Friday, March 25, 2016
Spring Week 2 - Daily Decisions that Inspire Creativity
Thank-you all for your comments and discussion questions and principles today. I enjoyed learning from you and thinking about what sort of things entice me to procrastinate and what kind of love keeps me from doing so. I appreciate each of you so much. I hope you are all excited for our final semester!
Here are this week's inspirements. You already wrote #1 in class so just post it below ASAP so we can encourage one another in our goals. Don't procrastinate the rest of the items though... #5 especially should take some thought. And have a happy Easter!
1. Post: Your goal for the week from Friday's discussion
2. Read: Creativity Inc. Intro - end of Chapter 1. I also copied and encourage you to read chapter 2, but I will leave it up to you. I found it fascinating. (And buy the book now if you haven't yet so you will have it for next week. This is the last time I will be linking the PDF on Google Drive)
3. Watch: Should You Live for Your Resume or Your Eulogy?
4. Write: in the comments below, a scripture and principle and discussion question from your reading or watching that relates to making daily decisions that inspire creativity
5. Prayerfully Decide: on a creative project for the semester, (you can use the decision making principles you have written so far to help you decide!) be prepared to share it with the class. (Don't worry, you can change your mind about it later if you find it doesn't work out).
6. Buy or find: notebook to keep track of decision making principles
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Here are everyone's presentations from Monday. I enjoyed listening to all of you and the variety of things you each learned! Thank-you for preparing for this and being willing to share with others... my phone kept running out of memory so if your presentation gets cut off, it is because my phone ran out of memory and I had to erase some things before I could film again. Plus, you probably noticed I was struggling with my little ones that day so the filming sometimes goes a little crazy.
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ReplyDeleteGOAL: Do at least one thing a day that I’ve been procrastinating-schedule it out.
ReplyDeleteFriday (yesterday): Write to Uncle Brock, sign up for audition class
Saturday: Call DMV, hem chimney sweep pants
Sunday: Write out questions for General Conference, upload photos to Family Search
Monday: Write in journal
Tuesday: Make thank-you note for YW leader
Wednesday: Practice tap
Thursday: De-junk school assignments
Friday: Prep for tech day
Goal: Get everything done at least 2 days before it's due - excepting Laddie because it's such a big book! ;D
ReplyDeleteGoal: Make a weekly to-do list and make it more time-specific.
ReplyDeleteScripture: D&C 21:1-2 (revelation to Joseph Smith): Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith.
ReplyDeletePrinciple: This scripture has a couple of aspects to creativity I think, although it's kind of random. First of all, about the record kept: I think recording, whether on paper or audio, whether with words or images, whether about our real lives or made-up stories from our minds, will give us a lot more connection to inspiration. Even if you just write one page a day on anything, or draw a picture every day, a lot more is gonna come into your mind. Which leads to the second aspect: the Holy Ghost. We should strive to be inspired by the Spirit rather than influenced by other sources for inspiration/creativity. The Holy Ghost will always put good, creative ideas into our minds that will build others up, whereas other sources may give us ideas that will tear other people down and tear ourselves down.
My question is: what do you do to keep up creativity when you're stopped by writer's block (or some other creative roadblock)?
And also, my second question is: what are some ways to help us discern good from bad influence when creating?
DeleteIf you have writers block, to have more creativity, I think it's just important to pray. “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
DeleteWith the second question, "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." (1 Kings 19:11-12)
The Lord will normally speak to us by still ways, so I think it's important to be still and just listen sometimes, and that's how you'll get answers from the Spirit...very quietly.
(Answering 2nd question)
Delete"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually." Moroni 7:12
When you feel inspired to create something good, or to use your gifts and talents to help or better others or yourself, that prompting is from God. But if you are prompted through desires or peer pressure or whatever to create something that would not uplift, but would tear down, that is from Satan.
Didn't we watch a Ted Talk or something on that? I think the guy said one of the ways is to use the creative cards. I think that would be a fun way to try something new.
DeleteMake goals that I can do this week and do them.
ReplyDeleteMy goal is to study the scriptures first thing in the morning.
ReplyDeleteScripture: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."
ReplyDeletePrinciple: The Lord created light, and it is good! We are His children, and He expects us to create light, to share the light! Since we are God's children, we have been blessed with individual creativity, and He wants us to share that individuality with the world to make the world a better place!
Question: How do we consecrate regular, ordinary, everyday things to God?
Personally, if I think about it in the right way then I can consecrate it to God. Like: "I'm doing these dishes to help my family because I love them and God sent me here to help them and so that we could strengthen each other".
DeleteOr: "I'm doing my school work because I know that's what my mom wants me to do and I want to honor her. Plus, I'm trying my best to become like my Heavenly Father and learning helps me do that."
Does that make sense?
I think that if we're trusting in him, then we can be more in tune with him. Just like what Donald L. Hallstorm said," You can have what you want, or you can have something better." I think this shows that just trusting in him can make things a bunch better. He'll help us know what's the right thing and the wrong thing. And he'll help us know when and where as well.
Delete"...ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."--2 Nephi 32:9
DeleteI think that when we're trying the best we can and pray to Heavenly Father about it, He will consecrate our good deeds. The only thing is that if you're not doing right, or if you're doing right for the wrong reason, Heavenly Father can't consecrate that.
That made a lot more sense in my head. :)
Goal: To balance my homework out through the week. (Plan my days and what I'll do in advance.)
ReplyDeleteScripture: 36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
Principle: Heavenly Father is definitely the ultimate creator. As it says, he created the world and us. He did it out of love, and that's the main principle I think is here is that he loved us so much that he created this beautiful world that we, as him beloved children could live and learn on.
Question: Is there a way for us to show Heavenly Father how much we love him and appropriate all that he has created for us.
I don't think there's a way to fully repay God for all that He's done for us, but I think we can definitely make Him happy and show our gratitude by keeping His commandments, serving His children and striving to keep His spirit with us. :)
Delete"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
Delete"We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all." -Thomas S. Monson
Keeping the commandments and loving others around us! :) Of course, we can't completely repay Him (like Cassia said), but we can show our love in those ways, and the Lord knows you're trying! :)
"Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them." -Jeffrey R. Holland
Keep the commandments follow him and try to become perfect.
DeleteI agree with Miles. "If ye love me keep my commandments."
DeleteGoal: Time my breaks so I stay on task while still getting breaks
ReplyDeletePrinciple: Weaknesses make us humble, which turn us to Christ who can help us with anything
ReplyDeleteEther 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Q: How do we find the weakness that all other weaknesses come from?
I don't know how to find (if there is) an all encompassing weakness, but I think a big one is fear. Most all weaknesses and sins go back to fear. Fear of what people think, fear of getting hurt, fear of hurting others, fear of consequences, ect...
Delete"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness." (Ether 12:27)
DeleteThe Lord can show us what we need to improve, but often He'll just give us one weakness at a time to improve upon instead of stressing us out and giving us a whole basket-full! ;) I'm not sure if there is a single weakness that all other weaknesses branch off of, but I do know that revelation usually comes step-by-step.
"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little;" (2 Nephi 28:30)
ARGH! Ok my account has been deleting my comments all week, I hope this works. -Megan
ReplyDeleteGoal: Find a purpose for everything I do this week.
Principle: God is the ultimate creator and we are trying to be like Him. Lets create!
Scripture: Mosiah 7:27 And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth—
Question: How do we get over failure and keep on creating?
If you want something bad enough, you'll do what it takes to get it. I think it's built in all of us to want to create. It's part of our being. Failure is part of the creative process, so I think once we just accept that and have courage to move on and create what we were meant to create, then we can accomplish that goal.
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DeleteJesus Christ did everything for us. I think we can remember that, and keep on going. ( I am the light and the life of the world ...)
DeleteI agree with Cassia, if we want something, shouldn't we strive to accomplish it? (The answer is YES).
Delete“Please don’t nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know how, and the Lord will accept your effort.” -Gordon B. Hinckley
DeleteThe Lord doesn't want us to focus on all of our failures, I think it's just important to know that He still loves us and still accepts our trying. He wants us to get back up and keep creating! And if He wants you to do something, He'll help you to do so--and if you desire to do something, He'll help you if you ask! :)
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" -Matthew 7:7
Do not think about yourself failing think about yourself succeeding in anything you want to do and work towards that goal.
DeleteGoal:
ReplyDeleteTry my hardest to not procrastinate in my studies.
Comment:
So what I liked from the book is that he never gave up even when he was turned down.
Scripture:
1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
Principle:
Never give up.
Question:
How can we pursue our creative ideas?
Creativity is often associated with one side of the brain. Using both sides of our brain when creating helps us pursue creative ideas by putting a plan behind what we're doing.
Delete"Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable." -William Pollard
DeleteWe have to be willing to change sometimes in order to be creative! Sometimes we even have to change our vision of what we'd like it to look like to help it to happen! We have to be open to other ideas, and we have to be open to change in the way the Lord would like us to change! :)
I have read a book about this and I think it would help. To pursue our creative ideas we need to follow the system PDCA which means Plan, Do, Check, Adjust.
Delete"Jump of the cliff" Just try something. Wing it.
DeleteGoal: Make schedule of things to do before I have free time.
ReplyDeletePrinciple: Take risks. Don't be embarrassed of your ideas.
Scripture: Joseph Smith—History 1:9
9 My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.
Question: Joseph Smith actively tried to find which church to join. That was a big decision. How can we not shy away from making big choices?
DeleteI think you have to realize what you really want or what God wants for you (hopefully they're the same thing) and when you want/love something badly enough, you know you will do what it takes to achieve it.
Through Heavenly Father. If ye are on the Lords side ye need not fear.
DeleteCome to him through prayer. He want you to come to him. Or get a blessing.
I think that in order to figure it out we need to search, ponder and pray for the answer. And if we search, ponder and pray (Like Joseph) we can find the answers.
Delete"When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier." -Roy E. Disney
Delete"To qualify for inspiration and direction from the Lord throughout your life, decide now to do what the Lord wants you to do—even though it may appear to be a sacrifice or very challenging." -Richard G. Scott
When you already know what your goal is and what your values are, making decisions becomes much easier. You just have to focus on what Heavenly Father wants for you (pray). Once we have that drive to do things and that desire (which Heavenly Father can help with if we're keeping our side of our covenants), then we can make big decisions without fearing.
Scripture: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
ReplyDeletePrinciple: Keep going and through Christ you will succeed.
Question: What is creativity? How is the term used?
To me, creativity means making something original, or something that comes from you. It can be inspired by other's creativity, but it's something from inside of you that you make into reality.
DeleteI think creativity is something that happens when we choose to become one with the Spirit. It occurs when we try to make this world a better place. When we are truly creative, we understand our divine nature and individual worth.
DeleteCreativity is the ability to think of new idea's and put them into action, be inspired by things around us, learn from other (and add on to the idea's to make them better), share what you know, but most of all... Be Creative.
Delete"Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world." -Brene Brown
DeleteCreativity is your gift to the world, sharing the talents the Lord gave to you.
Goal: To only use social for 10 minutes after 4:00 so that I can waste less time and better avoid procrastinating.
ReplyDeleteScripture: Jerimiah 17:
9 ¶The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Question: Are peopleborn with just their natural man, and then they learn to combat it, or is wickedness something we learn? If it's part of us already, how can we combat it, and if it's something we learn, is there something we should/could be doing to stop it?
(Sorry if that was weird and confusing)
Principle: How can we make sure we are not letting our immediate desires get in the way of our long term ones and stop them from getting in the way of creating what we our meant to create and being who we are meant to be?
Uh, what the heck? I just wrote another question haha! I guess that's a principle I'm still trying to figure out.
Actual principle: As we practice trust in God by obeying, we will be more confident in our decisions.
I like your goal about using social media. I have had a similar goal this week also. At first, I was hesitant because I thought I wouldn't be able to get through my feed in only 10 minutes, but my Mom suggested I cut my feed down by un-following people. That was a good idea to me because then I wouldn't be offending people by unfriending them. They wouldn't even know.
DeleteSo I un-followed all the people who were always spamming my feed with pointless posts and posts they liked. It ended up making me feel more free because I wasn't trying to wade through a whole bunch of posts. It helped me to use social media for its intended purpose.
I think you are born with it ("Adam fell that men are that they might be?") Or something like that;) and then you just use it when satan tempts you.
DeleteWell... Christ said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14), so I wonder if the natural man is acquired...and Cain committed the first sin...so I think that the natural man is acquired as the adversary grows stronger and stronger...maybe? IDK actually...
DeleteAnd the 2nd question...
Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter.
"Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
If the Lord wants us to be patient and to not act on immediate desires, then He will help us to do so! :)
"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)
Sorry, BTW, that quote started at the paragraph before it--I put the quotation mark in the wrong place! :p
DeleteThis is what I found in True to the Faith:
Delete"In this fallen condition, we have a conflict within us. We are spirit children of God, with the potential to be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). However, “we are unworthy before [God]; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually” (Ether 3:2). We need to strive continually to overcome unrighteous passions and desires."
That makes it seem like we're born with it, but I also see what Gracious is saying: Little children are innocent. So I'm not really sure. I think that we naturally have that side of us that desires evil, but we also always have the spiritual part of us that we can expand. Relying on the Atonement is key.
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ReplyDelete