Happy 1 month anniversary to Freakin’ (Great Links) Friday! I know it’s not much, but as a newlywed who is still celebrating monthly anniversaries it seems like a lot!

Here’s the stuff I loved this week (& last, as two of these links got left out of installment 3):

• The Perfectionism Monster plagues many of the creative types I know. But did you ever think it could plague someone like Michelangelo? Mark McGuiness explores this topic - while providing really interesting background on this genius - in Lateral Action’s Why You Don’t Need to Be a Genius to Achieve Creative Success. Alternate: Words post It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect works hand-in-hand under this umbrella (-ella, -ella, hey, hey, hey).
• I might steal this question for a Tough (Question) Tuesday, but if you read More in You’s What Would You Regret? please forget that you saw it. I just loved what Laura wrote around it I had to include the post in it’s entirety.
• Christy at Shine Your Light is a coach that created the ABCs of Achieving Your Dreams. So elementary but so smart and inspiring!
• Mark McGuiness of Lateral Action does it again by coming up with The 3 Critical Characteristics of the Creative Entrepreneur. I honestly belive that creative types are well suited for becoming successful entrepreneurs, & for those of you out there looking for a new direction don’t be surprised if you end up working for yourself!
• Freelance Switch was extremely vulnerable and brave this week with her post, Friends with Structure. With my mini-breakdown last week I can relate to the feeling of overwhelm she describes, especially with such “simple things to do.” It’s tough to own up to the fact that “simple things” might end up being “simply impossible things” for you.
• Woody Allen said it best when he said “80% of success is about showing up.” The Creativity Coach expands on that in his post, A Simple Formula for Creative Success.
• And last but not least, some shameless self-promotion: Luke wrote a beautiful post about me being a kick-ass actress in Ah, My Wife, which makes me happy because I thought he just told me I was good in that showcase to get into my pants. And over at CastleBride Couture, my veil designer featured Luke & I (& my veil!) in photos here (& please note that the link is called Meet-Beautiful-Michelle-Solomon. That’s my favorite part).

Have wonderful weekends everyone! I’ll be back here on Sunday baring my heart. Seriously, it’ll be juicy. Not my heart specifically, but - you know what I mean.

Stay tuned next week for the post on Clearing Out the Attic (if the Attic = my brain) aka I-Got-Punched-In-The-Face-But-It-Got-Rid-Of-My-Anxiety-Because-It-Made-Me-See-Some-Crap-I-Didn’t-Wanna-See. Until then, here are some freakin’ great links:

• Looking to find something to be passionate about? Or maybe you’re looking for a new passion? Scott H Young offers How to Discover What You’re Passionate About (summary: do a bit of everything and see what fits!).
• Dumb Little Man offers 7 Steps to Zap Your Creativity. And he means “zap” like “boost” not like “shoot-you-with-a-taser-and-make-you-comatose.”
• My favorite post of the week came from Pick the Brain. As someone who has trouble sticking with goals that make me wait to see results (401K anyone?), Setting Goals for the Present, Not the Future helps you put your goal into the present tense. So instead of saying, “Eh, I can save money next year for retirement. I’m not going to see it for 35 years anyway!” I can say, “I better put money away now so I don’t have to work the rest of my life!” The latter seems scarier for some reason.
• And of course, the lovely Kelly Rae Roberts has to keep writing beautiful entries (I can’t describe them as posts, since I almost feel like I’m reading her diary). Buon Giorno shares her experience in Italy & also asks for assistance with moving to Seattle (anyone?)!

Here are just some personal things I’m loving that have nothing to do with coaching or personal development or creativity or any of that junk, but just make me happy:

• Wally Lamb has a new book! I loved She’s Come Undone but I loved I Know This Much Is True more.  Read the first chapter of The Hour I First Believed.
• Um, this is a real person’s backyard. For real. I miss you, Hawaii.
• Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment regarding Prop 8 is eloquent and heartfelt, no matter your views.
• The Bloggess always makes me laugh. This post was my fave so far.
• This might be my favorite aerial shot of NYC. Bright lights and crookedness. It’s what New York is about.

I admit it - I signed up for the contest to win Kelly Rae’s book, and signed up to receive additional comments when they come in (you win by commenting about what your dream job is). It’s only been 10 minutes, but 31 comments have come in on top of the 113 that were there when I got there! While this diminishes my chances of winning the book, I win in inspiration.

That last sentence was pretty lame, but you know what I mean.

When you have a few minutes, head on over to Decor8’s post and scroll down to the comments. Start reading. I guarantee you that within a few scrolls you’ll start to get excited. Excited from others who are committed to finding - or maintaining - a new career that they’re passionate about, even if it’s “outside the box” (nobody whose comment I read wanted to sit behind a desk all day! They want freedom, and creative license, and art, and the chance to make a difference! Revolution!). And who knows - if you’re trying to discover what clicks for you, you might find some great ideas from others that are giving it a whirl!

Sorry for the neglect recently, everyone! I’m in full wedding mode and haven’t been able to concentrate on anything other than timelines, checklists, and seating. 10 days to go!

It’s good that my wedding procrastination led me to Decor8, where I found a profile on Kelly Rae Roberts and her new book, Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings. Decor8 described Kelly as “a successful mixed-media artist who didn’t listen and develop her creative side until she was 30 but once she did, she found nothing but success by listening to her inner longing.” What an inspiration to everyone who wants to Grow Up!

While this book is celebrated for taking you through the techniques necessary to make mixed-media art, the inspirational quotes, encouraging stories, and pages of eye candy are worth taking note of even if you’re not a literal artist.

To see Kelly Rae’s work, head over to her Etsy shop as well as her blog, Kelly Rae: Taking Flight into Art, Love and Life. I have a feeling that this work of art is going to find it’s way to a coveted spot above my desk (that is, when I get one. Damn you, tiny NYC apartments!):

If you can’t read the text, it says:

Unleash your joy

Embrace your truth

Pick more wild flowers

Leap fearlessly

Collect moments of kindness

Ask for what you need

Speak of your gratitude

Listen to forgiveness

Surround yourself with good people

Trust your creative spirit

Wear red shoes

Let it go

Sigh. Should I snatch it up now, even though it will be homeless for a while? It’s so gorgeous, so inspiring, and so true.

What do you use for inspiration?