Each Friday I join the wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday.  It is a special way to end the week and I always look forward to it.  This week was no different other than when I sat down to write my post the words wouldn’t come.  I don’t often suffer from writer’s block but after three or four attempts to write a post nothing seemed right.  So I did what works for me when something like this happens.  I slept on it.  I find it amazing how I can go to bed with a problem and when I wake up I have the solution.  This time going to bed was the solution.

It was fun using one of the Kaizen-Muse Coaching strategies to solve my own problem.  I love sharing these strategies with others but I also use them myself every single day.  When I have a simple block like I did yesterday I ask myself, “What worked for you in the past?”   The more aware I become of what works for me the easier and faster the answers arrive. 

I was talking to my mastermind group yesterday and I was sharing how much I love coaching and how I want to share the strategies I have learned with anyone who wants to learn them.  I try to share a strategy in my blog each time I write and Wednesday’s post is always dedicated to a Kaizen-Muse tool or strategy but I want to do more.  The song My Way has been going through mind a lot lately.  I have always loved it and I like to do things Ginny’s Way.  So for the month of February I’d like to change things just a little for anyone who may be interested in learning what creativity coaching is all about.  The first coaching session will be free as always.  This is so you can learn more about what I do as a coach and to determine if this is something you would be interested in doing.  The change would be that you can choose any coaching package that you like and then you decide how much you would like to pay for that package.  I would like to offer this to the first four people who contact me.  I was listening to an interview the other day and the designer was saying she did not want the cost of her clothes to keep people from buying them.  I believe that as we go through life we can always use coaching and there will be times when money will not be an obstacle.  But we all experiences times when it may be.   If coaching is something you think would benefit you, I don’t want money to stand in your way of reaching out. 

February is the month we all think about love and self-care.  Kaizen-Muse coaching teaches us a way to appreciate our own creativity and ideas.  It helps us to overcome any obstacles that stand in our way of becoming who we want to be.  The model is based on taking small steps and moving forward slowly.  One of the things I often hear from clients is that their life has changed as they begin to slow down, recognize their accomplishments, and celebrate the moment.  If this is something that you are interested in learning about, please don’t hesitate to contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  I would love to work with you!

                 When you share your dreams and talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!

The word gentle continues to be on my mind this week.  My word of the year is build but I want to build gently.  This week I had a wonderful art class.  We talked about the composition of my picture, the colors I wanted to use and how I could add layer after layer of pastel if I did it with a gentle hand. We also talked about the way I paint and how once I begin to put pastel to paper I quickly find myself immersed in the process and the moment. I don't want to change this.  I love to step back after painting for awhile and see what has appeared.  

This week I am going to enjoy the process of painting but I am going to plan a little before painting. I am going to pick out the colors I am going to use and have an idea of what I want to appear.  Then I am going to let the process take over and enjoy the time I spend adding layer after layer of color to my paper.  I am going to gently build my painting just as I am going to gently build other things in my life.  I think my goal for the week will be to Gently plan - To enjoy the experience - And to reflect upon the results.  I could use this in so many areas of my life whether it be my art, my exercise or my coaching experiences.  I don't want to change my word of the year.  Build is what I want to do.  But I have a feeling the idea of being gentle with myself as I continue to build is something that will stay with me for a very long time.  It feels right and when something feels right it usually is.

How would you like to be gentle with yourself this week?  Would this make a difference in your work or your world?

      When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin today!
                                                                                                                                      Ginny

                                                   "Persevere gently"  Steve Nachmanovich 

 The word gentle seems to be everywhere I look this week.  I am going to take it as a sign from the universe that it is time to be gentle with myself.   It has been about six months since I have taken a painting class and I have really missed it.  I have been painting a little but today's class has inspired me to try to do a small painting several times a week.  I would love to say once a day but I know better than that. I know that if I set my goal to something manageable, than I most probably will meet it or even exceed it. I have learned that for me small steps lead me down the path I want to go.  So this month I will gently persevere as I paint and explore different color combinations to see how they change the painting but most importantly how they make me feel when I see the finished product.  I love to see soft colors. They are calming and peaceful but sometimes there needs to be just that extra pop of color to add that special spark. So I want to add that spark and see what happens. 

It's Friday time to share what I am most grateful for this week.  As I stood outside with the cold wind blowing all around me, it occurred to me how very lucky I am to have a warm house waiting for me.  It is not something I ever take for granted but this week I have been thinking a lot about how lucky we were to find this house years ago just because we took a wrong turn.  It is amazing how a wrong turn, a chance meeting, or a sudden opportunity can change your life in so many ways. I am very grateful that years ago we made a wrong turn, got lost, and found the perfect house.  What makes you smile this week?

You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do, and sharing your dreams and your talent with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.  Ginny

            "Faith is like taking the first step even why you don't see the whole staircase."  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Having faith, trusting in your instincts, and believing in yourself and your dreams are all important as you move through life. Life presents us with many opportunities.  Some opportunities we  plan and prepare for. Others just come knocking at our door.  At one point we may have one goal in mind but suddenly something appears that makes us reconsider where we are going and what we are going to do. We're not sure, we know this is not what we planned, but it feels right.  What to do?  

1.  Knowing yourself will help you find the answer.  Are you someone who moves slowly or jumps in quickly?  Do you like to plan or are you a spur of the moment person? What makes you happy?  Is it doing something new or do you like to refine something you have already developed?

2. Reflection upon what has worked for you in the past often helps.  The answers to many of our questions lie within if we become still enough to listen to them. 

I have learned so much in the past few years about living a creative lifestyle.  My first career path was very linear. I had a goal, worked hard, obtained several degrees and followed a path that allowed me to do what I loved each day. That is not to say there weren't disappointments along the way but the path I took allowed me to go from point A to point Z without a lot of twists and turns.  Now that I am creating my own coaching business things are a little different. I know what I want to do and how I want to do it but opportunities arise that sometimes take me down a completely different path for awhile and that is ok.  I learn from each experience.  I meet new people.  I gain new skills.  And I have a lot of fun along the way.  The one thing that both times in my life have in common is the faith I have in myself and my abilities.  I know that each step along my journey is taking me where I want to go.  I surround myself with people who also have dreams and who believe not only in their own dream but mine as well.  

Where is your creative dream taking you?  What do you want to build and experience?  Believing in yourself and your dream and then taking that first step can often be the hardest thing to do but it is also the only way to begin the journey.  What step would you like to take today?

I was so excited when S.M. Hutchins asked if I would be a guest on her blog  Live Wonderstruck. My interview can found today  at  http://www.livewonderstruck.com Sherri is a wonderful writer and editor and I know you will enjoy getting to know her and reading her blog as much as I do.  We would both love it if you would stop by and say hello.

Wednesday's Creativity Coaching Tip:  Creativity does not always follow a straight path. There may be lots of twists and turns on your journey. There may be lots of false starts.  The creative process encourages you to both ask yourself "What if?" and then take the time to discover the answer.

If working with a creativity coach is something you would like to learn more about, please don't hesitate to contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  I would love to work with you!

 You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do, and sharing your dreams and your talent with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.                                                                                                                                                                Ginny

                             "Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others."  Lama Yeohe

Each Saturday I receive a prompt from Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting e-course. This week the key word was gentle. Just the word gentle has a soft sound to it.  It reminds me of a mother's hug, a soft breeze, or holding the tiny finger of a newborn baby.  When I think of being gentle to myself it means taking a day just to read, or painting a picture with nothing in mind and celebrating the results.  It means sitting by the window with a cup of tea and listening to the birds as I look up at the sky.  Being gentle means releasing the idea that there is one path to follow and accepting that things will happen as they are suppose to. It means taking a deep breath when needed, soft colors,and pretty rooms.  

As you go through this week, I hope that you will take time to be gentle with yourself.  You might want to plan time to paint or write or to take yourself on an artist's date.  It may mean sleeping in or going to bed early. It might be closing the door to the bedroom and just sitting quietly for a minute.  When you close your eyes and say the word gentle, what do you see or hear or feel.  I start each week with a quote that reminds me of what intention I want to set and how I want to feel.  This week the word gentle and the quote above is perfect for me and I hope for you.

When you think of the word gentle what does it remind you of?  How can you be gentle with yourself this week?

       When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!  Ginny

                                      "A multitude of small delights constitute happiness."  Charles Baudelaire

I love the above quote.  As I reflect on what makes me happy each week and what I am most grateful for, I have come to realize over and over again that it is the small delights that make me the happiest and for which I am most grateful.  I had a wonderful talk with two friends today.  It is their kindness and the laughter that I remember most.  We spoke about a lot of important things but the laughter that appeared from nowhere will stay with me until our next talk. 

Several years ago I began sharing what I am most grateful for each week on my Friday blog post.  After the new year I thought maybe I had done that enough and that it was time to begin writing and sharing something new each Friday. But I realized tonight that I miss writing about what I am grateful for.  It has become an important part of my week. It is a way to acknowledge the kindness of strangers, the laughter of friends, the silent moments, and the beauty of nature.  It can be a way to thank my family for always being there, to share a story about what makes life exciting, or to remember a special smile.  Over the past few years it seems that the things that I have to be grateful for have multiplied.  I am sure they were always there.  I was the one who was not attentive enough to notice them. Writing about gratitude seems like bringing an old friend home for supper.  It feels right and it feels good.  So each Friday I will share just a few of the things that I am most grateful for that week.  I hope that you will join me and share what small delights have made you happy and that you are grateful for each week. Acknowledging those things that make you smile is a small delight in itself that can make a big difference not only for you but for those you love. 


You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do and sharing your dreams and yourself with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.  Ginny
   

     "Follow effective action with quiet reflection.  From the quiet reflection will come even more action."                                                                                                                                                    Peter Drucker

I love the words effective action and quiet reflection.  I visualize myself moving excitedly through the day taking action that will make a difference in my life or the life of someone else.  I can see myself writing, or painting, coaching, or exercising.  I can see myself playing a game with my grandsons or talking through a problem with a client.  I can see myself at a play or an art gallery.  I can see myself on a conference call or meeting with a friend at a coffee shop.  I can see myself reading and researching and learning.   All are things that are things I want to do that will help me reach my goals this year.  

When I picture myself quietly reflecting it is at night. The lights are on and there is a feeling of warmth and coziness.  As I reflect upon my day, I look with honesty at what I did. Did I accomplish what I set out to do?  Where there things that happened that took me off my path but were important to do?  Did I waste a lot of time and have fun doing it or was I just wasting time?  What during the day made me feel excited?  What did I not enjoy doing and could find another way to do it?  What would I change?  What would stay the same?  

Action leads to reflection. Reflection leads to action.  When I was still teaching I did a lot of this.  I was always looking at the students, evaluating what worked for each of them and and then planning the next day's lesson.  I had an overall plan for the week but I always knew that plan would need to be revised on a daily basis depending on the needs of my students.

 Now, I am taking that philosophy into my personal life.  I have a word of the year, I have weekly and daily goals which I change as needed.  I realize that now that I am my own "boss" with all of the day mine to create, it is even more important to know how I want to spend my time and what I want to do.  I am reflecting upon what works for me.  This week I am really looking at my studio.  How do I need to arrange my workspace so it  works?  Where do I want to put my paints and paper?  How should I arrange the furniture?   What do I need to add or take away?  It is all a process that takes time.  It starts with reflection. The next step is taking action, one small step at a time, and then reflecting again. It's simple but it works.

 Reflection - Action - Reflection.  If this is not something you are used to doing, try it in one area of your life.  See what happens. See if it makes a difference.  And let me know.  One of my goals this year is connecting with more people who are living the life of their dreams or beginning to take the journey on creating that life.  I would love to know what works for you.

Each Wednesday I share a creativity coaching tip.  As a creative person we often resist structure. But structure can help us do the things we really want to do in a simpler more creative way.  Reflecting upon what works for you is a powerful tool to have in your toolbox.

You don't need diamonds to to make your light shine brighter and brighter. It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do, and sharing your dreams and your talent with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.  Ginny  

      "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."   
                                                                                                                     Helen Keller

I like to begin the week with a quote that inspires me or reminds me of something important.  Reading Helen Keller's words always reminds me of what is important.  Believing in ourselves and our dreams is the beginning of achieving what we set out to do.  It is natural to be scared when starting something new.  It is natural to have doubts but remembering who you are and what you have already accomplished is one way to overcome your fear.  

There are certain online groups that I am very comfortable sharing my pastels with. I have received many kind and encouraging comments from the artists in these groups and sharing my work with them has become easier and easier over the years.  I recently joined a new group.  I didn't know most of the people and the old uncertainties began to rear their  head. My work couldn't compare.  I didn't have the knowledge or the training that they did.  I would look silly.  But I asked myself, "What did you do when you first began to share your work with the groups you are now so comfortable with?"  And of course the answer was, "I just did it"  I shared my paintings and the result was wonderful.  So I took the plunge and the result was the same.  People are kind.  They made me feel welcome.  They are leaving encouraging comments.  And I am learning from them as I have learned from all of the other artists I have met over the past several years.  

My message to everyone this week is to believe in yourself.  When you start to doubt your dreams or your ideas remember what worked for you in the past.  Keep a journal of ideas that work for you.  Keep a vision board in front of you that remind you of what you want to bring into your life.  Remember your word of the year and where you want it take you. We all have ways that help us to remain optimistic.  Find what is right for you and use it to help you stay confident and hopeful each day. Life is ever changing.  It can be hard to predict where the road ahead will take us.  But if we stay confident and hopeful no matter what stands in our way, it can be a little easier to make a way around those barriers and continue on the path to where we want to go. 

I would love to know what helps you stay optimistic and hopeful as you follow your dreams each day.

You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do, and sharing your dreams and your talents with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.  Ginny

Today is my birthday and I've decided to be ten years younger rather than one year older.  I know that sounds crazy but it feels right so that's what I am going to do.  I'm not going to worry about what the clock or the calendar says.  I'm not going to count years or add candles to my cake.  I am just going to act and feel and think like I did ten years ago.  

I believe that just like the seasons of the year there are seasons of our life.  Some are harder than others.  Most we learn and grow from.  When I was younger I was running through life - literally and figuratively.  Now, I have slowed down on purpose (most of the time).  I think I've started to give myself a pass because I am a little older.  That's ok if it feels right. But if I am standing in my own way of moving forward thenI have to think long and hard if that is what I want to do. And it's not.  

So this is going to be a year of pursuing my dreams, discovering my community, and exploring all of the many ways to be creative.  It's going to be a year of sharing what I learn, embracing the day, and being inspired by the world around me.  It's going to be a great year whether I am one year older or ten years younger.  What is wonderful and can be my birthday present to myself each and every day is that I am in charge of creating how I feel and react to the things that happen throughout the day and year.  I can control whether I feel one year older or ten years younger. I just need to remember that and not let a number make the difference. I would love it if you would share my special day with me by doing something special for yourself.  It would be a great gift for both of us.

You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do, and sharing your dreams and yourself with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.  Ginny

                     "Give every day the chance to be the most beautiful day of your life."  Mark Twain

We all know how fast each day goes by. From the time we get up to the time we go to bed we can be busy not ever taking a chance to recognize what we have completed and what we have accomplished.  For many people it is normal to check off what they have completed, make a new list of what they have to do the next day, and never take a minute to actually recognize and celebrate all that they did during the day.  I know that I have mentioned the TaDah Journal before but I think it is worth mentioning again especially at this time of year.  

What is a TaDah Journal you might be thinking?  It is a special journal that you use each day to record the things that you completed and want to celebrate.  They can be the things on your list that deserve more than a check mark next to them or they can be every single thing you did towards getting closer to your goal.  It could be that you painted for five minutes or that you took time to browse through your new art book.  It could be the new recipe you tried or the note you sent to a friend.  It could be cleaning a closet, taking clothes to the goodwill, or writing the last sentence of your first novel.  Small accomplishments lead to big accomplishments and both need to be recognized and celebrated.  When you take the time to really look at what you do each day, not what you didn't do, you may be surprised to see exactly how much you were able to do within 24 hours.  

I believe in living in the moment.  I try to enjoy every single minute.  But even with the best of intentions I often fly through the day.  I have learned to take a few minutes each night to reflect upon what has happened during each day and to give myself credit for what I have accomplished. I used to think about what I had not done, now I smile as I remember and record all of the things that made me feel good during the day.   A clean kitchen makes me smile, a new painting really makes me happy, and a long walk around the block definitely deserves a place in my TaDah Journal. Someone recently said, "When I look back at how much I have already done, I realize there is nothing I can't do."  I hope that you too will take the time to realize that there is nothing you can't do!  Give yourself credit each day for what you are already doing and see what happens next.  

"You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter. It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do and sharing your dreams and yourself with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle."  Ginny