CREATIVE SUCCESS NEWSLETTER - NUMBER 10 FEBRUARY 28, 2001

QUOTED IN WOMAN'S DAY

Check out the new issue of Woman's Day (3/13/2001) for a fabulous article
on The Healing Power of Crafts by Nancy Monson, where I am honored to be
quoted several times. Many women (and men) who claim to not be creative
are actually avid crafters. Of course, crafts are a wonderful expression
of creativity and have healing benefits as well. More than 80 percent of
all households have at least one family member doing crafts or hobbies and
the sales of crafts and hobby products are a $10 billion dollar a year
industry. As Nancy reminds us, crafting is wonderful therapy for body,
mind, and spirit. Nancy is a quilter herself and is writing a book called
Craft Therapy. She is looking for personal stories about crafts and
healing, so if you have one to share, email her at nmonson@reporters.net.
We will look forward to the success of her important book!

NEWSLETTER UPDATE

As we have so many new subscribers to this Creative Success Newsletter, I
want to make sure you are updated on our format. Beginning with last
years' release of my book The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women, we have
been highlighting one Secret per monthly Newsletter. This month we will
focus on Secret #10 and we will end with Secret #12 on May 30, 2001. I am
taking March off to celebrate the big 50. Then, starting in June, we will
begin a new Newsletter format for the next year based on my new book, The
Power of Positive Choices, which will be released by Conari Press on June
21st. By the way, all of my Creative Success Newsletters are archived on
my website at www.creativesuccess.com so you can go back and read any
issues you missed.

SECRET #10 LIVING IN ABUNDANCE WITH POSITIVE PRIORITIES

Abundance is the experience of plenty, often called prosperity. For
creative people, the opportunity to dance with the creative process is
itself an experience of abundance. Abundance invites us to live the life
we truly desire instead of settling for less. We are the choice-maker of
our own priorities. We do indeed design our own lives.

When I begin work with a coaching client, I take them through a series of
discovery exercises and conversations about what it is he/she truly
desires. Determining our priorities gives us a roadmap for
decision-making and quality of living. Let me share an example with you.
Sara (not her real name) contracted with me a few weeks ago to help her to
change careers. She wanted to express her submerged creativity. She had
read 12 Secrets and felt it was time to change her life. Her Positive
Priorities are: time to explore her creative potential, nurturing and
mutual relationships with others, healthy habits to support her body,
mind, and spirit, and continued opportunities for learning. Up until now,
her creativity has been lost in a stressful job in a city she no longer
loves and a legacy of putting everyone else's needs first. Her number one
creativity saboteur is guilt about finally defining and claiming her own
definition of abundance. By celebrating her Positive Priorities, Sara now
has a yardstick to guide her life choices.

Many of the women I interviewed in 12 Secrets had transformed their lives
to honor their Positive Priorities. There were 16 themes that appeared
again and again and I share them with you here to help you capture your
own Priorities:

1) Time for creative exploration
2) Fulfilling work
3) Encouraging partners, friends, and community
4) Personal growth experiences
5) Good health
6) Nurturing living spaces
7) Learning opportunities
8) Self-protection from negativity and toxic people
9) Reflective time
10) Spiritual practices and beliefs
11) Independence
12) Solitude as needed
13) Inner centeredness
14) Connection with nature and the arts
15) Inspiring activities
16) Balance

EXERCISE #10

Identify and record your top 5 Positive Priorities and post them where you
can view them daily, whether it's on the kitchen cabinet to study while
you are cooking or under your desk blotter or on your computer screen. At
the beginning of the week, make sure you are giving these Positive
Priorities TOP PRIORITY in your life. Schedule in time with friends or
your art or for exploring new careers FIRST into your life, not LAST.
Notice your decision-making process with each item and what
resistance/fear comes up this next month. If you want to do a craft or
write a business plan this week, make it happen. Make this Priority a
centerpiece in your life and your life will move in the direction of your
dreams. Learn to keep your commitments to yourself in the same way you
keep your promises to others. Write us with your success stories and
we'll publish them in April.

12 SECRETS SUPPORT GROUPS

Liz, my wonderful Virtual Assistant, and I are compiling a resource list
of women who are running 12 Secrets Support Groups all over the country.
When I wrote my book The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women, I set it up
to be easily used with a group. Each week, group members read a chapter
and do the Challenges in the book and then share their insights and goals
at the next meeting. As I advise in the book, leave your judgements at
the door and support your peers in their own process. Everyone's creative
path is different and has its own twists and turns. Offer support and
guidance that will be helpful not destructive.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 22, 2001
Barnes and Nobles Books in Braintree, MA

12 Secrets workshop at 7 PM.

April 17
Boston Learning Society
Needham, MA
12 Secrets workshop at 7 PM.
Call 781-453-9800 to register

May 21
Learning Annex in NYC
12 Secrets Workshop from 6:30-9:30 PM
Call 619-544-9700 to register

OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

BARBARA SHER

Barbara wrote a wonderful foreword for my new book and, of course, was
profiled in 12 Secrets. She has a new website www.SherSuccessTeams.com
which I highly recommend. She has also made a wonderful PBS special
called "How To Create A Second Life After 40" which is funny and
inspiring. If you have not seen this outstanding program, call your local
PBS station and request that they air her special. Then invite your
friends over and enjoy the show!

JAN PHILLIPS

Jan, author of Marry Your Muse, and endorser of 12 Secrets is coming to
Cohasset, MA on March 16 and 17 to present her workshop "Seeing Our Way
Clear: Using Images to Expand the Creative Imagination". Contact
781-383-0345 for information.

SUSAN TIBERGHIEN

Susan, author of Circling to the Center: One Woman's Encounter with Silent
Prayer and IWWG member, will be in Cambridge, MA on Friday March 2 for a
reading. Call 617-876-3256 for further info.

LYNN ROBINSON

My good friend Lynn Robinson's new book Divine Intuition: Your Guide to
Creating a Life You Love, was just released by DK Books. It is a work of
art itself and will coach you step-by-step on how to unlock your intuitive
code. I highly recommend it.

KATHLEEN ROGERS

Kathleen is an IWWG member and her play "The Arkansas Tornado" is part of
the Women on Top Theater Festival in Boston from 2/22-3/18. Call
617-332-0546 for tickets.

Wishing you much abundance which honors your own definition of it.
Embrace your Positive Priorities and revel in them! Until April.

Creatively yours,
Gail McMeekin

Feel free to forward this 12 Secrets of Creative Success Newsletter onto
your friends and associates. Please keep the whole message intact.

We also welcome your comments, which can be sent to
gail@creativesuccess.com.