Welcome to the Question of the Week #10: What do you find truly life-giving? Answering this question just may cause you to seriously rearrange your life, schedule and priorities. If I were to peek at your “life-giving list,” there’s a good chance a lack of sleep, lack of exercise, reams of conflict and a hurried, hectic schedule would not be on your list. At least I hope not. The things you find truly life-giving are essential for cultivating a deeper, richer life. Read on…
Happy Valentine’s Day! To get you in that lovin’ mood, I hope you’ll love a free PDF of the introduction of my marriage humor book, I Love You Unconditionally…On One Condition! Can love be funny? You bet! But more importantly, creating the right conditions in your marriage is essential for a long and satisfying marriage. Read on…
When was the last time you asked yourself, “What is my next big challenge?” Yes, I mean a BIG challenge. Something that will push you. Test you. Something arduous and demanding that will shove you way out of your comfort zone.
Your next big challenge will require you to go much farther than you think you can go. Like all daunting tests, it will demand all of you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
I certainly know what my next big challenge is. It is big and daunting. Looming over me like a ten foot wave. This coming Sunday, I’m participating in the Orangeman Triathlon here in Southern California. The race is a 1.2 mile ocean swim, a 56 mile bike ride all the way up Ortega Hwy. and a half-marathon to finish it up. If you think I’m crazy entering a 70.3 mile race, you’re absolutely right. Read on…
I recently met with an artist facing a creative challenge. She wanted to take creative risks with her painting and she shared a familiar story. It’s a story I hear from many artists who want to take their creative work to a next level, but wrestle with confusion about how to make that leap.
As we talked spoke, three themes began to emerge. They’re what I call “The 3 Buckets of Creative Cultivation.” Each bucket is a part of the creative process. Understanding how these buckets relate to one another makes all the difference from staying stuck to breaking through to new levels of creativity and productivity. Read on…
Perfectionism is the ultimate creativity killer. Its roots, to name a few, are fear, insecurity, control, and shame that walks a thread-bare tightrope between the chasms of avoiding pain and fear of rejection. Perfectionism stalls projects. It divides people and creative teams. It increases tentativeness, uncertainty, and doubt. I said it’s a creativity killer, didn’t I?
Perfectionism stands in stark contrast to artistic excellence, integrity and wholeness. Not only has it stifled kid’s creativity, creative freedom in many careers and the joy that comes with creating, it also creates heartache in many companies, friendships, marriages, and raising children. At it’s worst, perfectionism is not only the ultimate creativity killer. It is also the ultimate relationship killer. Read on…
Ever since I was young boy, I’ve had many, many coaches and mentors. Little league coaches. Volleyball coaches. My dad as a coach and mentor. Teachers, counselors and professors. Writing coaches. Ministry mentors. Coaches and mentors who’ve become personal friends. And personal friends who’ve coached and mentored me in many aspects of my life. If there is one word that summarizes the role of these important people in my life, it is this: Cultivate.
Last Saturday, I went to my niece’s wedding. It was an event our family has eagerly been waiting for all summer long. Kelly Dale, the bride, was gorgeous and Nick Giuni, the groom (a San Clemente City Lifeguard) looked smashing! The next Monday, though, I attended a funeral. A wedding and a funeral in three days…that’s a whole lot of emotion! Each gathering was filled with beautiful moments, but for different reasons. Allow me to explain…
Before my favorite aunt Geegee ever got involved in someone else’s problem, she’d try to ask herself two simple questions, “Is this my pig? And is this my pig farm?” And if she found someone trying to pass on a big ol’ porker of a problem that they should be carrying themselves, Geegee would quip, “It ain’t my pig and it ain’t my pig farm!”
Aunt Geegee’s homespun wisdom is brilliant. (And she never even lived on a farm!) When it comes to other people’s problems, are you stuck knee-deep in pig slurry? Do you have no peace because you’re carrying someone else’s pig? Are you worried, anxious or fearful for what the other person might think of you when you don’t lovingly receive their even-toed ungulate? Do you find yourself wasting hours of your precious time standing next to someone’s trough feeding THEIR PIG? Do your spouse, children or friends ever comment how much time you spend over yonder on other people’s pig farm? Over the years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes carrying other people’s pigs that they best be carrying for themselves. I’ve been drawn into battles, fights and taken sides in conflicts I had no business getting involved in. Just like those little piggly-wiggly’s, problems can smell real bad. Here’s a few signs that someone else is trying to get you to carry a pig they should be carrying on their own…
Here are the Top 10 Posts from my Art, Life & Faith blog for March 2012. In writing about the arts, creativity, spiritual growth, writing and relationships, my goal is provide you with relevant, practical and inspirational content. In case you’re wondering where I found this cool infographic, visit Wordle! See what people enjoyed reading here on Art, Life & Faith…
I don’t know about you, but as a dad, there are days when I feel absolutely overwhelmed by all the decisions I have to make. Do you ever feel like you’ve been nailed by a two-hundred pound spitball trying to juggle your roles as a dad, a husband, and a work-guy? I mean, you’re the man. Your wife and your kids are looking to you for leadership, direction, wisdom, and a compass for how to navigate this life. Your decisions, good and bad, have everything to do with who you are and who they become. So what does all this have to do with your #1 Dad Decision? Absolutely everything. Read on…
