Writing my weekly blog is something I love to do and feel deeply committed to.
This week, I am away at a retreat with my coach and a wonderful group of people doing deep personal work alongside me.
I am honoring myself by being fully present in this experience.
Enjoy this photo of the magnificent landscape I am inspired by while in Texas.
Perhaps the weather is finally getting more seasonally cool where you are, as it is here in Boston. The fall season brings many things to mind.
Like many people, I am thinking about how I want to make the most of the final quarter of this year.
And with lots of big ideas percolating, it would be easy for me to drive myself hard. After all, there are barely 12 weeks until 2024 gets underway.
For most of my life I was focused on pushing myself. It was such a “normal” way for me to live and work that I never considered the possibility of a different approach to my life.
What about you?
Is constant pushing your “normal”?
If it is, does it make you happy?
Do you hold the belief that it’s the only way to get things done and achieve?
I have been learning to slow down for over a decade!
I have become keenly aware that, for me, being thoughtful and taking intentional, clear action works much better than plowing frantically through my days.
Going more slowly to get more done, and to be more satisfied with my work and my life, was counterintuitive when my first coach introduced the concept to me.
Being willing to try it, finding ways to experience more satisfaction and accomplishment, and consistently practicing over time has made a huge difference in my life.
I am clear about the benefits of living and working without “push energy” — that I had thought was the only way to succeed. (I, like most of us, had internalized the way our culture glorifies and celebrates hard, hard work).
My new approach has proven to be remarkably beneficial.
Rather than plowing through your days, living with stress, and collapsing in exhaustion, here is a way to start approaching your life differently that you can explore.
When you start your day with space for thinking, feeling and intentional planning, many things will start to change.
Even if you have kids to get to school or other demands on your time, think about adjustments you can make to start your day in a new way.
You might realize that getting to bed a bit earlier will enable you to wake up sooner than you have been, so you can give yourself the gift of 10 to 20 minutes to yourself.
You might create a new morning pattern or routine with those in your household, that provides you with some precious quiet time for yourself.
You might decide that a current habit can be replaced, that will support a quiet, focused mind. (For me, switching away from listening to news first thing in the morning, and instead choosing music I was in the mood for, made a wonderful difference.)
If you want more ideas, I have a lovely guide, Creating Space for YOU, to help you do just that. Just email me and I will get it right off to you,
You might write in a journal.
You can quietly list things for which you are grateful.
You might want to move your body in a particular way — doing yoga poses, moving through a quick workout, taking a walk outside.
With some focus established, you will be ready to think about your day with quiet energy and sharper perspective.
Setting a clear intention for yourself makes great things possible.
Your intention could be to move thoughtfully through your day, rather than rushing and reacting.
You might intend to show up boldly in a conversation, or get something specific accomplished with focus and ease.
You might intend to sustain a positive frame of mind all day.
You might intend to ask for help for a matter that has challenged you, or to make something easier to accomplish.
Your intention may well include several components.
The key is to be loving to yourself as you set intentions that will support you to have the best day you can.
When you set the stage for quiet, intentional thinking each morning, and do as much as you can to follow through on the intentions you set, you will see meaningful changes unfold in your life.
You have this opportunity.
You have the power to bring change into your life, to live in a sustainable way, that enables you to thrive.
You can make the most of 2023 and step into a new year with clear energy, sharp focus, greater clarity and deep enthusiasm.
That is what being a creator of your life, living big, is all about.
If you want to talk about how you can begin to make significant change in your life, I may be able to help.
The best way to start is to book a quick intro call with me.
You are under no pressure, no obligation. I promise only an honest conversation where you can talk about the deep desires you have for your life and what's in the way for you now. I can share fresh insight and perspective, and tell you about programs I offer that may be a fit for you.
Most of us launch into our days, moving through a brisk morning routine and then attending meetings and handling tasks and projects that fill our packed calendars. We end the day only to start again the next morning.
In the midst of a busy life, it’s easy to loose sight of the opportunity we each have to pause, reflect and make simple choices that can have a big positive impact.
If, instead of moving from one thing to the next as quickly as possible, you choose to briefly stop, breathe quietly for a minute ot two, and then ask yourself a good question, you can change the tone and intensity of any busy day.
When you choose this question and focus on the top thing that matters most right now, you are able to bring both awareness and clarity to your day. Your attention will no longer be splattered.
This pause enables you to consider how you might reshuffle other things on the calendar if that is needed, or who you can ask to help you, or what resources are available that you had not considered as you rushed though the day.
It’s easy to forget that you deserve to be happy, and that there is always an opportunity to have moments of pleasure in your life — even when things are busy!
This is not a frivolous or selfish thing to make a priority, It is self-loving. And when you honor yourself by choosing to inject happiness into your day, you put positive fuel in your engine.
Maybe a quick text or call to someone special will lift your spirits.
Maybe a short walk in nature, or a stop at a lovely cafe will give you a boost.
Maybe planning something special you can look forward to doing at the end of your day will light up your heart.
This question offers you a terrific opportunity to reflect on something you want to commit to — for yourself, for your wellbeing.
Tap your heart and find something that you want.
Keep in mind that small desires are a great for two reasons — they matter, and they will not make you feel overwhelmed.
Here are some prompts that may get you started:
You might promise yourself to get to bed a little earlier.
You might promise yourself to ask for something you have held back on requesting.
You might promise yourself to be kinder — to yourself or someone else.
You might promise yourself to follow through on a task you have been avoiding.
You might promise yourself to be a bit bolder today.
You might promise yourself to start planning an adventure you have been longing to take.
We tend to underestimate the significant impact that small actions can have.
You may want to remind yourself to ask one of these questions each day (and you may have other questions you want to add).
Why not download this graphic, print it, and use it as a reminder?
I’d be happy to hear about how this practice works for you.
And I am always happy to talk about how you want to Live Big.
Most of us focus on destinations, goals, and achievements.
What if you savored the journey?
What if you held the vision of that desired state and lived in each present moment?
When your attention is fixed on a destination, you miss what is happening now — including new opportunities and great sensations.
When you live in the present, you appreciate all of your experiences as you move in the direction of your desired outcome.
What’s more, you can tune in to new possibilities and can gain fresh awareness of ways to support your goals.
And maybe best of all, you will have more fun!
Ready to give this new way of approaching your days a try?
It’s tempting to focus on the future. However, doing that often leads to thinking of a million what-ifs — which is not only stressful, it hijacks your attention and fragments your focus.
It’s also easy to look back and repeatedly rehash old experiences. While there are lessons to be learned from looking at the past, the rehashing usually hurts as you tend to focus on shortcomings and feelings of regret.
If you find yourself stuck in either of those states, try these ways to return to the present:
It can be helpful to jot notes about the times you fast-forward or dive back into examining past events.
Can you notice types of triggers that pull your attention away from what is happening now? Are there times of day, or specific people, or patterns you can become aware of?
Awareness can help you to avoid those situations — or spot them start early on. That's a great way to consciously bring your attention back to the present.
Consider where you are and what’s going on around you. Choose the present as your focus, at least for a little while.
Think about where you have opportunities right now — like the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation, or to shift to a more positive approach, or to come up with a new idea.
Ask yourself if there might be a challenge to address that you may have been avoiding when you turned your attention to the future or the past..
Be thoughtful as you contemplate your options and make your best choices.
When you are present and feel excited and eager about what is happening, and all that is possible for you now, make the most of the energy. Let yourself fully enjoy what you are doing. Let that positive energy carry you!
If you find yourself feeling discomfort, or fear, or sadness, or stress, it may be tempting to try and ignore it.
A better approach is to let yourself feel the feelings for a little while, and then use those feelings as fuel for some type of creative expressions.
For some that's writing. For some it helps to dig in the dirt, or go for a run. Some people move their bodies to music, or hammer away in a workshop, or sing loudly in their car. (This may be a quick effort, or may need repeating until you feel the emotion has been released.)
Having expressed yourself to use your emotions, you are likely to feel lighter, ready to refocus on all the opportunities and possibilities in the present moment.
And speaking of opportunities, when you live in the present you will have many opportunities to appreciate yourself. Acknowledge yourself for each step you take, for noticing new possibilities and testing them, and for all of your progress (the small steps as well as bigger leaps).
Living in the present is a great way to Live Big.
Last week I wrote about boundaries — what they are and why they matter so much. If you missed “Part 1” of this topic, you may want to click here and read about it.
As promised, today I’m sharing ways you can set boundaries without distress, to help you live your best life.
To begin, it can be helpful to check in and ask yourself how you relate to boundaries.
We all have the opportunity to draw the lines — create boundaries — that align with and protect our desires, values and preferences.
And, most people shy away from setting boundaries.
Many do not feel comfortable saying, “No.” They do not feel confident stating what is on their mind and setting standards that are aligned with what is right for them.
Here are a few reasons people shy away from setting boundaries:
This fear of not being nice is people-pleasing — something remarkably common among both men and women.
People-pleasers are focused on making other people happy or trying to get others to like them. This focus typically starts when people are young, and can be deeply ingrained.
They aim to avoid conflict to such a degree that they are willing to put their own needs, values and preferences behind those of others.
We all long for love and approval. Many people are so afraid of rejection or disapproval that they do not ask for what they need, or ask for something different, or assert themselves.
When you compromise this way, you fail to make your own well-being your top priority. It is also typical to feel unworthy of love and approval. Thus you are willing to sacrifice your own contentment, satisfaction and happiness. This often results in resentment and unhappiness.
This is the easiest challenge to overcome.
When you know the boundary you want to establish — be it setting a firm limit about when you are available and when you are not; or stating that you will no longer take on every task someone asks you to help with; or establishing a clear policy about lending things to others; or setting an “energetic boundary” to keep painful actions and remarks from wounding your heart; or anything else — you can get crystal clear about why that boundary matters to you.
Why do you want to change the way things are now?
What will change for the better when the new boundary is in place?
Think about how you will feel, the time that will open up for you, the benefits to the relationship you have with another person, etc.
When you have the what and the why clearly in mind, implementing the boundary (the how) is going to be easier than you may think.
When you are clear about a given boundary you want to set, and why it matters, follow these steps to set and hold that boundary.
Start by getting crystal clear about the person or people you will set this boundary with. One person may be your focus now, but there may be others with whom that boundary also needs to be set.
Next, be very clear about what the boundary entails, and what it will look like when it is in place.
With this clarity you will be ready to communicate the specifics to the party or parties you have identified.
Some boundaries are low-stakes, and may not feel intimidating to set. And, even the boundaries you feel most concerned about setting can be set with kindness.
Keep in mind that “kind” is different than “nice.” You do not need to fall into people-pleasing mode at all! You can kindly tell someone that you have commitments that preclude you from taking on new volunteer assignments, or that you are no longer able to answer calls on the weekend, or that you have established a new policy about loaning money.
Keep in mind, too, that your boundaries are kind to yourself, and that that is important!
Once you have communicated the new boundary, you may find that others do not fully respect that boundary. They may hope you will “relax the rule” or make exceptions for them. They may forget out of habit. They may try to persuade you to return to the pre-boundary way of interacting.
Keep the reason the boundary mattered to you to start with firmly in mind. Stay clear and determined about sustaining your new policy.
In time, people will either honor your boundary or not. If they choose not to honor your boundary you will have important information and can make a decision about making changes to that relationship.
Whether you are nervous about setting any new boundary, or you feel called to set a bold boundary, it will be best to start with setting a small, low-stakes boundary.
One that is likely to be easy for others to accept (and may be harder for you to stick to!), is to set limits on when you will respond to emails. You may want to add a signature to your emails stating when people will receive replies from you. (For example, you might say that you check emails twice each day, at 9:00am and 4:00pm, and that you respond to emails within 24 hours.)
After you have a couple of easy-to-communicate boundaries in place, you can aim for setting a boundary that is a bit more emotionally weighty. Being clear about the new boundary, and having a plan in place to communicate with kindness, you are likely to feel ready to declare your new boundary.
Be sure, after you have established each boundary, to take note of the impact it has for you, and celebrate yourself — you deserve to feel proud!
Each boundary you put in place creates clear space for you to bring more joy, more play, more creativity and more of what lights you up into your life.
That is what living big is all about!
Many women I talk to fail to consider — or actively avoid — setting boundaries.
I know that I had not given boundaries much thought for most of my life. And when I began to think about setting boundaries, a lot of discomfort showed up.
The truth, that I have come to understand and experience, is that each boundary you set is a gift to yourself. And boundaries can always be set with kindness.
This is a big topic — in fact, so big that I will address different types of boundaries now, as well as why they are important. Next week I will share ways to set boundaries that will help you live your best life.
There are physical boundaries and abstract personal boundaries. Both of these categories are important.
Physical boundaries include things like walls and fences. We can all recall what moats with drawbridges look like, that were built in medieval times to protect castles from invaders.
When we set a physical boundary, we are making it explicit to people to respect our space and not intrude on our privacy.
You may want to set physical boundaries related to the kinds of physical contact you welcome — and contact you do not want. Perhaps you hate being hugged. Perhaps you don’t like being in crowded places.
You may want to create private physical spaces, indoors (such as a room of your own) or outdoors (think fences and walls), where you can have solitude or pursue personal projects or activities. You may want people to knock before entering a room you occupy.
You may want to create a private space where your personal belongings, such as journals or keepsakes, will not be seen by others.
You may set boundaries related to material things you are willing/not willing to share, such as objects or money.
Some people need to set boundaries to have private spaces that will protect their safety.
An emotional personal boundary is a limit, or rule, that you set with others (and sometimes with yourself) to delineate things that are important to you and your wellbeing.
In short, by setting these boundaries you make clear what is acceptable to you.
When are you available? This can be to take phone calls or answer emails, or available to help with doing tasks for others.
What tasks are you willing to take on, such as saying yes to doing “favors” for people, or doing more than your “fair share” (at home and at work)?
For instance, you may choose which information to share and things to keep to yourself.
Or, if you have compromised your wellbeing by tolerating a relationship that is not healthy for you, you may know that a change is needed.
Here is another example. Maybe you allow others’ behavior to distress you, rather than creating a virtual, energetic boundary to protect your wellbeing — even in the face of their insensitivity or deliberately hurtful actions.
Why not bring awareness to places and situations where new or better boundaries will be helpful, in order to bring you more happiness and/or reduce stress in your life?
While it may feel uncomfortable to think about setting boundaries — with people you are close to, with colleagues and clients, with strangers — you will reap many benefits.
You will feel increased self-confidence and happiness.
Your relationships will be stronger and better when you clearly communicate what you want and do not want, as well as what you need and what are unwilling to tolerate.
You will feel great when you hold your standards, without guilt or apologies.
You will protect your spirit and feel grounded and clear.
Doesn’t all of that sound great?
Next week I will share ways to set new boundaries. It is often less “hard” to do than you may think!
Most accomplished women I talk with express a desire to live a truly balanced and fulfilling life. While they yearn to show up fully every day, have an impact, and thrive, many confide that they feel limited and frustrated in their efforts to make that vision their reality.
Most take on too much.
Some don’t advocate for what they want — in their professional lives and in personal relationships.
They put their needs (for self-care, pursuit of personal interests, quiet time and more) behind those of others.
They compromise.
While they love the idea of living their biggest life, it does not feel natural for many of them to think of changing the ways they currently operate. Or they simply do not know where to begin to make changes.
Some even feel that the idea of living big may be too much — too much to expect for themselves, and/or too hard to achieve.
One thing I know to be true is that all of us can learn, small step followed by small step, to show up fully in the world.
We can create the lives we yearn for!
We can overcome our doubts and limitations to pursue all that we desire and to have our biggest impact.
Can you embrace this truth?
When you choose to pursue your biggest life, I urge you to be mindful that making significant changes is a process that unfolds over time.
These 5 steps will get the ball rolling.
When you start with new awareness, add commitment, and are willing to be patient as you make small shifts, you will begin to experience meaningful change.
And you can build on that change over time.
Here is a great place to start:
Maybe it’s getting more sleep.
Maybe it’s speaking up more clearly and boldly for something important.
Maybe it’s saying “No” without feeling guilty.
Maybe you will choose something else.
Make a choice!
To help you stay focused, make reminders for yourself.
Use your phone, or put colored post-it notes on your desk, your bathroom mirror, your coffee-maker, and your laptop.
You can ask for help from a trusted friend. They can be a sounding board, and might text you every day at a particular time to see how it’s going.
Be creative and have fun with ways to keep yourself focused on this meaningful change.
For instance, if more rest is key for you now, will you get to bed earlier? Might you take a power nap at a time when your energy drops?
If you want to feel less discomfort saying “No,” you might journal in the morning and write about why it is important for you to stop crowding your days with obligations to others, rather than yourself.
Then, if you know a request is pending, or someone is waiting for an answer, or you simply want to be forearmed, take some time to practice kind ways to decline the request.
Subtle changes can be hard to notice. Keep a small journal, or a running record on a device, to record the daily efforts you make and the outcomes you experience.
Take note of what works and what does not meet your expectations so you build on positive approaches. And note specific outcomes as they occur.
If you have an accountability buddy or a coach, ask for feedback as you share your progress and your outcomes.
And acknowledge your progress — even small shifts are worthy of celebrating! It is the small shifts that become new habits, and your new normal.
As you bring small changes into your life, and experience the way they enhance your wellbeing, momentum will build.
You will be ready to identify and embrace new changes you want to make, and you will likely feel increased confidence and enthusiasm about pursuing them.
This is how living big works.
As we each expand and live the satisfying life we desire today, we see more and more opportunity ahead.
We can all continue to step up and live with even more passion and authenticity and joy. And our impact is amplified as we continue to shine more and more brightly.
I invite you to join me on this path of expansion. My dream is for all of us to live all of our greatness. Let’s Live Big together!
(And if you’d like to share your vision of your biggest life, I’d be delighted to hear about it. Email me and we’ll make a date to talk.)
Maybe you are a bit of a word nerd like I am.
The word “commitment” comes up in my life and my work with clients remarkably often, so I decided to took a look at the definition.
Here’s how the Cambridge Dictionary defines “commitment”:
a promise or firm decision to do something
willingness to give your time and energy to a job, activity, or something that you believe in
something that you must do or deal with that takes your time
This is a powerful word, and one I do not take lightly.
A promise is something serious and sacred.
A firm decision is not always easy to make, but when you do make one it’s a big deal.
Willingness entails embracing the unknown and engaging in the work to make your decision become a reality.
And the process nearly always takes time.
The accomplished women I work with are typically loaded with commitments.
They do work that is important and often demanding.
Most have families that entail commitments.
Many volunteer in a range of ways.
And many want to make (or try and keep) commitments to themselves. They aim to focus on self-care, or passion projects, or more space for joy, and many find those commitments at the bottom of the list.
Every commitment is a promise, and there are only so many promises we can make and keep.
The key is to choose your commitments based on what is really important to you, and what is realistic for you now — so you can keep the promises.
Choosing your commitments with care is the key to seeing them through.
The commitments you make will vary in size. The mix has to add up to what you can not only do, but do with joy.
1. Finding a new direction
More than one client I’ve worked with realized that burnout was taking a toll that was intolerable. The first commitment each made was to find a new path that would be fulfilling and sustainable — both personally and financially. Next came a willingness to embark on creating something new. Learning curves were daunting at times. Determination, patience and support were needed to launch new consulting practices. The outcomes have been tremendous for all of them.
2. Creating what their hearts desire
Two clients are leaders with demanding roles, in positions they care about and are great at. And, both have a deep passion (and talent!) for work that is quite different from their “day jobs”. Both are committed to nurturing and building the businesses they are truly passionate about. It entails careful decision-making and focus, as they honor what they truly love and plan to transition to consulting for their organizations. They will then make the work they are deeply passionate about their primary professional focus.
3. Reshaping work and life
Several entrepreneurs have realized they want to reshape their businesses to be more fulfilling, sustainable and lucrative. They have committed to getting clear about what they truly want and exploring avenues for change. The decisions are big and the executions need to be carefully and courageously carried out. It is exciting to see them commit to the process and reap the rewards.
Consider commitments in many sizes and flavors.
Maybe you want to commit to something small and meaningful, such as getting outdoors to walk every day, rain or shine.
Maybe you want to commit to withdrawing (with kindness) from things you said “Yes” to but realize they are not aligned for you, or you said yes to please someone, or you know it is not realistic for you to follow though with.
Maybe your new commitment will be to gracefully say “No” to anything that will overload you.
After you choose a small new commitment to bring into your life, consider the bigger commitments you long to make.
Don’t be shy.
You, too, can make meaningful new commitments and live your biggest life!
We often start a tightly-scheduled day, or have a new project to tackle, and feel that it will be hard. It does not seem possible to squeeze everything on the list into the hours of the day ahead. The new project is complex and feels daunting.
I was accustomed to thinking things would be hard for most of my life.
I looked at my schedule and felt heavy thinking about how hard it was going to be to get so many things done on time.
I thought about a new project with worry about how I would get all the facts, create a plan, recruit the right people and resources, and execute on the plan by the deadline.
That mental starting point, that heaviness and concern, set me up for struggle — until I learned that there was another way to consider “challenges” like these.
In a conversation with my coach a few years back, I was sharing how burdened I felt by many things on my to-do list, about looming deadlines, about how to figure out some things that were stumping me.
She paused and asked me a great question:
I was taken aback! I had never considered that any of those things might be easy, or could be easy.
I was in the habit of thinking about things as being hard to do, and hard to get done in the midst of a busy day (and my busy life).
When I shifted to considering “What if it was easy?” and telling myself, “This can be easy,” my world changed!
I began approaching my to-do list with a lightness I’d rarely felt on hectic days. I now look at my calendar and my to-do lists and think to myself that I can certainly move through the events and tasks with ease.
I also begin with positive, optimistic and excited energy as I embark on big new projects.
And by making those shifts I have been rewarded in wonderful ways.
Most tasks feel manageable and get completed with ease. For those that require more time and effort, for whatever reason, I stay relaxed and they go much more smoothly than in the past.
At the end of the day I am less depleted and I have enjoyed my work!
And when I begin new projects that are complex and important (as I will do later today), my frame of mind is more playful, open and excited. I begin with the expectation that it can, indeed, be easy to approach and complete. I enjoy the process of jumping in to new projects.
There is another new way of thinking that combines brilliantly with, “What if it was easy?”
I suggest you start each day with the thought:
Embracing this belief makes an enormous difference for me, enabling me to move through my days with so much more ease.
Combining the two statements removes stress and increases both productivity and satisfaction in remarkable ways.
My clients swear by the power of embracing these two statements, too.
I invite you to try making these two ideas — separately and in combination — a regular part of your approach to your day.
You can download the graphic below. Why not print it and post where you can see it every day so that it serves as a welcome reminder?
I predict that it will not be long until these new thoughts become familiar and will have a positive impact for you.
I would be delighted to hear from you when you bring these ideas into daily practice. Email me to let me know if they boost your day-to-day wellbeing.
Most accomplished women are lucky to carve out bits of time for quiet reflection, much less deep thinking.
Endless to-do lists run their lives. And when time does open up, many don’t think to reflect, or know how to approach quiet inquiry. They usually find themselves returning to being busy, or they get distracted in all sorts of ways that quickly fill time.
I first ventured into deep personal exploration over a decade ago and it changed my life. Working with a coach, I was prompted and guided to explore questions I never had before.
And a notable part of my journey was when I dared to start painting in 2015. It has enabled me to know myself and express myself in truly remarkable ways.
Having just returned from attending a fabulous week at a writing retreat, I am so glad I took a big new step on my path of meaningful expansion.
I was guided to bravely begin writing and to trust myself in a new medium. I was with a small group of inspiring women, also bravely writing stories that were powerful, funny, moving, raw, and provocative. We all explored and made discoveries found in deep places inside of us.
We each dared to take this time for ourselves, motivated by a desire to grow in new ways as we shaped our ideas, committed them to paper, and received loving feedback from our teacher and each other.
We showed up for ourselves. We connected to parts of ourselves we do not usually approach. We excavated courageously and found gems.
I see great similarities between what happened for me last week and what I witness each time I lead my Live Big Live! program.
I feel a thrill when I see my clients discover exciting and gratifying work — or reignite their passion for what they do each day.
It is wonderful to observe the ways they are now forging, or repairing, or finding relationships from a grounded, clear, centered place.
They are each moving into exciting futures, with space to honor their well-being, with clarity, confidence and joy.
The experience of connecting to yourself and igniting a huge spark in your life is possible for you, too.
If you are intrigued by the idea of making time for your own journey to your heart, so that you connect to your deep desires, clarify a vision for your most fulfilling future, and express yourself with joy, the spring Live Big Live! program may be right for you.
You can be part of an intimate group of wonderful women who are bravely honoring themselves as they embark on rewarding journeys of self-discovery.
If you hear a small voice (or maybe a loud, “Yes!”) saying this is the time to connect to all of who you are, and be guided to living your most fulfilling life (whether you have an image of what that looks like or are trying to figure it out), let’s get on a call.
There are still a few spots available for the upcoming Live Big Live! retreat, but the deadline for enrollment is coming fast.
Let’s connect and see if this is a fit for you.
Here’s a question that may sound simple: Do you know what you want?
It’s an important question, but many women consider it in a superficial way.
In the midst of a busy life, it’s rare to take time to ask yourself what you deeply desire.
In the moment, you may want space to think, or to feel calm. You may want something yummy to eat, or feel the desire to connect to someone you miss.
Those desires are meaningful and always worth honoring.
It’s the the desires in your heart that lie deeper — those about which you have awareness and those that may be buried and need to be mined for — that many of us rarely explore.
Those deep desires are the key to creating a future that will be truly fulfilling.
My life was on autopilot for decades. I had no idea there was another way to live. I took each day as it came, put out fires that flared, made the best decisions I could, and kept going.
It was not until I started working with a brilliant coach that I began making shifts — small at first — that opened up a world of new insight and new ways of being.
I learned to slow down, to tap my heart and listen to my intuition. I was asked great questions I hadn’t ever considered. Answering those questions lead to tremendous new awareness.
Everything I have learned, including my formal training, informs the work I now do with other accomplished women who are at a crossroads, in a transition, or are figuring out what's next.
And it’s a joy to share my approaches with great women.
If you like to start with small steps, I invite you to order a copy of my book, Live Big: A Manifesto for a Creative Life. It’s full of wonderful small practices you can use each day to bring meaningful shifts into your life. (And the book is so lovely that you will want to pick it up often!)
I developed a my Dream Big Vision-Board Workshop to help women go deep into their hearts and find their desires and truth — and capture it all visually, so they can stay committed to what they want in their lives.
I led the workshop this past weekend (see the photo below of the amazing boards that were made!) and I am exploring a date to offer the workshop again.
Sign up for my emails to get announcements, and reach out if you want to plan a special workshop for your team or group.
Check out my signature program Live Big Live! The spring retreat is launching soon, so this opportunity may be perfectly timed for you. (And, there are other coaching options, too.)
You can read what many remarkable women have said about their coaching experiences and outcomes, and see what resonates for you.
All of the suggestions I included above are paths to personal insight that will set the stage for you to gain clarity and experience significant personal growth.
I would love to hear about the future you yearn to create.
And I would be delighted to provide you with new perspectives and insight, to help you gain some self-awareness right away.
Email me, or book a call here.
I look forward to our conversation!
Here are the beautiful, exciting vision boards each woman made at the workshop on Saturday. Each board shines with the clarity that was revealed in our time together!
You, like most women I talk to and work with, may be focused on all you want to accomplish, and sometimes struggle to slow down and make space for yourself.
Paradoxically, you may also feel sluggish or stuck from time to time.
Some women express it as being in a funk, or feeling drained.
They want to feel energized and upbeat, but that energy sometimes feels out of reach.
When you feel low and cannot think of ways to shift into a positive, energized frame of mind, choosing to play works wonders!
And, playing sometimes sounds a bit odd to serious professionals.
I invite to you consider play with deeper insight.
As adults, playing can sometimes feel complicated, and unimportant.
Consider that studies show that play releases endorphins (hormones in the brain and nervous system that make us feel happy). Play also helps our brains function better, reduces stress, and stimulates creativity. It even boosts physical health.
Whether you love to roam through antique markets, take walks on the beach in search of shells or driftwood, or search online for special items, set aside time, dive in, and enjoy!
Board games, competitive sports, or other types of games, excite lots of people. Rather than being a spectator, dive in! And playing these games with other people can add to the pleasure you’ll experience.
Choose a great jigsaw puzzle, word puzzles, or number puzzles and settle in to enjoy them.
You can get lost on purpose on a return trip from a meeting or errands and see what you discover. Or go to a place nearby that has intrigued you and explore in those surroundings.
Play with color and materials! Whether you enjoy drawing; using bright colored paints, pencils or markers; molding clay or throwing vessels on a potter’s wheel; sewing and other handwork; or building things, doing something creative and expressive is a great way to bring the spirit of play into your day!
There are endless possibilities for play. Maybe you have favorites I did not mention that you want to do more of, or are curious to try.
Consider recruiting kids, friends, extended family, or coworkers to join the fun. The shared energy, laughter and mutual support will bring even more delight to your spirit!
Play fuels your life with positive energy, opening the way for you to connect to what really matters most for you, so you can pursue those things — even in the midst of a busy life.
It’s a game-changer to live your life with clarity about what you desire.
And it’s a game-changer to live with a heart that is lit up.
This is how you create the life you want, day by day. It’s what I call living big!
My signature program, Live Big Live!, that was formed by my path to creating the life I desired, has helped great women like you to move past what has limited them so that they now live bigger, more confident and fulfilling lives.
I would be happy to share the details about Live Big Live! (that will soon kick off for the spring) to see if it might take you to new heights.
Email me, or book a call here. I look forward to our conversation!
I've lived a whirlwind of exciting travel the since mid-January, and I am deeply grateful for the amazing experiences I have enjoyed.
Living in Paris, then attending a life-changing retreat in Texas, and now spending time in Arizona, I have seen heart-stopping art, been in gorgeous urban and natural environments, shared time with people precious to me, and eaten wonderful food.
For most of these weeks I sustained a “normal” work schedule, coaching clients, speaking virtually, and attending meetings on Zoom.
I have also made art with a limited set of materials that I could carry with me, and have enjoyed quite a few surprises as I created in new ways.
And now, I am (finally) slowing down to give myself the gift of rest.
My natural inclination is to be in motion, to do.
I have an abundance of ideas. There is so much that excites me. I love my work and love connecting to new people.
And paradoxically, one of the big messages I share in my speaking appearances and writing is that we need to slow down and be still. I teach that that ability and practice is the foundation of Living Big!
“Slow Down and Be Still” is the title of the first chapter of my book, and the entire first half of the book is about the being of Living Big! Of course, there is a natural rhythm for being and doing, it’s just that I often am out of balance. And I know I am not alone.
To quote myself, we are human beings, but we spend too much time doing and not enough time being.
And even machines need down-time, and routine maintenance!
In conversations I have had recently, a number of women have shared that their crushing schedules and pressures at work have led to burnout.
A big contributor is that many women put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own.
I am not pushing as hard as I have in the past, but I have slipped, bit by bit, into too much doing without adequately focusing on my wellbeing.
I have reminded myself that “we teach what we need to learn.” For me, it is time to get back to the fundamentals.
The key for me, and for most women, is to start making really tiny shifts. We often underestimate the impact of making small consistent changes.
You may want to pick from these ideas and see what happens.
Many women tell me they stay up late and are exhausted in the morning. Why not adjust your evening routine and go to bed 10 or 15 minutes earlier? After a few days or a week, you may try for another 15 minutes earlier.
Set a reminder on your phone to go off at least once an hour. Turn away from your computer and sit and breathe for 2 minutes. (Setting the timer for two minutes will allow you just relax and breathe!) Then stand up and stretch for another minute or two.
So many people spend their days inside buildings and cars. Get outside and walk at least once each day! It can be to the corner and back, a spin around the block, a walk to a lunch spot you usually drive to, following on a path in a nearby park, or walking down a city street.
If you look at a magazine layout, the page is sure to have margins that designers have created to make the page easy and pleasurable to ready. Nobody wants to read a page crammed with solid text! That “white space” is important in life, too. Look at your calendar and create some “white space” for yourself this week and looking ahead. What have you said “yes” to that you can you skip? What can be delegated to someone else? What can be deferred?
Look at your calendar and schedule in time (anywhere from an hour to a day!) for something that will make you happy! Who might you play with? What might you explore? What will light you up? What will make you feel great?
If nothing on this list especially sparks your spirit, or you want to do more for yourself, think about something small that will do it for you. It could be eating a fresh salad with flavors you love, or getting tickets for the theater, or making a call to someone you miss. Find something that is just for you that you can make space for now.
It is important to be mindful about these practices!
If you see the busy creeping back in, return to the awareness of how you are living — and see if you can expand on these new ways of making space for yourself and your wellbeing!
I have one more week in Arizona before returning home. I am slowing down and it feels wonderful.
I have a bit of work on my schedule this week, but I have planned to do far less than usual.
I started getting more sleep.
I now start my day listening to music I love, rather than the news.
I am walking in nature every day.
I am making time to write from the heart.
I have set things up to be able to play and make art with ease. (While my new creative experiments are not yet posted, you can take a look at my artist website here.)
And I am firmly committed to sustaining my focus on slowing down and being intentional about my schedule when I return home next week!
If you want to share your favorite small self-care tips — or you want to share your struggles to slow down — I invite you to email me, or book a call and we can talk.
If you read saw my post last week, you know that I’m taking off on an adventure today. I will be living in Paris for a whole month, and am enormously excited as I embark on this experience!
There's something magical about the moment we start a new adventure.
Whether it is traveling to explore and have new experiences in special places, or when you start anything new and meaningful, great opportunities await you.
This is a perfect time to consider the adventures you want to create in 2023.
The fresh new year is full of vast possibilities!
What projects — related to your work and your personal life — do you feel called to make your focus this year?
Is there a dream, or project, or initiative that you want to get off the ground?
Think about business-or work-related efforts, and also personal initiatives.
For a personal initiative, perhaps you want to start a new friendship, or create a new dynamic with family members, or plan a new garden so you can have fresh flowers and produce to enjoy as the year unfolds.
Also consider you.
Is there a new way of being you want to cultivate? Do you want to start showing up in the world in a new way?
Perhaps it’s time to start creating more space for your wellbeing — like reading, or expressing yourself through music or drawing, or pursuing a particular interest?
I’d be happy to send you a lovely guide, Creating Space for YOU to help you do that with ease, Simply email me and I'll get it right off to you. (You can forward it to friends, too, so you can start making great changes together.)
Perhaps something you started stalled out, or had to be put aside for some reason.
Is this the time to bring renewed focus and energy toward getting it moving with more velocity?
Think about things that might fall into this category that are related to your professional life and your personal life. Which one feels most meaningful or exciting to get moving?
Returning your attention — and setting clear intensions — to something that your care about that was put aside for any number of reasons will be very satisfying.
Make a plan for what your first small step can be. And put a date on your calendar when you will take that step.
There may be a new project or enterprise you’ve been thinking about and you feel ready to plan to make that dream a reality.
How will you lay the foundation?
Who will you talk to for input or advice?
What research will you do?
Who might you invite into the process?
What first steps will you take to move it forward this year?
You have the power to create the reality you truly wish for.
How is that possible?
Start with willingness to transform and grow, to embrace the mystery and go deep, and to engage in the process of creating the life you want.
Add belief — belief that you matter. Belief that you deserve to put yourself first, knowing that when you make yourself a priority you perform at your best and are better for everyone else in your orbit. And when you embrace all of your creative power, you naturally believe in every possibility.
Dive in to find clarity about what you truly desire, what really matters most. What will you make your focus, and why? When you mine your heart and listen to your intuition you will make clear choices.
Then make commitments. It’s necessary and worthwhile to create structure and space in your life to take action to make what you care about your reality. And commitment to cultivate creativity of every kind. This commitment to yourself and to the ongoing focus and effort required to implement change in your life will lead to remarkable growth, satisfaction, and joy.
Whatever you choose to set your sights on will will be fueled by new clarity and energy.
If you want to talk about the year (and life) you dream of, and what may be holding you back from realizing that vision, I would be happy for us to talk.
Although I’ll be away, I am making time for 5 Live Big Breakthrough Calls this month — and there's no cost to you. I’m happy to support you in gaining perspective and new insights as you step into a year that’s full of potential for adventures of all kinds.
Email me and we’ll find a time that works in both of our time zones.
2023 did not begin as I had expected.
I was looking forward to the fresh new year, and living with my newly-set intention to amplify many things in my life (which you may have seen in the post I sent last week, when I shared my carefully-chosen word for the year).
A big part of my intention was — and is — to amplify devotion to the wellbeing of my body. And tucked neatly into that intention was slowing down.
If you have read my book, or heard me speak, you know that the first chapter of my book is Slow Down and Be Still. I made that the first chapter intuitively. As time has passed I have come to understand that slowing down is the foundation for living big.
So, you would think I have that down.
But living that principle, consciously slowing down, has been a challenge for me. It’s something I need to return to time and again. This past year I pushed myself harder than was healthy, and so tucked tidily into my word of the year was a clear intention to slow down and give my physical wellbeing the reverence it deserves.
And when I awoke on January 1, ready to step over the threshold of a fresh new year, I was sick. Sick with COVID.
After 2 years and 10 months of vigilance, vaxed and boosted and cautiously wearing a mask every time I was out of my home, a highly-contagious variant snuck past my defenses.
I’ve had no choice but to slow down!
While the symptoms have been managed well with medicines on hand, I slept through the first 4 days, and have continued to be enormously tired.
It feels as though the universe stepped in on day 1 of the new year to test my commitment to slowing down!
And a part of me feels grateful.
I have proof now. It is possible to slow down and take care of my body. There are people who can help me in all sorts of ways. I feel sure I am doing as well as I am because I did not push myself or do too much. And I am deeply committed to honoring what my body needs.
The timing was also “perfect,” or as close to perfect as it could be.
Because I’d made plans to travel on January 17 — to Paris! My husband and I will live in Paris for a month, and we have been looking forward to the adventure for some time.
I am grateful that we have plenty of time to fully recover (yes, he came down with COVID two days after I did), and prepare for the trip without pushing ourselves.
In the long-run, the imposed “pause” of this illness will be only a small blip on a year filled with experiences to be savored and expansion of our hearts.
I invite you consider how you can slow down and live into your commitments to yourself for 2023, whatever they are.
And while I will be away, I will not be out of touch.
Look for my weekly emails and blog posts (photos of Paris are sure to be sprinkled in!). I will be working with clients, doing some remote speaking, and will make creating a regular part of my life — all at reduced intensity. After all, there’s an amazing city I am eager to explore and enjoy.
With love and wishes for you to have a joyous, healthy new year.
Welcome 2023! Wishing you a happy, healthy, joyous new year.
In last week's post I shared my word-of-the-year process. If you chose a word for your year, this is the moment to start living it.
If you missed it, or have not yet chosen your word, it's not too late to use the process. Find a few minutes to sit quietly and choose a word to guide you for this year.
I have found this practice to go deeper and have much more impact on my life than making new year resolutions, which quickly fall to the wayside for most people. My clients have also chosen words to guide their years that have significantly impacted their lives.
In last week’s post I offered a list of questions to chose from to get you started, and the post includes a link to my streamlined process, too.
You can combine the approaches or stick to the simpler version.
I hope your word will be meaningful for you now, and throughout 2023.
Last week I also promised to share my word for 2023 with you.
As you can see, in addition to selecting a word, I always add the specific ways I intend to live into my word.
By printing it out and pinning it were I see it each day, I stay inspired and clear about my intentions throughout the year. I invite you to do that, too.
When you have selected your word for 2023, I'd be happy to typeset it for you, as I do for mine each year. I will do this for the first 10 people who send me their word for 2023.
Simply email me, and if you are one of the first 10 responses I receive, I will send you a PDF that you can print out and hang where you will see it, and be inspired by it, each day.
I am eager to hear the word you choose to help make 2023 your best year ever.
Sending you wishes for a new year filled with creative energy to fuel abundant love, happiness, peace, and prosperity.
In the last few days of 2022, many people have time away from work. Some are focused on family, some share a string of holiday celebrations, some are on vacation.
Whether you are busy in any of these ways, or you are working through the holiday, this week is an ideal time to create space for reflection and dreaming.
Start with using the guide below to do a “year in review” of your life in 2022, then look ahead to 2023.
Our days flow by, and as we move along we rarely pause to take in the bigger picture.
I made a date with myself this past weekend to get cozy, sit with my journal, and do some reflecting. With music playing and candles flickering, I posed a number of questions to myself and did a bit of writing about each if them.
Pick questions from these lists and see what happens for you. (You may want to print this out and have it next to you as you write.)
What were the key things that happened each month?
Are there themes or patterns that you notice?
What excited you? What highlights do you want to put a star next to?
If you were making a top-10 list of your year, what would you include?
Why was each item on your top-10 list so great or meaningful?
Where did you struggle last year?
What were your wisest decisions? Your lessons learned?
What new habits did you develop, or deepen?
What did you stop doing?
Who influenced you the most this year?
What was the biggest or most meaningful thing you completed?
What relationships did you start, or deepen, or release?
What was left unfinished this year?
How did you take care of yourself?
When were you courageous?
What are you ready to let go of now?
What are you most proud of? What can you celebrate? (Don’t overlook the small things!)
Can you find gratitude for all of it — the things that delighted you and things that challenged you — knowing that all of them have been meaningful?
You may want to pause after taking stock of the past year, and then start fresh (later, or the next day) and look ahead.
What would make 2023 a great year for you?
What intentions do you want to set now?
What will you say “yes” to, and what will you say “no” to?
What do you want more of this year? What do you want less of?
What will you explore?
How will you invest in yourself?
How will you express yourself?
What will you create?
What new declaration are you ready to make now?
I have been choosing a word-of-the-year for a long time, using a short practice I have shared in the past. I am glad to share it again, as I’ve just returned to the process before embarking on 2023.
As you will see in this word-of-the-year post, that I wrote in 2018, I propose that you start by answering a short list of questions. They are similar to the longer list I shared above.
Whichever questions you use, your answers will prepare you to follow my process — and reading the examples I've shared in the post may help you consider the word that fits best for you now.
I will share my word for 2023 with you soon, and would be happy for you to share the word of the year you choose for yourself. Simply send me an email.
Until we connect next week, at the start of a fresh new year filled with wonderful possibilities, I’m sending wishes to you for abundant health, happiness, creativity and love.
This time of year is special. The holiday season is underway, with celebrations of Hannukka begun and Christmas coming soon, as well as other winter festivities and holidays.
With all of the darkness these last weeks — which the Winter Solstice will bring to a turning point on the 21st — it’s comforting to know that we will be heading toward a bit more daylight each day.
It’s in this season of cold days and so much darkness that we crave light.
Houses are adorned in lights that makes for loveliness as we move about outdoors. Christmas trees twinkle in windows, and menorahs are lit with candles for eight nights. Walking through Boston, where I live, one sees glittering lights all around. They bring delight.
The emotions we feel seeing so many sparkling, twinkling lights, and candle flames glowing, are scientifically proven to have calming properties.
The lights, candle flames and fires burning in fireplaces can trigger dopamine — the chemical in our brains that makes us feel good. This physiological response from our nervous system makes us feel happier, and for some, adding color to the lights enhances the response.
The beauty of light lifts our spirits and brings joy.
All sorts of beauty touches the heart.
Perhaps you can add beauty to your day by setting a table with attention to colors.
You might plate food with sprigs of herbs, wedges of lemons, or other garnishes to add delight to the eyes and taste buds.
Adding music to the atmosphere is another sensory way to enhance beauty, as is choosing soft textures again your skin.
You may want to adorn yourself in something that makes you feel special, and give gifts to others that will bring more beauty into their lives.
The way we each live and relate to others is another way we can bring more light, and beauty, into the world.
Let’s all be aware of the opportunity we have to be that light.
To be open, loving and generous. To see the best in the people around us. To be kind, to smile and laugh.
We can each light up hearts — our own, and the hearts around us.
That’s a beautiful vision I am holding now. I hope you will join me.
Are you able to give yourself a break?
Can you let go of expectations?
Think about the perceived expectations of others that occupy your thoughts, as well as the expectations you impose on yourself.
This is territory I know well, and at this time of year, when the world around us is in a whirl, thinking about all of those expectations, and which you may want to let go of, can be a great gift to give yourself.
Many business executives, entrepreneurs, and other professionals are focused on year-end results. For some that includes closing as much business as possible in the last weeks of the year. For some there are projects to complete before the calendar turns.
While those expectations can be internal, they often come from bosses, investors, clients or shareholders.
For those feeling expectations like these, there is some relief in knowing that we can muscle through a few weeks and start anew in the new year.
This season impacts people in many different ways.
Some are fully into the holiday party scene. They love decorating, hosting and gifting. Shopping for or planning great outfits, salon trips for fresh haircuts and manicures, are a joy for them.
For many, this season feels heavier.
They bristle at the expectations to be merry, look perfect, set a photo-worthy table and serve or contribute amazing food. They find expectations to give a perfect gift to everyone on a long list to be stressful — emotionally, financially, and physically. There are often a host of family expectations that weigh people down.
Most of these expectations can be a combination of external and internal.
Let’s start with the expectation many have that we should feel happy at this time of year. That’s a tall order, even for those who are typically upbeat.
Maybe you feel that you should show up — for everything. Parties of all kinds, school programs, work events, neighborhood gatherings, religious services, family get-togethers, local ceremonies, cookie-swaps and more.
Maybe you feel you should — or must — shower everyone with cards and gifts. And if you think that gift or card should be fancy and expensive, or should be made by hand, that adds handsomely to the pressure.
Perhaps you feel expectations for how you should show up or should perform. This can be because you are a woman, or a minority, or the traditional host, or the person who does not align squarely with the values of others in a family or group, or any number of other reasons.
And then there’s the should of perfection — doing it all and doing it all perfectly. This is an especially heavy burden that many of us carry 365 days a year.
If the thought of any, or many of these expectations gives you a sinking feeling, I invite you to think about the power you have to let go of expectations — whether they are expectations you perceive from others, or expectations you have for yourself.
Can you imagine how it would feel to be free of them?
The first step in finding that freedom is to be aware of which expectations weigh you down, and decide that you want to make a change.
When you are clear about both the expectation(s), and have considered the source, try these steps.
1. Ask yourself if you feel deserving of your true desires — the desires that are in opposition to one or more expectations. Can you feel ok about not [fill in a blank from the expectations described above, or something I did not enumerate].
This may be easier for some than others, and I do not suggest it’s as easy as simply saying “yes” if that feels untrue.
If you feel deserving, you are on your way to dropping the pressure of the expectation.
If this idea is a challenge for you, spend some time celebrating all of your special qualities. Ask people who love you what they most admire about you. See if you can feel as deserving of yourself as you’d want someone you love to feel about themselves.
2. When you feel you deserve to do things the way you wish/if you wish, this step may take some courage, but you can state your preferences.
This is your opportunity to gently bow out of attending an event, or choose to get someone a small thoughtful gift rather than break the bank, or choose not to care if your table looks “perfect” — or like someone else’s idea of “perfect.”
Start with something small to test this out, and continue to let go of expectations one by one.
3. After each effort, be sure to celebrate yourself.
Savor the space, the ease, the pleasure you get to experience.
Then focus on gratitude — for yourself, and the gift you gave yourself by letting go of an expectation you are free of.
Sending you much love for this holiday season.
Here is a pair of questions you may not have been asked before — and maybe never asked yourself:
“How do you feed your soul?” and, “Do you feed your soul?”
While I do not recall having explicitly asked myself these questions, I had an experience this past weekend that fed my soul in such a deep way that these questions showed up. I am moved to bring them to your attention.
If you have been reading my Big Ideas for some time, you know I believe that living in high gear, rushing and pushing and striving, robs us of the overall wellbeing we need and deserve.
We can create space in our lives to support our bodies. We can get ample rest, make time to eat healthy food, and devote time to build strength and flexibility for physical ease.
We can honor and nurture important relationships.
And we can create space to pause, reflect, and listen to our hearts.
This last practice (which can be cultivated in a range of ways) enables us to create with intention rather than being in perpetual motion without clarity — and can save us from reacting on the fly as we rush off to attend to the next thing on a jam-packed calendar.
We can lay a foundation for living a good life by bringing all of this awareness to the front of our minds and adjusting our ways of living. For many accomplished women, it takes time and support to test and integrate these practices. (It certainly did for me.)
And, alongside the attention and commitment we can each make to bring new ways of being into our daily lives, there is a deeper level of wellbeing and expansion that’s available for us to explore.
Whether you prefer thinking about it as your soul, or your spirit, or the deepest longings in your heart, I invite you to bring a bit of curiosity and exploration to what you desire at that level.
In the midst of a busy life, it is easy to miss those messages, or push them off to the side.
Some of us look for those messages and simply cannot find them.
Some are afraid to even look, or do not know where or how to start.
Maybe you are keenly aware of your deep desires. For many of us, stillness and patience (and often help) are needed to make those discoveries.
It is then that we can consider how to honor our deep desires.
Over the years, I have seen many ways that women have lost a connection to the deep desires of their souls.
Some have set aside the joy of playing an instrument, or spending time in nature, or working with their hands, or another soul-rewarding practice — often for many years.
Some have let a meaningful part of themselves sit fallow as they pursued a career and nurtured a family.
Some, like me, lacked the belief that it was possible — not to mention feeling I could be “good enough,” — to create. (In my case it was as an artist.) We never dared to even try.
When things like this happen our souls, our spirits, our hearts are robbed of life-enhancing nourishment.
Yet it’s possible return to what we have set aside, or embark on new adventures. We can seek satisfaction as we enter and explore new terrain.
I am living proof that amazing things are possible when you allow yourself to follow the small whisper, or the shout, that you tune into.
I took my first painting class in 2015. Yes, even with a BFA I had never painted. I had stuck to design-related classes, never daring to even enter a painting studio.
And despite my long-standing fear, and feeling that it might be a disaster to try, I knew a part of me yearned to have the experience of painting. I finally decided I would take a painting class and see what happens.
And thus an incredible journey began. It has been one of the most rewarding adventures in my life.
(You can see my paintings here.)
And recently, something new showed up for me.
A marvelous new client in my coaching program teaches writing. And she invited me to participate in a retreat she leads. This new possibility intrigued me, even as it scared me.
I love writing my weekly articles, and I loved writing my book. But this teacher focuses on “writing from the deep voice.” This is creative writing, and the idea of attending her weekend retreat with women who have been honing their crafts with her for some time, made me question if I could possibly do that.
I thought it was likely that, as a rank beginner, I’d not only embarrass myself, I might be mortified.
And yet, I said, “Yes.”
I chose to let myself be a beginner, to be taught and led and inspired. I realized that I’d only know how it would feel or what would happen if I gave it a try. Maybe it would be terrible, or uninteresting, or not a fit for me, and any of that would be fine.
This is what happened.
By saying, “Yes,” I gave a gift to my soul. My soul, that goes to deep places when I paint, loved this new experience.
I let go of self-judgement or caring what anyone else thought of my work and was fully absorbed in the process, step by step by step. One piece of writing after another, reading what I wrote and hearing others read their creations, I was palpably moved and inspired.
I discovered that there is a vast new, satisfying, exciting way to nourish my soul! I am filled with gratitude and joy.
We all have layers of desire waiting to be discovered in deep places.
With guidance and patience and practice, you can access your inner voice with more ease. And you can explore new avenues of expressing it with greater ease, too — whether or not you ever pick up a paintbrush or try your hand at creative writing.
The pace will be different for each of us. The rewards — that I have experienced, and that I been honored to usher in and witness for my clients — are always remarkable.
I invite you to take a new step towards creating a truly rewarding future today.
And I’d be delighted to hear about the deep yearnings in your soul. If you’d like to share them simply email me. (And if the writing experience sounds intriguing, I’ll be happy to introduce you to my writing teacher.)
