Hello, Creatives!  Finally, some warm weather with the promise of Spring in Maryland.  I hope you are getting outside and feeling inspired (remember the “Getting Inspired with Mindfulness” post? Worth a re-read).  This month,  I want to help you capitalize on the powerful impact nature and weather has on us and our creative process and how to use that important “change energy.” 


Remember, Creative, you are sensitive, and you are sensory.  You have strong emotional reactions to many things, and are very impacted by information coming in to your sensory system (sights, sounds, textures, smells, tastes).  This is especially powerful because during a time of change our senses are more heightened to absorption (think jumping in a cold pool on a hot day- those first few seconds are potent!)  All totaled, you have a powerful stream of energy to tap into during this “change energy.”  And- the best, most mindful way to capitalize on this energy, is to get into it!


I want you to physically put yourself into this energy stream and take what nature is offering you- like the plants stretching and unrolling their leaves into the warm sunlight after a long winter- absorb the energy and refill your stores. Biologically it is needed, emotionally it is healthy and creatively it is regenerative. This is so powerful! 


Here are some ideas that might help you in your efforts: 

1. GO OUTSIDE!  Have you ever tried plein air painting/drawing/sketching/sculpting/dancing/writing/photographing/playing music? Go. Try. It.  Take your stuff and go outside.
2. Meditate.  Open a window, take a walk, sit on a porch.  Sit and meditate to get yourself into a mindful state of being and absorb the sensations around you.  Let them fill you and inspire.
3. Go exercise.  Do some outdoor cardio.  Breathing is the first thing you do when you are born and the last thing you do when you die.  It is biologically basic, instinctual and very grounding.  When you are in a good, healthy cardiovascular exercise (per doctor’s orders for your health always) your brain shuts up and energy goes to your breath and the rhythm of your movement.  It is So. Grounding.  So good for you.
4. Get that fresh air.  I don’t care what your day has in store for you- get some fresh air- as much fresh air as you can.  Open windows.  Take walks.  Take breaks.  Tap into the magnificent renewal energy that is all around you during the change in seasons. 
5. Meet your organismic needs.  Drink enough water.  Eat 3 healthy meals.  Eat healthier ingredients.  Sleep for 7 hours.  Practice good hygiene.  This combined with the increased natural flow of energy will launch you forward. 
6. Meet your emotional needs.  What are you feeling?  Do you need to feel it and de-rubble, do you need to “treat” it and feel better? Be honest, be open and meet. Your. Needs. 

And finally, of course, Creativity Therapy can help!  You are worth it.  The life you will live when you do the work is worth it.  Natural periods of potent energy like this are an ideal time to start working changes in your life, and I’m here to help!


(C) 2021 Creatively, LLC

Hello Wonderful Creative Clients!
Creatively enjoyed a "soft" reopening over the Summer, but we will be returning to a virtual-services-only schedule effective today, August 22, 2020, until January, 2021, for the health and safety of our community due to the ongoing and unpredictable nature of COVID-19 at this time.  This is subject to change and any further changes will be shared on social media, my website and via the Creatively newsletter.  You can sign up for the Creatively newsletter on the homepage. Details about how to use telehealth, and the fine print details about this service, are available on the client portal for existing clients, and/or by clicking the button below. I know these are tough times, and if you are not connected to therapy, and are thinking about it, I am here to help- please reach out through the contact page.  There are also lots of great *free* resources through this blog- take advantage!! They are here for you! 
Yours in wellness and creativity,
​Cindy

It was probably a year or more ago I authored a post on coping skills, titled, “Stop Coping,” (that post can be found here) urging you to look for areas you were settling in or becoming avoidant with overused coping skills. I suggested you discard what wasn’t functional anymore in your life, in order to push yourself forward. Today, in a very different world than the stage set for that advice, we are going to reexamine coping skills, look at their function, and help you help yourself to know when they are needed (and give yourself the permission to use them!)


Coping skills are to create emotional, psychological and even physical boundaries around something in order to survive it. In other words, a coping does not fix anything, it just allows us to survive that thing. By definition, coping skills are best applied to things that we cannot fix, or at least, not right now, or definitely not all at once. They are a tool to allow us to continue on until we can mindfully accept what we cannot change, and change what we can.


The key principle, erring on the side of giving you cliche advice, is knowing the difference between these two. What can you change? If you can change it, don’t forever cope with it (see article from 1 year or so ago). If you can’t change it, do what you can to cope with it- ultimately with the goal of not emotionally resisting your experience to it (because in the resistance lies the suffering).


In a globally gridlocked situation, such as a pandemic, we are falling into category 2 in many ways. Give yourself permission please, to cope. Release yourself from high expectations, perfectionism, overly goal oriented behavior, knowing you can return to that and that your ability and skills to achieve will be there waiting for you when you need them. Allow yourself to maintain what is important (read: self care, structure, routine, support system) and do what is otherwise healthy to cope.


Unsure what coping skills mean for you? I recommend to all my clients to have a written list of these prepared for themselves at all times. They can be wide and varied from distraction techniques, to self soothing, to personal development, to (of course) creative practices and more- this is something that time in counseling can be used to build- personalized for your use.


(C) 2020 Creatively, LLC

Hello, Creative! Welcome to March. There is a lot of anxiety in the world lately surrounding the increasing spread of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19.  Following the release last night of Governor Hogan's statement of the first 3 confirmed cases in the state of Maryland, anxiety is likely to increase for many.  I understand- there are still a lot of unknowns. So this month, while on social media we are enjoying "getting to know Creatively,"  this month's blog is focused on preparedness physically and mentally, as well as Creatively's own preparedness plan for COVID-19. 


First, the facts.  Yes, COVID-19 is in Maryland, and Maryland as of March 5 has been declared in a state of emergency by Governer Hogan- but- this does NOT mean you should panic. Up to date information on what you need to know can be found here: 

Maryland Health Department Website- Coronavirus

Following the medical and hygiene recommendations and any other preperatory steps of the health department as they evolve are your best pathway to staying safe.


Second, there is a preparedness plan in place at Creatively.  In the event of any type of quarentine, shelter in place, reduced activity, etc recommendation by local authorities to reduce the spread of COVID-19, I understand that losing your counseling support is not in your best interest.  But, I will also be following the recommendations of local authorities and closing the physical offices at Creatively.  Instead, I will be available to you as scheduled for your appointments via telehealth.  If this preparedness plan goes into action, you will receive text and email alerts from me that the physical office space has been closed and all appointments have been converted into telehealth.  All you need to do is reply via text or email to confirm your appointment.  At the time your appointment is scheduled to begin, I will text you a unique link to start your appointment.  Telehealth appointments are HIPAA compliant, encrypted, and covered by the insurance policies that I accept. Please feel free to contact me  if you have questions about this plan.  You may, of course, enact this plan for yourself by contacting me and changing your appointment to telehealth per your own judgement and safety planning.


Third, we need to talk about taking care of your emotional and mental wellbeing during times of national and global stress. This is so crucial because elevations in stress can in fact decrease the capacity of your immune system to function and protect you.  It is normal and natural to feel stress during stressful times- there is nothing wrong with this response. What we don't want to do is live in high stress levels and get caught in cognitive loops that elevate them further. Instead, I encourage you to take time to be aware of and nonjudgementally notice your experience of your stress levels.  Ask yourself, as you would ask a small child, what do you need in order to return to an emotional baseline and feel soothed? Not attending to and minimizing stressful emotions will likely make them worse. A blog article walking you through an exercise to help you self care your anxiety can be found here: 

 Listening to your Instincts


Self care pairs nicely with this article on self soothing exercises for high levels of anxiety- step-by-step instructions here: 

 Safe Place and Self Soothing

Finally, please don't hesitate to reach out- that is what I am here for! The world is full of chaos and the unexpected. Ultimately trusting ourselves, our resources and our support system, we will weather the storm.


Live well, Creative! (And wash and scrub those creative hands!)


Cindy


Live Life Creatively,
Cindy Cisneros, LCPC-S, LPC
(C) 2020 Creatively, LLC

It is in your soul as a creative person to make meaning in your life. You could go along with the normative milieu, status quo, and live a low maintenance life- but I’m going to bet that this is not you. Most creative people feel a deep drive to life authentically, meaningfully and purposefully. It is when they are living in this way they are truly happy and feel they are truly living. If you know this about yourself, Creative, this naturally begs the question, how will you make your meaning? What will be your purpose? What does your soul need this to be? Like the North Star of your creative soul, you need a purpose to be your creative direction, to guide the decisions you make in your life. One way to do this is to take the time to author your own creative life purpose statement.


A creativity coach whose philosophy I greatly admire, Eric Maisel, in his book “Coaching the Artist Within,” (a read I also highly recommend), describes a process for generating a life purpose statement, which he states generally has six main elements:


“- making use of your innate talents and abilities, your heart, mind and hands

• using your whole being every day, rather than intermittently or sporadically
• Serving truth telling and other important values
• Getting genuine satisfaction out of life
• Working hard on meaningful projects
• Entering into loving relationships”

In his book, Eric Maisel goes on to recommend creating a statement that incorporates these components into a single statement that will guide the decision making processes of your life. This is not easy and will take a lot of brain power to accomplish. You will need to write down your statement and likely revisit it often over a period of time to finalize it. When I wrote mine, I looked at it again a month after I had written my original statement, only to realize, the second component of what I thought was how I wanted to pilot the purpose in my life, was what I had defaulted to but not what to me was truly meaningful. This is in fact the reason you want to do this work.


Your statement may not include all six of these components but focus more deeply on a select few. Take the time to closely check in with your emotional needs and desires for your life as you think about your life purpose. What has brought you happiness? What has drained you of energy vs built you up? Are you feeling resistance towards any aspects of your desired life purpose (e.g. I “should” or “shouldn’t” include certain things?) This is all part of your process.


When you have finished your statement, you need to take the time to memorize it. To put it in a place of full recall, that you can spout off to anyone who asks you, at any time, anywhere. You want to be able to bring it to the front of your mind on demand when making any decision, big or small. After all, this is going to serve as your guiding light, keeping your life on course, pointed in the direction of your choosing. So go ahead, Creative, as I so often joke in the Creatively offices- stitch yours on a pillow.


With love and wishing you clarity in finding your North Star,


Cindy