Navigating Emotion and Creativity

Anne Kreamer points out in It’s Always Personal: Navigating Emotion in the New Workplace the greatest things in life that bring us to happiness “are the things we chose to do.”  It is by recognizing our own power to choose  which helps navigating  how we control and choose to live our own life.

pearls before swine

As we navigate the day-to-day in life we attempt to build our emotional intelligence in order to move forward to accelerate our creative path. It important to recognize that sometimes people will not always get along and  many of us speak in different languages of communication. At the end of the day how you treat people and how you are treated affects the balance of how we feel in the workplace or at home.

It is by bottling up our emotions and not asking the right questions which can lead us to more stress in our lives and stifle creativity. The bottom line is we have the power to choose how we want to live instead of depleting our happiness quota.  The most important tool is to recognize your  own emotions and then move forward learning how to navigate the source of the conflict which may be bringing you down.

Anne Kreamer sums it up perfectly with the advice given to her from Anne Sweeney, the President of Disney/ABC TV on managing creative people “I think emotion is critical to the creation of content. I love people who unabashedly tap into their inner lives, because the people who dig deepest in their personal stories come up with the best things.” It is those things which propel us to be better and create for the joy of happiness.

Just as many bloggers share their inner lives they are at their best because they are able to tap into their emotions and dig deep coming up with thought-provoking posts. The best way for creative types to seek this happiness is to step outside of their surroundings and tap into the environment around them. It is by taking the time to go on a hike with your children, or a photo walk in a city which can lead to inspiration and new ideas leading to greater happiness.

What helps to fill your happiness quota? Is it breaking free from the routine and tapping into your creativity?

What’s Behind a Smile?

A smile is more than just an upward curve of the mouth. It is the gesture which symbolizes joy, happiness, optimism, and laughter. A stranger with a welcoming smile can brighten your day! And a friend with compassion who listens without pursed lips is the one you lean on when times are tough.

One small gesture can mean so much in so many different ways. As I was leafing through one of my Father’s old poetry books. I came across this little poem – it brought a smile to my face.

A Smile

Let Others Cheer the winning man,

There’s one I hold worth while;

‘Tis he who does the best he can,

The loses with a smile.

Beaten he is, but not to stay

Down with the rank and file;

That man will win some other day,

Who loses with a smile.

~ Unknown

It was the eternal optimism of this poem which made me smile. It seems when things get grim the last thing anybody wants to do is smile. But what if we did? Would it change our own perspective on life? I want to know what hides behind your smile? 

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 2,166 other followers