"How soon not now becomes never."  Denis Waitley

When I woke up really early this morning I felt like pulling the covers over my head and going back to sleep. But I had things to do and places to go so I got up.  As the morning continued, the energy was just not there to get things done. There are days like this when the right thing to do is to slow down and to rest. That is an important part of the creative cycle. But not today. Today I would be giving in to procrastination and I didn't want to do that.  

There are times when we are not ready to begin something new.  There are times when the ideas are just percolating and we need to give them time to do just that.  There are times when we are really tired and the right thing to do is to rest and to take care of ourselves and then there are times when we are truly procrastinating.  It's important to know yourself well enough to understand when you are putting something off that can be done easily, if you would just get started. It's at that time I call on the creativity principle that says, "OK, Ginny just do it.. You've procrastinated long enough.  You're ready to get started.  Take that first step.  It can be small or it can be a giant leap.  But get started."  

Have you been putting off something that you would like to start?  Sometimes it is fear of failure that keeps us from starting. Other times it is fear of success that holds us back.  Sometimes we are just procrastinating.  But as Denis Waitley reminds us, sometimes not now becomes never.  And that would be a shame.  The world is waiting for us and for what we have to share.  So I invite you to join me today and to say goodbye to procrastination and hello to new beginnings.

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

                                                         Create the life you want to live.
                 
                                                                ginny.lennox@comcast.net

As we move forward through the alphabet it is impossible to choose only one word for the letter P.  Knowing that you will have to have a lot of perseverance, a lot of patience and that being positive makes the journey so much more enjoyable are important keys to living a creative life or creating the life you want to live.  

Building something new takes time. Changing your life takes time.  And both take a lot of work. But the work and the changes can be so much fun when you approach them with an open mind and heart.  Experiencing each day for what it is, finding the the positive moments and celebrating them and looking forward to the next step makes the journey exciting.  

Persevering and having patience can sometimes be hard. We are a world filled with people who want it now.  But even the "overnight success stories" have a back story.  First there are the dreams and the visions of what we want.  Then the first, second, third, and hundredth step to get where we want to go.  There are the side journeys that teach us so much and sometimes the roads that lead us to nowhere that at the time are so frustrating but become such an important part of the journey.

 I have found that when we have a vision, keep that vision in front of us, and stay positive and patient one day we will find that we are exactly where we want to be.  The book may be finished, the show completed, the new company opened or the day will unfold just as we hoped it would.  To have this happen takes time.  It takes perseverance.  And it definitely takes being open and positive to whatever the universe presents.   

What is it that you are working on right now?  Is it a creative practice?  Is it a dream? Are you building a new life?  Are you beginning something new or just completing something that you have always wanted to do?  Remember that no matter where you are in the process to stop and take time to celebrate the smallest of moments.  It is important to be patient.  It is important to persevere.  It is very important to stay positive.  And it is very important to celebrate all that you have already accomplished so that you can continue to move forward with excitement and joy.

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


                                                  Create the life you want to live!


                                                       ginny.lennox @comcast.net


   

                                    "Your wings already exist.  All you have to do is fly."  
                                                                                                           Unknown

When I saw this quote I fell in love with it.  All you have to do is fly.  The image of a baby bird sitting on the edge of her nest ready to take that leap came to mind.  It's scary to take that first step or that first leap.  But in order for our wings to get stronger we have to use them.  The first time I wrote a blog post I was scared.  The first time I posted a picture that I had painted it was so hard.  But over time it has become easier.  Someone just asked me, "How do you handle the negative comments?"  I've been lucky everyone has been kind and encouraging.  I've not met one person who was negative.  And if I do one day, I will just remember all of the wonderful kind and supportive people I have met over the years and not let one person's opinion stop me from moving forward.

How would you like to use your wings this week?  What step would you like to make to create the life you want to live?  It doesn't have to be a big leap, a small step can make a big difference.  This week I am going to call two people to share with them my coaching business. That's not a lot of calls but it is the beginning of doing something that I am not entirely comfortable doing.  It's a start. It's stretching my wings just a little farther.  I hope you will join me and stretch your wings too.  I bet we will have fun flying!

I love working with women to help them create the life they want to live.  If you are interested in a free 30 minute coaching call, please contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net.  I would love to talk to you.


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

                                    "The mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work unless it's open."  Anonymous

Whether you are living a creative life or creating the life you want to live being open to new experiences will enhance not only what you do but how you feel. It's easy to become comfortable with what you are doing but exciting to try new things.  
When I mentioned in yoga that open was the word I was focusing on this week my very supportive instructor used it over and over again as we went through our poses. It always feels wonderful to open my arms and my heart to the world not only in yoga but in every part of my life.  

For many of us our daily work does not always allow for openness.  There are rules and protocols we are expected to follow.  But in our creative lives or in the lives we create we can venture out and try new things.  It can be the colors we use in our paintings, the food we prepare and eat or the places we visit.  It can be the new and interesting things we learn about to inspire our creativity or the people we talk to that have differing opinions. 

How open are you to new ideas?  When was the last time you tried something new just for the fun of it?  Being open and curious enhances our creativity.  Is there something you have always wanted to do?  Is there something you are curious about?  Maybe this is the week to take that very first step and to open yourself up to new ideas and opportunities. It doesn't have to be a big step. Something as simple as asking, "What if....?" and then waiting for the answer can open up a whole new world.  What if you opened yourself up to something new this week, what do you think would happen?

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

                  "Invent your world.  Surround yourself with people, color, sounds, and work that nourish you."
                                                                                                       Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy (Sark)

At this time in my life I can really relate to this quote.  I am reinventing my world since my husband's death and it is not always easy.  But it is important that I take my time and create a world in which I can not only contribute to the happiness of others but to my own well-being and happiness.  As I thought about the quote above these are three things that I think are important in creating or recreating our world. 

Self-Awareness -  Recognizing who or what brings you happiness and then finding ways to bring more of that into your life is so important. Who makes you laugh?  Who supports your ideas?  Who challenges you with their questions and insights to become all that you can become?  Make room for those people in your life.  We are all busy but it is important to find time for the people who care about you and for whom you care. 

What do you enjoy doing? How do you express yourself creatively?  Is it in the clothes you wear, the way you decorate your house, the words you speak or write, the paintings you create?  Is it in the way you move or dance?  Do what you enjoy.  Share it with others.  Surround yourself with people who love to do the same thing.

Look for the joy in the work you do -   I always loved the work that I was doing and still do.  But even a job we love can come with down times. Find three things that you enjoy about your work and then write them down and/or share them with someone else.  This is an effective way to remember daily why you are doing what you are doing. It's something that doesn't take long to do but makes a world of difference in how you feel each day.    


Remembering -  This seems like something we would automatically do but for whatever reason we often forget what works for us and makes us happy.  A simple but truly easy way to not have this happen is a Reminder Journal.  Each day write down what happened or what you did  to bring  happiness and joy into your life.  It is most often the small things. It can be getting up ten minutes earlier to have time to reflect and set an intention for the day. It can be a great workout at the gym or taking time to really listen to your husband, children, or friends who had something they want to share.  It can be a walk in your neighborhood or taking the time to go on the vacation you have always wanted to go on.  You don't have to write a lot. Just write or sketch something to help you remember what it is that you want to continue to have in your life.

As I wrote in the beginning of this post, inventing or creating the life you want to live takes time.  But it is time well spent. It is time that helps you to live a life filled with purpose, happiness and joy. Why not begin today?  

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

                                         "Where is your water.  Know your garden"  Hopi Teaching

I am still taking great pleasure in going through the alphabet and finding words that remind me of what creative living is all about.  Nourishment is a word that means many things to many people.  I'm sure for many of us the first thing that comes to mind is the food we eat.  Does it nourish our body so that we have the energy to pursue our dreams?  Does it help us to think clearly so that we can set and reach our goals?  Are we eating food that not only is good for us but tastes good too?

What about the way we move?  Does it help us to stay strong and flexible?  Are we exercising in a way that is enjoyable and fun?  Are we changing how we exercise so that we continue to challenge ourselves?

How we nourish our mind is something else that is important in living a creative life. Do we surround ourselves with people who are interesting and fun and support what we are doing.? Do we read things and discuss ideas that challenge us to move forward in a positive way?  

And of course the spirit.  How do you nourish your spirit?  How do you keep yourself calm and quiet or energized and excited?  Do you find time each day to spend in nature?  Is your creativity a priority in your life?  Do you meditate or sit in silence?  Do you remember to breathe and enjoy the moment?  

We nourish ourselves in so many different ways.  The clothes we wear, the sights and sounds that we see, the feeling we get when we walk into our home are all ways we nourish ourselves.  There are times in life when everything seems to be in balance.  But these times are often few and far between.  So what I have started to do is to ask myself each week, What do I need this week? and then again each day, "What do I need today?"  It's a simple way to remember to take care of myself so that I can be there for the rest of the world.  So I would like to ask you today, "What do you need today? How can you nourish yourself?  You don't have to answer right away but if an answer does appear, won't you share it with us?  

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

                            "Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life,
                                      because you become what you believe."       Oprah Winfrey


I do believe in the power of the mind.  I believe the way we think and the things we say influence not only how we feel about ourselves but how we present ourselves to the world.  Others can see our potential and all of the things that are special about us but we must also see those things. When you close your eyes what vision do you have for your life?  

Each month I try to create a vision board.  It is a great reminder of what I want to accomplish and also how I want my life to look and feel.  After creating many boards I realize that happy people, calm colors, peaceful settings, beautiful flowers, water and inspiring words will always appear on my boards. It is part of who I am and what I want in my life. Visualizing what I want my life to look and feel like and then creating a board filled with pictures and words that are meaningful to me are the first two steps in creating the life I want to live.  But that is only the beginning.  Next, comes taking the steps to making that vision a reality.  That part takes time.  But I have learned that when you know what you want and then take small steps to make it happen, happen it will.  It might not be all at once but it can happen.  

The other thing I have learned as I have taken this journey is that it is important to have dreams and goals but it is also important to be open to change.  Life doesn't always go exactly as planned but as long as we know who we are and what we want we can adjust to the changes that happen.  

As you begin the month of July, what is it that you would like to accomplish?  How would you like to feel? What do you want your life to look like?  What is one small step you can take to create the life you want to live?  When you take that step take a moment or two to celebrate it.  Write about it.  Sketch it.  Create an image of what the step looked like or felt like.  It's an important step and it needs to be remembered. Have fun with it and remember it is a beginning that can lead to many other important steps. I hope that as you begin this new month it will be a month filled with special moments that you will not only remember but enjoy for a very long time.

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


Part of the magic for me is helping others make their dreams come true. Sharing your dreams and supporting your efforts are a big part of what I do as a coach.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  I would love to talk to you.

                "The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments."
                                                                                                               Thich Nhat Hanh

Everywhere I look I see the word mindful.  It's a great reminder for me to slow down and to be truly present in the moment. It is so easy to get lost in all that we have to do or think about that we forget what is important.  As I become more fully invested in the concept that I am creating the life I want to live, I realize that in order to do this I have to be aware of what is important to me of what makes a difference in my life. I know that when I am writing or painting I am truly living in the moment.  I am not thinking of what I want to do next or what I should do.  I am fully present and enjoying creating something that may be just for my eyes or that I share with the people in my life or on my blog.  

During the day I often take a moment to take a deep breath.  This is my way of remembering to slow down and to enjoy what I am doing.  I find that my life is going at a slower pace and that instead of getting less done, I actually accomplish more.  When I focus on one thing it is easier for me to actually accomplish what I want to accomplish without feeling a lot of pressure or stress.

How many times have you heard someone say, "I'm so busy."?  Being busy is a sign of importance to some people. But for others it is a point of exhaustion and of missing the most important things in the life; the things that you can't buy because they are priceless. It takes time to change a life filled with "always being busy" to a life filled with calm and special moments.  It takes awareness of what is important to you and it takes courage to say "No" to those things that are filling up your day but not making a difference.  

As you go through the rest of the week notice what makes you happy. Notice what brings a knot to your stomach and makes you uneasy.  Notice when you feel calm and when you feel stress.  Then decide one single thing you are going to change. Maybe you will get up five minutes earlier to begin your day without stress. Maybe you will stop for a cup of tea and to look at the flowers you planted or bought for yourself.  Maybe instead of watching TV you will write a journal page, sketch in your sketchbook or take a walk. Make small changes but notice the results. I have found that one change leads to another but it is my awareness of the result of the change that is equally important.  

I would love to know what change you make and the difference you feel.  Please feel free to share your experience with me either in the comment section or at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  

                When you share you gifts and talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.
                                                                                                                      Ginny


As a coach I love to work with women who are committed to making a difference in their lives.  Whether it is creating a life you want to live or working on a creative project, I can share with you the principles of creativity that have made a difference in my life as well as the women I work with.  Let's talk today.