Creativity and the Level 10 Life

 Lately, I have been researching how to approach living my best life in 2021 and recording the process in my Bullet Journal.   While searching for answers on blogs and Pinterest, I kept noticing the phrase "Level 10 Life" popping up everywhere.  I decided to delve deeper into the topic.

The phrase "Level 10 Life" was coined by Hal Elrod in a book entitled The Miracle Morning.  Elrod claims that 95% of people never reach their full potential because of a lack of planning, prioritizing, and implementing attainable goals.  According to him, we need to reflect on ten various realms in life to see what we can do to reach a Level 10 Life on our own terms. Those ten realms include the following:  friends and family, personal development, spirituality, health and fitness, finances, physical environment, career, romance, fun and recreation, and giving and contributing.  By dividing each realm into measureable, attainable steps and working to achieve these goals, one can presumably take the necessary steps to living a Level 10 Life.

But I wondered whether all of these realms applied to everyone in their quest to live a Level 10 Life.  I don't have a significant other or a career, so these would not apply to my life.  I also consider charity to be part of spirituality and personal development.  Finally, I asked myself what gives meaning to my life and motivates me toward the ideas of accomplishment and connection with the world around me.  Easily enough,  I decided that CREATIVITY had to be counted in my Level 10 Life in order for it to feel like it belonged to me.

If you are reading this blog, then chances are that CREATIVITY belongs in yours, too.  You will find examples of goals for each realm of life on other blogs, so I will give you samples on creativity.  However,  a Level 10 Life is all about YOU,  so please develop your goals so that you will have no trouble owning your plan of attack.

Needlework 

Create 1 cross-stitch pattern per month for 4 months.

Take 1 class on crochet on www.Craftsy.com

Learn 3 new knitting stitches a month for 3 months.

Embroider two handkerchiefs by March.

Papercraft

Practice Hand-lettering for 2 hours a week for 2 months.

Compile 1 scrapbook page per week for 3 months.

Design 12 holiday cards by December 1st. 

Create 2 Bullet Journal spreads per month for 6 months.

Writing

Complete 30 journal entries in 1 month.

Compose 2 poems a week for 5 weeks.

Write one chapter a month for 12 months.

Join a writer's group on www.meetup.com

Cooking/Baking

Learn 1 new recipe a month for 10 months.

Make homemade jam.

Learn to bake challah.

Take a cake decorating course. 

Fine Arts

Create 1 painting per month for 4 months.

Draw 1 mandala a week for 6 weeks. 

Sketch in the park.

Compose 1 Artist Trading Card each week for 12 weeks.

I hope that this gives you a sense of SMART goals to help you create your own Level 10 Life.  Just remember to leave room for your soul to grow!

~ Melissa

Journaling Your Way to Creativity

 Creativity isn't something that comes naturally for all people.  Some have to work diligently to find and maintain that creative spark.  There are many different ways to do this, but my favorite is journaling.  No, not keeping a Bullet Journal (although you can keep your journaling entries in your BuJo).  Journaling is the act of writing or drawing in a designated space in free form or following prompts.  You can journal about your life, ideas, art, literature, travel, cooking, or anything your heart desires.  If used properly, journaling can give you immense insight into yourself and the world in which you live.

In the vast world of journaling, there are few rules, if any.  However, I would like to make some suggestions from my own experience that may help you in your journaling adventure.

1.  Have a designated journal that you use for each different topic.  Right now, besides my Bullet Journal, I have a daily journal for addressing prompts found on the Facebook group page called The Stationery Nerd Herd.  The Stationery Nerd Herd is a group dedicated to the love of stationery in all forms (including journals!!!).  I also have a dedicated art journal, and a Harry Potter Moleskine journal for compiling my chapter reflections of the Harry Potter series of novel aligned with the podcast called Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.  Four journals at once may seem like a lot to some people, but it helps me to stay organized in my thought process.

2.  Designate a specific time and place to journal.  This may seem like a no-brainer, but just like with schoolwork, we function at our highest when there is order in our world.  You may choose to write daily, weekly, or when you finish the end of a chapter in a book (like I do with my HPST journal).  By setting a specific time for the creative writing process, you validate the act itself.  Schedule time in your planner or BuJo for this important task just like you would for a haircut or a spa day.  This should be dedicated "you" time.

3.  Start the journaling process with a given prompt.  I have included this because it is hard looking at a blank page with no idea what to write.  You can easily "Google" journal prompts from art to self-care and everything in-between.  Just pick one and start writing.  I have enjoyed being a member of The Stationery Nerd Herd, because the group owner has provided members with almost a year full of journaling prompts in at least 8 different categories.  Pam Tremble, the group owner, has recently published a book called 30 Days of Journaling: An Introduction to Daily Journaling.  If you do not know where to start journaling, start here.

4.  Buy a journal and pen/pencil that you love to use.  No one wants to write in a wide ruled composition book with a Ticonderoga pencil.  If you are going to journal, use one that will excite you every time you open it.  There are TONS of journals out there, and the search for the right one that suits your needs can be daunting.  While I prefer black, hard-bound, dot-ruled or blank journals, not many do.  Lucky for us, Pam Tremble has unraveled the mystery of the best journals in 2020 which you can find here.  My suggestion is to find a cheap colorful journal to begin the process, and graduate to a new journal after filling the first as a reward.  Pens are a whole other story.  Choose a pen that feels good in your hand, has a color of ink you like, and will not bleed through paper.  Ballpoints and gel pens are fine for this activity.  My favorite pen is a Dr. Grip Gel Pen by Pilot which promoted by the Arthritis Foundation for ease-of-use.  They are more expensive than other similar pens; however, you can buy ink refills and reuse the barrel.  I keep a ballpoint and a gel pen in my purse which I have had for over 10 years.

For those of you that want to keep your daily journaling in your bullet journal, or just need a place to start for now, I have created a Minimalist Journal Entry BuJo Page that you may download for free here.  It fits a Statement sized sheet of paper as well as an A5.

 

I hope that you learn to enjoy the journaling process as much as I do.  Feel free to leave comments with your favorite journals, pens, or prompts.  Happy journaling!

~ Melissa

When the Lord closes a door, He often opens a window!

Lately, I have been down.  And that is putting it nicely.  Nothing seems to be going right in the world.  My significant other moved to Texas without me, my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I failed to obtain a teaching job in Latin this year.  I have tried crawling into bed and not coming out before, but I promise that it never works out for the best.  Instead, I chose to vent.  Luckily for me (and you), I vent through art.  Sometimes I journal in my Moleskine, sometimes I make Artist Trading Cards, and sometimes I dive into digital scrapbooking.  Whatever the case may be, I always have something tangible to offer for my efforts.  So recently, I applied to work on the creative team of Touched By a Butterfly, a digital scrapbook design firm.  And finally, after viewing my blogsites, I was chosen to be a member.  Digital scrapbooking was there for me when I needed it (as well as those of you who have supported me here), and now I have the opportunity to give back to the artistic community in a meaningful way.  I hope that you will enjoy my designs as well as the opportunities it will bring for the digital scrapbooking community.  And in the end, maybe I will have more time to work on the things that I love...my relationship, my family, my education, and my art.

If at First You Don't Succeed ...

After my last rant about telling my Muse to be quiet, she bravely spoke up and offered me a chance to rectify the situation.  Mind you, that seldom ever happens.  If it does, you better buckle up and be ready for a ride on the horse of a different color.  Several of the digital scrapbooking designers offered yet another creative team call.  I am not sure if it is hubris at this point or just another attempt at deflating my ego, but I needed a change and a challenge.  So, once again I submitted my information, several layouts, and my blogsite for review by perfect strangers, patiently waiting for the response that my designs were "bland" and "didn't pop."  But, as Old Blue Eyes once said, Luck can be a Lady.  Finally, several people enjoyed my writing well enough to invite me to join a Blog Team for digital scrapbooking.  So now, I can add that I work for www.creativeartistry.com writing about creations from Missy's Bits Designs and Sugar Moon Designs.  I look forward to blogging each week, trying a hand at designing, and using my words to entice others to do the same.  I am considering this a learning experience given to me by the heart of my Muse, and hopefully she will lead all of us on an exciting journey.

Now... I am ready to go make a memory or two and write about them!!!

Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway!!!

Created by Melissa using Black Tie Event from Trixie Scraps Designs

Over the past several months I have become addicted to digital scrapbooking!!!  Using the MyMemories Suite V3 is so easy, that I am sure you will be creating scrapbooks left and right for everyone you love (please include one for yourself).  You can include pics, wordart, video, music, and a plethora of digital goodies that you can only get from using this amazing digital scrapbooking suite.  (For a preview of what you can do, simply download the trial version of the V3 Suite!) You can even make cards, banners, gift tags...the only limits are your imagination.  I am giving away 1 copy of the MyMemories Suite V3 and $10 to spend on your choice of goodies from the MyMemories Store.  That is a total of $50 worth of goodies up for grabs!!!

So, by now you are asking, "What do I have to do to win these this awesome gift?"  Pay attention because I am giving MULTIPLE chances to win!  Make sure that you come back here and leave a comment on this page of my blog for each task that you complete.  One winner will be chosen on December 24, 2011.

1- Follow Missa's Muse blog.
2- Like MyMemories on Facebook.
3- Go to the MyMemories Store and find your favorite designer pack.  Come back here and tell me which one it is and why.
4- Follow the MyMemories Blog
5- Follow MyMemories on Twitter.
6- Follow Evergreen_Grrrl blog.
7- Follow @EvergreenGrrrl on Twitter.
8- Follow Evergreen _Grrrl on Pinterest.

That's it!  Eight separate ways to enter this wonderful contest!  Remember to come back here and tell me once you have completed each task.  Good luck and may you enjoy (and win) this "Suite Contest!"
The Contest Winner will be announced here on December 24, 2011!!!