Balancing the Energy and Emotion of Endings and Beginnings

Being present with and navigating the energy and emotion of endings and beginnings at the same time is a tricky process.  It’s easy to fall into the pattern of creating great plans, intentions, strategies and long lists as we wrap up one year and begin another, and do it all on auto-pilot. In a way it’s a holiday tradition - finding our personal way to say goodbye to the current year and look forward to the promise of the next. But let’s be honest, 2020 has offered up a much more of … [Read more...]

Understanding the Ways We Avoid Seeing and Accepting Our Truth

There are so many ways we distract ourselves from seeing and accepting our truth. Not only do we generate ever-evolving coping mechanisms to tune out the heart’s voice while external elements high-jack our attention, we create tons of reasons to lock in habits and a way of life to maintain a level of “normal”. It’s not conscious or intentional much of the time; we just mimic what we’ve learned and build well-worn routines to stay protected from experiencing personal trauma. It’s a common … [Read more...]

Time to Break Ties With What Is No Longer Your Truth, For Good

  When it’s time to break ties with what is no longer your truth, you don’t necessarily have an active choice in the decision.   It can start off as a nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right. Then it moves into a state of frustration, and no matter how you try to push forward, things are at a standstill- as your feelings get more rocky and intense. Then you reach a point where things can morph into full blown melt-down mode where the friction and discord is so clear … [Read more...]

Can You See, Own, and Appreciate the True You As You Transform?

  We are all in the middle of changes that have no timeline or clear outline, so how will it all define the true you as you transform?   Wow...now that’s a way to begin a blog post!   Joking aside, in some way or another we are each being asked to dig deep internally to connect with what’s true for us now, and transform externally by being flexible without forcing personal expectations. This push/pull energy is intense, and in many ways is the “face” of 2020. No … [Read more...]

Catching and Transforming Sneaky Habits that Silently Sabotage Creative Progress

  Raise your hand if self-doubt, fear, or outdated habits sometimes sneak in to sabotage creative progress in any area of your life.   [Pauses to raise hand, and gently returns it to the keyboard.]   As entrepreneurs and creatives we all work through various layers of naggy little self-doubt buggers along our self-growth journey. We are trying to put ourselves out there, clarify our voice and vision, and “do all the right things” to build success through our … [Read more...]

Creating New Order Out of Chaos

  Despite how messy it may feel, creating new order out of chaos offers a powerful opportunity to step up and reset your life in positive ways you could never plan for outright.   Chaos rolls through everyone’s life at some point, no exceptions. The experience of chaos is also different for everyone. It can creep in slowly, like thick fog rising on a chilly fall evening, or pop in suddenly like a thunder clap. And even though you KNOW chaos is a normal part of life, the way it … [Read more...]

Creative Friction Is The Gift You Never Knew You Wanted

  Yes, you are reading this correctly - creative friction is the gift you never knew you wanted.   I could give a speech about how every great writer, artist, and entrepreneur faces challenges or obstacles they need to overcome, but we’ve heard that one a million times. I can also share insights on the hero’s journey and the essential role it holds in making us the fully baked humans we are meant to be, but tons of other folks have already done it.   I want to … [Read more...]

Mindful Ways to Manage Creative Expectations

  It happens to the best of us when we create - the rise of pesky creative expectations!   When tuned into the passion of the creative process and fully engaged, energy is high and we are immersed in building what we envision. Inspiration is flowing and the creative process is organically emergent and natural.   What we might not realize is that we are also adding a few creative expectations to the mix, unconsciously.   For example, we can create art, a … [Read more...]

Branching Out Into New Creative Waters

  Branching out into new creative waters is about more than trying something different or uncharacteristic of your norm. More than starting a new healthy habit or spiritual ritual.   I’m talking about a heart based decision to stand fully in who you are, even when your legs are shaky and your voice cracks. When fear creeps up the back of your neck, but you step forward anyway, willing to face the emotional challenge and find new ground to build an authentic creative foundation … [Read more...]

Creative Empowerment is a Commitment to Practicing Your Truth, Moment to Moment

  There’s something about the idea of creative empowerment that can feel a bit slippery as a concept.   Is it an action? Feeling? Belief? All of the above?   Something we are born with? Learn? Practice?   A lofty goal that can never be attained?   I like to think of creative empowerment as an invitation to live into what we are becoming through what we are creating, moment to moment. Or in other words, how we step into life and act or react to … [Read more...]