“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” ~Dale Carnegie
As we have learned over the weeks, courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear. Creative Courage is to be strengthened and developed by doing the things that we fear, taking us out of our immediate comfort zone to stretch and grow.
Sometimes though, when working as Artists and Creatives we need to not push too hard, because face it…unless it’s something wewant to do, or at least sounds fun, it’s a challenge for us either way! We’ve been working hard – hopefully – on building our creative courage, this week it’s time to do something fun! This week, we are going to ENTER A CONTEST!! No, not a wet t-shirt contest, or drinking contest…although we could probably do both of those in the same place, we are going to do something a little different. It would be wonderful if it was a contest that was related to your Artistic or Creative Endeavors, but ANY contest will do! Let’s all try to channel a bit of Barney Stinson and accept all challenges!
In our Week 26 we are going to search, seek out and find a contest that makes us happy, brings us joy, and challenges us just a bit so that it’s still a happy fun week! Try a Baking Competition, Writing Challenge, Stand Up Comedy, Design Competition, Poster Contest, Post-It Contest, Photo Contest, Gardening Contest, Air Guitar Competition, Dirty Apron Contest, Rock Climbing, Arm Wrestling, Chili Contest…and if you really can’t figure out something in line with your specific creative endeavors… try pie eating contest or even a sweepstakes. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it makes your heart race with excitement and creates intrigue in your mind. If it scares you just a bit and you accomplish it – extra points for this week!
“We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life it to be effective and bring happiness.” ~Maxwell Maltz
So, let’s go on our and find ourselves a contest shall we!!!
- Decorate a cupcake, a room, a garden
- Write a song, a jingle, a joke, an essay, a poem
- Sing a Song, Dance your ass off, Join a dart tournament
- Cook something, bake something, arrange something
- Dig in the dirt, climb on rocks, race the water
- Have a birdhouse building contest
- Cycle, Run, Walk, Swim, join a triathlon
- Cook in a Chili Contest
- Swish in a Hula Hoop Tournament
- Play Checkers, Chess, Scrabble, Cards
- Drop your business card in a bowl to win lunch
- Write your name on every contest slip you can find in the mall
- Have an informal contest with some pals, a friendly competition; get a giggle in if you can!
Do something that will hopefully exceed your normal boundaries and limitations. Do something that will bring you excitement, joy and anticipation. Something that might make you a little bit sad to not win! But do SOMETHING! If you need to make up your own contest, then do that! Challenge your kids to a contest of who can name all the states, see who can collect the most seashells at the beach, have your kids or friends create a contest for you!! Whatever it is there is always the pie eating contest… everyone loves pie!
“It is better to live on day as a lion, than a thousand days as a lamb.”
~Roman Proverb
We all have some preconceived notions as to what “contests” are….but it needn’t be that difficult, just use your imagination….we all have wonderful imaginations when we allow them to expand on their own!! Try these to get the juices flowing….
- Scavenger Hunt
- Swiming Race
- Arm Wrestling
- Trivia Contest
- Sweepstakes of any kind
- Closest to the Pin. Longest drive
- Enter to Win a Trip, A Car, A Free Dinner
- Race to the finish of ANYTHING
Just have some fun with it this week! Accept EVERY contest challenge! It’s summer, and we don’t want to stress ourselves too much…as long as we keep building our Creative Courage then all is well! I’m off to the beach!!
Cheers,
JeaneMargherite Meria McMahon Murray Schintgen
(yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out!)
I would love for you to “check me out” in my other realms…..
