Creativity Versus Negativity: The Destructive Weeds That Choke Your Beautiful Creative Blooms

Do you enjoy gardening?

I’m no expert myself, but I know the basic principles of taking care
of your garden to ensure it thrives and blossoms as fully as nature
intended.

Just to survive, each plant needs water, sunlight, warmth and
nutrients. But what about beyond this? What are the main causes of
ending up with a sad and tired looking garden that struggles to even
push up the smallest blooms?

In a word: weeds!

More than any other cause, it’s aggressive and dominant weeds that
can strangle and suck the life out of your prized plants.

So, as this article is about helping you be more creative and not
about gardening, how does this relate to your creative life?

The plants you want to grow are your creative projects. For each of
these you plant seeds and nurture them, giving them the regular
attention they need to grow into being glorious, strong and healthy.

That part is obvious and there’s plenty of positive things you can do
to nurture your projects.

But it’s those evil weeds you’ve got to watch out for.

Not only do they try to strangle everything that’s growing in your
garden, but they do it often without you knowing. Before long, a few
tiny weeds here and there have developed into a marauding arming
marching through your once beautiful garden and destroying
everything in their path.

So what do these weeds look like and what form do they take?

Here are a few of the most common varieties:

Constantium Criticismus
This nasty breed tramples your creative garden down by constant
relentless criticism. Who do you know that is always critical of you
and your creative work, always finds fault in something you’ve
created? “Yes it’s nice, if only you hadn’t added THAT part, it’s such
a shame…”

Subtleus Disregardum
By disregarding and discrediting your creative projects - but in a
very indirect or subtle way - over time this variety wreaks havoc on
the fullness of your blooms. Can you think of people who’ve made
comments like: “How are getting on with that little hobby of yours
these days?”

Superious Know-it-all-us
Ah yes, the weed that, disappointed by its own inadequacies and
unattractive qualities, seeks to try to show your plants how they
SHOULD be growing. “Of course if you REALLY wanted to do
something impressive, you should’ve done it this way…”

Selfishus Obsessivari (also called “MeMeMeMeMe”)
Drains the energy out of any other living thing nearby. “It’s alright for
you with your creative stuff but here I am stuck with my bad back,
and my bowels have been playing up again and I’m still getting those
headaches. You don’t realise how I suffer…”

Comparium Ifonlyius
Rather than directly harming your creative blooms, this breed
undermines by comparing your garden to others. Are you familiar
with phrases like: “You know I support what you’re doing but I
sometimes wish you’d take a leaf out of your sister’s book and get a
nice regular job…”

Which of these types of destructive weed cause most damage to your
creative garden?

The main point is to be vigilant and recognise them before too much
harm is done. Be aware of the negative effect that the comments
and attitudes of others have on your own frame of mind and how
you create.

Weed your garden regularly and you’ll find you have the most
gorgeous and colourful blooms!

“Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin is the author of “Create Create!”, a
FREE twice monthly ezine for people who want simple and powerful
articles, tips and exercises to help them unleash their creative
talents. Sign up right now and get your FREE “Explode Your
Creativity!” Action Workbook, at http://www.CoachCreative.com