Boost Your Ability To Create

What does it mean to create, and how does it apply in your life?

I was watching a show on the History Channel the other night, and they were doing an episode on inventions that transformed housework.

The story that really captured my attention was about Josephine Cochran, the woman who invented the dishwasher.

First of all, I had NO idea the dishwasher was created in the late 1800s!

Second, I never realized it was invented by a woman.

Josephine was a socialite who came up with the idea out of frustration.

Each time her china was used and hand-washed, she would find new chips.

Thinking that maybe the servants were just being careless, she took it upon herself to wash the china following a dinner party… and quickly found out how easily china could be damaged by the scrubbing, rinsing, and drying process.

She also got a taste of how time-consuming that chore was. (I think a lot of us caught onto that a lot faster than she did!)

But she didn’t let that stop her. She leaned in, pushed through the obstacles, and found a way to present her creation to the world – with confidence and determination.

There are so many stories like Josephine’s out there. People who created wonderful products that made our lives easier or better. Or people who created great songs, stories, or works of art that touched our lives.

But how else do we, or can we, create?

Other ways to create are a little less obvious – like creating the life and business we want. That’s just as real as something we can physically touch or experience with our other senses.

And when you think about it, Josephine didn’t just create the dishwasher. She also created a business and a source of income for herself in the process of creating that dishwasher.

We all have that ability. That ability to create the solution to a problem or fulfill a desire in our lives.

We can create the successful business we dream of. We can create the personal life/family life we want. We can create the financial security we want, too.

The question becomes how do we boost our ability to create in that way?

How many times in your life have you held back on a wonderful idea, or hesitated to take a new direction in your business, because you doubted your skills or ability?

Talked yourself out of it because you saw the obstacles you might face and questioned whether you could see it through?

Or thought the cost was too high?

Or feared making the effort and failing would reveal your shortcomings to the world?

It often seems easier to stay in the “safe zone” of where we are, but staying where we are won’t get us where we want to go.

But fear or doubt should never keep us from creating, innovating, sharing our gifts with the world, or having the life we want.

Finally, we have to be present and take action. Do the leg-work and actively engage in the creating.

Then set aside any fears and doubts and focus on creating the environment that ignites productivity, invites inspiration, and fills your days with purpose and passion.

And consistently take action toward what you want to create. Every day.

If you can do that, you will create the life and business you dream of. And you may just find yourself basking in the glow of satisfaction and success – as well as becoming one of the inspirational stories that may someday be told.