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The Master Facilitator Journal | Issue #0053| May 14, 2002
7,700 Subscribers

Self-Mastery
Skill

Facilitating Creative Genius
 Learn to facilitate this genius by encouraging your clients to "Just Make Stuff Up, when they're stuck.

The Point

Creativity doesn't have to be rocket science. We all have  fountains of creative energy flowing within us. Our problem is that the world teaches us, in the interest of our own security, to use our heads far too much. In the process, we shift from the habit of spontaneous imaginary expression to intense self-censorship in service to our security conscious ego-minds. We become so concerned with the image we project that we lose touch with our inner "wizard behind the curtain."

Just recently, I've learned that when I feel stuck,  confused, and frustrated, and my intellect can't seem to find its way out of the cage, that it's the same mind that created the prison in the first place. Fortunately, with the help of my coach, Jean-Pierre, I've found a very simple way out of late. I've taken up the mantra, during times such as these, to simply "Just Make Stuff Up."

Now our culture typically doesn't give a lot of credence to stuff that's just made up. Particularly if it's yours and you're a nobody (a non-expert with questionable credentials). But I think you'll find that in most cases, the experts became experts by studying other experts. And if you follow the line of experts to the very heart of their lineage, you'll most likely find that the originator of their expertise actually "just made stuff up" that hadn't been seen before and that happened to work, at least for the time being.

So the next time you or your group is stuck in a problem-solving or creative venture, please, encourage them to try "just making stuff up," and see what comes forward. There's something about this approach that frees us of our need to be right and invites our inner creative children out to play. Try it. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Examples

I've been personally challenged with just about all of my major projects for the past few weeks. I've felt a change of course was not only needed, but the path I was taking with these projects seemed to be reaching an impasse. Now I'm a pretty creative guy, but I felt really stumped, to the point of giving up on some of them. But being open-minded and self-reflective, I realized that the frustration and confusion I was feeling was energy that I could use to evolve these projects to the next level. This process could be effortless if I simply surrendered to the timing of  the project in lieu of my ego-mind.

I discovered that I can view these projects as living beings with intelligence and a natural impulse to unfold in a way they are "intended." Like seeds that know fully what they are to become if nurtured properly and patiently. 

So I began to actually listen to what each project had to tell me. I also started "just making stuff up" around each project. I found that the openness and freedom brought by the attitude of "just making stuff up" combined with the act of doing something, got me moving again into creative new arenas, with a sense of childlike lightness, fun, and adventure.

One of my partners, Anna Dargitz decided to consult the wisdom of her seven year old daughter on this subject. When asked what she thought about the nature of "making stuff up," she replied with something like this. "Well, I make stuff up when I want something real." It took Anna and I awhile to decipher this sage advice. But then it hit us that we make up everything, including what we call real, and that admitting that we make it up, is the closest thing to real we can get....she's now our new guru.

Well I hope you enjoyed this issue and find it useful. And I think it's important for you to know, that I just made it up!

Action

This week, try just making stuff up or if you find your group, friends, clients, or colleagues stuck or confused, give them permission to try just making stuff up to see what happens. I'd love to hear you're perspectives and experiences on this. Please email them to me.

cartoon image of a talking man.

Reader Survey 

What approaches do you use to stimulate your own creativity and that of your groups? And what kind of environment do you need to feel free to make things up? Things such as silence, playing off others, being alone, etc.

This week, we're asking for you to share with us the various exercises, processes, or approaches you use to help either yourself or your groups tap their creative genius.  Please send us your input and we'll send the entire collection to everyone who contributes.

If you know someone who might benefit and enjoy this newsletter, please send this link to a friend.

picture of Steve Davis, editor of the Master Facilitator Journal.

About the Author: 
Steve Davis is a Business and Life Coach facilitating others to reach  their full potential in their business and personal lives. Please email your stories, comments, suggestions, and ideas. Or call me at 800-216-3854. I'd love to hear from you. If you find this newsletter helpful, please forward it to your friends. Thanks for reading! 

 

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Monday
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Thank you for reading this issue of the Master Facilitator Journal.  Look for your next issue on May 21, 2002.   

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