JimKitzmiller.net» creativity

The Downside of Simplicity

Jim — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:48:31 +0000

Simplicity is good. Right?

Well it is intrinsically good. Unfortunately the essence of our world is covered by impressions. These impressions are false creations of our egos. We see veils of illusion instead of Divine Essence.

We love to watch Indiana Jones overcome impossible odds and battle away to recover The Lost Arc. We buy lots of popcorn and the theater owners are happy.

But what would we do if Jones simply waved his hand and The Ark appeared in the desired destination? We certainly wouldn’t buy much popcorn. And we would probably want our ticket money back.

You might know that I’ve earned my living as a computer consultant. I developed application software for corporations.

The manager bought me a tuna fish sandwich. Admittedly the sandwich was really good. But it didn’t come close to covering the price of my gas to get there and back.

One time I visited the data processing manager of a local school district. He was wondering if it was possible to get a certain project done in three months.

So I drove fifty miles each way to meet with him and his team of computer professionals. I solved the problem during the initial meeting. The computer pros sheepishly filed out of the room.

So instead of getting a three month computer programming contract, I lost money by presenting a simple solution.

On another occasion I programmed an accounting system for a certain kind of microcomputer. One of the computer manufacturers looked at the printout of my software. He said it couldn’t be worth much because the stack of paper wasn’t thick.

Never mind that the programming was very efficient. The efficient programming was estimated at a low value because there wasn’t a lot of it. Too efficient. Too simple.

Spiritual Entertainment

This same story seems to apply in the self-help / spiritual world. Many of the popular spiritual / self-help solutions are what you might call spiritual entertainment. Usually there is no significant improvement in the life quality of the people being entertained.

A short while ago somebody complained that my blissercises were not worth much because they all shared a common structure. Essentially they were too simple and easy to do.

The sad part is that she probably never did any of the blissercises because they were too simple. She missed out on huge life-changing benefits.

What is my responsibility in all this? Well, if I don’t present my material in a way that people will accept it, value it, and use it, then the fault is in my failure to communicate.

What do you think? Please leave a comment below.

Creative Self-Expression – Write A Screenplay In April

Jim — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:01:41 +0000

There is more to creativity than sitting and trying to figure things out. In fact, creativity is quite often the opposite. Let go and let your stream of consciousness flow. Let the words flow through you. That might have many names including:

your muse
Divine Inspiration
letting go
surrender
getting out of the way
creative flow

Whatever label you use, it is readily available to you.

Most famous writers say they discipline themselves to sit and write – no matter how they feel.

Inspiration follows perspiration.

Script Frenzy is an event that takes place every year in the month of April. People all over the world give themselves the challenge of writing the first draft of a 100+ page movie script, television script, or whatever. It is a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun.

You can find out more at the Script Frenzy website.

If you’d care to play, please add me as a writing buddy. My screen name is Blissercise.

May the bliss be with you.

Your friend,
Jim Kitzmiller

What is Bliss Writing?

Jim — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:49:40 +0000

The following is the title page and the preface from my first bliss written novel – Duke Blisser and the Meditating Marines.

Gliding on Life’s Winds with God – An Example of Using Bliss Writing to Have a Life of Radiant Health, Abundance, and Bliss

The purpose is to use bliss writing to imagine and create a better life for the author.

Bliss Writing is an extremely powerful method of self-improvement and spiritual growth. The benefits are almost too great to imagine.

For one thing, you can sit down with a notepad and pen, or a computer and type your way to a better life. This is absolutely amazing. You can take great strides toward your new life in as little as twenty minutes, or ten minutes if you’re pressed for time.

Perhaps the ultimate is writing a novel in a month.

The benefits include:

increased self confidence
increased creativity
increased intelligence
greater imagination
greatly increased level of consciousness
improved physical

The Wonders of Barter

Jim — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:09:50 +0000

I am repeatedly amazed by what people can do without money.

A good friend of mine is welcome to stay in over twenty different homes. People just like having her around.

And I recently learned about a group who is getting a 4,500 square foot home on four acres. They are paying only utilities. The idea is they’ll do a major upgrade on the home in exchange for living there.

This group has a demonstrated history of extreme cleanliness and awesome building upgrades.

I know a woman who got free room and board in exchange for being a companion.

Sure we all need money. But we don’t have to feel trapped by economic conditions.

All it takes is some creativity and communication.

May the bliss be with you,

Your friend,
Jim Kitzmiller

P.S. Stay tuned for more posts on high level creative living.

Joyful, reinforced discovery spawns learning and creativity

Jim — Sat, 08 May 2010 17:24:59 +0000

This is much more powerful than you might have imagined. You probably have heard of the Law of Effect – what you reinforce becomes stronger. Or you get more of what you reinforce. This is sometimes called the Law of Attraction.

However, this is somewhat of a limited view. In addition to attracting we are uncovering more of what is already there.

Here’s how it works. We notice something in our physical environment and describe it verbally or in writing. As we describe that we notice more to describe. This can go on without limit.

We can begin with describing physical objects. And we continue with describing mental images. As we describe these mental images we notice more and more about them.

It’s been said that we use only a tiny portion of our brains. That tiny portion is the logical, verbal part of our brains. The vast unused portion is mostly related to images. This image portion is immensely vast and powerful. It contains “unthought of” creative solutions to problems. It contains creativity beyond problem solving. It contains information on anything we’ve experienced.

We get more of what we reinforce. One way to reinforce these awarenesses is to speak them or write them in detail. We describe them without stopping to evaluate them. We let the descriptions unfold (come through us) in a stream of consciousness fashion.

I believe that regular practice can help us live in a whole new world.

Joyful, reinforced discovery spawns learning and creativity.

Your friend,
Jim

Write a Novel in November

Jim — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:05:41 +0000

National Novel Writing Month goes from November 1 through November 30. 150,000 people around the world are committing to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days.

This is my third year participating in this fun. You can find out more at the National Novel Writing Month site.

I can personally tell you that this challenge can increase creativity, self-expression ability, and self-confidence.

If you wish, you can be my writing buddy.

Hope you can join me.

Jim

Let Go and Let God – Divine Creativity

Jim — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:08:45 +0000

When observing feelings with love, we can be creators. It’s much easier to create as the observer.

However, we channel God’s Divine power when we let go of control and ask God to work through us.

We can be creators through the free will granted us by God. But, the greatest creation of all is to let go of exercising our free will for a while, and invite God to work through us. This is Divine Creation.

Goals, Problems, and Solutions – Or High Level Creativity

Jim — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:10:57 +0000

When we use creativity to solve a problem, we’re still solving a problem. When we solve a problem we just create another problem. How do we handle this?

The systems mystic transcends problems and creates at the edge of form and essence.

When we do the exercises on this blog, and other similar exercises, we learn to operate at this high level. We create while in states of bliss or inner peace.

FYI, the Systems Mystic website, the Meditation Vacations website, and the blissercise blog are all merging into this blog.