The topic of the September IWOC (Independent Writers of Chicago) meeting was Creativity. The speaker, Dr. Bernard Golden, Ph.D., has written a book, “Unleashing Your Creative Genius.” A clinical psychologist with his own practice in Chicago, Golden discussed the roadblocks to creativity, including fear of failure and fear of success.

Strategies to manage inhibitions include:
- Increasing self-awareness
- Challenging inhibiting themes
- Fostering positive emotions
- Enhancing physical states for creative engagement
- Practicing self-compassion

One tip Golden shared was to not think about the beginning of the project, rather, to think five to ten minutes into the project, or finish the last sentence/last paragraph.

Golden’s major premise is: Our freedom to be creative depends on our ability to effectively manage the tension that arises when you dare to create.”

More information at Bernard Golden’s Web site: To Unlock Your Creative Genius