The Heartstorming Philosophy

Ian Summers

Like most of you, I think of myself as a damned good problem solver. In fact, that’s how I earned my living as a creative director for a couple of decades. As a consultant, I traveled the country helping clients maximize their creative potential via creative problem solving. I was well rewarded as a problem solver, however I felt something was missing. Then something changed. I discovered that creating and problem solving are the antithesis of each other. In problem solving, energy usually flows from the outside. Someone presents you with a problem; a client for example. Depending upon the complexities of the problem, alternative solutions are created, one is chosen, and if there is enough energy produced the solution is implemented. The problem is replaced with a solution. So problem solving is about making something go away — the problem.

Problem solving has often been confused with creating. In fact, many workshops have been developed to teach creative problem solving. And they usually are about solving someone else’s dreams. They promise to unleash your creativity, as if it was a monster that needs to be tied back up when you’re through with it. These dated methods reinforce the erroneous concept that creating is a shadowy activity. I believe creating is joyous and celebratory.

Don’t Unleash The Monster!

Creating is about manifesting. Its energies come from within. I define creating as causing what you love or what matters to you to come into being. Heartsorming is a process — a journey — that helps creators identify what they love and to empower themselves to bring those loves into being. It is an adventure. Heartstorming uses your own loves and dreams to produce an abundant source of energy resulting in creative growth.

Imagine rediscovering the love you already are. Imagine being out of your mind and into your heart. Imagine knowing what you love and finding ways to integrate it with your life’s mission. Imagine a heart based career producing prosperity and abundance. Imagine making a difference. Imagine learning new ways to deal with growth, change and risk. Imagine manifesting your loves in the world every day. Imagine…

Imagine Being Out of Your Mind

Creating is a process that originates in your body. Heartstorming helps people to drop from the place of judgment and into the body — the place of feelings. It is not that judgment isn’t important. It is. However, it comes later in the process. Good judgment helps to choose which ideas to manifest and problem solving will help you to bring your concept into being. If creating and judging go on simultaneously, it is like driving the car with the brake and the accelerator on at the same time. Movement is impeded. New ideas are blocked from emerging.

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