The weird thing about these times is that we feel that we simultaneously have too much time on our hands and yet have no time at all. Time is tricky. Because when we finally get through all of the things we have to do, working, taking care of the kids, buying groceries, doing the dishes, fixing the car, fixing whatever is wrong with the house, trying to work out, spending time with family and (socially-distanced) friends; we are exhausted. Oh yeah, and then there is the global pandemic. And the current political and social turmoil...

Art, Communication, CreativityJohn CouchAugust 14, 2020time, focus, art, writing

Creative Rebellion Essays: Sacred time. Sacred space.

So how do I make a personal creative practice while balancing the demands of reality? The answer is pretty simple. I make “sacred time and space” for my personal endeavors. You can choose any hour you like at any time of day (4 am, 3 pm, midnight, whatever floats your boat) but the rules are that you simply do that one thing that is only for you, whether it’s yoga, meditation, writing, playing guitar, making art or chopping wood. You can only do that one thing and nothing else. If you are composing music on a piano, you either play or you sit and do nothing. No social media, no TV. No nothing but simply the task at hand.

Creative Rebellion, Goals, CreativityJohn CouchMarch 29, 2020sacredness, time, writing, The Art of Creative Rebellion, art

Creative Rebellion Essays: Dealing with uncertainty

Coronavirus, political strife, wild swings in the stock market, and climate change (fires in Australia still rage and the west coast of the US will deal with it again soon). Compound all of these issues with a barrage of media hammering us from our smartphones as well as misinformation from the right and left and it’s no wonder that the world is more stressed than ever. Add to this the daily challenges of taking care of family, financial and work stresses, health issues, just getting to and from work, it’s no wonder that the world suffers from anxiety and depression. Therapy and prescription medications can provide some help. Alcohol and drugs only provide temporary relief and exacerbate the underlying issues. Religion and philosophy can provide a framework for handling the great unknowns (why are we here and what happens when we die) but ultimately the amygdala (two almond-shaped clusters deep in the brain) which is responsible for processing emotional responses works far faster than the logical frontal lobes.

Communication, BooksJohn CouchMarch 8, 2020zen, writing, coronavirus, uncertainty

Creative Rebellion Essays: Write it down

At the end of every year, my wife and I open a leather-bound book of our annual goals. First, we review what we wrote at the beginning of that year. It’s always disconcerting and inspiring to realize that we average around 75 to 80% success on what we envisioned for that year. Things that we were pretty sure would be beyond the pale of what we could accomplish. It also sets the bar for what we think we should accomplish in the new year.

Creative Rebellion, GoalsJohn CouchJanuary 2, 2020writing, goals

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