{"id":321,"date":"2013-04-20T18:59:13","date_gmt":"2013-04-20T18:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=321"},"modified":"2013-04-20T19:35:27","modified_gmt":"2013-04-20T19:35:27","slug":"5-steps-to-the-new-chapter-awaiting-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2013\/04\/20\/5-steps-to-the-new-chapter-awaiting-you\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to the New Chapter Awaiting You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"This<\/a><\/p>\n

Every <\/span><\/strong><\/em>creative journey begins with a problem\u2026Before we can find the answer\u2014before we probably even know the question\u2014we must be immersed in disappointment, convinced that a solution is beyond our reach\u2026Before Bob Dylan could reinvent himself, writing the best music of his career, he needed to believe that he had nothing left to say.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/i><\/b> Jonah Lehrer in <\/span>Imagination: How Creativity Works<\/i><\/p>\n

Are you in a rut? Sidelined in pursuit of a goal? Facing a thorny problem? In difficult circumstances you can\u2019t see your way out of?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Here are five steps to finding your way forward.<\/p>\n

1. Be playful.<\/b> Super Creatives report that when you hit a wall, you need to forget worry, stop straining and let yourself go. Take a long walk, see a comedic movie, pick up your hobby, or take that vacation you\u2019ve been promising yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

Playfulness sets your brain free to connect with a creative solution you can\u2019t discover when you brain is under strain.<\/p>\n

2. Connect with your deepest \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/b> Your most pressing need may be financial, relational or career-related. Take time to get in touch with what is beneath the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ponder: what is really at stake? Is your growth as person stalled? Do you sense a calling you want to fulfill? Whose lives will be impacted?<\/p>\n

What is the most critical, foundational, important-to-yourself-and-other-people reason you need a solution?<\/p>\n

Write it down. This builds courage and persistence.<\/p>\n

3. Pray.<\/b> Not to check off a technique you read was a good thing to do. Present your request to God as a humble seeker who believes God sees her and will come to her aid. Humility breeds faith. And faith \u201cmoves mountains.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Listen. <\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Quiet your thoughts to be in receiver mode. Carry a pen and journal or 3 x 5 card with you everywhere and be ready to write down the noteworthy thoughts that float up. They may come while driving, in a staff meeting or in those early morning moments in bed before you are fully awake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t dismiss an idea because you don\u2019t instantly see how you can implement it. Mull it over. Additional ideas may reveal your path.<\/p>\n

5. Keep moving.<\/b> Don\u2019t give up or recede into depression or resignation. Keep playing, praying, and listening. When you discover a new door, try it gently. If it opens, walk on. If it doesn\u2019t open to you, continue searching. <\/span><\/p>\n

Remember: Before Bob Dylan could reinvent himself, writing the best music of his career, he needed to believe that he had nothing left to say.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Know that right now you are where you need to be. Press on–the new thing is just around the corner. <\/span><\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

photo credit: cogdogblog<\/a> (creative commons)<\/p>\n

\u00a0– – – – –<\/p>\n

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments and feedback My email is gloria@gloriarose.com.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s connect:<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

LinkedIn<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

My book on Amazon is: Re-Ignite Your God-given Dream.<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every creative journey begins with a problem\u2026Before we can find the answer\u2014before we probably even know the question\u2014we must be immersed in disappointment, convinced that a solution is beyond our reach\u2026Before Bob Dylan could reinvent himself, writing the best music of his career, he needed to believe that he had nothing left to say. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":493,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,14],"tags":[191,188,42,189,48,190,192],"class_list":["post-321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conflict-obstacles","category-creativity","tag-bob-dylan","tag-creative-journey","tag-imagination","tag-jonah-lehrer","tag-new","tag-new-chapter","tag-reinvent-yourself"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Steps to the New Chapter Awaiting You - On Fire: Finding Your Gift And Using It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2013\/04\/20\/5-steps-to-the-new-chapter-awaiting-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Steps to the New Chapter Awaiting You - 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