As an entrepreneur, creativity is likely to be one of your many talents. And it’s essential, too. After all, coming up with new information products, articles and audio seminars is what keeps your clients coming back for more. If your business is in the arts, it’s every bit as important to constantly create new photos, paintings, jewelry or sculptures to capture your customers’ attention as well.

One thing you’ve probably noticed is that sometimes you’re a font of ideas and inspirations, and other times it’s like you’ve been exiled to a creative desert. So what do you do when your imagination takes a holiday and the same old thoughts are left circling in your mind endlessly…and unproductively?

Here are seven ways to pull yourself up out of the dreaded creative rut (and 2 bonus tips to help you avoid one altogether!). So read on, and be prepared.  You’re going to want to put down that chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream because after you’re finished with this article, you’ll be rolling up your sleeves and putting pen to paper to capture all your fantastic ideas.

1. Stop, think and breathe. Absolutely everyone has a dry spell from time to time. Believe it or not, a creative rut is not something to fret over, and it is never, ever permanent. Unfortunately, many people make it worse – and longer – by panicking. They start thinking negatively, and before you know it, they’ve worked themselves into a frenzy.“Oh, no. What am I going to do? What if I’m not able to come up with something?” has never helped anyone. All that kind of thinking does is create a vicious cycle of anxiety. When you feel yourself slipping into that mode, stop, take a nice deep breath, and another…and another.

   Deep breathing is one of the best things you can do for yourself in a stressful situation.  First of all, it helps you quiet your mind and clear your thoughts. Then, it increases oxygen levels in the blood which not only reduces stress but release endorphins – the feel-good chemicals in the brain. When you exhale, you eliminate toxins from your system.  Deep breathing is a win-win for both your body and your mind.

2. Talk it out. Have you ever noticed that talking about something makes it seem more possible? Or that when you talk about a problem, you feel more at ease? There truly is power in the spoken word. So when you feel troubled by your lack of progress, pick up the phone and call your business partner, a friend or your spouse – anyone who’s supportive and willing to listen. Ask them for a half hour of their time, and then explain  the ideal object you’d like to create, whether it be an innovative photo, an inspiring blog post, or a dazzling blue topaz bracelet.Imagine it in your mind as if it were perfect, and describe it in great detail. Let the ideas flow. Don’t censor yourself. It may help to have a piece of paper there to jot down notes, or you might want to tape the conversation so that you don’t forget any of the marvelous ideas you come up with!
3. Put it away. That’s right. Staring at the laptop for 8 hours instead of 6 isn’t going to make a difference. Put whatever you’re working on in a drawer, and don’t look at it until the next morning. Sometimes we need to get some distance from our work to really gain perspective.Here’s the key, though. Make sure that you take the time away from your project to do something you really enjoy. Go for a jog, watch a movie, call a friend, or even take a nice long bubble bath. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as it fills you with joy. Then, when you go to bed, turn the work over to your unconscious. You’ll be amazed at what a powerful combination of a peaceful mind and “sleeping on it” can be to overcoming roadblocks in creativity.
4. Be a copycat. If you’re having trouble thinking of what to create, look to others for inspiration. I took several wonderful jewelry-making classes a couple of years ago, and whenever we were at a loss for coming up with new ideas, our professor would send us to the walls in the back of the studio. They were covered in photos of the gorgeous jewelry other students and instructors had made. We’d pick out gorgeous pendants or earrings or rings that we admired and then recreate them – but with our own unique twist.
5. Troll online. Find about 2-4 examples of projects that you really admire. Put them in front of you, and really examine them. What caught your attention? What do you like about them? What makes their quality better than others? What similarities do you see among the examples? Essentially, you’re going a bit beyond the suggestion above and figuring out why this article (or photo or drawing, etc.) appeals to you. Then you’ll use these intangible assets to help you come up with your own idea.
6. Treat yourself to tools of the trade.  Buy yourself a new notebook and a pretty pen. Or maybe some new paint brushes or watercolors. Whatever your medium is, look for something useful, crisp and brand new you can buy for not a lot of money. Come on, who didn’t enjoy opening up a new box of Crayolas, inhaling that marvelously waxy scent, and getting to work on that picture of Scooby-Doo you knew your mom would put on the refrigerator? The newness of the materials screams of possibility and innovation.
7. Rediscover your passion. Make a list of 10 things you love about what you do. Is it the ability to help others realize their potential? Seeing an idea come to life through your careful guidance? How about being able to work from your basement so that you can pursue your dream and still see your baby take her first steps? Jot them all down, and fall in love again. It’s like being in a relationship. At times, we need to remind ourselves of all positives we live with every day – and tend to forget about. That reminder really can be enough to reignite inspiration. (And if you’re not sure what you’re passionate about, be sure to grab our FREE Passion Finding Exercise. It’s part of our Success Starter Kit, which you can get here.)

So pick out your favorite suggestion, and give it a try. All of these ideas are very helpful after the fact. But wouldn’t it be fantastic if your creative ruts were fewer? Here are two quick bonus tips to keep your imagination and creativity on track.

First, keep a notebook with you at all times, and write down (or sketch out) ideas as they occur to you. I have a notebook next to my bed, another one on my desk, one on the kitchen table, and one (with a Labrador retriever puppy on it ) in my handbag.  I jot down possible titles, blog and article topics, quotes that I run across, even phrases that I like so that I have them at my fingertips when needed. Although this may sound like common sense, it’s not common practice – and it works!

Finally, treat your creativity like a muscle, and be sure to exercise it. There are many great books on the market with activities to develop your creative mind. My personal favorite is The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron.  It has 12 weeks of exercises and thought-provoking ideas and questions to increase your innovation and keep you on track.

Remember, your creativity helps you to share your gift with the world. Nurture it and yourself to keep it in the best possible working order.

Of all the lessons Jasmine has taught me over the past dozen years of being a dog mom, one of the most powerful by far has been gratitude. I’ll never forget the first time I felt grateful for having that furry little child in my life.

I was living in Columbia, SC for over a year and a half at that point. I had moved over 500 miles from all my family and friends, and although I had wonderful colleagues and lived in a lovely community, I was still pretty lonely. Columbia is very family-oriented which, of course, is a great thing. But I was young and single, and there wasn’t much opportunity for socializing.

So Jasmine filled that void in my life. We went walking at Waterfront Park every weekend. I brought her to campus with me some days. She came with me on errands around our neighborhood. Not to mention that I met a lot of people through her. After all, there’s nothing like a beautiful, bouncy puppy to invite conversation. From the very beginning, I truly delighted in having her in my life.

But the first moment of unadulterated thankfulness came a couple of months later, standing in the Piggly Wiggly (for the uninitiated, that’s a large southern grocery chain). I was in the pet aisle, looking at the many shelves of dog treats trying to decide which she’d like best (foolish, I know, since most labs will eat dirt if you let them).

I was suddenly overcome by this feeling of profound gratitude that I had someone else to think about and love. It was wonderful to know that I had this other living, breathing creature sharing my life with me – she with her unbridled enthusiasm and relentless good nature. I uttered a silent thank you to the universe for my amazing good fortune – and then swept half a dozen boxes of doggy cookies in my cart before I moved on.

I also came to realize that thankfulness is a lesson you can and should apply to every area of your being, not just your personal life. For example, as an entrepreneur, I’m thankful that I get to be my own boss and wear my beautiful cashmere slippers while I write marketing copy on my chaise lounge. I’m grateful that I have a flexible schedule and that I get to be creative on daily basis.

When you stop and think about it, there is so much in this world to be grateful for – family, friends, laughter, sunshine, vacations, chocolate. And there has been a lot of research that shows that being grateful has many positive repercussions.

A recent study at the University of California, Davis found that people who practice gratitude regularly enjoy tremendous benefits, like:

• Increased optimism
• Increased alertness
• Greater enthusiasm
• Higher energy
• Better sleep
• Greater determination
• Higher achievement toward goals[i]

So here are a few simple ways to express your gratitude to the universe.  See which works for you. The key to reaping the benefits, though, is to do it on a regular basis. So…

• Try keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, write down five things that happened that you’re thankful for.
• Be grateful from A to Z. Make a list of the positive things in your life starting with the letter A. Are you thankful for the animals in your life? Your friend named Anna? Your wonderful business partner Angelique? What about the letter P? I know what I’m grateful for pasta and Pilates (and it’s no coincidence that those two items are listed together. )
• Whenever you find yourself angry at someone, stop and mentally list five things you’re grateful for about that person. (And “they pay me” is an acceptable answer. )
• Before you get out of bed in the morning, think of someone or something that makes you smile. Then say a quiet thank you as you get up to start your day.

And, of course, always remember what Oprah says about gratitude, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. ” Wise words from a wise woman … who has a Labrador retriever. Hmmm, think there’s a connection?

To say that I really enjoy reading is like saying trout really enjoy swimming or Labrador retrievers really enjoy, well, retrieving. Or like saying Clarence Clemons really enjoys playing the saxophone.

As a matter of fact, I’m currently reading (devouring, actually) Big Man: Real Life and Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons (the Big Man himself) and Don Reo. It’s an amazing collection of stories from Clarence’s life, primarily the times he’s spent on the road, touring with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

One thing that keeps coming up over and over again is the minute the Big Man started playing the saxophone, he knew that was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He talks about how the first time he picked up the instrument, “It was as if a part of me that had been missing was suddenly restored. For the first time in my life I felt complete.”

You know, I believe one reason why we all love watching performers like Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons so much is because that deep-seated passion of theirs so clearly comes through when they’re on stage.

As you watch The Boss slide across the stage on his knees with his guitar held high during “Born to Run,” or as you hear the Big Man blow out those gorgeous notes in the middle of “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out,” you immediately know that there’s nowhere else on earth these people would rather be, and you’re lucky enough to get to share this experience with them. It’s powerful and intoxicating, and wouldn’t we all love to have that?

The good thing I’ll share with you is that loving what you do is not restricted to poets, geniuses and musicians (with The Boss being all three .)

Although I would never claim to have the talent of Bruce or Clarence, to a certain extent, I do know how they feel.

Years ago, right out of my master’s program, I started teaching at Harford Community College here in Baltimore. For four semesters I taught “Marriage and the Family” in the Sociology Department, and the very first time a student “got it” and told me after class how she was able to use the information I had taught in her real life, I was hooked. I felt like teaching was what I was meant to do.

That was more years ago than I care to remember, and lots of things have changed. Now, for example, I teach solopreneurs how to improve their businesses and their lives through coaching rather than classroom teaching, but the feeling of “this is what I’m meant to do” remains. And let me tell you, having that passion is wonderful.

In fact, when you’re an entrepreneur, it’s a necessity. You need to love what you do to motivate and sustain yourself as you build your business. For many people, though, figuring out what your passions and talents are, not to mention how to turn them into a profitable business, can really be challenging.

Is that where you are now? Knowing that you want to begin your entrepreneurial dream but not sure what kind of business to start? Or do you have an idea of what you’d like to do but don’t know how to get it up and running? Or maybe you’ve already started the business of your dreams, but aren’t having the kind of success you imagined?

If you can answer “Yes!” to any of these questions, then I invite you to join Angelique and me for a FREE call on February 10. “How to Create Your Ideal Business that Sells for You Naturally” will educate and inspire you. And, the best part is that we’re going to share with you our 5-step formula to using your passion, talents and experience in creating your entrepreneurial dream.

You won’t get to hear any wailing sax, but we hope you join us for the call. Sign up here.

If you’ve seen my bio on Twitter or Facebook or been around my house on a Sunday afternoon, then you know I love football. Being a Baltimore girl born and bred, my favorite team is, of course, the Ravens.

On game day, I pull out my purple and black jersey (#92, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata), buy both the purple cauliflower and purple ketchup for the game day eats (I swear they really do make the stuff), and make sure to don my official NFL Baltimore Ravens undies (okay, probably TMI, but I’m trying to make a point here ).

So it should come as no big surprise then that I follow the Ravens rabidly on Twitter. And, right before the Ravens – Raiders game this past Sunday, I came across this post on the official site: “The only team that can beat the Ravens Sunday is the Ravens.”

That line really grabbed my attention, so of course I had to read the attached article. I then found myself  thinking about it for days and even mentioning it in conversations. Why? Well, first of all, because it’s true: the Ravens have sabotaged themselves this entire season with penalties (they’re third in the league for penalties right now – ugh!). The other reason that statement resonated so much with me is that I see that kind of self-destructive behavior occurring with not only my favorite team, but to a lot of other people as well.

Unfortunately, in real life, no one has officials following you around, throwing yellow flags on the ground when you step out of line, but wouldn’t it be helpful if you did? Then, the next time you’re in the midst of agreeing to help out your aunt’s neighbor’s daughter who can’t actually afford to pay for your services, you’d hear that whistle blow and stop you dead in your tracks.

Or when you’re reaching for that second piece of cake.  Or when you use that tone of voice that you just know is going to trigger an argument with your spouse.

There are so many things we all do that aren’t in our own best interest. This is just a partial list of common self-defeating behaviors, but take a look and see how many you’ve done in the last week:

• Procrastination
• Perfectionism
• Avoidance
• Inability to say ‘no’
• Over- or under-eating
• Dependency
• Constant complaining or blaming
• People-pleasing

None of these behaviors is any big deal if we only do them occasionally. Everybody whines sometimes. And who hasn’t had a bad day and made it better with an entire pint of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough? It’s when these behaviors start becoming a regular practice that you cross the line into being your own worst enemy.

For most people, self-defeating behavior has its roots in childhood.  You may, for example, have learned to deal with a very critical parent by constantly trying to please or do everything perfectly.  (Before your eyes start to gloss over, I’m not going to drone on about making peace with your inner child or try to get you to embark on decades of therapy, so just hang in with me for a little bit.)

I mention this because it’s important for you to know where this behavior comes from.  Awareness is the key to overcoming self-defeating tendencies. First, you need to catch yourself starting down the path of self-sabotage, and then try doing one or more of these things instead:

• Remind yourself that although this behavior may have served a function in the past, you no longer have to worry about making the bed with hospital corners lest your mom throw a fit. That was then, and this is now. Too often, we continue to live as we did years ago even when the behavior ceases to fit.  Just acknowledging that to ourselves can help us ease off before we go into a downward avoidant or perfectionist spiral.

• Realize that your self-defeating behaviors are just behaviors; they don’t reflect your character.  Whether you weigh 100 pounds or 150 pounds, you’re still a good person.  How much you eat, or say ‘yes’ to, or give in to what other people want doesn’t change who you are as a human being.

• Work up to it. If you have a hard time saying no, then try saying “maybe.” Or agree to watching your brother’s kids for two hours instead of the whole day. Then, as you become more comfortable drawing boundaries, try saying ‘no’ completely.

• Partialize. That’s just a fancy way of saying break things down into smaller parts. Sometimes we procrastinate or depend on others to do things because they seem too overwhelming. Try breaking a project down into smaller pieces and doing a little bit at a time rather than not at all.

• Reward yourself for doing things well.  Pay attention to the times when you do finish that report in a timely manner or when you do find something nice to say when you really rather whine.  Be sure to acknowledge the positive behavior on your part. Then, give yourself five more minutes to relax under the covers in the morning or buy that celebrity gossip rag to read on porch this weekend. Decades of research shows that rewarding positive behaviors is, by far, the most effective way to shape behavior.

Finally, there are ways NOT to deal with your self-defeating behavior:

1. Ignoring it and hoping it goes away. It won’t. Why? Because when you ignore problematic behavior, it just goes underground rather than getting solved.  Eventually it will come back to bite you in the butt – with a vengeance.

1. Giving in to it.  We’re creatures of habit, so by giving in to your impulse to avoid, procrastinate or over-eat, you’re making it more likely that you’ll return to that same self-defeating path the next time you have a project due or are experiencing stress.

I’m delighted to say that the Ravens overcame their self-defeating tendencies, won the game against the Raiders, and made it into the playoffs. (Yay!!!)  Hopefully, they’re establishing a new pattern of more positive behavior that will lead to (fingers crossed) the Superbowl! Try this in your life, and see how far you can go without self-sabotaging behaviors weighing you down.

What strategies do you successfully use to keep from being your own worst enemy? We’d like to hear about them.

P.S. If you haven’t seen the movie The Blind Side about Baltimore Ravens rookie Michael Oher, you really must. Few people would have been surprised if this homeless teenager and son of an addicted mom had become self-destructive. Instead, he went on to be a first-round draft pick in the NFL. Talk about inspirational!