#ease Archives -

March 7, 2019 By Marisa Moks-Unger

Grow Flow With More Laughter

Laughter Leads to Greater Creativity

Laughter creates flow. — Striking a silly pose or telling a joke can create a sense of flow through the confidence that follows the laughter

My first formal photo shoot for my company ended in laughter. It was stressful to strike the power poses, looking intellectual and approachable all at the same time. My photographer, the talented Jennifer White of Acacia Studios, remembered that I had an upcoming speech. It was at a women’s club during their annual tea. She rustled up a tea cup and saucer and got me laughing. We ended up using this photo in the promotional materials, because it was fun and authentic and, well, silly.

Jen travels widely for her work. If you are interested in knowing more about her studio, look here:

https://www.iloveacacia.com/

Learn One Good (Clean) Joke

When our youngest daughter was a preschooler, she entertained my husband and I – and anyone else who would listen – with her favorite joke. And, the groaner went like this: A mushroom walks into a bar. The bartender said, Hey get out of here! The mushroom said, Why? I’m a fungi! And, she always added: Get it, Mommy, a FUN GUY! emphasizing her point with her small hands holding one word, then the other in the air above her head. Fast forward a few decades and she is STILL telling jokes. I think one of the reasons she is successful as a fine artist is due to her playfulness. Want to see more of her paintings and sketches? Look here: https://coloredbycass.com/

Your Turn

How can you lighten up and find pleasure around you? Laughter is often found in the free association of words and images. Try this: find a silly illustration online, in a book, or a magazine. Then, write a limerick around the image. And, if you are going to share the poem, try to keep it PG-13. The point is to try something funny, then see where the mirth bubbles up. Just go with the flow!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

January 25, 2019 By Marisa Moks-Unger

Take Restraints Off for Flow

For Flow Release Your Restraints

Take it off for flow. — Want an instant passport to flow? Get rid of the things that restrain your creativity, such as ties, bras, and shoes

How can creatives enter flow when they feel restraints on their physical being? This question bears merit for a few reasons. First, flow comes more naturally when we are comfortable. Next, anything that digs into the skin also irritates creativity. Finally, writers and artists – and anyone actually – enter flow much more freely when they do not feel crammed or pinched. So let’s look at quick ways to relax right away.

Toss the Cravat

Depending upon the uniform or formality of a day job, both men and women wear ties at times. The sooner you loosen up the tie, the more relaxed your neck and shoulder muscles will feel. Akin to rolling up sleeves as the day wears on, this one can be done in public or as soon as you walk in the door at home.

No Bassiere, Dear

Mel Ryane, author of Teaching Will: What Shakespeare and 10 Kids Gave Me That Hollywood Couldn’t, gives great advice during her Page to Podium workshops: To get into writing, get rid of the bra. Of course, you need to keep it on in the office – unless you have a home office and are not meeting clients that day. Ridding yourself of bras that poke, squeeze, or prod and replacing them with ones without underwire is another idea. Have you ever tried a Coobie Seamless Bra? This choice gives you comfort and coverage that can be worn to work. Look here: https://www.herroom.com/coobie.shtml

Kick Off Your Shoes

Whether they are pointed-toe flat, kitten heels, or stilettos, kicking off uncomfortable shoes is a great way to enter flow. Sure, this might not be an option if there is a formal wardrobe office policy in your workplace. But, there may be some wiggle room, if high heels can be worn in the door and round-toed slip-ons can be worn at the desk.

Your Turn

Open your journal and list all the articles of clothing and accessories that cause restraint to your creativity. Go from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Then, decide whether to sell, give away, throw out, and/or replace the articles. Do a few at a time. Start with those mentioned above and go from there. Soon you will be relaxed each time you sit to create by being in flow.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

Scrabble Words for Flow

Create a Word Bank from Scrabble

Word Lists from Scrabble — First play the game, then get writing from your curated word list.

Sunday afternoons find my husband, mother-in-law, and I playing Scrabble. This ritual helps us to pass the time during the pandemic. The games usually run one to two hours. We have taken these games to a new level by anticipating them each week, then carefully crafting our word choices. It helps that all three of us are avid readers and come up with a variety of interesting diction.

Also, the game gets my mother-in-law’s mind off of the local paper’s with its teeming death notices of Covid-19 victims – most from local residential living facilities. And, she is now interested in the fact that I am using these word lists to write from professionally.

Next, free write for a few. Make a list of the words developed during the game. Then use the list as a springboard to write a creative piece using as many of the words as possible. Play with long and short lines. Add some rhymes. Look for alliteration. Give yourself about 10 minutes. See what images appear.

Then, select a genre or two to carry through. As a theme arises from the free write of the word list, follow the lead. Perhaps a poem rises up. Or, a one-act play. Or, both! Choose one genre knowing that you can come back and create more works from any single topic.

Now, it’s your turn! If you have a Scrabble game somewhere hidden in a hall closet, it is time to get it out and try your hand at this writing tactic. It employs procrastination by allowing you to blow off writing at first by playing a game. Then, you are rewarded for the time you invested in the game by writing a piece from the words you and others generated.

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa

TGIFF – Thank God It’s Friday Flow

Cliché Finds Flow on Friday

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Friday. And, at the workweek’s end, there is time to find flow. But, where do you go to find flow? First, realize that flow can happen anywhere at anytime. Need proof? Look at this past post on finding flow in a card and party goods store. Simply click right here: https://wewriteitright.com/visit-flow-in-a-party-goods-shop/

How Gratitude Leads the Way

Use grateful eyes to take in the world around you. Then, instead of planning to hit the bars and clubs when the clock strikes 5:00 PM, other options present themselves during these times of pandemic. Why not take a virtual tour a museum? Or, take a walk or bike ride through a park? Or, spend an hour working on a poem, and essay, or a blog post. When you are grateful for the options you have – even if you are working from home amid shutdowns – then that is enough.

Your Turn

Playtime creates greater flow. — Spirographs, Etch-a-Sketch, and Slinkys are just a few ways to re-enter flow through playtime. What was your favorite activity as a child? When was the last time you tried it as an adult?

Think back to grade school, junior high, or middle school. Think about the electives that you took that helped round out your schedule. Did you take dance or music classes? Weight training? Or, perhaps, like me, you did candle making. Whatever it might be, try to reunite your lost teen with your adult self. Take time to write, dance, sing, paint, or play with your Spirograph! You’ll be glad you did!

Here’s to growing your flow,

Marisa