Oprah Winfrey

"For all the major moves in my life — to Baltimore, to Chicago, to own my show, and to end it — I've trusted my instincts.  I take in all the information I can gather.  I listen to proposals, ideas, and advice.  Then  I go with my gut, what my heart feels most strongly."

— Oprah Winfrey

American Actress, Television Talk Show Host

1954 -

When making decisions, one should always gather the information and opinions available.  But in the end, when it is decision time, one should listen to one's gut.  One must learn to trust that quiet voice deep inside.  Listening to one's gut requires silence.  At some point, one must shut out the voices sharing their opinions and make up one's own mind.

As artists and writers, this is important advice.  We must learn to trust ourselves.  There are friends, teachers, critics and even strangers who are happy to share their opinions about our creative works.  While it is important that we listen to what they say, we must learn to sort through the garbage and find a few nuggets of truth.  And in the end, we must listen to our own quiet voice telling us what to paint or write.

Here is a short video biography of Oprah Winfrey.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Music is the universal language of mankind."

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

American Poet

1807 - 1882

Music is a special art form in that it touches the soul at a deeper level than most of the other arts.  Music can cross language barriers often without translation.  Music connects people in ways that the other arts don't.  When we are happy, we all have a desire to sing with a joyful voice.  When we are sad, our singing gives voice to our melancholy.

In college when I was blue, I would walk along the railroad tracks and sing to myself.  I cannot carry a tune, but when alone I will sing to myself.  Music moves me at a deep level.  

During the last 24 years, I have seen the impact of music on my training classes.  I have the participants of my classes sing and dance as part of the class.  I am amazed at the power of music to break down barriers and cause people to open up and share their thoughts and feelings.

Many writers and artists listen to music when they are creating.  What kind of music do you listen to when you are creating?  What music gets your creative juices flowing?

Here is a video of Carrie Underwood inspiring an audience of country and western singers with her rendition of How Great Thou Art.

Benjamin Spock

"Trust yourself.  You know more than you think you do."

— Benjamin Spock

American Pediatrician, Author

1903 - 1998

 

Spock wrote these words to the mothers of baby boomers in his best selling book, Baby and Child Care, and he launched a generation.  And his advice is just as important to creative leaders.  As artistic people, we need learn to trust ourselves -- our intuition.  The knowledge we have to write, to draw and to act is inside of us.  We need to learn to hear that small voice when it speaks and then to do what it says.  Too often we second guess ourselves and do what we think we should do.

Believe in yourself.  Believe in your talent.  Believe in your creative gift.  Believe in that small voice deep inside.  If you learn to trust yourself, you will be successful.

Marquis de Vauvenargues

"Great thoughts always come from the heart."

— Marquis de Vauvenargues

French Writer

1715 - 1747

The heart is powerful, intelligent and intuitive.  Most of us have been taught that our intelligence resides in our brain, but this is only partially true.  Logical and analytical thinking occurs in the brain.  Intuitive, sensitive and compassionate thinking occurs in the heart.  Often, though, we let our brain override our heart.  We need to learn to listen to voice of our heart as it reveals a deeper truth.  Reason may dominate our thinking, but compassion should govern our actions.  While the brain is busy analyzing the options, the heart knows intuitively what road to take. 

Years of experience have taught me that my heart knows the answer often before the brain has finished its analysis.   I have learned that it is better to trust the small voice inside my heart then the loud voice inside my head.  Do you trust your intuition?  Are you listening to the voice within your heart?

Natalie Goldberg

"One of the main aims in writing practice is to learn to trust your own mind and body; to grow patient and nonaggressive."

Natalie Goldberg

American Writer/Painter

1948 - 

Do you trust yourself — your mind, your thoughts, your dreams, your desires, your hopes?  Do you trust your body — how you walk, how you dance, the sound of your stomach gurgling, the pain in your left knee?  Many of us don't trust our own instincts.  We put our faith in others.  Maybe it is a parent, a friend, a spouse of even a spiritual leader.  We believe what they say to be true.  We need to learn to listen to that small tiny voice inside us that knows the way.  This voice is the first one we hear before we quickly move on to our more rational voice.  How many times have you felt something to be true in your gut but you have chosen to do what your rational mind said?  Learn to trust yourself and to believe in yourself.

(The source of this quote is the book, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, by Natalie Goldberg.  Every creative leader should read this book multiple times.)

e. e. cummings

"most people are perfectly afraid of silence"

— e. e. cummings

American Poet/Artist

1894 - 1962

e. e. cummings

1933

Writers and artists require silence to focus on their work and, yet, many people are afraid of silence.  Silence helps us find our way through the maze of life.  Silence opens like a flower in the morning.  Take time to enjoy the silences of your life.  The hardest silence to find is the silence of the mind.  We are constantly talking to ourselves even when we have silenced the voices around us.  Learn to slow your mind down and quiet the voices talking inside your head.    Rid yourself of your mother's voice.  Your father's voice.  The voice of the critic.  The voice of the editor.  Learn to love silence.