"To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful.
           It means you are capable of tapping into a blissful state amid the normal chaos of a hectic life."
                                                                                                                      Jill Bolte Taylor



Self-care is an important part of living a creative life.  Knowing what you need and finding time for it is essential. The other night I met with a group of writers, editors, and artists.  We had an interesting conversation about self-care.  The concept meant different things to each person.  To some it meant eating right, taking vitamins and exercising.  For another it was having the time to start her day with her horse so that not only the horse would get the attention that she deserved but that my friend would get the time with her horse that was so important to her.  For some it meant getting your nails done or having a weekly or monthly massage.

Finding time for relaxation and play was something we talked about.  Some had never thought of play in terms of self-care while others thought it was a necessary part of their day and life. Play meant different things to each of us but we all realized that taking time to relax and have fun helped us in our creative life. 

Self-care may look and feel different as we go through the various stages of life.  There are the basic things that we all do each day to take care of ourselves.  If these needs are not met, life is much more difficult. Then there are the things that are meaningful to each of us as an individual.  Many creative people feel sad or out of sorts if they are not using their creativity. For them getting into the studio to paint or write or dance is necessary just like enough water and the right food is necessary to be healthy and happy.  Others need time to get out into nature to take pictures or to enjoy the sights and sounds that are there for all of us to enjoy.     

As you are living or creating the life you want to live, think about what you are doing for self-care.  List the things that you are doing now and the things you would like to do.  If you need to make changes in your life, begin slowly.  Just five minutes a day to stretch can make a difference in how you feel.  Stopping, taking a deep breath, and sitting in silence for a few minutes a day can bring happiness and a feeling of calm into your life.  Writing in your journal, sketching a quick picture, or taking a photo a day can be the beginning of new experiences and creative opportunities.  

Remember that while you are taking care of others it is equally as important for you to take care of yourself.  When I finish this post, I am going to do at least 15 minutes of yoga.  How are you going to practice self-care today?

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

                                                              Create the Life You Want to Live
                                                                 ginny.lennox@comcast.net

 

 

                                       "Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell about it."  Mary Oliver

I spent last week visiting my sister and I had a wonderful time seeing everyone and getting to spend time at the beach. What I didn't do was write my Sunday post and start my week with a quote. This has become a habit of mine and while I thought it made a difference; I didn't realize just how much of a difference it made. I usually leave the quote on the kitchen table where I do a lot of my work and look at it often.  I pick a quote because it speaks to me.  Sometimes it is a reminder of what I need in my life.  Other times I just like it and I am not sure why but by the end of the week I usually realize why I picked it.  Last week there was no reminder. Nothing to guide the way and I missed it.

I have been reflecting upon my goals for the year and trying to decide where I am, what I need to change, and what should continue.  Should I continue my blog in the same way was a question that I was reflecting upon.  Does it make a difference for my life or for someone else's?  And then this morning as I was looking through the quotes I have gathered I saw this one,  "Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell about it."  

I know that creativity plays a big part in my life.  I know that because of it I do pay attention more.  I pay attention to the beauty of nature, to the colors that surround me, to the sounds in the air and to what other people experience and create. When I am writing or painting I often ask myself the question, "What if?"  What if I used this color instead of this, what if I took out this sentence and added this one instead?  What if the main character was a girl instead of a boy?  "What if?" stretches my imagination and has become a part of my life.  

I am astonished every day.  I am astonished by what people can create.  I am astonished by how much the world is changing.  I am astonished by how it feels to interact with people I have never met in person yet consider them some of my best friends. Over and over I am astonished and it brings a positive energy to my life.

So now to the last sentence.  Tell about it.  I've always loved to talk about things.  It helps me to understand and to process my thoughts.  I love a good discussion and to learn from others.  So yes, tell about it is important to me.  In my blog I am sharing my thoughts and telling about my world and my creative process.  I don't share how I paint or write because I don't feel like an expert in either area but I do express how I feel and how living as a creative person has changed how I experience life.  So the decision has been made - I will continue to tell about it.

As a creativity coach it has been such a joy to work with others who are learning about their creative process. It's been so much fun to share the strategies that work for me when overcoming things like procrastination or overwhelm not just in the creative part of my life but in life in general.  So I will continue to tell about it and hope that someone else will benefit from my reading my words. It's actually amazing how much reading one quote has shaped my thoughts and actions this morning.  This is definitely a creative practice that I will continue to enjoy.  Is there a creative practice that has made a difference in your life?

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

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

 
"Stop. Breathe. Allow yourself the luxury of doing nothing for a moment or an hour or even a day.  
                               It is in emptiness that inspiration will appear."  Carole Katchen


As we are building our creative life, it can be a time of great excitement and activity.  We live in a world that seems to value the idea of being busy and for some people the busier the better.  "What did you do today or this week?" is a question that we hear over and over.  But both the body and the mind need time to step away from the noise that surrounds us and to take time to rest and relax.  It's in those quiet moments that things become clear, new ideas begin to take form, and next steps are formulated.

Rest can of course be for a week or more.  It can be time spent at your favorite place getting away from it all.  It can be a time to recharge and to feel rejuvenated.  It also can take place in a minute or two.  Getting up and walking outside is a way to rest. Taking a deep breath no matter where you are helps us to feel better. Sitting quietly in a chair with your eyes closed for just a minute or two can change how you feel and how you think.

Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to take a rest.  This summer I went on an incredible art retreat.  It was in a beautiful place working with wonderful women.  But one afternoon I felt exhausted and maybe a little overwhelmed.  So I did something I rarely do.  I left the group and took a nap. It was exactly what I needed and it changed how I felt about everything.  For some people this would be an easy thing to do.  It wasn't for me but I know in the future that I will take the time I need, no matter where I am to rest. 

As you go through your day, begin to notice when you have the most energy and when you need to take a minute or two to rest.  Begin to notice when you are most creative and begin to think about how to use that time to your advantage. Is there a certain day of the week that you need to plan for more quiet activities or when you feel most like writing or painting?  Is there a specific time of the year that you need to get away from it all?  As you learn more and more about yourself and the life you are creating, leave time for the quiet moments. Those moments are special too.  They help you to celebrate what you have accomplished, think about the future, and most important to just be. 

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


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

        " When you like a flower, you just pluck it.  But when you love a flower, you water it daily.  
                                          One who understands this, understands life."  Buddha

When I read this quote this week, I was really struck by it.  If something is to grow whether it is a relationship, a practice, a new way of thinking or living, that something has to be cherished and taken care of.  It's easy to be so "busy" that it can be days or weeks or years before we make that call, sit down to write, take out the paint brushes or really take care of ourselves and or our dreams.  Weeks can go by before we take a walk in nature, sit quietly, or have a meal with the entire family.  

What is it that you love?  Are you watering it daily?  If you are, take a moment to reflect upon all that you are doing and celebrate it.  If you have forgotten to take care of something that you love, today is the day to start.  You don't have to do something big or change your entire way of life.  Begin with a small step and add a step each day so that what you love can grow and become the important part of your life that it was always supposed to be.

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

                                                    Create The Life You Want To Live
                                                           ginny.lennox@comcast.net

As small children many of us asked questions.  How, why, where, when, were words we used often. But as we mature we sometimes accept the world or things as they are and stop asking questions. Learning to ask questions again is a way to reignite that sense of curiosity. 

Questions that are too big can be frightening.  Instead practice asking yourself smaller questions and waiting for the answer.  Asking yourself, "What is one small step I can take today to begin planning a writing or art practice?" may produce lots of answers that lead you to begin writing or painting a little each day.  You may come up with a long list of things that you can do but you only have to do one of them. It's your choice.  

As we go through life, it is inevitable that we will faces changes and transitions.  These can be scary for many of us but by using the method of asking yourself small questions the world can look a lot less intimidating.  How do I want to feel today can help us to decide what activities we are going to plan.  Asking yourself, "How do I want to feel by the end of the year?" can be overwhelming which can lead to a lack of progress or shutting down completely.  But asking, "How do I want to feel today?" is much more manageable and satisfying.

Is there a small question you can ask yourself today?  Write it down.  If the answer comes right away, that is wonderful.  If it doesn't, that is ok too.  Ask yourself the question again the next day and the next until the answer comes.  Write the question down more than once.  If more than one answer appears, write them all down.  See which one feels best and try that one on for size. Then be sure to celebrate whatever small step you decide to take.

Asking questions is just one of the Kaizen-Muse strategies that I use every day.  That along with taking small steps forms the foundation for living a life that continues to move forward without feeling overwhelmed.  I love sharing these Kaizen-Muse coaching strategies.  They make a difference in my life and I hope they will in yours as well.

                 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
 

                                              "Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  
      Always remember you have the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world."
                                                                                                                                            Harriet Tubman

I love this quote and go to it over and over for inspiration. Right now my dream is to complete my first book. I've started and I know I am going to finish.  Which is where the second sentence of the quote becomes important.  It's not an easy task and it won't happen overnight but with the passion I have for helping women to live the lives they want and the patience and strength I will use to get the book done it will get done.  Plus, it will be fun!  

I'm not different than anyone else who has a dream.  It is all starts with a vision and then that vision becomes reality with lots of work, lots of support, and lots of patience.  

The other day I was listening to my three grandsons having a serious conversation.  They are three, seven and nine years old.  The two older boys have decided they want to be pharmacists and their company will be called the Pharmacy Brothers.  Very seriously they asked the youngest if he wanted to join them and he started to say yes and then hesitated and said with firm conviction, "No, I want to be a Star Wars guy."  They said ok and went back to what they were doing.
It's that combination of dreamer and conviction that it takes to get what we want. And I have a feeling if when he gets older he still wants to be a Star Wars guy he will be.

What do you dream of doing or being? What intention could you set today to get that dream started?  What step could you take to make your dream come true?  I always finish each post with "When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin."  Won't you share your dreams with the world today so the magic can begin not only for you but for all of us? 

                                                 Create the Life You Want To Live
                                            ginny.lennox@comcast.net