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Embrace Winter’s Energy: Small Steps for Big Creative Growth
Dear Creative Friend, I hope this message finds you well as we step into the New Year. This season can be full of excitement and possibility—new ideas, plans, and dreams. But let’s be honest—it can also feel a bit overwhelming. If you’ve already set big, ambitious goals for the year, that’s wonderful! If bold resolutions have worked for you in the past, I encourage you to keep doing what fuels your creativity and growth. But... if you’ve ever felt frustrated by those lofty goals—especially at the start of winter—you’re not alone. I’ve been there, staring at the possibility of a big project, wondering why I couldn’t muster the energy to leap into action. Well… what if winter isn’t about leaping but instead about small, meaningful steps? Our ancestors knew this. Winter is the time for reflection, rest, and preparation for what’s to come. Yet today’s busy world pushes us to keep going at full speed, even when the days are shorter, darker, and colder. What if we listened to the season instead? What if we slowed down… like winter? The Power of Micro-Goals I’ve discovered that winter is the perfect time for small steps—micro-goals that feel achievable, even on the hardest days. These small wins build momentum and confidence, which naturally lead to bigger successes in spring and summer. For example:
Five minutes is a success! If you do more, fantastic. If not, you’ve still succeeded in your five minutes a day. Consistency is Key
Five minutes a day will build more momentum than waiting for the “perfect” time to jump in or expecting yourself to finish it all in one sitting. Winter as a Creative Season Think about it: In winter, nature slows down.
This isn’t a time to exhaust yourself with “go big or go home.” It’s a time to nurture your creative energy so it’s ready to bloom in spring. When we resist this natural rhythm, we feel it. The common winter flu, burnout, or exhaustion often isn’t just physical—it’s our body and spirit crying out for rest. But when we honor winter’s energy, we create space to reflect, restore, and gently grow. This season isn’t about producing your masterpiece—it’s about preparing yourself for the consistent creativity of the seasons ahead. A Creative Challenge for You This week, I invite you to try something different:
If you’re still hesitant, remember this: Winter is temporary. The small steps you take now will set you up for the longer days and vibrant energy of spring. Let’s embrace this season of rest and reflection as a powerful foundation for our creativity. While winter may feel slow, it’s quietly preparing us for the brighter days ahead. Warmly, Nicole P.S. I’d love to hear about your micro-goals or how you’re honoring winter’s energy this year. Hit reply and share your thoughts—I’m always here to cheer you on! Full Newsletter Here...
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A special someone's Birthday!
He's a wonderful man He's someone I want as a best friend I feel we are estranged I understand him I love him I miss him Have you ever wanted to be close to someone that you can't be? "If you love somebody If you love someone If you love somebody If you love someone, set them free Set them free Set them free Set them free" - Sting So I honor you this day and every day, I hope you feel loved in every way To burden you with this, I do not dare, However, I do hope you somehow know, just how much I care! "Free free...set them free..." It's been playing in my head all day...
"Here's a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry... be happy! In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don't worry...be happy" This song by Bobby McFerrin was in my mind today as I taught "The Worry Box". We had a great little group and I meant to play the song at the end of the session, but the class went to 1.5 hours and it was time to let them on their way. What the Worry Box has shown me... No matter how bad things seem to be... they are far far worse when we let them spin and spin and spin in our head. What we learned today is that we need to write it down and figure out if it's actually ours, OR, just OR it might just be something we can't do anything about! If it's something we can't do anything about we write it down and put it in the worry box. If it is something we can do something about then it's important to write it down and then figure out what the action steps are towards resolving it. We need to get out of it spinning us out of control and into a place where we understand what it is what it wants and what we can do about it. If we can't do anything about it... does it really make sense to worry about it? NO! And if we can do something about it, is it better to focus on the solution rather than the problem? I'd say yes... What about you? Do you Worry? Do you like the feeling of Worry? What can you do instead? Focus on the solution! We had a great group today and I'm looking forward to hearing about how they put it into place, put those worries in their place, which is out of their head and into the worry box. Get out of my head... get into the worry box! Show me the solution... let me make a plan! "Don't worry, be happy" But... what if a tragedy has happened To me? To someone else? I really shouldn't be happy if bad things have happened... Really? It's beginning to look a lot like... winter!Hello! It's been quite some time since I've blogged... and I'm going to make a new commitment to it.
I plan to now blog at minimum once a week and I also plan to make it F U N!!! Fun is key. If I look at it as FUN to do...then it's easy. If it feels like W O R K... then it's easy to let it go for 'more important work'. So we are on the Fun Blogging Boat Now... and I can't wait for the adventures that await! This renewed interest in blogging has come about by the new program that I'm offering called Art Therapeutics! It's a 12 Week Live/Online course that is going to be incredible! We already have 19 people signed up, and there are two different times it will be offered starting on Tuesday January 4th, 2022! 2022!!! What! Where did these last TWO years go? Wow, talk about embracing life as happens! I wanted to share a little tip today! I think winter brings a lot of emotions with it. In years long long ago, we would hunker in for the winter, but with modern technologies we are expected to run just as much in winter as we do in summer… this just isn’t the way we were meant to be. I often hear about people feeling bad or guilty that they can’t seem to get as much done, that they feel more tired and more prone to colds and flu’s… this is because we are meant to use this time to rest and reset. What can you do? Get more sleep! Turn off the gadgets early, draw, write, read a book or talk with someone you enjoy in the evenings instead of movies, tv, social media etc… The blue light from the screens make your system think it’s daytime. Have you ever noticed that you sit down to watch tv, you are tired and think you will just drift off to sleep but then HOURS later… you feel wide awake and still watching? That’s the blue light confusing your eyes and your mind. Lately I take the time in the evening to pull out my journal, make to-do lists, write down a few highlights of the day and let myself dream about the things I want to do and doodle! So give it a try. Tonight as you are getting ready to settle down for the evening, take out a book, journal, art project or even a great book on tape to guide you into your evening instead of tv’s, gadgets with screens or anything that would emit blue light. If you give this a try, let me know how it goes! Oh, and please check out my page for Art Therapeutics Live Online Course! I’m eager to have a big lovely online group. There will be a Facebook Community group as well as pairings for accountability partners. More on this page… https://www.ravenartcenter.com/art-therapeutics-949493.html Art-FULLY Yours Nicole (Raven) Creativity has always been helpful for me when feeling down. Though sometimes it's the last thing we feel like doing when having the blahhhsss the bluzzzzz or the grrrrrr's.... getting creative will help you release those feelings by getting in tune with them and then having an outlet for it.
Many people feel that they are too busy to incorporate creativity, but if you are a creative soul (you know who you are) then I believe it's as important as whatever your job is, if not more! Give it a try - the next time you are feeling some feelings that may not be so comfortable to feel... get out a pen, pencil, marker, yarn, paint, etc... and start to doodle in whatever medium you are using. You may find that in no time, you turn-on the creative juices and begin to pooooooour that energy out by creating through it. It doesn't matter what it looks like, the point is NOT to create something 'good', the point is to get it out. I like to think of it like a walk, it's an experience and it releases energy, gains clarity and brings more of an overall sense of joy. Oh and if you are really feeling the GRRRRRRRRRR.. then perhaps a walk first can help too! Let me know how it goes for you! Lots of Love & Creativity, Nicole (Raven) White Here are a few art supply recommendations for children.
Make sure to invest in some good quality brushes, even for children. I recommend the Round Tip brushes. Quality brushes will help children (and adults) have better control of the paint, therefore leading to a more rewarding painting/art session and experience. All of these will link to Amazon.com – I find this helpful to place what I need or want into the cart, then I can see exactly how much everything will cost and can decide from there which products to get. Hope this is helpful! |
AuthorNicole White is an art and life coach/facilitator. She has taught a variety of art classes since 1997 through retirement homes, continuing educations center, private facilities and Raven Art Center. Archives
January 2025
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