People Are Going To Think This Sucks

People Are Going To Think This Sucks

Let’s call him PAGTTTS.

He’s sitting across the table from me, in his fancy expansive suit and crisp white papers, which he is tapping on the table, to get the stack perfectly stacked.

I think you’ll be interested in what these here papers have to say.

I kind of doubt that.

You can’t ignore what people think.? This is important.

The stack of papers is growing as you’re speaking.? Don’t you think they’ll keep growing as I am reading them? How could I ever keep up?

Keeping up isn’t the point.? Being informed is the point.? You always have to be as informed as you possibly can be and you’re not getting any closer just sitting there ignoring the growing stack.

No, being informed can’t be the point.? WHY do you want me to be informed?

What are you, a moron?? I want you to be informed so that you know what people want, so that you do what they want, so that they are happy with everything you do.

*cue Mission Impossible theme.

You see that that’s not possible, right?

PAGTTTS puts the stack down and puts both hands down onto the table and leans forward in a menacing way.? He means it to be menacing but that stack of papers is growing so fast I can’t even see him.

Look, can’t you see that you’re drowning in other people’s opinions and that the problem is only getting worse?

The problem is only getting worse because you are ignoring the papers.

OK, Stop.

I get up and take the stack of papers and put them into their own special house, which can grow along with the stack if need be.

PAGTTTS shrinks.? I bring him a booster seat.

Look, I want us to work this out.? But I can’t talk to you through the stack of paper.

It’s not just a stack of paper, it’s other people’s opinions and they matter.

The stack is out of control.? Look at the house I put it in just a few seconds ago.? It’s 57 stories tall already.? You can put on all the power suits in the world you’re still not going to be powerful enough to handle the stack.? It’s not handle-able.

That’s my job.? Don’t tell me not to do my job.

Your job is to make sure I know what everyone else wants, always, so I can do what everyone else wants, always, so everyone else is happy with me and my work, always.? Is that right?

Don’t you see how much easier your life would be if you were working with me on this?? Everyone would be happy with you, always!

Everyone, except me.

What?? PAGTTTS had started getting bigger but now he shrunk right back down to toddler size.

If I’m just doing what other people want me to be doing then I might as well be a robot.?? That is a BETRAYAL of my creativity and my purpose.? When I make “making other people happy” more important than “doing what is true for me” I don’t do what is true for me and dilute my power and my purpose.

I’m holding up 2 computer chips: one is Making Other People Happy and the other is Doing What Is True For Me.? Only one can fit in the computer.

Other people’s opinions are other people’s business – not mine.? They get between me and my creativity and purpose and make progress impossible.

There is silence for a few minutes.

Listen mister I don’t want to offend you but I can not and will not waste my precious life keeping tabs on what everyone else wants me to do.? I’m putting my foot down.

And just like that, PAGTTTS transforms into Glinda the Good Witch.

That’s a pretty costume, but I think you’re just trying to fool me into doing what you want by making me think you’re on my side.

I am on your side!? But PAGTTTS is having a hard time keeping his costume on and now Glinda is wearing a power suit and looking very uncomfortable.

Don’t you see what happens when I try to make everyone happy?? It’s crazy-making.

Also, have you not heard of sovereignty?

Oh! Of course, that’s it.? Approval-seeking keeps everyone out of their thrones.

I place a crown on PAGTTTS’s head.

PAGTTTS is now a very happy baby, in a purple velvet throne wearing a ridiculously jeweled crown.

I turn around and look into the mirror behind me.? Sure enough, my crown is intact.? And I’m ready to get back to work, creating work that some people will surely misunderstood and others will surely dislike but it’s not my job to pay attention to any of that.

I look at what I’ve done so far on my project and decide to shelve the whole thing and start over.? Turn out PAGTTTS was whispering in my ear and throwing me off track the whole time.? I’m ready now, to do this my way.

My tiny fairy tales are my notes from visiting the Un-Sticking Station inside the Creative Dream Circle which un-sticks stucks like: procrastination, perfectionism, fear, lack of clarity, not knowing what to do and not believing in yourself enough to make your dream real. I created the Un-Sticking Station because I get stuck every day and no not want to STAY stuck, ever.


People Are Going To Think This Sucks Read More »

Update 35: Smooth Sailing

35

This update series started because I had a big goal for what I wanted to do with my business in 2014, so I made a decision to write an update every Friday for all of 2014 to share all of the ups and downs of the process of bringing a big dream to life.

As I shared last week, I want to change how I do these updates.? I’m at that phase of having this vague sense of wanting to do these differently, but not seeing how, exactly, I want to do them.? I thought I knew, but now I’m not sure.

When I’m struggling with something, or actively working on building something then of course I end up with more stories to share.? I’m not feeling like I have a lot of stuff to work through right now, I’m mostly enjoying in the magic of being where I am (which is pretty freaking cool).

The Creative Dream Circle is growing steadily.? I’ve got new clients coming in steadily.? This week I really hit that balance of getting great work done and playing with new art projects and sewing and enjoying nature and taking good care of myself.

When we set out to reach a big dream, we always have fears (that we’re not good enough, that we’ll fail, that we’ll succeed then everything will change, that people will discover we’re a fraud, etc) and limiting beliefs about ourselves and about life that make the dream feel impossible.

As we clear up that inner stuff, our outer perspective changes.? Most dreams change dramatically during this process.

Right now, when I connect with the heart and soul of my dream I am met with fireworks in my heart that explode this amazing feeling throughout my body.? This is a big shift and a big deal!

It’s happening INSIDE me, there isn’t this big unknowable chasm between me and it.? There isn’t even any space.? We’re together.

So now I’m at a stage where I’ve cleared a lot of fear and doubt.? Everything feels open and what I want is flowing to me at the exact right pace.

Not to say I won’t come across more layers of stuff to clear, but right now I can’t say how much I love being where I am.? Besides the occasional and totally natural fear, this week has been pure delight.

(And I am even in LOVE with sharing the stories of transforming fear into amazingly helpful things, like I did yesterday, which makes me actually happy when the fear pops up)




 

I hope you’ll join me next week for the LIVE FREE class on Tapping Into Your Magic.? You. Me. A worldwide community of dreamers. Journals. Creativity. Magic.? The ultimate recipe for a good time.


Update 35: Smooth Sailing Read More »

Oh, hello procrastination.

I'm procrastinating because I'm scared

I just spent most of this afternoon thinking it was kinda weird that I was not doing the thing I wanted to do this afternoon.?? But whenever I sat down to do it, I would feel kind of, I don’t know – fuzzy or something.? And then I would end up doing something else.

I even took a really glorious nap.? (My bedroom loft has a floor to ceiling, wall to wall south window.? It’s ridiculously sunny which makes naps feel glorious to me.)

And I just made myself an iced coffee thinking… well maybe I’m just tired, maybe I’ve been cycling more than usual.? Maybe an iced coffee is all I need.

Then I did some art journaling.

And, like it does, my journal brought me right smack into the truth.

I’m not tired or fuzzy or anything else.? I’m procrastinating because I’m scared.

And I’ve been dancing around this fear because, well, I shouldn’t have it.? It’s not logical so I should be able to just ignore it, right?

Deep breath.? One Million Reminders that all feelings are valid and important.

OK then fear, pull up a chair, let’s talk.

Oh, wait, you’re not fear – who are you?

As if you didn’t know.? I’m your embarrassment.? You’re embarrassed about what you’re afraid of.

Embarrassment is wearing suspenders and a bow tie and he keeps popping in and out of invisibility, like it can tell I don’t want it to be here even though it dressed up for me.? Embarrassment tries so hard, it’s hard not to love him.? I give him a hug and he disappears.

OK, fear, it’s just you and me now.? Can we do this?

I don’t want you to make me do the thing like it’s no big deal. It IS a big deal.

You’re right.

Just because you’ve done it a million times before does NOT mean it’s not scary!

You’re right.

I need to go slower.? And be more deliberate.? And let this take up more space.? You want me to just *pouf* do it like it’s no big thing and it IS, IT IS A BIG THING.

Fear is a talking balloon head who gets bigger the more upset he is.? He’s taking up the whole dream loft right now (and I do have 20′ ceilings).

Yes, this is HUGE, I hear you.? I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to be big because, well, it would be easier if it was small.

That’s stupid.? You can’t just pretend it’s something it’s not.? It’s a BIG AND SCARY THING you are doing.? It’s not small, easy or fast.? Not physically or emotionally or in any allys.

I like what you said about letting this take up more space and going slower and more deliberately.? What if, every day between now and then, I spend lots of time just being with the thing?? I can write about it or work on it or journal about it or take a bike ride with it.

Yes- ACCLIMATE TO IT.

Fear, you are very wise.? I’m sorry I didn’t listen sooner.? Let’s go make a list in my art journal of all the reasons why this thing is HELLA SCARY.

Fear deflates down to the size of my hand, and his face is mostly a big smile now.

Hey, all I needed was for you to recognize the big scariness of this and to treat it accordingly.? You were treating it too lightly.? As long as you take it more seriously – you’ve got this.? It’s a big scary thing but you are a giant creative genius and you HAVE done this a million times before and you WILL do amazing at it.

Suddenly I notice that we are inside this cast iron fence which goes in a tiny circle around me, with the thing-I-am-afraid/embarrassed-to-be-afraid-of outside of the fence.? The fence is this really fantastical thing with pointy pointy tops and iron swirls between the posts and there is no way anything can get through it.

Then the fence disappears.

That was your procrastination.? So weird you couldn’t see it for what it was, until it was gone.

I notice fear isn’t really fear anymore, and he’s wearing a tiny badge on his tiny balloon body.? I lean in closer to see what it says….

Creative Guide & Fabulousness Mentor

Fear /CGFM is grinning from … well he doesn’t have ears but his whole balloon body is one giant grin.? He likes his new job.

My procrastination is gone.? My embarrassment is gone.? My fear is gone.? I’ve got a totally new approach for doing the thing.? I’m grinning from ear to ear.


Oh, hello procrastination. Read More »

The Well. Or how fairy tales help me get my work done.

Scene: a girl and an ancient stone well, in a clearing, in a forest.

The Well. Or how fairy tales help me get my work done.

She went to the well looking for an answer. She only meant to dip the little bucket in and pull up what she needed, but the well quickly pulled her right in, all the way down to the bottom. Which, she was surprised to learn, wasn?t wet.

At the bottom of the well, sitting on soft, dry land, it was almost like the light was sparkling, but she thought it was just her eyes, adjusting to the low light.

Sure enough though, the bottom of the well seemed to be home to a sprinkle of fireflies.

Illumination. Magic. Isn?t this what you came here for?

Well, yes, I wanted just a scoop though.

Just a scoop? There is no scoop. You?re in the well or you?re outside of the well.

She noticed that she actually felt different, now that she was inside the well and wondered if the voice, which she assumed was the voice of the fireflies, was maybe right.

What you wanted was a scoop of magic which you could bring back to your people. And then, presumably, each one would scoop out a thimbleful of magic for themselves. What good is that?

Well when you say it that way it sounds ridiculous. I wanted to show them the scoop of magic so they could learn more about it and how to create more – how to create their own magic.

You don?t create magic. You are magic. Come on, you know this.

Well, yes – that?s what I wanted them to discover in this process. That the magic is inside of them. That the tiny thimbleful that I could give them is pathetic, compared to the magnitude of magic they contain within them. I wanted them to have that visceral experience of absolute knowing that – that the magic within outshines anything anyone else can give you.

And does being here in the well of your own inner magic make you think of a better way to do this?

Yes.

And isn?t that what you were really looking for?

Yes. Sharing a tiny scoop of my magic doesn?t help them with their magic at all. I mean, what if they start to mistake MY magic as THE magic? I am NOT going to be that teacher.

The girl sits in silence.

After a few minutes, the fireflies come in closer and start to multiply, filling the energy around her with sparkles.

Illumination. Magic. That?s what you came here for.

The girl?s heart lights up like a giant firefly, and each beat of her heart sent sparkles circulating through her body.

And she knew exactly how to proceed with her class.

EPILOGUE: Forty minutes after writing this fairy tale, the girl completed the content for The Magic Journal Class. Fairy tales are potent magic.

PS: To celebrate the new Magic Journal Class I’m hosting a FREE live streaming video class where I’ll share new ways to tap into your inner magic.? Join us right here.

The Well. Or how fairy tales help me get my work done. Read More »

Update 34: The Magic of Jealousy

jealousyLast week’s Treasure Mapping class has left it’s mark on me.

The way I teach dreaming, every move you make with your dream is an act of healing.? Working with your dream brings you deeper into who you really are.

False identities and limiting beliefs dissolve as you allow more of who you really are to shine through.? This is the path to the dream – becoming the you who lives the dream, from the inside out.

I’m in the middle of a big step with that, and a lot of things are changing for me.? Writing these weekly updates is one of the things that’s changing.

As you start to grow into the you who lives your dream, your perspective on things changes – these updates were grounding and helpful for me before and now they feel superfluous.

Thing 1: this doesn’t feel like “the BIG dream” anymore because I see it in reach.? Regardless of how long it takes to get there, I feel like I’m in the boat and the current is bringing me in.? And I can paddle, or turn on the motor, or just go with the flow – whatever I want.? Right now I’m lying in the boat, staring up at the clouds because I love clouds.

I’m enjoying the journey and excited about the destination.

Thing 2: in the last six months I’ve grown a lot.? I’ve done a lot of work to shift my perspective around growing my business, I’ve explored all sorts of new things.? I’ve met new fears and tangoed with old ones.? I’m not the same person who made the decision to start writing these updates.

Thing 3: a new dream is emerging which is all about how I’m relating to my dreams right now.

So I want to share in a different way.

At first, I was writing these updates to help me sort out my steps, and to share the process publicly because I think too few people do that – share the honest actual story as it’s happening.? When you look back and share – that changes the story.

Now it’s become less of a broadcast (me telling my story) and more of a circle (using my updates to open up the weekly sharing circle inside the Creative Dream Circle) and the big magic comes from everyone sharing their stories together.

And next I want the way that I’m approaching the updates to change.? But my idea of how I want to do this differently is so new I’m not ready to share it.

The magic of JEALOUSY

Instead, I’ll share that I have been incredibly jealous of someone lately.

Also inspired by them and happy for them but also very much jealous.? And I forgot that jealousy is an important tool in your creative dreamer toolkit.

(If jealousy is something you struggle with click that link!)

When I finally listened to my jealousy of course it was saying – hey dude, why don’t YOU do the thing that you are jealous that they are going to do?

When I talked to the friend I was jealous of, it turns out that he wasn’t sure he wanted to do the thing anyway.? It was me, wanting him to do the thing.? And he thought it was an ok idea but he was inspired by other things.

It was mine all along.

(Original stained glass art mosaic by my mom – one of many in her garden)

This makes me happy, and also afraid, because the thing I want to do is new, and would stretch me in new ways, and that’s always scary (at least in the beginning).

I spent the day at the beach by myself yesterday.

That is my favourite place to work on acclimating to my dream.? I went there because I felt like I had a lot of acclimating to do, and then it turned out that I didn’t.

I just needed to recognize how much I’ve grown into this dream already.? And notice how I ready I am to keep going.? And how capable I am of figuring out ways to do this that nurture and support both me and my dreams.

This feels really good.


Update 34: The Magic of Jealousy Read More »

Resistance, a fairy tale.

resistance

Prologue. This morning in my journal:

There is this thing I want to start doing.

And when I think about doing it I get all excited and then I remember that I have wanted to start doing this before.? Many times.? And then I feel frustrated because I was in this place before, so many times, of wanting to start doing it and yet here I am again – not doing it.

Clearly I want to do it because it keeps coming back.

Clearly I don’t want to do it because I keep not doing it.

So let’s explore.

I want to do it: feels like alignment and a bright light and all these pieces magically coming together to create something new and amazing.

I don’t want to do it: feels like fog and falling asleep and pushing away the things I am responsible for and pretending that I am less than I am.

But knowing this is not enough to make me leap into action.? Because the part of me that wants to pretend that I am less than I am is… a part of me.

Bulldozing through it and forcing myself to do the thing: feels violent, like it’s going to uproot so many beautiful things that are growing in my inner world.

And yet…

Going on not doing the thing: feels like heavy thick disappointment oozing all over everything in my life.? It is not contained to this one thing, I am letting myself down and that makes everything stink.

Ha! I have been noticing this stink coming off of other people lately (energetically speaking) and it’s been irritating me.? Hello, mirror.

And so we begin…

Hello, resistance, we need to talk.

Resistance is a kokeshi doll who is sleeping on the beach, using the ocean as her blanket.? She smiles, rolls over, and goes back to sleep and then says (maybe telepathically because she is sleeping now) “I am happy here”.

Oh that’s good, I want you to be happy.? But, um, I also want me to be happy.

Kokeshi doll wakes up, whips her head around and raises one eyebrow.

Yeah, I guess I’m saying you’re being a bit selfish.? But I don’t want to argue with that.? I want both of us to get what we need, I want both of us to be happy.

Kokeshi doll sits up, cross-legged, with her elbows resting on her knees (suddenly she has knees and elbows!) and her chin resting on her hands, and looks at me intently.

So you’re willing to work with me, that’s good.? I have this crazy idea that if both of us are happy then each of us would be even happier then we are then only one of us is happy.

Kokeshi doll thinks this is obvious.? She’s been smelling the stink, sometimes it wakes her up at night and she does not want to be woken up at night.

OK, so I’m not sure what to do.

Kokeshi doll points to a structure over at the edge of the beach.? Looking at it makes her sad.

My heart drops.? The structure is the most amazing inspiration station.? It’s positively beaming with delight.? It’s the perfect space for me to do the thing, and the roof… the roof is a hammock.

Kokeshi doll is supposed to sleep in the hammock, so she can vibe out on the inspiration station which gives her the sweetest dreams.? Kokeshi doll knows that those dreams fuel me.

Kokeshi doll is sad because I have been trying to make her “get to work” with me when that was never her job.? That’s why she ran away to the ocean’s edge.? She sleeps and sleeps in the wettest place she could find but the dreams have all dried up.

I pick her up and carry her over to the inspiration station and place her in the hammock.? A huge smile spreads over her face, her rainbow blanket appears and she snuggles into it hard, ready to dream sweeter than she has ever dreamed.? She’s got a lot of time to make up for.

I sit down at the inspiration station and notice things are kind of dusty and out of place.

Everything I need is here, that’s for sure.? But the dust of neglect needs to be cleared away.? A peacock feather duster turns towards me and smiles.? Let’s get to work.


Resistance, a fairy tale. Read More »

Update 33: Evidence that my BIG FEARS about this were wrong.

I set a big goal for my business for 2014: to welcome 800 dreamers into my Creative Dream Circle. And to do this not by getting super pushy about selling – but to do this with heart and soul and creativity and joy and LOVE.(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, I’m not interested in the numbers.? What I am excited about is having that feeling of DOING MY BEST, to grow my capacity serve dreamers in bringing their dreams to life inside the Circle, to DO MY BEST to work on the places where I hide and hold back, to DO MY BEST so share my gifts. And I want to explore more about how I want this all to work for me, and how I want to feel inside it.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************

evidence

Part 1, same as last week.? I do want to change this but I’m not quite sure how I want to change it right now:

My dream is:? To do my best.? To know and feel deep down in my bones that I am doing my best in creating the Circle and holding the Circle and growing the Circle.? To do my best to work on the places where I hold back and hide and play small – not to hit a certain number, but so that I can do my best to share my gifts.? And to keep growing what “my best” is.? With this as my focus for the rest of the year, I can see it opening up new possibilities for other projects for next year.

I want it because: This feels like how I grow into more of who I am.? It lights me up.

When I have it I will feel: At peace, connected, aligned, deeply joyful, in the flow.? Free-er.

_____________________

What happened in the last week?

Something really big changed for me this week and I’m still processing what it means.

I did this.

For anyone who has ever tried to write a practical description of their magical work you know how hard it is to explain clearly, not just what you do but the philosophy behind and it and how it works.

I’ve developed a totally unique way of transforming fears, doubts and obstacles AND activate your superpowers and it’s been challenging, to say the least, to explain.? That’s why I created my free introductory class, so I don’t have to explain, people can just experience a bit of it instead.

Having this page be such so clear, and having it explain how my work is different from anyone else’s, totally transforms how I feel about my self and my work.? So yes I need more time to process this.

In one of my recent updates I wrote about how a lack of clarity creates spaces that we can hide in.? Making such a radical move towards clarity has left me with fewer spaces to hide in, and with less desire to hide in the first place.? So I’m kind of standing in the light, blinking.

This is a theme that comes up repeatedly in my classes and in client sessions – dreaming is terrifying.? Change is terrifying.? Not changing is terrifying.? We all have parts of us that just want to hide.? Helping them feel safe enough to come out of hiding is the real work of bringing a dream to life.? I feel like I am deeply deeply engaged in that work right now.

Also – the Treasure-Mapping class happened and it was deeply, deeply healing experience for me.? I always set these classes up to be healing for the participants and then am surprised when I get a healing as well.

My inner perfectionist showed up loud and proud and I feel like she got a really big dose of love which calmed her down and now there is more space for me to be me.? That is a pretty amazing way to feel.

Also: Evidence that my Big Fears about this were wrong.

At first, I was SURE that if I wanted to grow the Circle BIG, I would dilute it’s magic.? So for a long time the Circle was hidden and I only invited people who were already working with me.

In hindsight, that was such a ridiculous thing to believe.? But it was a HUGE worry and all feelings are valid and I needed a lot of time and space to work through that one.

And that’s why I’ve had this feeling of having one foot on the gas, one foot on the brakes, for a long time, in terms of growing the Circle.? The past few months I’ve been easing off the brakes and feeling more sure about the gas and this is a really beautiful feeling.? Not because faster = better but because being less conflicted about wanting what I want feels amazing.

After our call yesterday, when “new people” and “old people” alike shared their stories on our call it was clear how everyone is amazing and the Circle really does a beautiful job of drawing like-minded people to it and the more members it has the more magic there is.? Of course it can’t be diluted!

What else happened this week, Instagram style:

 

How do I feel about this?

I feel like I am exactly where I want to be. Deeply grateful for everything I have created in my life and inspired to keep going.

What do I need now?

I wanted to add something at the end of that last sentence, but it fits better right here: I am inspired to keep going, but slowly.? I want to stop feeling like I should be there already.? Especially when here (where I am now) is so awesome!

What does my dream need now?

When I do the little exercise from my Give Your Dream Wings class my dream shows up as fog.? This voice says “Dude your dream needs more structure before it can come to life”.

Fair enough, having that deep down feeling like I am doing my best felt like an important thing I wanted last week, this week I feel like Iam doing my best and geeez what more do you want from me? (Oh, makes sense why my inner perfectionist has been so active now…)

My dream needs me to hang out with it and bring it out of the fog by giving it more structure.

It’s cool that I don’t want 800 members in the Circle to be my big goal for the year right now, but I did make a commitment to stretch my business-wings this year and I really do want to honour that commitment that I made to myself.

At this point, 800 feels a bit like “Oh I’m not sure how this will work, though I am sure I could figure it out” while 500 feels awesome.

Normally you do need to stretch into a big dream, which is what big dreams are all about.? And before you start stretching it’s hard to know how much you can/want to stretch.? So once you start working on one thing it may lead you to discover that a different thing is what you REALLY want.? So maybe I really want to cap this group at 500 members, I am really not sure.

Right now, we’re at 150 members.? I LOVE the gentle speed at which it’s growing and how it just more and more wonderful to have new people to play with.? At this pace we’d be around 300 by the end of the year which feels DELICIOUS.

This cranky, sarcastic voice wants to interject to point out how 300 members may feel delicious but it’s not enough to get me the income I want.? This part of me believes that it’s really important that ALL of my income come from the Circle, even though the reality is that lots of it comes from coaching.

This is a theme I’ve noticed with my clients lately too, this voice that says “YOU NEED TO HAVE/DO/BE _____.” when their inner wisdom says it’s not true.? And the more you just go with your inner wisdom the louder the voice gets, so you have to actually work with the voice and heal it before you can move forward.

I’m writing this on Thursday after the Treasure Mapping class and I’m too tired to work with this voice right now, but I will make it a part of my mission for next week.

Taking all of this into account, my next mission is:

Clarity.? I’m making a face while I type this because I think this is ALWAYS my mission.? We just spent so much time talking about this during the Treasure-Making class, how clarity is scary, how turning on a light means being able to SEE all that stuff you need to clean up and how fun that isn’t.? And how worth it it is, to get the cleaning done.

And talk with this voice that is so adamant that all of my income should come from the Circle and find out more about what it needs.

And spend some time with Me Who Lives The Dream (for Circle members – this is in Module 6 of the Creative Dream Incubator) to find out what she can tell me about what’s next.

And I want to write out the descriptions for the 2 classes I’m working on right now: The MAGIC Journal and the MANDALA Journal.? Kind of in love with both of these.


Update 33: Evidence that my BIG FEARS about this were wrong. Read More »

How To Teach Life-Changing Classes

how to teach life-changing classes

Tomorrow I’m teaching a TREASURE MAPPING class inside the Creative Dream Circle, which is one of my favourite things to do.

Treasure Mapping is like vision boards – on steroids. ?Instead of just visualizing the vision, you map out the path that leads to it from a place of deep connection to your inner wisdom and superpowers.

I started teaching this process in my in-person workshops about six years ago.? Then I turned it into a digital kit in 2010, and in 2013 it evolved into a live-on-the-phone class.

After all these years of doing this you might think I don’t have to do much to prep for the class, but that’s not true.

The thing that always blows people away about my classes is how they access new parts of themselves in the class.? Like they FEEL more powerful or more intuitive or more creative or more sure of themselves.

And they always want to know how I do it.? The process of how to teach life-changing classes is maybe different from what you think.? This is how I do it:

By being SUPER PRESENT.

Bandwidth is a real thing.

I have a limited bandwidth so when I’m getting ready to teach I have to be extra-aware of what I’ve got going on.? I don’t want to get to class day and have my bandwidth be all used up with other stuff.

Everything I’m thinking about is taking up energetic bandwidth.? AND everything I’m thinking about impacts the quality of energy I’ve got.

If I’m stressed and frazzled then that’s what I’m bringing to my students when class starts.? That energy creates a barrier to them being able to receive what it is I want to share with them.

All this to say: I’m spending the day PLAYING.

Today I’m in deep self-care mode, so that I can bring great energy to the class so that I can be super present with the people who show up to play with me.? (And the people who listen to the recording afterwards can also feel that energy)

Since people are joining the Creative Dream Circle today in order to be a part of tomorrow’s class, I am checking my email every few hours to help them get settled into the Circle.? But other than that: PLAY.

Filling the well all the way up so that I can give from a place of fullness and abundance.

Cycling to the park. Drawing mandalas. Bubble bath. Pouring all the good vibes into tomorrow’s class.

When you’re teaching anything transformative, you’re teaching more from who you are than from what you know.? So it’s important to show up as your best self.

Of course – shit happens.? You’re not going to be able to be 100% “on” 100% of the time when you’re teaching.

I take two approaches to do my best to be as on as I can be: daily practice and the pre-class top-ups.? Having two approaches gives me a sturdier foundation, so if either one slips for some reason, I’ve got back-up.

So I’m doing my daily practice every day – creative journaling, meditation, mandalas, drawing maps, etc.? Then I schedule “extreme self-care” time before classes as the top-up.

Of course, when I’m teaching something new there are more elements to add to the process.? I’m not just creating the material, I spend a lot of time attuning to it – journaling and meditation and marinating in whatever it is I want to share, trying to connect with it as deeply as I possibly can so that I can share from a place of depth (students really can FEEL that in the class).

That’s why, as I shared in my video last week, I have been playing with the Treasure-Mapping process lately.

No matter what you teach, your students will feel the quality of the presence you bring to the class.

Your love for what you’re doing.? The time and energy and attention you paid to setting up the class.? The many years you spent mastering your gifts.? How passionate you are about sharing your gifts.

This creates an energy-atmosphere that allows them to really receive the benefits of what you offer.


How To Teach Life-Changing Classes Read More »

Use Creativity & Imagination to Supercharge your INTUITION and map out a plan that gets you what you want.


Treasure Mapping is a creative way to play your way into clarity about what to do next with your dream, without waiting for the answer to somehow magically come to you.? You?ll learn how to access deep and true intuitive wisdom right when you need it.

I use this process all the freaking time.? It?s what helped me build my creative business and quit my day job, buy my dream loft, travel around the world and live a happy and fulfilling life.

It?s simple. It?s fun. And it works.

When you tap into your genius and sketch out a visual MAP to bring your dreams to life ? miracles happen.? Everything becomes clearer. Support shows up. You begin taking confident steps into your dreams. You can SEE them, on paper ? taking shape, before your eyes.

The 2014 Treasure-Mapping Class is happening on July 10 at 1pm (Central, North America).

Here?s what you get in the Treasure Mapping class:

  • 90 minutes of live on-the-phone focused Creative Treasure-Mapping: creative play, alchemy, magic-making and miracle-summoning.? You can attend live or use the recordings. Either way, it will be awesome.
  • Playbooks to support your Treasure-Mapping Process. There are no ?Three Easy Steps To Making The Magic Happen? that I can give you, but I can offer a ton of support for cultivating the conditions that let the magic IN. There are processes that are helpful. There are gentle tools for dismantling resistance. And all of this can be done in a spirit of delight, play and wild creative abandon. This is what the playbooks will cover.
  • Treasure-Mapping classroom inside the Creative Dream Circle website.? A place to share your stories and insights, get answers to your questions and be inspired by what everyone else is doing with this amazing process.

All you need is:?

  • Journal plus whatever art supplies you want to play with (all you really need is a pen, but if you want to get more creative you can ? whatever floats your boat!).
  • Computer or smart phone with internet access to download materials.
  • Phone with a long distance plan (you?ll be calling a US number), or you can play with the recordings afterwards.
  • 90 minutes for your crazy-magic treasure-mapping adventure.
  • Optional: more creative playtime afterwards for exploring and expanding your map

Link arms with your Dream, and map out your own path.

Everyone’s map turns out differently.? Here is what some past participants have done with this process:

Harriet's Treasure Map and the Magical Monkey who is helping her find her treasure.

Sylvie's first map:

 

Sylvie's second map: leading to a surprising discovery about what her dreams really need right now.

Cora's gorgeous treasure map, showing how it all leads to her dream.

 

Though some people wanted me to mention that their maps don?t turn out pretty like this? they want you to know that messy, even ugly mapping are magical too!!

 

?the most valuable thing you said as leader/facilitator/guide on this journey, was that there was no way possible of doing it wrong. this was incredibly freeing.

it didn?t have to be pretty. it didn?t even have to make any sense. the magic would show up because it was wanted. and it did show up!!! these concepts helped me trust the magic. and myself.?? Antonia

 

This class is happening in the Creative Dream Circle – click here to read more & join today.


Use Creativity & Imagination to Supercharge your INTUITION and map out a plan that gets you what you want. Read More »

Update 32: The Reality Of Bringing A Big Dream To Life

I set a big goal for my business for 2014: to welcome 800 dreamers into my Creative Dream Circle. And to do this not by getting super pushy about selling – but to do this with heart and soul and creativity and joy and LOVE.(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, I’m not interested in the numbers.What I am excited about is having that feeling of DOING MY BEST, to grow my capacity serve dreamers in bringing their dreams to life inside the Circle, to DO MY BEST to work on the places where I hide and hold back, to DO MY BEST so share my gifts. ? And I want to explore more about how I want this all to work for me, and how I want to feel inside it.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************

Last week’s update was uncomfortable for me to share (later that day I added another post about how being in the process of change is hard) ?Last week I wasn’t sure what my dream was anymore, which, as a professional dreamer, is embarrassing to admit.? But it is a part of the process.

A faraway dream is pristine.? It’s perfect and beautiful and you just know that once you get it your whole life will change and you will be deliciously happy every day always for the end of time.

Dreams you’re working on are messy.? It’s like that dreamboat you see from across a crowded room looks much better in that moment than they do when they’re leaving their dirty socks on the floor as though the clothes hamper isn’t right there.

That pristine dream is a fantasy.? To bring that dream from fantasy into reality you have to… bring it into reality, which is messy and awkward and hard sometimes and doesn’t look like how you thought it would but OMG it feels amazing it have it for real.

Messy, awkward and hard are just a part of the process and do NOT mean there is anything wrong.? That’s why I make sure to share the awkward hard parts, without them you don’t get to the dream come TRUE.

Giving up just because it’s hard is lame.? And holding onto that fantasy instead of having the reality is lame.

So, last week was hard.? I was doing a lot of work shifting my perceptions and moving my comfort zones around, which is really, really awkward to do.? (For Creative Dream Circle members, Module 4 of the Creative Dream Incubator helps with this)

Working through all of that hard made this week FUCKING AMAZING.? I got more clarity on what I really really want and feel more sure about myself, which is what happens when you work through the hard parts.

Creative Dream Update Questions Part 1:

(I don’t do Part 1 every week, but since things are shifting so much now I am re-doing this part)

My dream is:? To do my best.? To know and feel deep down in my bones that I am doing my best in creating the Circle and holding the Circle and growing the Circle.? To do my best to work on the places where I hold back and hide and play small – not to hit a certain number, but so that I can do my best to share my gifts.? And to keep growing what “my best” is.? With this as my focus for the rest of the year, I can see it opening up new possibilities for other projects for next year.

I want it because: This feels like how I grow into more of who I am.? It lights me up.

When I have it I will feel: At peace, connected, aligned, deeply joyful, in the flow.? Free-er.

Then my regular Creative Dream Update Questions:

What happened in the last week?

Last weekend I had the big breakthrough, which looked like this:

That’s where, after feeling so fuzzy and unclear – everything about my dream became clear.? That’s where I re-wrote what my dream is.

And I kept playing in my mandala journal to get more insights.

(I am doing a Mandala Journal class this fall in the Creative Dream Circle.? This week I posted about it in the Circle to get people’s thoughts, questions and ideas for what they want me to cover in this class.)

I started a whole new Treasure-Mapping Journal.

And I did make a video about it where I talk more about how I went from fog to clear skies.

I did a lot of coaching this week, including a day-long in-person coaching session, which is my first time doing that and it totally rocked.? Here I am getting ready to go that morning:

I had such a great time with that I would like to explore if I want to offer day-long virtual coaching retreats.? Kind of blows me away to think of what we can accomplish in just one (super-focused, super-magic) day.

I’m also in love with my small group coaching for world-changing coaches/healers/teachers and am thinking about doing more of that kind of work.? The small group is MAGIC.

How do I feel about this?

I feel so, so so so good.? I love my new direction/clarity.

When I set my dream of welcoming 800 people into the Creative Dream Circle this year, I didn’t pick that number out of a hat.? I was using all the things I teach, to? listen to my intuition and to my dream itself about what my next steps are.

I know that reaching towards 800 is what is helping me get clear on what I really want.? It was an important part of the process.

Last week I went on hiatus from making videos for the rest of the summer. Last week I needed to feel the feeling of having the whole rest of the summer off from doing videos.? I needed that space.

That feeling mattered, the actual break may not matter at all.

Then this week I did a new video.? This week I felt differently and really wanted to share this story in a video.? All we can ever know for sure is what we need right now.? I feel happy and free about giving myself the space to sort out what I need and how I want to keep moving forward.

I’m also feeling really super grateful about where I am right now.? To be able to pay for my happy life without needing a job and while doing the things that light me up is really special.? While life is always evolving and I am always evolving and there are always more adventures to go on and more ways to grow, even if I stayed right here for the rest of my life that would be pretty awesome.

What do I need now?

Lots of Treasure-Mapping!? I love how that process shifted how I was feeling and I want to dive deeper into it before teaching it next week. (Click here for Treasure-Mapping class details)

What does my dream need now?

My dream is so happy that I’m feeling the love and am deeply and happily committed to it.? What it needs is for me to be more deliberately connected to it in the moment, to remember that it’s already here as I keep stepping into it.

Taking all of this into account, my next mission is:

DO MY BEST for next week’s Treasure-Mapping class.

Keep making my own maps and drawing mandalas and having lots of good quality quiet creative time.


Update 32: The Reality Of Bringing A Big Dream To Life Read More »

A peek inside my process: How I discovered clarity, power + joy in the middle of confusion + self-doubt.

Being engaged in a daily creative/spiritual practice always brings me back to my magic and helps me to receive whatever it is I need in the moment. This is why I teach so many different creative/spiritual processes, so that I always have something I can reach for that is engaging and fun enough that I’ll do it even when I’m SUPERcraky.

Treasure Mapping is one of those processes.? When I was feeling so confused and unsure last week, I knew that Treasure Mapping could help, and the thought of spending the next few weeks making maps every day made me so happy, I ran out and got myself a new journal to FILL with maps, and decorated it:

treasure map art journal

 

What happened when I started Treasure Mapping was so magical, I HAD TO make a video to share it, even though last week I went on a summer-long hiatus from making videos.

Having lunch while treasure-mapping.

July 10 (next week!) I?m teaching a live-on-the-phone treasure-mapping class.

(It will be recorded and you absolutely won’t miss out on anything if you can’t be there live – you’ll still get to share your questions and stories and photos in our private forum)

You’ll learn a fun and creative way to GET the clarity you?ve always wanted about what to do next with your dream, without waiting for the answer to somehow magically come to you.? You?ll learn how to access deep and true intuitive wisdom right when you need it.

The cost of the Circle is going up to $147 this summer.? I’m still working out the details to share more specifically when the price increase will come into play, but this will be the last class you can join in for the $100/year rate.

 

 

A peek inside my process: How I discovered clarity, power + joy in the middle of confusion + self-doubt. Read More »

Being in the process of change is hard.

change

It’s vulnerable and messy and raw and uncomfortable.? It’s good to try to remember that underneath that, it’s also really beautiful, as more space is opening up for your truth and light to shine bright.

This is how you grow into more of who you really are, which is awesome.? But while you’re in it, it’s hard because you’re seeing everything differently and things that felt right now feel wrong and it’s all topsy turvy and there is something inherently frustrating about not knowing what you want.

After posting my update this morning I’ve been feeling more and more uncomfortable.? Like I’m in a cloud of fogginess and uncertainty and it’s embarrassing to share, even though I know that it’s my job to share the actual process.? Even though I know I’ll come through this brighter than before, and grateful for having learned whatever it is I’m learning.

Anyway, just wanted to put that out there.

If you’re finding it hard and messy and raw please don’t give up.

Here’s what I’m doing to make it easier:

  • Taking extra-good care of myself (picked up organic veggies on the way home for a big salad, drinking lots of water, taking it easy, going for a bike ride)
  • Finding ways to make it easier to stay with my feelings (drawing mandalas, art journaling, using the Un-Sticking Station in the Creative Dream Circle, sitting in the park, bubble bath)
  • Reminding myself that this is just a part of it.
  • Welcoming in the gifts of the change.

See you on the other side,


Being in the process of change is hard. Read More »

Update 31: Searching For Clarity

I set a big goal for my business for 2014: to welcome 800 dreamers into my Creative Dream Circle. And to do this not by getting super pushy about selling – but to do this with heart and soul and creativity and joy and LOVE.(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, I’m not interested in the numbers. I’ve been more interested in exploring how to grow my capacity serve dreamers in bringing their dreams to life. And now I want to explore more about how I want this all to work for me, and how I want to feel inside it.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************
Creative Dream Update Questions Part 1:
My dream is:
I want it because:
When I have it I will feel:

Part 2 is 4 questions to ask yourself every week, plus a mission statement?
What happened in the last week?
How do I feel about this?
What do I need now?
What does my dream need now? Taking all of this into account, my next mission is:

31

When I started this year- long update series, I wanted to share the real, ongoing story of holding a big dream steadily over time.

Part of that real ongoing story includes the parts where I don’t want to hold the big dream anymore, I want to pick up something smaller.? I also wanted to share the truth of how some days I’m not sure what I want.

Inner critics are always trying to erode our dreams, so there’s that. But there’s also the fact that the more you work with a dream, the more it changes. The better you get to know it the more you learn about what you really want.

All this to share the truth that if you feel lost with your dreams: that’s ok.? Doesn’t mean you won’t get there.? The only way you can fail is if you give up.

My dream is: right now what I really want in relation to this dream is to feel better about how I’m putting this out there, to put it out there clearly and in a ridiculously inspiring way.

I want it because: my current lack of clarity is a TANGLE and tangles are uncomfortable. Untangling tangles makes more space inside for joy and creativity and delight.

When I have it I will feel: more aligned with my inner truth, more powerful in my life, more clear about my mission.

What happened in the last week?

A lot!? A lot is changing right now.

I did decide to increase the price of the Creative Dream Circle, though I am still working out the details of when and by how much.? I wrote recently about how honesty and integrity need to be the foundation of your work and it no longer feels in integrity to offer such a low price for so many classes.

It was a GREAT idea to do this earlier this year, to create an opportunity for people to join at a lower cost, but that this is not the right way to move forward with this.? And I can’t be doing things that feel wrong and expect that to lead me to things that feel good!

And it stopped feeling right to do the weekly free videos – though these were never a part of the Creative Dream Circle they were a part of my work schedule.

Right now I’m giving lots and lots of space in my schedule for integrating new ideas of how I want to present my work.

Marketing is how you shine your light and your message out into the world.? While I’ve gotten a million times better with this than I used to be, I still have a long way to go.? I know I don’t define clearly enough how I can help.

And this means people who like my work and have the exact problems that I can help them with are only getting tiny snippets of help from my freebies instead of joining the Circle and getting deep-down full-on transformation of their problem.

I’ve struggled with this mainly because I help people do things that they think are impossible.? So when I say I can help you ___ and you don’t believe that’s possible so you don’t really hear me.? And I get frustrated and don’t know what to do to communicate more clearly.? It’s like I’m holding up a ball of magic and offering it, and explaining what it’s like on the side that is facing me.? But over on your side, the ball of magic it looks entirely different, so there’s this disconnect.

That struggle is changing like all struggles do when you approach them with presence, love and creativity.

And right now I’m giving most of my time to exploring and integration new ways of presenting my work and my ideas.? Ways that make it clearer so that the people who are looking for help can find it more easily.? In other words, I’m clarifying my marketing message.

Anywhere where things are not crystal clear is a place that you can hide in.

Being in the murky parts and cleaning them up is deeply uncomfortable.? But it also fuels your soul in this really delicious way because the truth is you don’t need places to hide, it’s safe to be seen and shine bright.

(That is one of the theme that came up in this week’s Group Coaching Call For Healers/Teachers/Coaches/Helper-People.? How we all seem to be terrified of visibility and yet there is no evidence that it’s going to harm us.)

Another thing I’m noticing this week is about my private coaching.? As I created the Circle I started to see new possibilities for my business, to shift out of one-on-one work and shift into creating this community and offering deeply transformative classes and freeing up my schedule by not working with so many people one-on-one.

It’s true that I really really love having time freedom and not having a whole bunch of things scheduled.

But in noticing how much I value time freedom I kind of forgot how much I value doing this deeper work with people individually.? This week I’m noticing how happy I am when a new client signs up for a session, or when an old one comes back.? I’m noticing how I feel light and inspired and happy when I hang up the phone from a session.? I’m really happy to be doing this work with people.

How do I feel about this? I feel like I am definitely on the right track and I like how quickly I’m moving forward.

What do I need now? As always, self-care and daily creative-spiritual practice for time to explore and integrate how these shifts in perspective impact my inner and outer worlds.? The path to your dream us inside of you much more than it’s outside of you.? I’m learning a lot about marketing right now but if I don’t take time to really integrate and implement (in my own unique way, which can only happen after integration) what I’m learning it’s not going to help me with my dream.? So it means taking lots and lots and lots of time to think about this stuff.

What does my dream need now? I get this image that my dream is at a dance. It’s having a great time dancing and it understands that right now I need to be curled up on the floor with my journals.? This speaks to how my dream can grow larger than me. How I really can stay home, curled up with my journals, while the Circle holds space for transformation and magic for the members.

Taking all of this into account, my next mission is to: keep doing exactly what I’ve been doing. I am getting some really great help with my marketing, I’m making great progress on clarifying my story and my message and will be making my way through re-writing most of my website.

This also means is lots of bike rides and journaling as I give myself space to settle into new ways of seeing things.



I don’t know where to put this part, so I am putting it here:

I wrote this update, and then was kind of cranky about it.? I was going to get it ready to put in the Creative Dream Circle and didn’t do it because I felt cranky, so instead I made some art.

And then it dawned on me: this isn’t my “big dream” anymore.

It’s something I want, it feels like a business goal that I will meet – maybe not this year but as long as I keep working/playing at it I’ll get there.? It feels like I have all the pieces now.

I feel happy about this, it just doesn’t feel like a dream (a dream being something that I desire desire desire and feel all lit up about and how when I have it I’ll be more ME).? Mostly – I’m not super excited to keep talking about it.

I LOVE AND ADORE everything that happens INSIDE the Circle.? That is an absolute dream come true and I feel so grateful for it and so happy to do the work of supporting it.? I guess I’m feeling like I don’t want to be focused on growing the numbers.

The dream shifting and now that I’ve added this to the update, I don’t feel cranky about it anymore.? I am interested to find out where this goes next.


Update 31: Searching For Clarity Read More »

Creative Dream TV is on hiatus.

I did post this in last week’s update post, but I thought I’d say it again for the people who just pop in on Tuesday for new videos: the Creative Dream TV videos are on hiatus for a little while.

In the meantime, I’ve got LOADS of inspiring things for you in the archives. There’s even this whole series I did where I answered every single question I got about how to make your dream real. Plus you can check out all of my free stuff here (there are super-helpful free classes in there – a treasure trove of magic).

I’m on hiatus from the videos because something is shifting in me, and in how I want to bring my work to the world, and I need more quiet, creative time for myself as I sort out my next steps. (You can kind of tell my the way my Instagram feed has been full of photos from bike rides and journaling picnics)

This is precisely what I wish for you as well: the freedom to create your world in a way that feels true for you and to do what you need to do, to make that happen, even when that means taking the time to figure out what that even means.

I’ve also got a couple of coaching spots open for the summer, and I’d love to work with YOU! I’ve helped my clients to:

  • write and publish novels
  • move to the other side of the world
  • start and grow creative businesses
  • develop a daily art-making practice
  • stop procrastinating
  • find their dream
  • be happier and more creative WITHOUT quitting their day job

If you want to feel braver, freer, and more creative in your life I can definitely help. You can read about my coaching sessions here.

I started teaching in-person creativity workshops, spirituality classes and healing circles, as well as doing spiritual counselling, seven years ago. Three and a half years ago I transitioned to teaching online and coaching on the phone.

Each time I shift how I do this work I bring myself into deeper alignment with my inner truth – which is the most gloriously delicious feeling ever and I really want to help more people feel that more often in their lives.

I know I’ll be back with new stuff soon 🙂


PS: The registration fee for the Creative Dream Circle is going to increase this summer. I am still working out the details of how much and when, I just wanted to give you extra notice as I know lots of you have been considering joining and I want to give you a chance to do that now, before the price goes up.

Creative Dream TV is on hiatus. Read More »

Update 30: Halfway up the mountain

I set a big goal for my business for 2014: to welcome 800 dreamers into my Creative Dream Circle. And to do this not by getting super pushy about selling – but to do this with heart and soul and creativity and joy and LOVE.(you can read my original post about this here)

At this point though, I’m not interested in the numbers. I’ve been more interested in exploring how to grow my capacity serve dreamers in bringing their dreams to life. And now I want to explore more about how I want this all to work for me, and how I want to feel inside it.

In support of this goal, I am writing weekly updates on Fridays, for all of 2014. This is where I’ll share the story of all the ups and downs of bringing a big dream to life.

***************************************************

30

Last week I just did a quick update because so much was happening.? The more you’ve got going on the more important it becomes to take time to reflect on what’s going on.? Otherwise you end up moving in the direction that outside forces want to lead you in, and not in the direction of your choosing.

These weekly updates are grounding and orienting me on/in the path as I continue to move towards this dream.

What has really changed for me recently is my perspective.?? And it’s changed somewhere deep down inside and it hasn’t quite bubbled up to the surface yet as a clear understanding of what it is, exactly, that has changed.? All I know is that I see everything differently now.? And I like it.

It’s the end of June.? I’m six months into working on this dream, holding it with deep commitment and steady progress. I just wanted to point that out because sometimes I hear people try something once and nothing happens so they give up.? The only way to win is to stay in the game.? And if your dream doesn’t matter enough for you to stay in the game then you’re working on the wrong dream.? When your dream leads you into deeper alignment with your own heart and soul there is never a reason to give up on it.

I am so in love with my dream, with the Creative Dream Circle, and with how it’s changing lives.

Sometimes people join and they’re unsure…

  • they don’t quite believe in themselves
  • there’s this thing that has been stuck and they haven’t known how to un-stick it
  • they’re not sure they know what their dream is
  • they want their dream so bad but they think it could be impossible

And they start using the Circle and everything starts to brighten up.

Or else they join and they’re all lit up and inspired and ready to work on that HUGE and so amazing they can hardly speak its name dream and the Circle works its magic and, miracle of miracles, they get what they wanted.? They get what they really, really wanted!? Do you know how rare that is in our world?

Healing. Transformation. Miracles. I don’t use any of those words lightly.? And I see them happen all the time.? What I have to offer here is really amazing, it’s not like anything else out there and it’s making the world a better place.? I feel protective and nurture-y about the Circle.

I’m feeling more clear about doing what I need to do to take care of this: stronger and clearer boundaries all around. So a few things are going to change.

One thing is that the cost of the Circle is going to increase.

I’m still working out the details of when and how much but this is happening.? When you sign up at the current $100 price, you can stay in the Circle for $100/year for as long as you choose to remain a member.? Even when the price increases your price will stay the same until you cancel your subscription.

The other thing is that my free weekly videos are on hiatus for now.?

There are just other things that need my attention right now.? One thought I have is that those videos may come back in the Circle only.? All I know for sure is that I need permission (from myself!) to not do these right now.

The big change is on the inside.

Over the last few weeks, the experience of connecting with the heart and soul of my dream has totally changed.? Now it shows up as a wheel inside me.? It’s like the dream and I have merged and I am more quickly growing into the me-who-can-hold-this-in-her-energy-field.? This is the best feeling ever.

And onto the Creative Dream Update questions:

What happened in the last week?

The qualities that were helping me on my journey this week were: courage, movement and expansion:

The pic from my Creative Genius Planning Session on Monday, which I wrote about here.? I love my Creative Genius Planning Sessions Kit because it helps me consistently move forward in ways that are healing and nurturing for ALL parts of me (no bulldozing or forcing myself to do shit I don’t want to do) even when I feel doubtful and afraid and can’t see my next steps.

So I’m not just making external progress, I’m growing into who I want to be on the inside (while also making external progress towards creating the life I want to be living).

And I’m still doing tons of mandala drawing:

And I am just really happy: still soaking up the afterglow of the Love Your Life Creative Journal Class (people keep emailing me to ask if they can still get this class if they join the Circle now – the answer is YES. And also – do it!? Loving your life is the BEST) and doing lots of things I love: drawing, journaling, bike rides, park visits, getting lots of sleep and reiki, etc, etc, etc.

The small coaching group for healers/teachers/coaches started and I am 100% in LOVE with everyone in the group.? So amazing gather a group of creative world-changers together and I love how inspiring our first call was.? Plus – the group sold out with hardly any promoting, I am really happy about that.

As a student, I started a new class on marketing, and finished the business class I had been in for the last 3 months.? I am almost always taking a class – I love working with lots of different teachers and mentors.? Feeling inspired and supported.

And I gave the Give Your Dream Wings e-course (my free introductory course) a makeover.? As I was doing that I was re-listening to the videos and holy crap that’s an amazing class.? Simple and effective.? Thinking I may want to do a bit more to promote it.

How do I feel about this?

I’m excited about some new shifts I see happening in my business.? I’m noticing places where I used to hold back, and am not willing to keep holding back.? I’m also seeing places where I’m not doing things as efficiently as I could and feel inspired to CHANGE those things.? Progress!

I’m also feeling this really deep down happiness mixed with trust and light.? It’s like I’ve climbed halfway up the mountain.? I’m feeling amazing from the exercise and fresh air, and already the view is fucking amazing and has transformed my perspective on everything.? And there’s still more mountain to climb so who even knows how much better this is going to get!

What do I need now?

To look at some shifts in my work schedule.? I want more time dedicated to this new class I’m taking – to be implementing everything immediately into my business.? Plus some new ideas are coming to me for things to do inside the Circle, I want some time to explore them.

And I think I need MORE journaling time.

What does my dream need now?

This week my dream is a wheel and it needs me to turn with it.

I think I understand what this means, and that making these shifts in my work schedule are how I start to turn with it.? It’s also a mindset shift though, so my dream needs for me to have more quiet time to myself to be with that and let it sink in.

Taking all this into account, my next mission is:

More journaling. Schedule shifts. Making space for new ways of doing this, letting go of old ways.


Update 30: Halfway up the mountain Read More »

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