'wasting time' - what if we go speeding off in the wrong direction?

But how can we know, until we try?

looking forward to more on this...

Thank you for such a great article. I have looked at a variety of models for setting priorities and this is the most casual but powerful strategy I've seen. It offers an easy approach to getting started that gives both the big picture of what you want to do, as well as a way to focus on what to do first. Thanks again for such insightful suggestions.

Julie: Yes, saying no, when we do it consciously, adds up to a powerful YES.

Davender: Love your point that creativity and logic live in the same brain. :)

Fabeku: Your work is brimming with creativity and spontaneity, so it means a lot to learn of your experience with setting priorities.

Barbara: Thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope this strategy bears fruit for you.
Bridget: Thank you for asking about humility. To me, humility is being right-sized, neither too big nor too small for one's britches. To imagine that our priorities challenge the gods is not, to my mind, humble. But to set priorities and go for them, recognizing that we are not in charge of everything, is both humble and effective.

Mary: Enjoy your mindmapping class! It's such a wonderful tool.

Bonnie: You are so right. How can we know until we try?

I've really been noticing lately how the universe gives you tidbits of just what you need when you realize you need it. You telling me to check this article out is a good example! After a period of dealing with family problems I found my self completely uninterested in even thinking about my art business. I felt exhausted, all I did was lay around, something I had schooled my self not to do with my free time. Part of me thought if I could take months off from doing anything with no consequences, why should I worry about getting back to it, clearly it wasn't critical. Fortunately getting some pieces in a new gallery, and showing again at a gallery I really liked woke me up and suddenly I was interested in my art again. However this excitement quickly turned to anxiety as all the ideas, leads, and potential projects that had collected in my fallow brain now all clamored for attention at once. I instantly felt overwhelmed, to much at once!
I remembered our conversation about it not mattering if you make the right decision, you just need to make ANY decision. So I was planning to do basically what you talk about in this article, and jot down all the ideas, then pick which to try first and set some sort of goals. So its really amazing to me that your article is here to reinforce that decision, I just need to get over my cold and get to it!
Thanks!

Hi Sabrina,

First, please accept my sympathy for the problems you've been dealing with. While family problems can throw anyone off kilter, I think there is an additional challenge or two when you are self-employed.

I'm so glad that the post arrived at the right time!

Molly

Hi Molly,

I'm responding to your piece called "The Feel Good Trap." Very on target. The only thng I would add is that as we are walking on those stones to our next destination--not only do our feelings stop us (because I don't feel good anymore) but they actually push us off our step stones into the deep waters of despair, hopelessness, and fear. We get soaked, panicky, and as we swallow water and fight for the surface...the last thing we want to do is keep walking on those stones. We want green grass (TV, food, read a book, call a friend) and may not notice we are not back on the stones with the scary waters of fear and insignificance lurking nearby.

All the best, authentic you.

Bob

P.S. Did you hear that I'm writing a book on Tiger Woods? Not the gossip stuff, but letters to him about relationships, lust, affairs, guilt,
fear etc. You can check out my first letter called "Oh, Tiger" on my website and let me know what you think.

P.P.S. I love the tone of everything you write.

Hi Molly,

I was just fixing my url on your post machine...details that easily knoock me in the water.

Bob Beverley
www.findwisdomnow.com

Bob - thanks for leaving your comment here. Maggie and I are still getting the bugs out of our system for getting blog links into the ezine.

I love your comment!