Today's theme from DEEP is Play

DEEP – Phinspire's motto - means "Discover Empower Emerge Play". Here is March’s weekly coaching/blog series which continues from the DEEP Truth of the Month for March: Paying attention reveals opportunities. 

Now you get to play, take action.

In the interest of what works, how would it be to continue to pay attention to those times when you are creating your best life?  May I offer the ‘Traffic Light’ system?  I LOVE this and use is all the time.  Try writing these in your journal, or leave them in the comments.

Red - What are 1-3 things you need/want to stop doing, that no longer serve you?

Amber - What are 1-3 things that are working and would be useful to keep experiencing?

Green - What are 1-3 things that you could start doing that honor what you stand for and value and now you know works so well?

Congratulations you have just journeyed for a full month of Blog Coaching with myself, ARTbundance™ (Marney Makridakis, Artellaland) and Aha-phrodite (from Jill Badonsky’s Nine Modern Day Muses and a Body Guard). 

May I invite you to reflect with curiosity on your March journey and notice what you notice?  What have you enjoyed most?  Why?  I invite you to post a reply with your thoughts!

I look forward to you joining me next month for journey with Albert Muse, reframing, doing things differently, breaking the rules, thinking differently!!

Love

Liz

Today's theme from DEEP is Emerge

DEEP – Phinspire's motto - means "Discover Empower Emerge Play". Here is March’s weekly coaching/blog series which continues from DEEP Truth of the Month for March: Paying attention reveals opportunities.

Aha-phrodite (from Jill Badonsky’s Nine Modern Day Muse and a Body Guard) loves quotes and shares many to inspire us to pay attention to the consequences of paying attention. 

“What is this thing called inspiration?  It is anything or anyone that gives you that rising passion in your heart to create something, to feel something, to sing something.  It is what makes you breathe deeply and love life if only for a moment.” – Tony Branch, columist for “Artist’s Inspiration,” Suite 101

How inspired are you to emerge as the person you are meant to be? 

Through the blog coaching this month, you have;

* noticed what works

* have gained further insights and knowledge to empower your choices

Now you get to feel what happens when you emerge from your new choice. 

An ARTsignment™ to Try: Word Collage

Write "What Works for ME" in the middle of a page. Then, all around it, simply write or doodle a bunch of words or images that come to mind.

Think about different aspects of your life…what works for you?  Play with writing these words, phrases, and symbols in different colors and different sizes.

You will be left with an assortment of words that express your feelings about what has been successful for you. These words represent the fuel and the inspiration for what is emerging with you. 

Pick one word that is especially lively, or even two words that you combine into a single word.

How would it be to allow yourself to emerge in the essence of this new word?

Live, be it even if it is for 5 minutes.  How can you remind yourself to create this new habit of emerging consciously with the values and qualities that matter to you?

What might that look like? Reply with a comment to share!

Love

Liz 

Today's theme from DEEP is Empower

DEEP – Phinshire's motto - means "Discover Empower Emerge Play". Here is March’s weekly coaching/blog series which continues from the DEEP Truth of the Month for March: Paying attention reveals opportunities. 

                                         

Aha-phrodite Muse (from Jill Badonsky’s Nine Modern Day Muses and a Body Guard - Image/card also created by Jill) would like to share what paying attention is not.

Paying attention is not being “caught up in the mind’s default function of worry, preoccupation with the past, projection of the future, judgment, commentary, comparison, never-enough-dom, we are not present enough to see just what exactly is real in the moment.”

What do you make of this statement?  What is your reaction?  Notice, just notice.  

How can you empower yourself?

An ARTsignment™ to Try:

May I invite you to write yourself a letter, written from the perspective of yourself as 80 plus year old.  Feel free to write about things that have not happened yet, in your actual life.  You get to consider some of these prompts if you wish;

- What have been the highlights in your lifetime related to you living a life of what worked? 

- How did this make a difference to your life? 

- Do you have any regrets related to not paying attention to what worked?  If so, what?

- What is ‘the secret of what worked?

- Anything else that you would like to share with her?

When you read your letter back, what are you noticing? 

How can this help empower you, today?

You may decide to put the letter in an envelope and go back to it in one, two, three, six months time. 

Right now, you are empowering yourself to be the person you really deserve to be.  Enjoy!

I invite you to reply with a comment to share what you notice when you experience this letter. 

Love

Liz 

Today's Theme from DEEP is Discover

DEEP – Phinspire's motto - means "Discover Empower Emerge Play". Here is March’s weekly coaching/blog series which continues from the DEEP Truth of the Month for March: Paying attention reveals opportunities.

Week One of Four

We are continuing with the wonderful wisdom and energy from Aha-phrodite Muse from Jill Badonsky’s Nine Modern Day Muses and a Body Guard.  

Here is an ARTsignment™ to try: If you choose, try completing the writing prompts, without too much thinking, judging or analyzing, just doing and see what happens.

I looked out the window and saw what worked, it was …

I immediately noticed …

What worked then …

What I realised was that what worked was …

Now read it out loud, and one more time.  What are you noticing?  What is ‘sticking out’ for you?  Are there any surprises? 

Just notice what you notice.

Congratulations on your discovery. 

Finally, I invite you to leave a comment to answer this question, how will you celebrate your discovery?

Love

Liz

Taos not Chaos - An experiment!

I feel 'as if' I am being inspired by Jill Badonsky's Audacity Muse and a previous conversation with Marney Makridakis who believes in my potential and ability to create eBooks, products.

This is an email I have just posted on the Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Group email.  "Well I am embarking on an experiment!! For real!!! I emailed Jill (Badonsky) and started to say that I would love to go to the (her) Retreat in Taos, as I was writing I allowed my thoughts to continue and came up with an idea, which was not thought out. I asked if she would hold me accountable. Now what I meant by that was actually not to get Jill involved or anyone just to be a person that I spoke out loud to.

I thought about this accountability a little more and emailed Jill Bryan. I do have to say that I was inspired by their newsletters, which of course is who they are! This had me thinking even more. I had mentioned to the first Jill, I could create an eproduct, especially to raise money for Taos, I think in July. She mentioned it on the call last night and I immediately felt – ooohh yummy, I would love that!!

Here I stand before you without thinking this through and thought well why not put it out there. I do not know what I am going to create yet but it is called Taos not Chaos!!!!! Don’t know where it came, me thinks the Muses with Audacity are conspiring with this mortal in ways she has not known before. So this is an accountability in a lovely way. I will be putting into my own calendar on a weekly basis, a lovely compassionate question that will check me out and see what happens. This feels so crazy to me - eeeekkkk and wahoo! Have not discussed this in person with anyone yet. How cool is this experiment. How can you have a title of something before the product? Love it. There now really said it out loud. Thank you guys, Liz xxx"

So, it will be interesting to see how this progresses.  If you  have any images, suggestions of what Taos not Chaos speaks to you of, I would be interested.  I must admit as I write I feel that it has to do with dealing with the term 'overwhelm'.  Having just completed nearly 18 months of full on study, which was mostly in overwhelm, or so I thought!!!  I have come to know this term differently and actually do not think it exists as much as I/ we think.  Maybe I could do a small eBook on that.  Bearing in mind I have only ever done one tiny one and it is a start.  Isn't life interesting?

Regards from a thoughtful Liz

Drum Role Please ...The Muse is IN: An Owner's Manual for your Creativity Blog Tour

I am so thrilled and excited to have with us today the amazing Jill Badonsky, author of this incredible, delightful, awe inspiring book.  

Jill is a creativity coaching pioneer, inspirational humorist, artist, and founder of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching™, a coaching model that guides individuals by using unprecedented approaches to busting through blocks to creative joy.  

She is a nationally recognized workshop leader and author of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard):10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence and the award winning, The Awe-manac: A Daily Dose of Wonder.

Jill is a multimedia artist/illustrator, poet, playwright, and storyteller. She is also a certified Yoga teacher; teaching for over 20 years.  She is a corporate drop-out with a background in mental health, marketing, media, instructional design, and creative consulting with national magazines. 

Jill writes a monthly column for Creativity Portal, and is chief editor of the monthly The Muse Flash: a newsletter devoted to creativity since 1997. Jill's services operate out of The Muse is In.  I sneaked this information from her web site, thanks Jill.

Preface - Creativity "I love creativity so I wrote this manual." Jill Badonsky, don't you just love that!"  A taste of what's to come.

Have a look at this quiz, if you answered yes to the first question then this book and interview is definitely for you. Enjoy.


Your book really appeals to me for it’s funky design, fun images, colours and beautifully inspired ‘snippets’ of wisdom, inspiration, fun, permission, guidance, did I say fun. I have picked up this book so many times because I know that I get so much out it, even for 2 mins, 5 minutes etc. Sometimes I pick up your book when I need a break from heavy study, instead of yet another cup of coffee and a snack that I don’t really need. Makes it easy to be with.
I wonder if this was a deliberate plan by the Muses to entice the mortals?

 Hi Liz, Thank you for that fanciful question. It was as irresistible as I hope my book is. Yes, indeed the Muse visited me and encouraged me to package practical information in a way that mortals would WANT to read it.


Because mortals are so overwhelmed, distracted, and busy these days, the book was purposely made like an Owner’s Manual for a car not only to make it helpful but for it to be entertaining as well. It is accessible, filled with wobbly illustrations, funny, and intentionally lures mortals into using it to fire-up their creative engines in ways that have worked for thousands of people.

I think one of the most fun parts of The Muse is IN: An Owner’s Manual to Your Creativity is the Daily Care and Maintenance Section. There is a prompt for everyday of the year and it’s often quirky, playful, or seductively engaging. Creativity is made easier with starting points and raw materials that can be modified. The book is filled with such starters so that the essential practice necessary to take creativity deep is encouraged.

As a recovering left brainer, I really did not believe that I was creative or really even knew what creativity really was.  And now I am a proud creativity coach!  Can a left brainer enjoy this kind creation?  If so, in what way?

Liz, The book carefully points out that everyone is creative if they are breathing, whether you consider yourself a right-brained OR a left-brained person. Here is an excerpt from the book:


“Some people think we are either born with creativity or we’re not.

Many people are indeed born with an innate talent. When they cultivate that talent through many, many hours of practice, amazing works of art, literature, music, what-have-you are brought into existence. But really, do you need to BE that person in order to discover the bliss, benefits, and rewards of creativity? No.

“You can develop skill with practice, but the process is what makes life more wonderful. Talented people are not necessarily happy; the ones who are also happy, know how to create joy within themselves.

Passion, curiosity, healing, need, problem-solving, angst, joy, amusement, reckless abandon - these are ALSO drives that result in creativity. Everyone has the ability to be creative in these ways.”

Everyone gets to be creative.”

There is an incredible amount of wisdom and life experiences that the Muses appear to have collaborated with a human being scattered beautifully within the book.  How did the human being allow herself to be heard by the Muses?   Or How come this collaboration works so well?

Because the mortal who wrote the book, (that would be me) experienced many of the blocks described in the book, the Muse needed to know what worked for her. IN FACT, she experienced blocks WHILE writing the book so the Muse was able to see that Gizmos such as Small Steps, Lowering Expectations, Meditation, and Making Things Fun DO in fact work and that the Optimal Conditions for Creativity such as Patience, Willingness, Solitude, and Courage, when tested driven, resulted in just what the Muse ordered: a finished book.


The Muse also listened carefully in order to create the Troubleshooting Section when Fear, Procrastination, Overwhelm, Perfectionism and Self-Sabotage have a listed of sure-fire solutions.  


There appears to be some journeying in this amazing book, travelling in various aspects.  Would the Muses consider exploring down under, emerging in their true beauty and vitality to others who may be a little shy?  We have neat BBQs down here!
Absolutely! Set a place for me at the table. I’ll bring my harmonica.


Liz, thank you for these fun questions. The Muse was delighted that you asked questions in the spirit of how the book was written. You seem to be clever which is a first cousin to being creative.



Jill I just want to thank you so much for such a fun interview.  I am so looking forward to 2014 and will set a place for you and the Muses.   This is the link to the book, I don't know how to make it more attractive sorry. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762444673/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0762444673&linkCode=as2&tag=themuseisin-20

I would love to leave the last word to Jill.


 

Blog Tour - The Muse is In: An Owner's Guide for your Creativity. 28th February 2013, Jill Badonsky will be here!

The Muse Is In: An Owner's Manual To Your Creativity Book by Jill Badonsky

I am so excited that Jill will be dropping by as part of her blog tour to here little old New Zealand, how exciting for us down under.  28th February 2013 will be a great blog and I am honored. 

I have been reading her book, flicking through it, dipping into it and each page is such inspiration, I truly am not exaggerating.  I use it for some many reasons, wise counsel, fun prompts, connecting to creativity, reminders of what really matters, anecdotes, guidance, strategies, really check it out yourself.

This is a fun, bright coloured book but do not be fooled, it is a very wise book and counsel in a really fun refreshing way.  You cannot help but want to pick it up and flick through it.  It's wisdom and life experience is evident throughout and I love that you can flip to a daily entry celebrate a birthday with an inspiring soul, ponder the wonderful pieces of gifts to heighten all our sense and carry out a creativity prompt if you so wish. How can this be captured in a few lines, have a read and you will experience this for your lovely taste buds. 

I love this, thank you Jill from the book p96 "Get real.  Being perfect just isn't possible within the realm of being human and those who strive to be perfect often sacrifice joy in the process.  If you strive for 'amazing' but let go of expectations and are happy with whatever results you reap, then you're on a healthier and more realistic path." Wow, I was going to say "how would that feel."  Well I actually know, well most of the time as a recovering perfectionist how amazing this feeling is and how relaxed and freeing it feels in the body.  Creativity opened this door for me.  This is just one paragraph, each one offering a teaching, a learning, an insight, a way forward. 

What if you were just a human, can you imagine, embracing being a human - oh you are!!!  How would it be to just imagine for 15, maybe 30 secs allowing yourself to be and doing something you love doing and letting go of expectations, you don't have to do it, day dreaming counts but if you could do it great and then maybe building this up at these wonderful small, small beautiful steps.  Have fun.

28th February 2013, we are all so in for a treat. 

Many thanks. 

High Five!! 

Reflections 2012 - no New Year's Resolutions - just wonderful intentions to continue to be fulfilled

That time of year already, reflections of 2012.  I asked myself the following questions in my journal this morning and wondered if they would be useful to you.

1. What are you most proud of?  I have so many things and I am grateful for that.  One of them is that I have allowed myself to take time out and have fun.  Do things 'small and crappy' (thank you Rae Warde - Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach extraordinaire), which has allowed me to achieve way more than I could ever have imagined.   I certainly have felt the fear and done it anyway in so many ways. 

2. What has been  most meaningful to you?  I guess doing the ARTbundance Coach training this year and finally everything I have ever done in my coach training, experiences, life etc have all come together in a way that I can truly express and use it creatively.  I feel as if I have truly arrived, especially with now doing the post grad diploma in counselling - narrative therapy.  I feel I will have so much to offer others and keep them safe.  I want to work with others who hurt and undermine themselves with food as a way of surviving. 

What has been really meaningful has been the love, support from the amazing people who are part of Artella, ARTbundance, MMM - Mapping and Mentoring with Marney, Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaches, people who have believed in me when I have not believed in myself at times.  They truly have inspired me and literally carried me through some small steps.  The power of like minded people is tremendous as are people who think differently because they open up a whole plethora of questions, considerations etc which can be just as valuable.  I am so blessed with the people around me. 

I asked many questions and I like this little formula here.  (If anyone would like further prompts for reflections, please do not hesitate to let me know).

Traffic Light Formula - I cannot remember where I saw it first, do not think I came up with it myself and would like to thank that person or people.

For 2013

Red - what would be 1 - 3 things that you could stop doing, that no longer serves you.  Can be a tiny, small thing. 

Yellow - what are 1 - 3 things that would be worth you continuing with?  It could be something really minor but actually works for you or it may be something that you started in 2012 and have decided that you like it so much you are going to continue with.

Green - what are 1 - 3 things that you would like to start doing that would bring you pleasure, be all about you?  Could be starting with 2 - 5 minutes of what you love to do and if you do not know, finding it out.  If you have fun and play in your life I promise you, with all my heart that if you start to do this you will be amazed at the ripple effects. 

You may decide to make a time just for you.  Have a lunch break at least 3 times a week.  Play with the kids more.  Have someone play with the kids so you can play.  Plant something you love.  Start a new class. Stop doing so many classes.  Do something you love to do and have not done for a while.

Now as a coach, I feel like I am supposed to say that you could sign up with me etc but honestly, you can start so small and I promise you it will impact on everything.  If you follow your bliss, your energy, your passion and start challenging the 'shoulds' you will notice the difference.  Compassion and patience are key.  Try it you have nothing to lose.

So my answers:

Red - stop believing the inner critic.  No that is unrealistic, I can raise my awareness to the messages and at the same time think of a compassionate comeback, anchor KMCC (TM), like Phinspire (my new business  name - launch February), what kind of name is that, it's stupid, no one is going to know what that means - comeback AND anchor, um, I guess not all will but I just love it and it feels so right so there we have it!  And so it is, as Louise Hay would say.  I honestly have been working with that particular message for a few days. 

Yellow - I am definitely going to keep on trusting my intuition and strengthening it through creativity and mindful, balance - knowing my choices, creating the belief I need/want to follow through on my decisions that work for me.

Green - be bolder in my practice, develop workshops and coaching using creativity, utilising the dolphin energy, diving deep to truths and bursting through life's waves - my tag line and I believe in it 100%.   Haha, is that bold or what? 

So here's to you for 2013.  I would encourage you to play with how it would feel if you chose intentions for 2013 just for you, acting as if you did not care what others thought.  I know it sounds radical but as long as you are not hurting anyone you will be surprised just how much this will support you creating the life you deserve and makes you way more fun to be with others too.  It only needs to be a small, small step consistently practiced.  You end up being of 'service' if you like in an incredible, healthy, wellbeing kind of way.  You have nothing to lose by giving it a go and just playing, see what happens.  Have fun.

Wishing you a New Year where you get to be you.  Happy New Year!

Don't Waste Energy Changing A Habit - Create New Habit Instead - Part 2

My  habit that I have changed after many years is no longer a habit.  It has been 57 days.  I realise that going through this journey has been enlightening, particularly because I was aware of the consequences and paying attention to feel what if feels like to understand what a client may experience.

Simply trying to replace the habit with new stuff did not work for me.   It definitely helped and I am making a pair of trousers for the first time ever, ever and decluttering, truly in 15 min chunks, the time often extends to more and I am feeling pretty good about that.   

I have needed to create some lifestyle changes to develop a new way of living so that I was not drawn so easily in choosing something that no longer served me.    What I also noticed was that my senses are much more heightened and my feelings and emotions are more evident, sometimes a little raw.  Sooooo easy to not want to feel them.  I am journalling, which I was doing, back at yoga.  I was doing 10 mins meditation 3 times a week.  Now tried 20 mins.  It is amazing when I add my values just how I can find the time, versus hours watching TV, on face book (now have a timer 15 mins) and surf the net. 

I had not expected to write quite like this in part 2 but having continued on this journey it reminds how I used this habit initially perhaps and it was a crutch for a while and I have so not needed it for many years and well it was just a habit and an easy one, fun too at times.

I would have to say that one of the major aspect that has assisted me is having compassion for myself and knowing that I am trying to do my best and reminding  myself why this means so much to me and I think this has been the secret.

I did a drawing and used this throughout as a motivator and it worked. 

I asked myself if I did not do this for myself how would I feel about it.  I was so surprised that this appeared and found it pretty upsetting, which I am grateful for.  I could not believe I was choosing a habit, a quick fix that would break my heart and I would regret not truly giving it ago and finding out what I am capable of with out it.

It still grabs me the impact of what I was doing to myself.  I so deserved to feel better about myself. 

This was the first drawing I did.  The theme was wellbeing, you can see it just on the bottom left hand corner.  My question was how would I feel if I did not have this habit and was  more in wellbeing.  You can imagine how that felt and the realisation of this is what it would mean to me and then I did the Sea of Sorrow one, which is underneath.  I made it into a card that sits in my office as a concstant reminder.   

When I see the contrast, it seems crazy not to choose the better option but we are human beings and sometimes we do not always appreciate how we really feel or the impact of what we are doing to ourselves, because on the whole life can feel pretty good, maybe not.  It can always feel better, for me it is about going within, living life from the inside out.

The images are really about my values.  I really looked at what mattered to me, who do I want to be.  Am I really living in integrity for what it means to me,  not anyone else's value.  This was key to get me through.  I have to say I found the first week a challenge but had the energy of something new, the second week was 'hellish' for sure, the third week was a challenge, the fourth easier.  No complacency though.

I used all the tricks of my trade, coaching, creativity in every sense.  Announced what I was doing to a couple of friends.  One who actually decided that she wanted to change a habit and I asked if I could support her and wow.  The drawing was done about 3 weeks before this and I had wished/thought how much I would love it if someone was on a similar journy.  Truly then 3 weeks later a friend did not know I was going through this said what she did, the rest is history and she is doing really well also.  

As a result of this I am feeling amazing, feel SO proud of myself, have lots of little rituals that I do that bring me so much joy and pleasure.  I feel healthier, have much more clarity, not only that I am now open to much more in my life and coaching practice.  I guess the decluttering may be part of that.  Actually as a result of writing this blog.  I am going to create a 4 week coaching package to support others with creating the life they want and starting with challenging one habit to replace with so much more, has to be through small fun steps.  Not sure what I will call it but I am going to do this.  Wahoo.  What a gift and so many reasons why it is worth it.

You need to know it is not easy, but I promise you within 4 weeks you will have explored creatively what matters, have someone right there with you the whole time, learn more about you, your values and strengths because you will have so many strengths that you are perhaps not aware of, not only that how in wellbeing are you going to feel? 

So if anyone whats to Create New Habits, just let me know.  

Transition - one life to another

"Well cannot believe it I submitted my final piece of home work for my ARTbundance Certification Training - wahoo. Did my presentation and 2 coaching sessions. Needs evaluating first. Cannot believe 20 weeks of learning a wonderful coaching approach that for me has been the missing link. I feel so blessed."

Wow, I cannot believe this.  I wrote this before the 26th June 2012, which was my last day as an Occupational Therapist with the District Health Board.  So much has happened since.   It is my 50th year and my husband's 60th year.  We have been celebrating a friend's 40th and 70th.  Honestly, we have been celebrating so much this year.  I could write so many blogs just about that. 

On the 27th at 2 am we left for the Airport.  Spent 4 amazing days in Sydney, love Darling Harbour and The Rocks and then boarded a 10 day cruise, which was so cheap - 70% off and spent most of the time at sea with 4 days on South Caledonian or Fijian Islands.  We only got of for 2 days.  Lazy I know and this was our whole purpose to experience what 10 days of 'chilling' would actually feel like.   Honestly I cannot believe how quick a day goes when you are doing nothing. 

It was incredible, I did so much journalling, reading and doing various exercises from the books I read.  There was so much transition that occurred on that trip never mind in my life.  I finally wrote all the things that I was embarrassed about, ashamed about and have never told a soul.  Nothing major in the scheme of things but enough to use as a 'beaty up stick' when needed.  I wrote about the things that traumatised me, angered me, frustrated me, saddened me (have to say I have been working on personal development for about oh lets see now 22 years - haha).

I torn up the paper I wrote them on into small pieces like confetti (bio degradable), which I then set free at the back of the ship.  Honestly it was amazing just how gracefully and beautifully it seemed to play in the wind, in the spray and on top of the waves.  What a great feeling.  So transition there. 

The ripple effects have been interesting and not as I expected.  I feel so much 'lighter' and funny that a person I met up with the other day actually used those words, when talking about my energy.  It is amazing just how hard it is to take time out but truly the space in priceless for what occurs.  And we can so create time, which I will blog about soon.

So transition in life.  At the age of 50 I feel as if I am starting out and I am.  I am now certified as an ARTbundance Coach and cannot imagine coaching any other way.  I use Results Coaching Systems and Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching and honestly with Occupational Therapy what a package.  I am amazed how it all just works together.  Ok, Liz having said that I have been working towards this since 2005 and perhaps did not give it the attention it deserved.  Great excuses - sabotage, procrastination, too busy, not being good enough, fear of failure, fear of success and finally I am here - wahoo.

Up until May this year working for the YWCA was not even in my vocabulary and now I facilitate 3 groups for girls between the ages of 11 - 13 at 2 different schools.  Me Liz, who does not have children, who has never worked with children and  now this is my second week of a 10 week programme, which is about empowerment, self esteem, confidence, positive body image, communication skills.  I am creating stuff, activities to do with the girls.  Have to say the lady before me had done this programme and taught me and it is an established programme with the Y that I am tweaking. 

On Friday I had the first lesson of the Post Grad in Counselling, predominantly in narrative therapy.  Me Liz, doing this at 50.  For those that know me this is the 3rd time I have allowed myself to be here and actually do this and the approach I so love because it is similar to coaching in terms of belief in the client, that they have the resources etc.  It is an 18 month course and I cannot believe I am actually doing it.  Have to do 200 hours counselling next year and looking at placements  now.  My dream and the reason I am doing this is because I want to work with people who have experienced disordered eating. 

I figure that with all this experience and counselling to keep clients safe I can offer one to one stuff and group stuff in a creative way.  Telling the story, metaphors, etc.  As I write my fingers move too fast with excitement.  I have also implemented a plan for where I am taking more time out.  It seems as if this looks challenging and it is but I cannot believe that I truly have made time.  I am less on face book although value this tremendously and time myself more. 

I have time out for so many different things and am just having a ball.  When the home work starts, which it already has and I get busier, perhaps it may be a different thing.  I am also going to be training as a Master Coach with KMCC next week so wow.  Phew,  need to stop now.  My bed times now are 8.30 pm to read, 9.30 pm sleep.  Not quite managing it but not far off. 

At 50 and I guess it has been a gradual transition to an amazing life in my book.  This I could never have envisaged, not ever, ever which as a coach is challenging when we set goals with clients.  It so reinforces how important it is to check out what it is that you want to feel, what will make you feel the way you want to feel and where does it happen already.  Also, trying things on for size and just giving things a go.  Sometimes I have done that with clothes, If I choose one item I think ok well what would I not wear and take that in with me too.  Great fun.  Have bought a couple of things that I would not have but don't do that much shopping - haha.  

I love my life so much and it feels as if this is just the beginning.  I love my age, my stage when I am so much more settled in my own skin and content with who I am.  It has taken some time to get here and is a working progress but I think this age group has so much to offer.  A freedom somehow, an excuse to be a little bit out there.   Who knows and I would advise though is not to wait until 50 and give things ago way before now.  It truly is worth it.  I so promise you that.  It is magic when you listen to you and allow you to be you as a whole, embracing the darker parts as well as the lighter parts. 

Definitely time to go.  Listen to your passion.  What makes you smile, laugh?  What makes time pass by so quickly that you do not even notice?  When, where with whom are you most content, at your  best in terms of being be you, feeling easy in the company you are in.  Definitely time to go - haha. 

Love this from Kate Robertson's Face book

from Gun Gazing's Photos

 

The Bodyguard Muse - Live Your Dreams - Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching

"If your heart is in your dream, no goal is too extreme." - Ned Washington.  This is interesting that this chose me twice today and so I am going to pay attention.  I have been an Occupational Therapist for a number of years now and have been so privileged to be in positions that have allowed me to expand and grow and if not then I have had great lessons and moved on.

I first studied coaching in 2005 and again 2006 with Results Coaching Systems and have to say that I struggled so many times with the structure finally I feel I have a wonderful balance of their training, which is extremely thorough and professional and has taught me the 'coaching skills', in particular the 'coaching 'conversation'.  I love some of the structure that I used to not because having tried to be more right brained and hardly left brain has often left me feeling overwhelmed and a little lost with clients at times.  I feel I now have a wonderful balance and the flexibility with the structure, which has given me the space and time to have much more balance and be creative.  It has also supported my being able to support clients in their creativity and non linear ways of being, whilst supporting that they achieve what is important to them and is sustainable.  I have also been privileged to study and become certified as a Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach and Muse Group Leader. 

All of these aspects I use every single day of my life.  I looked at my web site the other day and was blown away because I could truly say I have experienced every single thing that I offer, how lucky am I and that is why I am so passionate about wanting others to get it for themselves too.

The Bodyguard, I cannot believe my journey to right now.  I am currently doing the ARTbundance Certified Training, which is so fantastic and compliments everything I am doing.  What I am starting to hear is that I am truly allowing my BIG dream to come to fruition, after all these years and now I need the Bodyguard more than ever.  Funny how when you so can be who you want to be and truly step up, that is scares the hell out of you and yet it is what you have been working for for years. 

"When our passion and commitment to the expression of our talents comes from a source inside that's unaffected by anything external, no worldly fear or discouragement will stop us from bringing them into fruition."  The Bodyguard Muse, creator Jill Badonsky.

I have for years been putting off my dream, at times even hiding it or disguising it, wanting it so badly and believing in it and, perhaps if I learn this and perhaps if I learn that then I will be better at doing that and I have to say I am amazed at what I have learned now this package with ARTbundance I know is going to be very useful - ah what crap my first thought, with Audacity Muse was it is going to be phenomenal. 

God, did I say that, yep.  I implore anyone who has done the same as me to please, please drag that dream out, let it shine, breathe air into it, please listen, you will know if it is the right thing because no matter how long you have had it or it has been buried it will have manifested and appeared over the years in different guises but will always have the same theme. 

Please allow yourself this because unless you do, you will continue to have conflict with yourself, maybe with the world because you are in disharmony.  You are meant to live your best life, experience, joy, laughter, awe, sadness, anger, frustration, wonder, curiosity, being.  It will not make life perfect, it will not make life easy, although I promise with all my heart it will be easier, eventually, but you will feel and be alive.  You WILL notice the difference.

So please allow Bodyguard Muse to be along side you, no matter what to protect your dream, your vision, not by hiding it away.  Let you and your dream shine and protect that with everything you have.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

I Want To Be Somebody New - Dont Make Life Weight - Living Life From The Inside Out

"Once I wanted to be in the zoo.  And that was the day I first met you.  You said that the zoo was not for me.  The circus, you said, was where I should be.  From the book under the Dr Zeus label Beginner Books, written by Robert Lopshire.

I first read this children's book in 1996 and for some crazy reason bought in Scotland cost all of 2.99 Stirling pounds.  (Don't have the symbol on my key board).  It has travelled far and now lives in New Zealand.  For some reason yet again, I was thinking about the Don't Make Life Weight blog and this just was around. 

It is a lovely story about a creature called Spot, who listened to someone else telling them what to do because well they thought it was a good idea.  From then on the creature continually changes to fit in, to do the right thing, constantly changing the outside shape, continually not feeling right but trying all the same.

Finally on the eve of Spot changing their shape yet again "Oh, no you don't! You stop right there! We like and we really care.  We liked you best, a whole, whole lot, when you were just our old friend spot.  So do you trick with your one, two, three ...  But show us what we want to see!  Say! You are right!  As right can be!  And it does feel best to be just me!

I wonder how many times we try to change ourselves, particularly the outside of us to fit in, to think we have to look a certain way.  Sometimes we do it with new people and forget they were attracted to us in the first place because of who we were anyway and yet we think we need to be not who we are.  I really like this story because it is a reminder that no matter what shape you are on the outside it really is the inside that counts. 

I know I have for years tried to change the outside of me so many times and so many times have succeeded but did not feel that great about myself still, which just made me feel worse.  It has only been by learning to accept myself compassionately, which has taken years by the way, not that it needed to but it just did!  I only needed to get to feel good enough and when you get there magic, truly happens.  Thank goodness that self help has changed and is much more realistic, eg we need to feel all of our feelings emotions, connect to something we love doing just because we love doing it.  Creativity, what ever form, have fun are key to everything else.  I promise.

How would it be to consider a time, situation you may be in right now where you are not feeling good enough and have tried to change the outside to make it happen.  What if even for 30 secs you acted as if you feel good enough inside, what would you be doing differently. 

Small & Crappy - Reality Check

This is my amazing husband, John, who really at times is so wise and ALWAYS honest.  I have to say that truly we laugh like this a lot.  I have to admit that on this particular occasion it was encouraged by alcohol and a birthday celebration. 

I wanted to write a blog and this week it was about personal life coaching.  I was struggling because I have one hour and could have done this 2 days ago when I planned.  I thought about Rae Wardes' gorgeous statement that is well know in the Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching community - 'make it small & crappy' it will be good enough.  Ok I will, I think. Then what about, so I approach John.  "What would be something you would like to read that would inspire you around personal stuff?".  (He really could be a coach himself and an OT for that matter - haha), he could not really think of anything.  Ok then, "What is something that you are struggling with just now?"  He still could not think of anything.

I was beginning to feel as if he was not trying hard enough (cheeky eh! For sure!)and with that thought it hit me.  He was outside in the middle of sweeping the path.  It is a lovely sunny day, I had interrupted him to ask these questions because I could not answer them myself.  He explained that all he could think of was the garden, he had noticed plants growing that were new, wanted to transplant something to see if it would work and discovered 3 pots that he wanted to use in some way, and I wanted to take him away from this.  He looked so content and relaxed.

He was so in the present and enjoying every moment of it and thank goodness that he allowed himself to be, stay there.  What a wonderful reminder of how to just be and you know sometimes, we just need to stop figuring it all out.  I have done a lot of that again just recently and really hearing that there so needs to be a 'time of just being of taking a break, taking stock of what is already working with the power of gratitude which will create new inspiration without even trying.'  This is from Lull Muse - KMCC, what fab advice. 

Get It
I was struggling with something and trying to get someone else to help me.  Absolutely nothing wrong in that what so ever, unless you are taking them to a place where they really don't want to go or need to go.  I was thinking that I really wanted to write an inspiring, useful blog where 'small & crappy' would have been just fine and ok to do.  Had I done this then I would not have approached John, on saying that I am so pleased that I did.  Great role model.

Got It
Now I know that what was really occurring for me is the need to want to write a blog in a hurry.  What I got out of this is so much in terms of learning. However it still was about writing a blog and it being good enough.

Great - options/choices

• remember small & crappy
• good enough is good enough
• make notes along the way of ideas
• take risks with blogs

Ta Da! - Credit report - acknowledgment

• I stopped myself in my tracks when I noticed where John was
• I recognised that it is up to me to create what I want and take responsibility of that instead of trying to take someone out of their place into mine
• I wrote this blog and enjoyed its integrity
• I love small & crappy - it is so freeing
• I am letting myself of the hook for being late with it
• I actually  like writing blogs, don't know why, don't need to know
• I learned from this in a loving, compassionate way, nice lessons

How will I celebrate

• Post this blog
• Read it again - haha
• Go out and enjoy lunch with friends
• Relax and have the rest of the day off

OTcoach - Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching

I feel blessed that everything I do is informed by Occupational Therapy, in terms of purposeful, meaningful, holistic, environment, support structures etc.  Having just read the Kawa Model, which was a hard read for me, however the model itself I feel is useful in terms of grasping the 'unseen', which for me is what being human is and how we are influenced.  It would be surprising if my life was not affected.

I have learned so much about people, what matters, we are all different, have different perspectives and yet experience similar challenges, no matter who we are and what we have achieved. This has become more apparent since I have been coaching, about 6 years now.  Results Coaching Systems started me off on some very powerful strategies, training about communication and processes. 

I started to wonder why am I noticing people more in coaching when I thought I had always noticed people.  I am in the people world.  What I realised was when I am in the OT role, not so much now but it still happens,  I was getting so caught up in my role, the impairment, disability, goal that I often did not really see the client.  I believe what I did was ok and seemed to support the client, mostly, not all the time.  I think the Kawa Model can help with this more obviously now. 

In coaching you go with whatever the client brings with them.  You never know what will appear and your role is to listen, hear, ask the gorgeous curious questions, not for your insights but for the clients and then, well coaching occurs.  This kind of occurs a little in supervision and of course is different because there are a whole host of other aspects/factors that enter the room/space eg client etc.

Over the years, as an OT, coach and supervisor I have noticed and have mentioned on numerous occasions the importance of well being and mindfulness, which implies balance, etc.  Added to that now for me the concept of wellbeing (great, I have my next wellbeing blog when it comes around) is creativity, no matter what form. 

What also informs my life and OT is the coaching approach because of the curious questions, believing a person has what it takes, they know what works for them inside and the belief simply in the process of being human and experiencing all emotion and giving space for the person to be (always a working progress).

As mentioned I feel blessed and now after 3 and a bit years I recognise just how much Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching can assist OT's to not only connect with the client but more importantly themselves in a realistic fun, powerful way.  When people have been on this journey, magic happens they become who they are meant to be and honestly these ripple affects in all aspects are tremendous.  So I have decided that I would like to introduce all the Muses from Jill Badonsky's 9 Modern Day Muses and a Body Guard, one in each blog, I will rotate themes every 5 weeks. 

Jill was an OT and more importantly is herself, an artist, creator as we all are.  She has been able to capture aspects of life which matter and some how in her gift to us has created an approach, which is tangible, fun and are realistic ways of encouraging us to raise our awareness, embrace all of ourselves, nourish, have compassion, support with our focus, work through perfectionism, sabotage, overwhelm, procrastination with small beautiful steps from Dr Bob Maurer.  I believe this is a gift and want to share that too. 

Each OTcoach blog I would love to share a Muse and apply him/her to some aspect of you, which will take cognisance of how this may be applied to you, the clients and perhaps peers.   The more we listen to ourselves, experience who we are, express ourselves in what ever way, emotions, fun, creativity the more we will succeed and achieve the life we are meant.  There is something about OTs and coaches, they believe adamantly in supporting others to LIVE a meaningful, purposeful life no matter what the challenges are and we can do that for ourselves, why wait to have an illness, injury, life threatening situations.  Why not do it in wellbeing?

A quote from Audacity: Muse of courage and uninhibited uniqueness

"If you are not having fun, reconsider what you're doing".

"I don't know the key to success,
but the key to failure is trying to please everybody"

Bill Cosby, comedian, actor

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. 
There can be no courage unless you're scared"

Eddie Rickenbacker