The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity

(Paperback)

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Creativity is our true magic. The ability to convert our thoughts into reality is a defining characteristic of being human. But it can also be hard work-especially in a culture that values conformity, trends, and marketability above authentic expression. For anyone who has hit a creative wall and wants to reignite their imagination and passion, author and poet James McCrae's The Art of You is a powerful resource to help you access your inner magic and spark your joy in creativity. The Art of You helps you dissolve blockages and jump-start your imagination through the Yin-Yang approach. "We've been taught to focus on the Yang, which is about drive and effort," says McCrae. "But we do so at the expense of the Yin: allowing, expansiveness, and flow." Here he shares a flexible set of tools, exercises, rituals, and insights to help you address the most common impediments to the creative process-and awaken your sense of wonder, your childlike curiosity, and your ability to create something uniquely you out of nothing. Creativity is essential to everything we do-there is art not only in what we write, paint, dance, and sing, but also in the way we navigate our relationships, our work, and our choices in life. "Art matters," says McCrae. "Art gives us comfort, opens our minds to new perspectives, and leaves us awestruck. Art is medicine-for ourselves, others, and the world."

Reviews

"The Art of You offers great insights and steps on how to cultivate creativity. This is essential reading for anyone looking to share their unique experience, to foster deep connections, and to inspire others." --Yung Pueblo, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"The Art of You embodies the message that creativity is the highest form of healing, which has been beyond true in my life and in many others'. If you're looking for an alternative to the density of the typical spiritual path and to transmute your obstacles into your masterpieces, this book is for you." --Sahara Rose, bestselling author, host of Highest Self Podcast

"Every time I talk to James, I walk away feeling inspired. Even though I've been an artist my entire life, James still makes me think about my creative path in new ways. When you read The Art of You, it's like talking with James. You'll feel his wise, playful, and powerful creative guidance--and be left feeling like a whole new universe of possibilities has opened within you." --Cory Allen, host of And Then It Hit Me podcast, author of Now Is the Way

"The Art of You is an inspiring, pragmatic, and uplifting guide to creating fulfilling art and a fulfilling life." --Tao Lin, novelist, poet, bestselling author

"The Art of You made me feel like a kid again, ready to throw paint on a canvas when I've spent my adult life terrified of the blank page. James McCrae demystifies the creative process, making it accessible to everyone with his practical tools and tips. His work feels like gentle encouragement, bringing both playfulness and depth into what it means to be an artist." --Allie Michelle, poet, bestselling author, co-founder of wellness and writing community We Are Warriors

"The Art of You is a poetic journey into finding your artistic voice and learning how to express it with passion and power." --IN-Q, award-winning poet and performer, multi-platinum songwriter

"The most powerful decision any of us can make is to live in devotion to healthily experiencing the all-ness that life wants to bring our way. The Art of You shares how to do this and bursts the door wide open for you to make your truest and greatest ripple in the eternal now." --Alyson Charles Storey, shaman, bestselling author of Animal Power, host of Ceremony Circle podcast

"The Art of You shows us where our creativity and humanity intersect, and how getting to the core of both can transform our lives on a fundamental level. James McCrae flawlessly demonstrates what propels the heart of creativity and how to become more in touch with our own." --Brianna Pastor, poet, mental health advocate, author of Good Grief

Author Bio

James McCrae is an author, poet, meme artist, and founder of Sunflower Club, a global school and community dedicated to conscious creativity. James is the author of Sh#t Your Ego Says and How to Laugh in Ironic Amusement During Your Existential Crisis. As a creative strategist, he has worked with top brands and startups. His articles on creativity have appeared in publications like Forbes, HuffPost, Adweek, Yogi Times, and Entrepreneur. He lives in Austin, Texas. For more visit jamesmccrae.com.