This happy penguins phenomenon explains why my child’s existence feels so essential to my creative process! Talking with Abe or even just being surrounded by his projects makes my heart feel lighter and fills me with positive energy for my work. I love that the effect has actually been observed and documented by scientists.
There are some definite themes in the comments so far: kids, partners, furbabies, animal videos! Also plants, music, laughter -- and for me, color (even though penguins themselves are black & white). Yes to joy wherever we find it!
My partner is definitely my favourite happy penguin. Whenever I'm stressed or stuck, I walk into his study and hug him until he gasps for air. Then we usually burst out laughing and I return to my desk feeling so much better. It works wonders!
I feel like I'm transitioning to find new "penguin". I have always written from a state of difficult emotions. That became my happy penguin 🐧🐧 for productive and creative writing. Now that my situation is changing I am having fewer and fewer difficult emotions I became less productive and creative. I have to find new penguin.
I think sometimes our creativity and productivity can lie dormant for awhile when we’re focused on going through big life transitions, and then it comes back again when we’re ready!
This definitely makes sense, thank you for the reminder, Helen! 💫 Hugging my daughters or walking my pup, Hemingway, on a crisp NYC day, especially now that the leaves are changing, and the world is absolutely breathtaking, brings me much joy! I'm a recent plant mama, so watering my plants and playing classical music for them has also added the benefit of removing the silence from my home. 🧡
I love the positive counter-narrative this prompt offers to the stereotypical one of the ‘tortured artist’, where the assumption is that great work can only be created out of suffering…
This happy penguins phenomenon explains why my child’s existence feels so essential to my creative process! Talking with Abe or even just being surrounded by his projects makes my heart feel lighter and fills me with positive energy for my work. I love that the effect has actually been observed and documented by scientists.
There are some definite themes in the comments so far: kids, partners, furbabies, animal videos! Also plants, music, laughter -- and for me, color (even though penguins themselves are black & white). Yes to joy wherever we find it!
🐧🐧🐧I'm off to cuddle my daughter and make her some special breakfast pancakes. 🐧🐧🐧
Blessed mama and babygirl 💞
This explains the popularity and power of animal videos! And my habit of watching the Soy Yo music video before leading every retreat. Love this.
Wow, great point about animal videos!
My partner is definitely my favourite happy penguin. Whenever I'm stressed or stuck, I walk into his study and hug him until he gasps for air. Then we usually burst out laughing and I return to my desk feeling so much better. It works wonders!
Oh, this is beautiful! Love is such an amazing gift! 💝
I feel like I'm transitioning to find new "penguin". I have always written from a state of difficult emotions. That became my happy penguin 🐧🐧 for productive and creative writing. Now that my situation is changing I am having fewer and fewer difficult emotions I became less productive and creative. I have to find new penguin.
I'll use this prompt finding new penguin.
I think sometimes our creativity and productivity can lie dormant for awhile when we’re focused on going through big life transitions, and then it comes back again when we’re ready!
This definitely makes sense, thank you for the reminder, Helen! 💫 Hugging my daughters or walking my pup, Hemingway, on a crisp NYC day, especially now that the leaves are changing, and the world is absolutely breathtaking, brings me much joy! I'm a recent plant mama, so watering my plants and playing classical music for them has also added the benefit of removing the silence from my home. 🧡
I *knew* watching cat videos and baby pandas going down a slide counted as part of my work process!
https://youtu.be/sGF6bOi1NfA?si=IWKDKIe9fktX_EhY
Lately? My penguins are working with the tarot, playing a video game, reading a bit for pleasure, watching some Star Trek: Deep Space 9.
Lol! 100%, watching animal videos is critically important! (I’m partial to video of mommy & baby animals of any species 🥲❤️)
I love the positive counter-narrative this prompt offers to the stereotypical one of the ‘tortured artist’, where the assumption is that great work can only be created out of suffering…