Creativity is one of life’s great sources of fulfillment, whether it is expressed in the arts, science, business, or sheer entertainment. When we are at our creative best, we experience emotions of joy, excitement, anticipation, hope, and deep satisfaction. Unfortunately, for many people such moments of uninhibited creative drive are all too rare. Often, when we try to be creative, we also experience the inhibiting emotions of anxiety, self-doubt, judgmental attitudes, or even shame, guilt, and physical discomfort.

Psychologist Bernard Golden helps us to be our authentic selves by pursuing our individual creative paths in this motivational guide. Filled with the insights and practical techniques culled from his almost thirty years as a psychotherapist, Unlock Your Creative Genius gives you the tools to unleash your creative imagination and manage the tension and negative mind-body reactions that often impede the creative flow.

Golden first offers a variety of strategies that help the reader become aware of the often-unconscious obstacles to creative fulfillment. Among these are fear of failure; survivor’s guilt, when friends or loved ones are ill or have died; the shame of failing to meet our own or others’ unrealistic expectations; grandiose fantasies; problems with self-discipline; a pattern of dependency that impedes self-motivation; and an aversion to being alone even though creative expression usually demands time by ourselves.

To counter these negative reactions, Golden provides guidelines to enhance positive emotions such as openness to change, trust, and the commitment essential for creativity. He also stresses the need to promote physical calm to offset tension and the importance of developing self-compassion, a vital resource in dealing with fear, shame, and guilt.

This inspiring, helpful, and very practical book offers readers the freedom to live authentically as they access, accept, and act on their creative genius.