Newsletter no 20: Collaborated Gratefulness

Dear friend,

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." Henry Ford

This year is almost at an end.

It was a year of challenges, new experiences, and a deepening of my faith. Through it, I had discovered that I am stronger and more resilient than believed. I don’t think we appreciate that fact enough about ourselves.

Being resilient teaches us to endure with the goal in mind. To stay on course even when the ship is bounced around with raging winds against us and strong currents that threaten to pull us underneath the surface. Thank God for the anchor of hope that keeps us upright.

I've learned to look at the bigger picture than what I'm seeing right now. Once our eyes are fixed on the goal, no judgment or condemnation can touch us. Through my creativity, I have learned to be ignorant of the impossibilities and open for the changes it brings.

The year was filled with small surprises and wonders that became a beacon of hope. My pen (keyboard) diligently writing as more words are strung together. To complete stories, articles, and short stories for my blog and groups I belong to.

Through collaboration, I could add six more books to my growing list. I am extremely grateful for each of these blessings. I am humbled and deeply touched by each book that was published. Skakels van ‘n Ketting 1 & 2 are devotional books by Driekie Grobler. Kloof and ‘n Tiekie Romantiek are short stories and poems by Myra Lochner. Ink in Afrikaans is a short story bundle, and the sixth book is My Gebed vir ‘n Boer. All written in my native tongue.

My Gebed vir ‘n Boer Boek Twee can be ordered at Ns. Skrywershuis. It is a charity project for the families of murdered farmers in South Africa. A lot of work has been done to bring this to publication by Nico Schamrel. Anneline Kriel is the patron of this project. She was Ms Universe in 1974 and very active. A beautiful woman, strong and vigilant that we are all proud of.

Another wonder that happened was the reading of my short story, Verlore Gisters by Floris van Zyl on Die Waarheid online radio. It was written during a mini competition, Skryf jou Storie Facebook group.

To those on my list, if you are an Afrikaans speaking person, no matter where you live in this world, you can enter the competition here: Die Grootste Skryf Kompetisie. If you know an Afrikaans speaking person, share the link with them.

In this year I also began a new Facebook group: The KreativPreneur Club and I want to invite you to join. It is a holistic platform created for creatives to encourage and support one another.

I trust that 2022 was a good year for you and that your faith and hope have grown.

I want to bless you with part one of my book, Love at War, which you can download here:

Author’s Lead Magnet and the Introduction to Release Your Creativity.

Part of The KreativPreneur brand is to begin a new business and create new products. I have partnered with my daughter Odette and am excited about the new venture.

This was birthed when I was looking for a wedding gift for dear friends. I wanted it to be something exclusive and created the couple's journal. The rest was about making it workable, the step my daughter fulfills perfectly.

A great thank you to her for always supporting me in all I do.  

The Couples Journal, complete with flash cards for the newlyweds.

Each book is individually made and available in Afrikaans or English.

There are 52 x Flashcards in a separate box made from MDF wood.

The one in the picture is an A4 Landscape journal with 300 Pages, but it can be altered to fewer pages to accommodate your requirements or resized to an A5 book.

It is printed on personalised paper for an added touch with enough space to add pictures of the couple’s journey.

Email me at lynelleclark@gmail.com if you are interested in such a gift for a couple or for yourself.  

Do visit my store and sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date.

 

Who is Lynelle Clark and why do I write?

I am Lynelle Clark, a multi-genre author since 2012.

As a proud South African, I love my country, its rich history, and diverse nationalities. It has a rich source of ideas which makes creativity so much easier.

I always loved books. Since school, I got lost in the many pages of the local library. Konsalik was my absolute favourite and read each of the translated books available. His gripping stories took me to worlds so different from mine that I could not get enough.

In fact, when I realized he was a German author, I learned the language to become an air hostess and see the world. That dream never realized because of the height restrictions of The South African Airways.

Life happened, and with limited options available to me, I became a stay-at-home parent. Finding peace and solace between the books where I discovered countries and their way of life fascinating. This anchored me, but the craving for more was always alive.

The desire to write was a silent wish I rarely talked about, keeping personal journals year after year until I found myself overwhelmed with life in my late forties. I never thought I was good enough and did not write, but my life’s turning cause a profound change in my thinking. It became a trigger mechanism that launched me into a new season, and I am still exploring the various sides of writing, finding my peace within the walls of books and paper.

I have self-published 4 books to date and authored short stories in my native tongue (Afrikaans) regularly. More books are waiting, characters waiting patiently to tell their stories through my pen, and I plan to publish at least two in 2020. The stories in my mind an ever-growing source of creativity which cannot wait to come out.

Books are essential to our everyday life.

For bookworms, it is important to hold a physical book in their hands instead of reading it on an electronic device. As a book reviewer, I must read the various formats available on my laptop; it is easier and quicker, but it is not the same. A book is authentic. It fits perfectly into your life; you can sit anywhere and enjoy the feel and smell of it while turning the page.

As an author, I have a diverse range of professional experience in various industries. Which gives me the backing to write multi-genre books. Through my passion, vision, dedication, and diligence, I consistently show my love for the book world. As a self-employed author, I have published my first book in August 2012, entitled A Pirate’s Wife.

In 2014, I published Bella’s Choice, a contemporary romance which looks at the alternative lifestyle and the choices that go with it. Blood Mines was a novel about South Africa's acid water problem. In early 2019, I published my very first Afrikaans book, GedagteKringe, filled with fictional stories and nonfiction pieces.

 If it’s in God’s will many more will be published. I have learned to take it as it comes and allow each opportunity to bring me closer to my purpose.

In gesprek met Mari Botha: Die Waarheid Radio. Staan 'n kans om die boekbundel te wen.

Die Waarheid Radio

Skryf in vir die kompetisie en staan 'n kans om die boekbundel ter waarde van R1800 te wen. 

1. Waar kom die skrywersdroom vandaan?

Ek het boeke nog altyd fassinerend gevind. As tiener het ek Konsalik ontdek en het sy boeke verslind. Die manier wat hy jou kon intrek en deel maak van die storie terwyl die plot lewendig word het my diep geraak. Ek dink dit het daar begin. Tussen die ysvlaktes van Siberië, agter die Ystergordyn en die absolute deursettingsvermoë van sy karakters wat dit verg om te oorleef.

Maar natuurlik, moes ek eers my eie ondervinding opbou voordat dit ‘n werklikheid kon word. ‘n Mens kan net skryf wat jy weet, en op dertien het ek nog geen begrip gehad van die lewe nie. Ek het ook nie ‘n liefde vir die taal gehad nie. Maar die droom was daar gebore.

‘n Skoolmaat van my het my eendag herinner aan my woorde in standard sewe. Ek het heeltemal vergeet van daardie woorde. My kop was toe in die wolke want ek wou ‘n lugwaardin word. Toe dit nie realiseer nie moes ek ‘n kopskuif maak en oor tyd het die droom vervaag maar my liefde vir lees nie. Dit het die droom gevoed sonder dat ek werklik bewus was daarvan. Eers in 2010 het die woorde in my kop die sleutelbord gevind. Toe my eertse boek in 2012 die lig sien, toe slaan dit my tussen die oë en van daar het dit geëskaleer tot die ses vrystellings en 10 samewerking bundels met ander skrywers.

2. Jou persoonlike gunsteling uit jou eie pen en hoekom?

Love at War. Die storie het as ‘n novelle begin. In 2010 was my kop op ‘n verkeerde plek weens die probleme wat ons destyds beleef het. My woede en seer het my uitlaatklep geword. Hier het ek ook besef dat ek eintlik baie passievol is. Uit hierdie passie het skryf begin ontwikkel en het ek geskryf wat op my hart was.

Love at War het saam met my ontwikkel en die storielyn het van ‘n novelle na ‘n boek ontwikkel totdat dit geeindig het as ‘n 700 bladsy boek met lewenslesse reg uit my lewe uit. Die vrae waarmee Sonia Main gesukkel het was my vrae.

Sonia Main, die hoofkarakter in die boek het deur verskeie ervarings gegaan en op die ou einde het die lewe haar terug gevat na die Here toe. Sy was kwaad, vir haarself en vir die Here. Maar Vader is getrou. Hy weet hoe om ons uit die varkhok te kry.

Haar storie is die storie van so baie ander vrouens ook. Genesing kom eers wanneer ons onsself werklik kan vergewe. Dit is dan wat ‘n straf ons grootste seën word en jy verantwoordelikheid vat vir jou lewe. Hierdie lesse lei ons dan terug na die Vader huis.  

3. Nuutse boek

Ek is lief vir ‘n goeie sielkundige riller en wou nog altyd my hand daaraan slaan. Laas jaar het ons ‘n mini-kompetisie gehad op Skryf Jou Storie se FB groep. Dit was aangebied deur Floris van Zyl en ek het Verlore Gisters begin skryf met The Sinner en Agatha Christy in my kop.

Die kompetisie het die storie aan die brand gesteek maar die woordtelling was ‘n buffer om werklik uiting te gee aan die storielyn. Maar die fondasie is gelê en ek is tans besig om bietjie meer vleis daaraan te sit. So ‘n regte spanningsverhaal met ‘n twist. 

4. Vertel ons meer van KreativPreneur

KreativPreneur het einde laas jaar begin vanuit my begeerte om ander by te staan in hul kreatiewe reis. Benewens die skryf trek enige vorm van kreatiwiteit my aan. Hetsy sang, dans, koekversiering, ‘n mooi skildery, ‘n unieke gebou, tuin of fotografie. Dit maak nie saak nie, ek waardeer die kreatiwiteit daaragter.

In 2020, met die epidemie in volle swang, het ek begin met ‘n lewensgids kursus op Udemy. In die proses het ek op verskeie boeke afgekom waar God werklik verhoog word deur kreatiwiteit. ‘n Nuwe wêreld het vir my oopgemaak. The Artist Way van Julie Cameron het my pad gekruis en aangespoor om met wat ek geleer het ‘n werksboek saam te stel. Release your Creativity is ‘n 9-weke kursus, en The Artist Way het die fondasie daarvoor gelê. Release your Creativity is tans beskikbaar op my webwerf en sal eersdaags ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar wees.

Met dit saam het ek geweet ek sal ‘n platform moet skep. Aanvanklik was dit Kreativ Collectiv gewees maar met konstante tegniese probleme op daardie webwerf, en tyd vir hernuwing vir my domain het ek besluit dit is ‘n goeie idee om oor te slaan na KreativPreneur toe. Dit het maar alles met tydsberekeing te doen.

KreativPreneur is ‘n holistiese platform waar ek kyk na elke aspek van kreatiwiteit. Ons bestaan immers uit liggaam, siel en gees, ‘n volronde holistiese wese. God se DNA is in ons geprogrammeer en daaruit wys Hy ons nuwe dinge wat vir ons ‘n nuwe lewe voorberei.

M.a.w., Hy gee ons ‘n platform om selfversorgend te word mits ons gekonnekteer is met Hom. Ons is elkeen ‘n put. Elkeen se put verskil in diepte en die donker vrese van die onbekende. Maar wanneer ons toelaat dat God deur ons werk begin daardie put oop te maak en die donker word verruil vir lig. Die water begin te styg, later stroom dit oor die rotswande wat dan ‘n stroom word. Hierdie stroom word ‘n volwaardige rivier. Die doel van KreativPreneur is dan om elkeen te help om daardie stroom te bereik.  

Openbaring praat van ‘n rivier wat gevul word met visse wat dui op voorsiening, die blare wat nie verwelk nie wat dui op God se genesing en ons bewaar. Die goeie vrugte wat genesend en voedend van aard is, is wat ons uit gee aan die mense wat ons pad kruis.

Hierdie prentjie is lewendig in my hart. My stroompie moet aansluit by jou stroompie. Ons kan dit nie alleen doen nie. Ons het mekaar nodig want dan word ons ‘n rivier wat deur die land vloei met genesing in ons dieptes en voorsiening in ons samestelling.

5. Die Waarheid se Dig en Skryf kompetisie - is daar nuwe talent in SA?

Ek glo daar is. Die pad is oop vir elkeen om te ontwikkel mits hulle luister na die raad wat gegee word. Dit is so maklik om in ‘n strik te val van “ek weet”. Glo my, selfs na 13 jaar weet ek nog nie als nie. Ek maak nogsteeds foute. Maar wanneer jy bereid is om te leer en aan te hou skryf sal die woorde outomaties kom en saam met dit die deurbraak.

Die geheim is skryf en lees. As ‘n skrywer is die twee onlosmaaklik deel van jou.

Ek lees ten minste een boek ‘n week. Ek lees verskillende genres want elkeen leer my iets. Daar is baie skrywers wat niks lees nie en nie kan verstaan hoekom hulle nie ontwikkel nie. Lees is ‘n katalisator vir jou eie skryfwerk. Of jou nou fiksie, nie-fiksie of net die Bybel lees. Jy moet lees.

Saam met dit moet jy ‘n tweede vel ontwikkel. Daar was verskeie kere wat ek wou ophou. Daar is mense wat dink ek is sub-standaard. Daar is mense wat dink hulle kan dit beter doen as ek. Maar ek is nog hier, waar is die mense? Jy moet in jouself glo. Niemand anders gaan nie. Baie mense stop met die eerste kriteik wat die verkeerdste ding kan wees.

6. Hoe oorkom skrywers die vrees om te begin?

Vir elkeen is dit anders. Maar dit is eintlik eenvoudig. Deur op jou knieë te gaan en Vader toe te laat om deur jou te werk. Ons kreatiwiteit kom van Hom af. Hy weet waarmee ons sukkel. Hy weet van elke vreesagtge gedagte en gevangeniskap waarin ons is. Hy weet hoe ons aanmekaar gesit is.

Maar ten spyte daarvan het Hy sy asem in ons geblaas. Daardie asem is lewend en kragtig om elke muur van vrees te oorwin. Wanneer ek Hom vertrou en al my vrese voor Hom neersit dan help Hy my om dit te oorkom.

Die volgende stap is om te gaan sit voor daardie sleutelbord en jou gedagtes neer te pen.

Deel van die 9-weke kursus is om elke dag vir daardie nege weke elke oggend jou hand op papier te sit en te skryf. Deur net te skryf sonder om te dink oor wat jy skryf maak jy ‘n deur oop vir woorde om te vloei. Kort voor lank begin stories tevoorskyn kom. Of ‘n gedagte vir ‘n boek. Of ‘n gedagte vir ‘n rolprent. God wil sy Hart aan jou openbaar en wanneer jy tyd maak om stil te word begin Hy om die pen oor te vat.  

Maar dit begin by daardie eerste stap. Om jou knie te buig en stil te word. Wanneer ons in tap in God in wys Hy jou die pad vorentoe. Hy help jou om daardie vrees te oorwin.

7. Waarna sien jy uit vir die toekoms van 'skryf' in Suid Afrika?

Die toekoms van Skryf in Suid Afrika is baie helder en blink. ‘n Mens sien dit oral op die Internet. Die skrywersplatforms op FB alleen is legio. Met mense wat passievol hierdie craft volhou sal skryf ‘n permanente rol speel in ons lewe.

Ek lees nou die dag dat AI of Artificial intelligence skryf gaan oorneem in die toekoms. Maar ek kan nie sien dat dit wel sal gebeur nie. AI kan nie emosies skryf nie. AI kan nie die kleure van ‘n Bosveld sonsondergang beskryf nie. Dit kan ook nie die pyn van ‘n kind weergee of die weëmoed van ‘n moeder of die absolute radeloosheid van ‘n vader nie. Dit is nie in sy DNA geskryf nie. Net die mens kan uiting gee aan dit wat hier binne gebeur.

Skryf is ‘n tasbare lewende organisme wat niemand kan keer nie. Selfs al moet ons op klip skryf sal dit voortleef.

8. Hoe werk die Writer's Journal for Beginners? Hoekom is daar so baie mense wat deesdae hul stories wil skryf?

Writer’s Journal for Beginners is ‘n samevatting van wat ek geleer het die afgelope jare. Dit is die fondasie van skryf en waarna om te kyk. In Suid Afrika is daar min sulke boeke beskikbaar en met ‘n groeiende mark wil mense weet hoe. Met die knaende kragprobleem in ons land wil mense ‘n werksboek in hul hande hê.

Die riglyne is weereens ‘n omvattende holistiese kyk na jouself. Die joernaal begin met dertien vrae wat jy moet deurwerk. Juis om daardie vrese waarvan ons vroeër gepraat het te kan uitwis. wanneer jy jouself begin verstaan dan kan jy makliker deurbreek deur die blokke wat jou probeer terug hou. Wanneer dit klaar is teken jy ‘n Honouring pledge met jouself. ‘n Sertifikaat wat jou verantwoordelik hou vir die projek waarmee jy begin.

Ek help jou van karakter en wêreld bou tot hoe om jou woorde te hou (Of Word Tracker). Dit is ‘n aansporing asook ‘n middel om jou gefokus te hou op die eind doel.

Wat is die verskillende oogpunte waaruit jy kan skryf. Waarna om te kyk as jy ‘n karakter wil skep, ens.

Elkeen van ons het ‘n storie om te vertel. Of dit nou in fiksie is of nie-fiksie. Daardie storie brand in jou en vroeër of later wil hy uit. Hy wil die lig sien. Met al hoe meer stemme wat die lugruim beset kan ‘n mens maklik voel jy word nie raak gesien of gehoor nie. Om jou storie te vertel is om jou stem te laat hoor. Al is dit al wat jy agter laat, vir iemand sal dit iets beteken.

9. Vertel meer oor Joernaal reeks vir vroue.

Die erfenis reeks is een van KreativPreneur se eerste babas. Omdat ekself uit ‘n gebroke huwelik kom en die pad van opstaan ken verstaan ek die waarde van ondersteuning.

Die joernaal reeks, wat in al die landstale beskikbaar sal wees is ‘n ondersteuningsmiddel vir vroue wat weer van vooraf moet begin. Selfs die jonger geslagte, om hulle te help om doelgerig te lewe te daarby te hou. Sodat hulle kan besef daar is meer in die lewe as net dwelms, kêrels en om getroud te wees.

Daar is ook plek vir ‘n gebedsjoernaal, dankbaarheid, finansiële en spaar joernaal asook ‘n lees joernaal. Die is amper klaar en sal beskikbaar wees aanlyn in my webwerf en FB winkel.

Die vertalings vat bietjie langer as wat ek gedink het maar dit kom daar.

10. Hoekom juis vroue?

Selfs in vandag se tyd waar vrouens als kan doen wat ‘n man kan doen is die vrou nogsteeds in baie opsigte agter. Baie glo hulle is net geroep om ma te wees en ‘n tuisteskepper te wees maar word as vrou heeltemal mis gekyk. Ekself was ‘n huisvrou vir negentien jaar, en daar is niks mee verkeerd nie maar vroeër of later kom die “resentment” of wrok na vore en jy glo jy kan niks doen nie.

Baie glo hulle het niks om te bied nie. Van 2017 tot begin 2019, ek hoop ek het die datums reg, het ek ‘n radio program gehad vir enkellopende vroue, Diamant Divas, op Elan Global Radio. Ek wou vroue help om die gevare van ‘n enkellopende pad raak te sien en ook te leer waarvoor om uit te kyk. Asook om hulle aan te spoor om weer te gaan leer.

Wat ek uit my eie pad geleer het en ook met die wat met my gesels het is dat ons baie goed nie weet nie. Baie vrouens is nie “street smart” nie. Juis omdat ons weggehou word, in watte toegedraai word en glo ons kan niks anders doen nie. Maar die dag wat ons opstaan is ondersteuning yl.

Dit is ‘n brandende passie in my om vrouens te help om op te staan. Om vir hulle ‘n platform te skep waar hulle weer volwaardig vrou kan word.

11. Nuwe boek oppad... wanneer? Wat maak jou opgewonde oor die verhaal?

Daar is twee boeke wat albei halfpad is. Die een is The Connection Series. Die storie is gebore toe my seun Amerika toe is. Dit was my manier om oor dit te kom en die mooi daarin te sien.

Dit handel oor twee families: die Calloway’s, in Amerika en die Stevenson familie hier in Suid Afrika. Elke boek in die reeks handel oor ‘n Bybelse waarheid. Die eerste boek is Source of Joy, en is ligweg gegrond op Abigail en Dawid se storie.

Die ander boeke in die reeks handel oor tweede kanse (Second Chances), om ‘n vrou van inbors te wees (Wife of Nobility), geopende hemel (Open Heavens) en genadehuis (House of Mercy). Elkeen handel oor gehoorsaamheid en net soos met Love at War moet die karakters luister en gekonnekteer wees met God om hul seën te kan ontvang.

Die ander boek is Seisoen van Liefde wat handel oor ‘n pa en dogter wat smag na ‘n nuwe lewe met ‘n paar twists in die storielyn.

Al my boeke het ‘n Bybelse waarheid in. Met Love at War is dit baie prominent waar die ander se storielyn nie so opvallend is nie ten sy jy geestelik ingestel is om dit te ontvang.   

Besoek Die Waarheid FB blad plasing hier, en skryf in vir die Boek Bundel Valentyn’s kompetisie. 

Deel FB post wat Die Waarheid Radio, KreativPreneur, Lynelle Clark en al my links ook.

Valentynsdag is om die draai!

Jy kan lekker WEN vir jouself óf vir die spesiale persoon in jou lewe.

Om te kan skryf is om uiting te gee aan dinge wat almal nie altyd verstaan nie. Lynelle Clark, outeur en een van die beoordelaars van Die Waarheid se Dig en Skryf kompetisie, verstaan die skryfkuns egter baie goed. Sy het by Die Waarheid Radio kom kuier en een gelukkige luisteraar kan haar boekbundel wen vir Valentynsdag. Dit sluit die volgende 6 boeke uit haar pen in: A Pirate's Wife, Bella's Choice, Love at war, Blood Mines, Gedagte Kringe en Juweel van die Oosgrens. ’n Behoorlike bederf vir enige boekwurm.

Hoe kan jy inskryf om te WEN:

1. Deel hierdie plasing met soveel as moontlik mense. Elke 'share' tel as ’n inskrywing.

2. Gaan ‘like’ Lynelle Clark se Facebook en Instagram bladsye

https://www.facebook.com/lynengclk

https://www.instagram.com/lynelle.clark/?hl=en

3. Volg die Waarheid Radio op Facebook, Instagram en YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/diewaarheidradio

https://www.instagram.com/diewaarheidradio/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@diewaarheidradio2541

4. Sluit aan by KreativePreneur Club op Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kreativpreneurclub

 

Release your Creativity: Part 5: Action

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5

Free Download: Introduction Release Your Creative Manual 

 The smallest of actions, even the insignificant, can lead to great success. It’s been said that actions, like pictures, are worth a thousand words. We could have the best idea and the greatest plan, but without action, we would still fail.

Each step leads into the right direction. We call it action.

When you stand still, you don’t apply action. You are unmovable and will stay put. It is only when you lift your foot and put it down a little further that you move. Each step gives you confidence and boldness to go further. Reach higher.

When you have a desire to bake a cake and you don’t visit the shop to buy the ingredients, it will remain a desire. Even if you bought the ingredients and don’t bake it, it will remain a desire.

Desire is born from a deep-seated dream that wants to push you forward.

A dream can only come forward once you put it on a vision board. It applies to everything you want to do. The book you want to write. Being a full-time actor, movie producer, etc. Hang it somewhere where it is visible every day. Behind the toilet door, inside your bedroom cupboard; any place where you will see it. A vision board doesn’t help if you hide it away. It needs to be in the open.  

Do you want to travel? Create a vision board of all the places you would like to visit. Read about them in your spare time.

This all has to do with action. Preparation and action equals results.

Each action step propels you closer to the dream, builds desire, and opens doors in the most unusual ways.

At times, we can take the wrong step, but you have learned from it. Never think that a mistake is a negative. No, a mistake is part of the lessons we learn. School money. Knowledge is part of the formula to move. Knowledge is always tested. Sometimes, you learn the wrong skill; or is it? No skill is wrong. You never know what the future holds; It may come in handy when life turns on you.

Be active in action.

©Lynelle Clark 2022

Seven Characteristics of a Fully-Functioning Person

Written by Kain Ramsay

One of my biggest influences in the realm of personal development has been the work of Carl Rogers, the pioneer of person-centred counselling and author of 'On Becoming a Person'. I first came across his work while studying entry-level psychology and explored it further as I trained in counselling over a decade ago.

The greatest thing about Rogers' methodology for me is his humanity and compassion. He is extremely considerate of our individuality, emphasizes potential rather than pathology, and allows a lot of space in his theories and frameworks for people to be themselves and live the concepts in accordance with who they are.

One of these frameworks, and the one I'd like to discuss in this article, is the seven characteristics of a fully-functioning person, which he discusses in his excellent book On Becoming a Person. These qualities aren't something we reach at; instead, they're a continual process we strive for (Rogers refers to this as "the good life).

As you'll see, these qualities are more philosophical in nature than practical life advice, and many of them are interconnected. They're all about optimising our human potential and offering a beneficial summary of things to be aware of as we reflect on our daily lives.

Here are the Seven Characteristics of a Fully-Functioning Person;

# 1. Growing Openness to Experience

Having a growing openness to experience is about learning to accept the circumstances of life as they are, without needing them to be something different. It's also about stepping away from defensiveness. In this light, Defensiveness might be characterized as: "self-defense in the form of righteous indignation or innocent victimhood to avoid a perceived assault."

When we feel under emotional assault or criticism, defensiveness is generally synonymous with redirecting the blame away from ourselves and onto someone else. We are more receptive to what is unfolding before us as it occurs since we are less prone to react in an unconscious, knee-jerk manner.

# 2. Living Life Existentially

We tend to interpret our experiences through the prism of what we already believe about ourselves and the world, usually in a way that confirms these beliefs. However, when we embrace Rogers's "increasingly existential lifestyle," we reverse this process, allowing our personality and self-concept to develop based on what we are experiencing (rather than the other way around).

So, what does this imply in practice? Let's assume a person praises us for a job well done. If we apply our current belief system (which holds that we're not very good at what we're doing), we might dismiss their statement as them "just being polite" or even respond with, "Oh, it was nothing...," thus rejecting the compliment. However, if we allow our experience to shape our self-esteem, we may accept this compliment for what it is. Just a compliment.

This, too, demands us to cultivate mindfulness and live each moment completely. What I enjoy about this quality is that it includes a little mystery. Who knows what's possible if we let ourselves be open to our present-moment experience?

# 3. Increased trust in the Self

Self-confidence, in a nutshell. This is about believing in our judgment and ability to act appropriately in any situation. It's all about developing our sense of ethics and personal moral compass (rather than simply following the beliefs of others around us). This then leads us into...

# 4. Freedom of Choice

When we trust our internal procedure and external actions, we gain more freedom of choice. We are conscious of the distinction between “have to” and “choose to,” and because we understand that we have the power to respond in any scenario, we accept responsibility for our choices and conduct.

Granted, we live in a world where many people do self-centred, greedy, vindictive and highly destructive things, and while we have no freedom to choose what happens to us, we 100% have the freedom to choose how we respond in each situation that we face.

It's true that in some contexts, "control" has a negative connotation, but it is also true to say we have complete agency over all of our decisions and actions, allowing us to be who we are and act in accordance with our values and sense of right and wrong. Which then leads us to...

# 5. Raw Creativity

With the confidence to be ourselves and the self-trust that comes with it, we are able to be more inventive. As Rogers points out, without feeling compelled to conform to norms and values that are in conflict with our own, we may be even more creative when it comes to adjusting to our circumstances. Some people go on to found multinational corporations, socially innovative enterprises, and world-changing products or services during this stage of human development.

# 6. Consistency and Constructiveness

This idea appeals to me because it addresses the relationship between our inner and external selves. Rogers describes this as being open to all of our requirements while also maintaining a balance between them. According to Rogers, when individuals develop a congruent view of themselves (one in which their self-worth, self-image, and ideal self are similar rather than distinct), even aggressive needs are answered by inherent goodness within the individual.

# 7. A Purpose Oriented Life

The “fully-functioning” individual, according to Rogers, feels pleasure and pain, love and heartbreak, anxiety and bravery more intensely, and does not need more of or less of these experiences. The purpose-oriented individual is open to experiencing everything that life has to offer - including both good and bad.

Human beings cannot choose to be ignorant of specific events: when we numb so-called unpleasant emotions, we also numb everything. Receiving the entire spectrum of human existence - the good, the unbearable, and the heartbreaking - means opening ourselves up to a full, rich and purpose-oriented life.

And living life this way isn’t easy. As Rogers writes in On Becoming a Person:

“This process of the good life is not for the faint-hearted. It involves stretching, growing and embracing more and more of one’s potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means immersing oneself fully into the stream of life.”

So to summarise, is it possible for you to become a fully functioning person?

Yes, of course, it is. But to achieve this, you must become willing to let go of any expectations you have regarding how your life should go. Lose your opinions, disregard your biases, your fears, insecurities, and embrace the opportunity you have to step apart from the norms that the majority of people live their lives by.

PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

1. What are your initial thoughts about these characteristics?

2. In what ways are you unwilling to accept certain experiences?

3. In what ways can you become more fully functioning today?

Creativity 101: Your mind.

 

I wrote to block out my reality.

I wrote to block out all the anger and pain.

I wrote of lost dreams and empty promises all in fiction form to create a happy ending.

I wrote 22 books during that time.

Our mind is a powerful tool.

A tool that can propel us forward or set us in park mode for a long time. Unless we do something about it.

Our mind is controlled by our experiences, cultural surroundings, and emotions. Even the people we hang out with has an effect. This is the reason we should be wary with who we associate.

Our mind is like a sponge that takes everything in, then compartmentalized them into folders. Some to use now, others to use later. And others to use as our momentum to move or stop.

The more you fill it with good, positive things, the more you will grow. Those things are like vitamins to your body.

To be a whole person, you must guard your heart and mind. To be effective in the world.

No matter the bad that has happened in the past, you can change the bad in the good and the ugly in the best by building and growing.

Once you stop...you die.

Back then, I knew my artistic side needed an outlet which spilled over on paper. I was astonished and flabbergasted at the same time. Even ten years later, I still have the thrill of creating something from the words in my mind.

What do you do to feed your mind?

With what do you feed it?

How can you benefit from investing in the good to excel?

#ReleaseYourCreativity #creativity101