Everyday Encouragement

Creativity nourishes the soul. It’s the doorway to a full life.

Without it, life is drab, colourless, unfulfilling.

We find deep joy and solace by accessing other people’s creativity: listening to movies, reading books, encountering great design, enjoying cartoons, looking at paintings or photos.

It’s even more nourishing to access and develop our own creativity

We can all do it.

Pick up a pen and write.

Draw something.

Dance.

Sing.

Learn to play an instrument.

It’s not that easy though, is it?

What if you mess up?

What if your work feels amateur?

What if there’s ‘more important’ things to do (even if they don’t bring joy to your life)?

What if everyone laughs at you?

In these 30 short pieces, I want to encourage you to embrace your creativity - whatever excuses your mind comes up with to discourage you!

‘En-Courage’: to ‘make brave’.

That’s what I want for you.

I want you to create without fear.

I want you to create without hesitation.

I want you to make your creativity as central to your life as eating, drinking and sleeping.

Why?

Because when we create we nourish the soul. When the soul is nourished, we make a full, unique contribution to creating a life that’s better for ourselves, our families, communities and the world.

That matters.

Whatever stage of life you’re at, whatever art form you want to explore, however you earn your living, ‘Everyday Encouragement’ is a book you’ll want to dip into again and again - every time you need to stop procrastinating and get on with creating.

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I've spent over thirty years as an artist. Mainly I performed, directed and taught. Now I mainly paint and write. I also compose music, grow trees, and train people and organisations in creative processes.