Becoming a Life Change Artist: 7 Creative Skills to Reinvent Yourself at Any Stage of Life

You just know when you finish a great book such as Becoming a Life Change Artist when its message stays with you like a best friend. I think this book merits a five star rating. So many people today are realizing the need to reinvent themselves. I could relate to many of the interviews and stories of people who had, in some cases through no fault of their own, a need to re assess the direction they were heading. The authors made a clear comparison between what many historical artists already knew, what was required to get to a place to create their masterpiece. The book inspires and steps you through the necessary ingredients for a life change to occur. The Creativity Calculator helps the reader to assess their own strengths and quickly identify areas which might need attention. As a life coach, I will be recommending my clients who are going though their own life evaluation to read this book. I personally revealed two areas in which more attention needs to be paid. The gentle approach unlike some other self discovery books leaves you with a feeling of "can do".It gives you permission to move forward at a pace that is comfortable, while recapturing your lost creativity skills long lost in a busy harried world. If you are in a situation that feels overwhelming or if you have been assessing the direction of your life, Becoming a Life Change Artist is a great book to assist you in finding your new path. Becoming a Life Change Artist: 7 Creative Skills to Reinvent Yourself at Any Stage of Life

I got this book because of knowing one of the authors. I devoured it within 4 days - despite balancing commitments to my vocation and my children - because of the story itself. I had no idea what to expect when starting this book other than a wide anticipation of some type of wisdom about creativity. The book goes far beyond that. It interlaces stories of "real people" who have struggled and found their own strength to create their lives with fascinating descriptions of well-known artists throughout history to demonstrate how designing one's own life is not limited to the realm of the "other people". Questions posed to the reader truly invite the reader to take the wisdom from being in the realm of "them" to "us" to "me". The authors underline the rewards yet also acknowledge the hardships of creatively designing and taking responsibility for one's own life. I also will admit that I generally shy away from books offering specific steps - i.e. "10 steps to ...." or "The only 3 Tools You'll Need to....". Fortunately, while this book does indeed pose 7 specific creative skills, it presents them in a fascinating open way that allows the reader to follow the specific skills or simply take the stories offered and incorporate them into a language that speaks to the reader personally. The book is wonderfully presented, delving first into the process of life change (i.e. what it means, how it applies to those who would call themselves "artists" but also and primarily towards those just feeling the pull of Change in their lives), then offering skills for living creatively (from ideas such as Embracing Uncertainty to Discipline). The final chapter provides an excellent wrap up and inspirational send-off. While the authors did a fascinating amount of research, speaking to individuals and diving into art history, for me the strength of this book lies in its readability and practical applications. Many times I get too overwhelmed with a book and end up not finishing it. I read through this book, even stopping to take notes, and finished it - with a lingering desire to read through it again. Summary: *Applicable to a wide variety of lifestyles *Very easy to read - practical and entertaining *7 primary skills, mixed with several other techniques, offered to help readers be an active participant in their own life *Mix of historical research (primarily of well-known artists) woven with present-day stories of "real people" *Excellent approach towards encouraging everyone to take responsibility for our individual lives and practical approaches towards creatively forming your days - regardless of obstacles

Whether you're somebody who's stuck in a life that doesn't correspond to what you had dreamed for yourself--or are already ready to embark on a path of discovery and risk, this book offers plenty of real-life success stories, exercises to help you cement what it is you really want, and offers new ways of looking at those scary transitional times and coming through them. At a time when so many of us are making huge life transitions, brought about by changes in careers or marriages we thought might last a lifetime but didn't, this book comes as an inspirational look at all the different ways there are to discover how to create a life that YOU want. The authors offer concrete tips for moving forward and the exploration of seven key strengths that other creative minds have shared. Change in life is a constant, and this is a great book for helping us through.