it’s sunday – which means it’s creating dreams come true day. creating dreams come true is a free ongoing e-course and creative community to support you in living your dreams. if you are new, please feel free to join right in. the more creative dreamers the better!
this week we’re going to shake things up. we’re going take a risk. we’re going to step out of our comfort zones.
when i talk about comfort zones in my workshops, i draw this quick sketch:
comfort zone
i start by drawing the middle circle and putting the person in it and ask the participants to see this as themselves, and see how all of the things and situations in their lives are in that circle with them. and that circle is their comfort zone. then i draw the band around the circle and explain that fear and resistance are what keep the comfort zone in place, and what keeps you from moving through it. then i draw the stars outside of the band indicating all of the dreams and things that feel beyond your reach.
they are only beyond your reach because of your own fear and resistance.
i don’t say this in a blame-y way, as in “you put the fear and resistance there and it’s your fault if things are not working out for you”. not at all. i say this in a “hey this stuff is holding you back and guess what – you actually have the power to move it out of the way!”
i say it in an empowering and you-are-awesome kind of way.
because you are awesome, your dreams are awesome, and it is possible for you to move this crap out of the way and get at them.
but to do that means moving through that fear and resistance. there is simply no way to move forward with a creative dream without stretching that comfort zone. last week we talked about not giving up and how there is so much value in the times of rejection and difficulty, as these are times when we get stronger and our dreams get stronger. the same thing applies to stepping out of our comfort zones – it makes us stronger.
when i started doing my creativity workshops i didn’t know anything about marketing and how to get people to actually register for a workshop. i had workshops with 0 attendees, and i just kept going. then i had workshops with 1 or 2 attendees and i was so grateful that i was able to do the workshop! i could have started by calling a promoter and making sure i was going to do well, but there is so much value in taking small steps, taking small risks, and growing a dream organically. in the times of those small workshops i became a better facilitator. i had more one-on-one time with people so i really understood what their workshop experience was and was then able to find ways to improve. and when more people started coming, i was ready because i had built up my facilitating muscles. i had also, slowly but surely, stretched my comfort zone to include giving great workshops.
i still remember setting up a workshop, waiting for people to show up, realising no one was coming, packing up and going home. (though actually, i found out later someone was coming – he was just late and when he got there i was gone) that day my car was in the shop, so i had borrowed my mom’s car. this meant a bunch of extra driving and annoyance for me and my mom, all for nothing. but as i was driving back to her place i thought – well it’s not for nothing.
it’s actually awesome that i took the chance.
it’s actually awesome that i got as far as planning the workshop and setting up the space. i really believed that if i kept putting it out there, people would start to respond.
and they have. and i have great lively workshops now. but i simply couldn’t have started with great lively workshops! i had to start where i was at the time, and where i was was not knowing how to draw people to my workshops. but i could not become someone who knew how to do it by not trying! and i couldn’t start trying without taking a risk and stepping out of my comfort zone.
if there is something about your dreams that you aren’t sure of and are waiting for that piece to fit before acting – i want to encourage you to act anyway. because when you act anyway you are putting yourself right into that fear and resistance and learning to move through it. this stretches your comfort zone out to include more of the good things you want.
do everything you can right now.
everything you do and everything you learn stretches your comfort zone and before you know if *pouf* you’ve got success.
creative dream assignment: take a risk
take a look at your life: where are you stuck in your comfort zone and where can you bust out of it? post a comment below letting us know your plans. then come back and post again once you’ve taken action.
creative dream check-in
please join the comments below and let us know where your dreams are growing and flowing and where they’re stuck. also share any questions or ideas about this week’s topic, or just say hello.
my check-in:
i am BUSY with my unleash your creative magic sessions. i am working with people, testing my ideas and processes, making adjustments and putting together new plans. it feels really good to be this busy helping people bust through blocks and get at their dreams. i can’t imagine doing anything more rewarding or perfect than this. i am starting to get a feel for how i work best and to get an idea of what kinds of unleash your creative magic packages i want to put together. very exciting.
oh and my abundance seedlings are really thriving and i have started planting them. (i planted sweet peas, foxgloves, zinnias and dahlias – keeping the lavender inside for another week as it is still quite small and delicate) oh i love my garden in the spring when everything is that amazing shade of green that only new seedlings can be. the green is fresher and newer and there is so much life in it. it is so nourishing to be out there. my garden inspires me so much.
for my assignment this week: well i am already doing it! stepping out of my comfort zone and offering these creativity coaching sessions. i am seeing how it really is time though. i have been a new thought practitioner at the centre for conscious living for a few years now and have loved working with people there, using the new thought principles we teach to support and guide them into their dreams. i love seeing people get what they want out of their lives. and i know i am ready to go out on my own with this, to do it ABCstyle and not under the umbrella of the centre for conscious living. this has meant i’ve had to face quite a lot of fear and resistance as i move out of my comfort zone. my ways of working through it are: journaling, simply being with the feelings and honouring them, talking with good friends, meditation, yoga and when all else fails – a glittery lush bath and a nap.
and i am looking forward to hearing your updates!
ps – i have been having a great time giving creative interviews lately, you can listen to me chat about creative living with jamie ridler and tamara at imaginibbles.
andrea schroeder creates creativity workshops, downloadable creativity kits, art and guided meditations to support you in knowing and remembering that you are a creative being and you can create anything.
How did you know the one thing to write that would sum up everything that’s been going on for me lately? I am hideously, ferociously afraid of moving forward right now.
On Thursday I did my first Reiki Healing Dance session in two years (and my second one ever). And it went really well. It was a step, a big step, and took a LOT of moving through fear (terror, really) to do. But now that I’ve gone to that edge once I find myself reeling back from it again. It’s so easy to get lost in parenting my son and finding excuses to not set a time for another class/workshop or to not write that email to all my old students to say “Hey, I’m back!” I’m scared of getting back “out there” because I’ve never done this with a baby around, I’m having trouble carving out boundaries for times I can do this stuff (it’s just me and my full-time-working husband and no support network at all around here), and I’m further out of town now….and on and on and onandonandonandonandonandon until I just throw up my hands and say “forget it, I’m going to bake brownies” (I make a mean pan of brownies).
But enough. You’re right, and thank you for saying it. I can think of a good half-dozen steps I can take right now if I decide to “feel the fear and do it anyway.” I’ll check in later this week once I’ve DONE some of them.
yah meg!
i do understand that terror and i do believe that no one has ever made a real heart dream come true without experiencing it and figuring out how to move through it. i know it’s hard and i know it’s worth it. you can do this!!! i am so looking forward to reading your updates later this week ;)
“Not Giving Up” was all around me this week! Talk about New Moons and Synchronicity!
http://lion-art.blogspot.com/2010/05/im-in-this-for-long-haul.html
I have also run up against the whole attitude of “The only reason you love traveling/Scotland so much is that you’re on vacation there…” I find it sad that most people think it’s normal to hate what you do for a living and where you live. I know for a fact that this isn’t true…but to be in the company of folks who think that can be exhausting! I suppose that’s another way of persevering!!!
As for taking risks…not sure what I’ll do specifically this week yet. I’m very inspired reading about when you started your workshops! Getting the word out is something I struggle with as well! I I have been taking little risks here and there…most recently inquiring about cooking classes. I think I’ll continue with this and the grant research this week.
My plants are doing really well! The heather is getting bigger, slowly but surely…and the grass seeds are up (though not sure how to keep it happy since I can’t plant it outside…I can’t move any of the plants outside). I terms of financial abundance…as of tomorrow I will be $1000 closer to my goal…that feels amazing!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cyndi Briggs. Cyndi Briggs said: outta comfort zone into growth – http://www.creativedreamincubator.com/2010/05/16/creating-dreams-come-true-its-time-to-stretch-your-comfort-zone/ [...]
Congratulations Lee Ann ! And I wish you realize stepping out your comfort zone Meg.
Well… it seems that I haven’t been outside for a few days, catching up on creativity, but afraid of crossing someone outside and having to explain why I don’t go to work. I’m just kicking off depression and it’s hard.
It looks better now that my creativity flourish, but I’m still reluctant to :
go outside (fast nothing more to eat) ; cleaning and clearing my appartment.
I’m afraid of going in a big city a little further, where I could see noone I know but I’m a bookstore addict and I don’t have that much money. Can go outside and just buy food, nothing extra ? Can I just have a walk to exercise a little ? I’m so ashamed the doctor told me not to go to work. I feel so little…
I made a map to outstep the comfort zone :
http://eveil-creatif.over-blog.com/article-dream-check-up-50528517.html
I’ve made a map to step outside the comforte zone (good link)
http://eveil-creatif.over-blog.com/article-outstep-the-comfort-zone-50543883.html
Andrea, I love that when you first started your workshops, instead of getting discouraged you saw those times as stepping stones – that is sooo inspiring!!!
I haven’t commented in a while but I’ve been faithfully following every week and trying to incorporate many of the ideas here into my daily life. What I’m finding is that although things feel like they’re slowly moving along, they ARE moving along and my dreams are at the forefront of my mind. I’m finding ways to take baby steps toward my dreams, instead of putting them on the back burner, in the midst of working part-time and juggling the needs and schedules of a family of five. Reading about fellow creative dreamers’ experiences really gives me encouragement! Thank you all for sharing!
As for stepping out of my comfort zone, I’ve posted some of my watercolors. As a beginner, this wasn’t easy for me to do but I did it! And I’m considering it a stepping stone….
http://cherrypiebutterfly.blogspot.com/2010/05/stepping-out-of-my-comfort-zone.html
Cheers!
lee ann that is fantastic! you are really moving forward!! it’s sad that you are hearing from people that life is supposed to be unhappy – that sounds really odd to me. i am sure it is exhausting to be around it. maybe you can inspire them to think differently. life can be so rich and fun.
scylliane it is so great to have you with us! i love your enthusiasm and encourage you to be gentle with youself, listen to your doctor, and do what you need to do for your own healing.
jennifer it’s so great to hear from you. it’s so wonderful that you are taking steps. i think small steps are actually better than large ones because they build a more solid foundation. i’m off to check out your blog.
[...] anything, so as to not diminish what his holiness said here. I was reading Andrea Shroeder’s Blog, and I was prompted to think about a few things. She talked about moving forward, identifying the [...]
Oh, I really REALLY needed to read this! Your experiences with starting workshops echoes my experience when I teach a new yoga class/program. Funny, I got used to the small turn outs and would be floored when a number of people started showing up. And when I got cocky and expected that turnout? Hmm … humbling. But a reminder for me that I am a vessel for these teachings and while I have to do “my” work, my part in the end how things turn out is not dependent solely upon me.
I need to remember these lessons – and yours! – as I branch out into offering new workshops. I have been offering guided meditation and creativity classes and the ones where people came went really well and were received with enthusiasm. I just need to plug away at it (and expand my comfort zone when it comes to marketing myself – yikes!) I have some new things coming up and I need to put my energy behind that and trusting I will be receiving what I need to learn from the process. Hopefully, in a class with others, but whatever!
Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration :) Yes, I am saying it – my dream is to teach more workshops that combine my study and practice of yoga (awareness/mindfulness training) and creative play (experiencing one’s true nature through art.) I feel like wishcasting here … :)
I’ve been living here in Vancouver where there’s a yoga studio every block and I have been scared to go, even though I loved yoga in the past. What if if’s too hard/I don’t fit in/I look funny/I don’t know what to do, etc. I really wanted to try hot yoga but I was also worried I’d feel faint half way through…all pretty minor concerns but enough for me to have avoided it so far.
Anyhow I went on Sunday morning and it was really good. Exactly what I needed. The circle around my comfort zone was entirely made up. Later on I had a pedicure for the first time (spas are not common on the high street in the UK where I am from) s I got over the weirdness of letting another person scrub my feet – turned out Sunday was a day for firsts ;-)
oh lis that is a beautiful dream and so worth stepping out of the comfort zone for!
helen those are wonderful firsts. sounds like a great nurturing day!
Andrea – This is such a wonderful post. I’m so inspired by all that you have accomplished by just knowing your path and following it, especially when it’s tough and no one else believes. I’m trying to follow your example as I leave behind a job in the city that made me financially comfortable but creatively miserable. I’m in Bali training to be a yoga teacher and although it’s very tough, I’m learning so much and knowing that I’m following my path is what keeps me putting my whole heart and soul into it.
Lis – I have a similar dream to combine yoga and creativity (for me, it’s photography) I think they go together wonderfully and have the potential to make a huge difference to people’s lives.
Lee Ann – I can’t even tell you how many times people told me that no one likes their job and to just get on with it. I find it so sad that so many people have such low expectations for their lives.
It’s amazing to scroll the list of bloggers enrolled. From page to page I found inspiration. I’m not stuck anymore and tackled almost everything in my list : a little cleaning (to do : some big cleaning for my parents coming tomorrow evening) – going outside and see a friend, we had a long walk… I can’t afford new classes but I found challenge in monthly art themes to be treated on “Creative Every Day” and techniques to do it on “Daisy Yellow” so I’m on the run with challenges ! And you help me stay on the track of my dreams : to create a community about art-therapy I created a french forum for suffering people. I cross the finger hoping some people might find it useful. See you soon !
nicola i so love reading about your adventures in bali – very inspiring.
scylliane isn’t it wonderful – creative community is powerful stuff.
Hi Andrea!
I really enjoyed your interview with Tamara especially the bits about creatively living your life as an expression of who you are (yes! delicious words) and being whisked away in the process, rather than getting bogged down in the results. That’s a big problem of mine. Which ties in stepping out of my comfort zone and trying art techniques I’m unfamiliar with like oil paints- scary. In my head it’s the premise of ‘serious’ artists. Or experimenting with my personal style and having the daring to wear the ‘out-there’ pieces I’ve always wanted to.
And yes, art journalling is proving really helpful for me on this. This weekend I’m collaging and journalling away… :)
thanks nats! sounds like a fantastic creative weekend.