February 2015 - Choice 2

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” 

Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Following on from February' Newsletter DEEP Truth of the Month 'Choice' and February's Blog 2015 - Playing with Choice this blog invites you to consider choice on a deeper level!

When I think of the power of making choices, I recall the story of Viktor Frankl – holocaust survivor and author of "Man's Search for Meaning" and how when held captive in a Nazi prison camp, he exercised his choice of not giving up, of creating his inner world to survive.   

Viktor knew he had no control over what was happening to him and what was going to happen to him.  He made a choice as to how he responded. In his mind and with his heart, he connected to the life he loved and the love of his life.  He used his inner creativity, intuition, spirit to keep the flame of humanity and hope alive.

He was generous with what little he had and shared it.  He gave and inspired others with love, compassion and hope. He did not ingest the hate, anger, hopelessness of what was happening. These are all choices!

My take aways from his story:

• Even in incredible situations there will always be a choice of how we respond and how we experience ourselves.

• We are all  so capable of incredible lives when we make the choice to live it, no matter what.

• Creativity, intuition and spirit are truly empowering, and only when we tap into this inner knowing, inner space, inner humanity will we access so many possibilities.

What do you remember about the story, and how does it inspire your own power of choice in your life?

John Lennon - Imagine - Lyrics

Be empowered!

Liz 

Wahoo! Hop, Skip, Jump 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life - Review

It is my absolute honor to review this wonderful inspiring guide by Marney Makridakis, called Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life which is full of creative, playful ways to manifest tangible results!

I have experienced many of Marney's calls, eBooks, eCourses and currently MMM - Marketing and Mentoring with Marney.  I and most of the clients I am privileged to walk alongside tend to use our left brain, the logical, structured aspects, which is extremely helpful but is not very expansive and does not encourage play and thinking differently and oh having fun in the meantime.  

When first introduced to the idea of play for developing myself and my business I was a little skeptical to say the least.  Now years down the line I am a testament to how "play and productivity in order to manifest whatever you desire"  really do work!  Marney explains "manifest means to reveal what is already there to take what already exists and make it clearly and plainly visible." 

This is what I love about 'play' you reveal yourself to you.  YOU are the expert! "Play is the portal to presence."  "Play and productivity, the secret is simple: what moves us is what moves us, which simply means what moves us emotionally is what move us to action."  So when it comes to manifesting a meaningful life, play works!

Marney introduces and invites us to be aware of the 3 phases, energies that reveals the values of a right brained approach (play) to productivity.  

• Hopping refers to having an idea or impulse and exploring it in your imagination.
• Skipping refers to experimenting and trying new things.
• Jumping refers to quickly moving to action. 

Often we can spend most of the time in one phase. You get to play if you wish. There is a fun quiz (link below) that identifies what energy we are mostly in, which can be useful when we want to consistently manifest what WE desire in our life by tapping into the other phases also.

There are 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life that are divided into these 3 phases.  Each one is has a 'Fun Fact' that is really interesting, well researched and leads into an easy reading, concept/idea of how to take forward a playful way of producing. Here is an example of one of the 'Playful Ways'.

Hop Phase

An example - No. 8 Learn Your ABC's

Actions, Beliefs and Choices - a new way of goal setting.  I love this and have actually created the ABC Creative Blocks No. 9 on several occasions.  

Marney explains the way to breakthroughs, momentum, is not the action alone. It is the belief, the conviction to support your action.  "Choices fills the space between belief and action."

Action: I want to apply for this new job.

Belief: I would need to believe that I would be seen as a good fit.

Choice: I choose to believe that I am right of this job and to go for it!

Your turn:

A is for a action: I want to ...

B is for belief: In order to complete this, I would need to believe ...

C is choice: I choose to  ...

This leads to creating a new habit and a new way of goal setting.  Try it and tap into the energy.  All of the activities hold this essence and are fun to do but very real, tangible and come from you.  

This is only one example, there are 74 more! 

Each chapter is no more than 3 - 4 pages.  They begin with a fun fact, leading to a quote and a story of how the next activity can inspire you. 

There is either:

• an ACROWHIM - BLOCKS (from creative blocks) = Build Love: Open, Creative, Kinetic Spirit Or
• a MANIFESTAGRAM- Beliefs and choices = "Be and feel" is so chic! and 
• a fun HAIKOODLE: "play as building blocks, don't worry if they fall down, just create again." and 
• an option to have fun and doodle.

I love this book because finally it explains in a very real, easy tangible way why 'play' works, literally and offers so many fun ways to manifest your desires that are inspired by YOU!

I invite and encourage you to play!  Marney offers a fun quiz and at the end you have the option of receiving a free productivity pack to continue with your 'play' and see for yourself the power of this magical, inspiring approach.  All ideas are shared from this wonderful book, which will never be outdated because you can do exactly the same activity at another time and you will discover something else.  Truly! 

You will be the best judge of that so why not watch this short video below. There is a link at the end for a fun quiz to find your  productive manifesting style. Do you HOP, SKIP or JUMP?

Finish the quiz and enter your quiz results over at Artellaland to get a Productivity Pack that is personalized for your specific manifestation type!

You can order the book from Amazon and read lots more rave reviews.  

Enjoy

Liz 

DEEP: Body Love's Theme Shadow Muse Part 2

Welcome to blog 2 which continues the theme of Shadow Muse featured in Phinspiration Newsletter:November 2014 Shadow Muse and DEEP: Body Love's Theme Shadow Muse

Here is a little story about Shadow:

I looked out my window and saw shadow.  It was dark and scary and I was afraid.  

I immediately noticed that I was afraid because I could not see what was in there and was frightened that I would be hurt.  I also realized that I assumed I had to go right into the shadow without a light and I did not.  

Shadow then opened its doors wide and invited me to bring a lantern in and just to take a few steps.  Shadow suggested that I do not come all the way in yet as I might become lost.  

I finally realized that I was quite surprised at how considerate shadow was and felt relieved and more inclined to visit.  
I knew my next step was to revisit shadow with a little step at a time and I found myself actually looking forward to it. 

Now, you try it:

I looked out my window and saw shadow. It was _________

I immediate noticed___________

Shadow then ____________________

I finally realized ______________

I knew my next step was _____________

What does your story show you?

Enjoy

Liz 

Manifesting through Play!

This continues with the theme from December's Newsletter: 12 Reminders For Getting Things Done! 

Having FUN always gets me to show up with an excitement that I look forward to.  I have a smile from the inside out and don't take what I am doing so seriously. Usually magic happens. 

I know that PLAY allows my curiosity to thrive and be.  It inspires me to experiment, take risks, makes mistakes in a playful way.  No need to be attached to the outcome because it is a game and wow, what gets revealed is usually pretty unexpected.  

Besides that it feels like fun, joy and you feel just great.  The time passes by so quickly! 

I know that when we have fun, we are truly connected to our child like selves, gifting ourselves freedom to just be so present in the moment, with no judgments, just being, not questioning.  

Play allows us to be so connected to our bodies and so engaged in whatever we are doing. Laughter is so healing and actually fun.  We feel rejuvenated, re-engerized.  We know no limits and expand ourselves without even trying. We are free to hop, skip and jump, like Marney's book.  Bliss!  Click here to play!

I also think it's important to mention that getting things done means that we will not always feels good about it.  It can mean that sometimes we will be saying no to things and people and in the saying no we are saying absolute yes too!

Getting things done does need to be consistent, an action, a doing, a no-nonsense stepping in and saying, "ok, I'm doing this."   Showing up in the doing – while remembering to play - leads to a sense of wellbeing and joy and creating a fully meaningful life. 

Do what Santa does, get help!

Make it fun by having a singalong!

Enjoy

Liz 

DEEP: Body Love's Theme Shadow Muse

Welcome to this blog which continues with the theme of Shadow Muse featured in Phinspiration Newsletter:November 2014 Shadow Muse

Shadow through the Eyes of a Child.

When I think of a shadow through the eyes of a child, I think of being a bit scared.

When I think of shadow through the eyes of a child, I see playing with the shadow like Peter Pan or trying to step on the shadow.

When I think of shadow through the eyes of a child, I imagine that monsters and nasty things live in them.

When I think of shadow through the eyes of a child I am curious as to where it came from.

When I think of a shadow through the eyes of a child I believe that the shadow must be an entity of its own: a creature, a thing that has its own mind and is playing with me or running away from me. 

When I think of shadow through the eyes of a child I may want to play with it.

What comes to mind when you think of a shadow through the eyes of a child? 

Enjoy 

Liz 

HOP, SKIP, JUMP your way to playfully manifesting a meaningful, joyful life!

I am so thrilled and honored to be part of Artellas 75 Blog Playdates.  I will be reviewing this fabulous book over the next 2 - 3 weeks in honor of its launch on the 11th November 2014. 

This inspiring guide by Marney Makridakis, called Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life is full of creative, playful ways to manifest tangible results!

In the meantime, why not have a play right now and watch this short video below.   There is a link at the end for a fun quiz to find your  productive manifesting style. Do you HOP, SKIP or JUMP?

Finish the quiz and enter your quiz results over at Artellaland to get a Productivity Pack that is personalized for your specific manifestation type!

Enjoy!

As part of the celebration simply order HOP, SKIP, JUMP on November 11th, and get an instant $15 Artella eGift Certificate for each copy purchased, which is even more than the price of the book!

The eGift Certificate is good on any Artella eProduct; no minimum purchase required. So it’s the best day to order multiple copies as holiday presents, and get $15 back for each one; and the eGift certificates can even be transferred to others as holiday gifts, too!

Enjoy and look out for the review!

Liz 

DEEP: Body Love's Theme Glorious Audacity part 2

Welcome to part 2 which continues the theme of audacity as featured in September’s 2014 Newsletter: Glorious Audacity and Blog 1 - DEEP:Body Love's Theme Glorious Audacity

Tips from Audacity

Day dream for 30 seconds if I felt good enough what would I do next? 

• Add some really bright colours to your doodles.
• Wear that very bright, bold piece of jewellery you bought when you were feeling audacious. 
• Wear the lovely hat or shoes or clothing you thought was a good purchase.  
• Where it around the house for a while and keep looking in the mirror and tell yourself you love it, even if that is hard to do.  Have fun with how you say it.
• Take your hat, shoes, clothing out for a date, adventure, taking on the personae of them! 
• Doodle, draw an audacious character, personae and name her/him/it. 
• Text yourself or put a reminder on the computer and ask what if you were audacious what would you do?
• Create, send yourself a permission slip to be audacious.  
• Send yourself a love note telling you how loved you are.
• Send yourself an invitation for an audacious date with you, a friend, a colleague, some you love or someone you don’t. 
• Gift yourself the really crazy cup and saucer perhaps that you have always wanted!
• Change the meal you usually have planned to something completing different without telling anyone and have fun watching their reactions! 
• Say no to cooking, someone else can do it, you are going to have a candle lit bath with candles or going to play for 30 minutes!!!

 What are 3 things that you love doing?

1. 
   
2. 
   
3.  

If you were A u d a c i o u s, choose one of your things you love doing and set yourself a small challenge of doing just one small step and enjoy the bliss.  Reminder yourself what it feels like to be connected and having fun.  Would love to hear what you have come up with. 

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation" 50 secs of pure inspiration.  

Beautiful audaciousness blossoming!   

Enjoy.

Liz 

DEEP: Body Love's Theme Reframing Mistakes

Welcome to this blog which continues with the theme of mistakes and practice as featured in August's newsletter: Reframing Mistakes August 2014

Just like everything, becoming comfortable with mistakes is something that comes with practice.  Practicing taking our mistakes, and framing them with kindness and compassion, that can guide us to what next. 

Mistakes are a portal to the unknown and wonderful world of discovery.  They also tell us what does not work for us and teach us to discern. 

Here are some ways to practice making mistakes:

If you have paper, fold it in half and literally spill some liquid on one side, could be coffee, paint, indian ink and then fold the paper in half to get a mirror image.

Draw and image of a spill, a splash and decorate it.  Play with it, there is no expectation of an outcome and have the intention that you are going to do it really badly.

Write a poem, a haiku really badly, allowing what ever to appear to appear, dont cross anything out and if you do use a coloured pen or doodle the cross out, whilst enjoying the process.

Create a persona of a wonderful mistakes and consult with it.

What else could you try?

Enjoy

Liz

DEEP: Body Love's Theme Spills Muse

Spills Muse – from Jill Badonsky's Nine Modern-Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) is a fun childlike imp who loves to play. When I think of Spills Muse, here are some of the ways I envision her:

She is curious and is not guided by rules and regulation.  She is not concerned about matching colours and making rhymes that rhyme.  She is not guided by left brain logic and giggles and laughs at every opportunity. 

 If a mistake occurs, Spills she instantly transforms it into a spill like magic and accepts it for what it is.  If it interests her she will continue playing with it, if not she lets it go and moves on.  This knowledge always helps her.

Spills Muse is relaxed, at ease and easily finds the flow in life, in being because she is not caught up in shoulds, oughts, good enough is her motto.  What is most important to her is to pay attention to spills in a non-judgmental way and use what serves her.  Because of her freedom and flow magic happens far beyond anything she could have imagined and in fact she looks forward to spills.

Spills is always present, mindful and in the wonderful process.  She consciously chooses the qualities she wants to experience.

If a mistake looks like a piece of coal, rock, a spill might look like the gem, crystal, diamond inside it.

If a mistake looks like burnt toast, a spill might look like, "oh, need to put down the heat a little for the next lot".

If mistake looks like a piece of rag, a spill might look like it being a wonderful piece of material that could be used to dance with, to collage with, to wrap something in, to quilt.

If mistake looks like broken plates, cups, a spill might look like, "Cool, broken stuff, what can I mosaic, create?"  This actually happened to me.  I broke a favourite plate and thought, "ok, how can I use that?" I am going to make a mosaic for our house number.

What is a recent spill that has happened to you…and what new possibility do you see in it?  Leave a comment to share your awesome ideas!

Enjoy this awesome video about 25 Accidental Inventions That Changed The World.

Love

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!

Road Trip - Visual Journalling

First of all I would like to thank Jill Allison Bryan from Creative Oasis Coaching.  www.creativeoasiscoaching.com.

In her last newsletter she inspired me to write this blog, in a way that I could give myself permission for it to be good enough and have the courage to do that.  I am pretty busy at the moment, not too overwhelmed (articles coming about that soon) and wanted to write at least something that was short but ok, so here goes.

I have just received the Visual Journalling - Going Deeper than Words, Barbara Ganim & Susan Fox and have started a 6 week 'road trip' with this and wow, already.  I have been journalling for some time in different ways and this is the next stage for me.   I have much to say and my timer tells me I have 10 minutes left. 

Quote from the book - "Traditional methods of prayer and  meditation have been elusive for me in the past ... For me; painting in my meditation.  It is my gift from Spirit, a tool to help me as I journey down all the roadways in this life ... toward the joyful discovery of who I am really am." - Jeanne Prom.

I feel that this resonates with me.  I am not a writer, a painter, a sculpture, an artist but we are all absolutely creative in many ways.  My creativity I believe is through my passions of occupational therapy, creativity coaching and soon counselling, supporting others to connect to who they are, give themselves permission to be and soar.  I do this more and more through creativity, creativity coaching and narrative.

I have been exploring myself more many, many years for lots of reasons.  In latter years to get to play with creative modalities.  Just love, in heaven for me.  I am so curious and intrigued what this road trip will reveal. 

I wondered if you noticed anything in the quote that sparked a thought for you.  How would it feel to write about it, draw it, create symbols or not and just notice how you feel.

A writing prompt if you wish ...
If I was planning for a road trip, what 3 things would I take and why.  Have fun. 

High Five!

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.