Creativity is one of life's great sources of fulfillment, whether it is
expressed in the arts, science, business, or sheer entertainment. When
we are at our creative best, we experience emotions of joy, excitement,
anticipation, hope, and deep satisfaction. Unfortunately, for many
people such moments of uninhibited creative drive are all too rare.
Often, when we try to be creative, we also experience the inhibiting
emotions of anxiety, self-doubt, judgmental attitudes, or even shame,
guilt, and physical discomfort.
Psychologist Bernard Golden helps us to be our authentic selves by
pursuing our individual creative paths in this motivational guide.
Filled with the insights and practical techniques culled from his almost
thirty years as a psychotherapist, Unlock Your Creative Genius gives you
the tools to unleash your creative imagination and manage the tension
and negative mind-body reactions that often impede the creative flow.
Golden first offers a variety of strategies that help the reader become
aware of the often-unconscious obstacles to creative fulfillment. Among
these are fear of failure; survivor's guilt, when friends or loved ones
are ill or have died; the shame of failing to meet our own or others'
unrealistic expectations; grandiose fantasies; problems with
self-discipline; a pattern of dependency that impedes self-motivation;
and an aversion to being alone even though creative expression usually
demands time by ourselves.
To counter these negative reactions, Golden provides guidelines to
enhance positive emotions such as openness to change, trust, and the
commitment essential for creativity. He also stresses the need to
promote physical calm to offset tension and the importance of developing
self-compassion, a vital resource in dealing with fear, shame, and
guilt.
This inspiring, helpful, and very practical book offers readers the
freedom to live authentically as they access, accept, and act on their
creative genius.
