A very helpful distinction

Rick Tamlyn writes a newsletter each Sunday morning. Rick is one of the co-creators of the Bigger Game, a workshop experience that I lead, and he was also one of the co-leaders of a year long Leadership program I took in 2009. This Sunday’s newsletter was especially helpful to me.

Rick made the distinction between managing and creating. He said that the world has changed, and we have to adjust to that. He said we can either try to maintain things the way they have been, or we can be open to creating something new.

The thing that really helped me was what he said next :

“The manager in you wants to maintain what is and the leader in you wants to create something new. Trying to ‘ manage’ activates anxiety. Creating, on the other hand, will activate your aliveness and your zest for life. “

He said, “You cannot experience anxiety and creativity in your mind, body and soul at the same time.”

For the past few days I have been thinking about this last sentence. I have found it to be true. If I am busy creating something- a blogpost, a piece of art, a piece of writing for my next book, it’s true- I get so engaged with that, that I don’t feel anxious. And if I am feeling anxious, the best thing I can do is engage in something creative.

For me, the distinction between managing and creating has been a big help!

I help it will be the same for you!!