As a creative person, we must think of our time the way we think about money. We must constantly keep asking ourselves: Am I spending my time and energy properly by investing in this person or situation?
We all have that friend or family member who calls us more than once a day, and when we finally get off the phone we feel like we need a nap. But we also have those other friends and colleagues where, after a wonderful dialogue with him or her, we just feel like changing the world.
At times, I feel creatively depleted and I can easily trace it back to where my energy was sapped and abused by a dear crazy maker friend.
If you have a friend or family member that has these traits, they are most likely a crazy maker:
- They live for gossip.
- They are always late and are constantly destroying schedules.
- They love telling you a long, involved story about someone while you are trying to finish a deadline.
- They are expert blamers. Nothing is ever their fault
- They hate order. Only chaos serves their purpose.
- They expect special treatment, even when you do not have the time.
One should ask: why do we put up with the crazy makers in our lives? The answer is that we all have a bit of crazy in us that we constantly need to be vigilant not to indulge. The next time you catch yourself saying, “He or she is driving me crazy!” You have encountered one.
How do you deal with the crazy makers in your life?
Read more about crazy makers in The Complete Artist’s Way: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice by Julia Cameron.
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Thom Green
April 15, 2010
My partner definitely fits the crazymaker. Problem is that I am married to her, and if you ask her she would blame me for making her crazy.
John Murph
April 15, 2010
This post is so spot on. I think another form of crazymakers are “haters” (hip-hop parlance) those who bring nothing to the table but negative energy and undermining quips when you’re trying to embark upon a creative task.
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of surrounding yourself with people who want to see you succeed in the happiest and healthiest way possible.
Suzanne Smith
April 15, 2010
Oh I agree! The negativity of some people is just a drain. I am Lucky to have a pretty balanced life and work situation with supportive family,
The ones that get to me are the clients that hire an artist and then try to change the very elements that make that artist who they are. They waste time and creative energy and baffle the heck out of you as to why they chose you in the first place, Its like they are on a power trip and in the end you just want to tell them no thanks no matter how wonderful the event could be.
Brandi Reiland
April 15, 2010
I have a fellow vendor that fits this bill- the calls always take at minimum one hour, they live on gossip about other vendors, and it just wears me out. Thanks for the advice on the book, will have to check it out.
Tracey
April 15, 2010
and why is it on every busy crazy holiday or wedding or whatever.. your dear family calls just to ask “so how’s it going? are ya busy??” God bless them for their genuine interest in me and my business, but seriously?? you needed to ask me that RIGHT NOW???
Bisi Bordley
April 16, 2010
The way i accomodate so called life sappers is in moderation, when i have time to kill, yes i make time for them.
One has to be selfish with these people, it’s not fair to put oneself through this all the time.
Protect yourself.
kathy warden
April 16, 2010
wow.. impecable timing.. i actually lost another night sleep to the ‘crazy maker’ in my life..
why is it that the brain latches on to the negative energy?
it takes strong will to let it go one ear and out the other..
preston your blog inspires me daily.. hopefully now i wont let that crazy maker in my life
zap my creative energy for the day.. i need it for my clients:)
Natalie Cheng
April 16, 2010
Can’t help chuckling after reading this post. I thought I am the only one with a drives-you-insane-every-time friend. And oh, the negativity is just unbearable. If I can ‘divorce’ this friend, I will file proceedings right away. Every time she is negative and whiny and starts wasting my time and energy going on and on about her self created problems, I just cut her off. In a way, she reminds how important it is to be positive and grateful, makes me realise you are as brilliant as you believe yourself to be and actually gives me motivation to achieve more in life.
Saufen
April 17, 2010
Here’s a twist on the situation: I find that when we indulge our friend who is a crazymaker, we are actually PROVIDING them an opportunity to whine and wallow in their negativity! So when we think we are doing them a favour by listening to them, we are actually HURTING them! So if you feel bad when you cut them off or shut them out, don’t. You are in fact depriving them of a ready audience – a chance to continue reinforcing their “oh woe is me”- life story – and perhaps making them realise that “since there’s no one to whine to anymore so I gotta solve this mess on my own”! Recently, more out of exhaustion rather than stoney-heartedness, I just stopped picking up the phone calls of one of my crazymaker friends…. and you know what? Her world did not collapse just because I stopped indulging her. As a matter of fact, she sent me a text message to thank me for my prayers and support because she felt recently a positive wave of energy and feel a lot better about everything in her outlook!!
Amberdawn
April 17, 2010
“How do you deal with crazy makers in your life?”
Duck and run.
pharmacy technician
April 19, 2010
nice post. thanks.
Patrick
April 24, 2010
and why is it on every busy crazy holiday or wedding or whatever.. your dear family calls just to ask “so how’s it going? are ya busy??” God bless them for their genuine interest in me and my business, but seriously?? you needed to ask me that RIGHT NOW???
Larry
April 26, 2010
Can’t help chuckling after reading this post. I thought I am the only one with a drives-you-insane-every-time friend. And oh, the negativity is just unbearable. If I can ‘divorce’ this friend, I will file proceedings right away. Every time she is negative and whiny and starts wasting my time and energy going on and on about her self created problems, I just cut her off. In a way, she reminds how important it is to be positive and grateful, makes me realise you are as brilliant as you believe yourself to be and actually gives me motivation to achieve more in life.
Simon
April 28, 2010
and why is it on every busy crazy holiday or wedding or whatever.. your dear family calls just to ask “so how’s it going? are ya busy??” God bless them for their genuine interest in me and my business, but seriously?? you needed to ask me that RIGHT NOW???
cna training
May 13, 2010
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
abigail
July 30, 2010
Gente tóxica…me encanta esa teoría porque es lo que estas crazy makers son!! Saudos!!
bless you
October 11, 2010
bless you!
buyer of annuity structured settlement
October 15, 2010
Very good post. People love the drama, don’t they?
Ted Pon
October 25, 2010
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Chicago Teeth Whitening
October 29, 2010
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seo
November 3, 2010
Do you care if I post some of this on my webpage if I include a backlink to this webpage?
house plants
November 3, 2010
Just imagine I read it twice. While I am not as skilled on this subject, I tally with your closings because they make sense. Gives Thanks and goodluck to you.
Vanessa Alce (I Love My Planner)
November 14, 2011
I don’t pickup the phone for my personal crazy makers! Voice mail is a wonderful thing! If the crazy maker needs my immediate attention, then I will call them back. If not, I call them at my earliest convenience.