How can you tell if YOUR dream is ready to grow?

By Andrea Schroeder / January 27, 2014 / Manifest Your Dream Life

I have been getting so many questions lately from dreamers wondering… is my dream too small? Or too big?

Too vague?

Too selfish?

Too unlikely to come true so there is no point in even trying?

The answer is always no.? Your dream is not “too” anything.? Ever.

And the right time to get started is always NOW.

I know getting there will be a journey, but just imagine where you’ll be a year from now if you start today!

Here are some of the dreams that participants in the next session of the Creative Dream Incubator e-Course (starting tomorrow!) will be working on:

Figuring out how to step out of Corporate America and into something more creative and soul-FULL.
Exploring what it would mean to live as an Artist.
Creating a warm, welcoming home.
Discovering and creating conditions for thriving.
Bringing more love and kindness into everyday life.
Finding a partner.
Building a coaching business.
Creating a meditation practice.
To be more honest and real with myself.
To find my dream.

All dreams are delightful!? When you think about someone wanting to create these things in their lives, you just want to cheer for them, am I right?

A dream is anything that lights you up – from the tiniest slice of joy to the grandest life-changing adventure.

Your dream is perfect just as it is.? Just like you are.

It’s not too impossible.? It doesn’t take more time or money or talent or support than you have.

It just needs your commitment.

And your courage.

The Creative Dream Incubator e-Course starts tomorrow in the Creative Dream Circle!

I hope you (and your delightful dream!) will take the leap and join us.

If you’re on the fence and have some questions – shoot me an email using the contact form on this page.

The most common question I’m getting is:

When will you run this again?? I really want to join, but now is just not the right time.

If you want to join I encourage you to JOIN.

Waiting for “The Right Time” is self-sabotage.

Life is never going to slow down enough for you to magically have time for your dreams.? This is something you have to choose for yourself.

You’ll be happy to know that there is only one rule in the Creative Dream Incubator which is: YOU ARE NOT BEHIND. EVER.

You’ll get access to the course for a whole year.? You can take the teeniest tiniest baby steps with this and still get there in the end.

This isn’t about learning a bunch of stuff, this is about internal transformation.? You have to do that in your own time, at your own pace.

As I’ve said, it’s less a course and more a dream-growing bubble of love.? You can always fit a dream-growing bubble of love into your life somewhere!

And even if it takes you all year to work through this one course… well, a year from now:

You’ll have BIG, STRONG Creative Dreamer Muscles.
You’ll see more possibility and fewer obstacles in front of you.
You’ll understand what your dream needs in order to grow and you’ll know how to GIVE your dream what it needs to grow, without depleting yourself.
You’ll feel like a CREATIVE SUPERHERO.

But the answer to the question of when will I run this again is: I don’t know.

This is the fourth year I’ve been doing this course.? As a creative person, I’m sure you understand that don’t like doing the same thing again and again!

So far, I’ve made an exception for this course because it’s such a beautiful thing and because it’s been such a powerful way to help more creatives have a positive impact on their world.? I love how the Creative Dream Incubator makes the world a better place by empowering creative dreamers.

But it does take a LOT of time and energy for me to put on each session, and I have a lot of other things I want to do too, so I can’t say for sure that I will do this again.

So if you want to join I encourage you to JOIN.? The magic starts tomorrow.? It’s happening inside the Creative Dream Circle.

How can you tell if YOUR dream is ready to grow? Read More »

On turning 40 and being surprised.

By Andrea Schroeder / January 25, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

So I am turning 40 this year.

I’ve never cared much about age, or worried about “getting old”.? I mean I’d rather age than die and those are the only options, right?

I don’t think “looking young” is better than “looking old” and I do think our society is incredibly sick when it comes to this and that sickness is at the root of why most people are not living radiantly happy and fulfilling lives.

But beneath all of that bullshit about anti-aging, I am turning 40 this year and I am really noticing a shift in myself.

I am entering a new decade.

I remember being so excited to enter my 30s!

I felt like I was FINALLY getting my shit together, I felt like possibility was everywhere and I had all the time in the world to do everything.

Entering my 40s feels really different.

It feels less like a celebration and more like an initiation.

A call to a new level of trusting myself.

But the biggest thing is my commitment to my dreams.

It used to feel like I had all the time in the world.? Now, when I think back on how much time I spend working in a job that did not light me up, I am kind of sad.

I know I cannot go back to that, no matter what.? It’s not about having a job vs running a business.? It’s about living in deep alignment with my purpose, my creativity, my heart and my soul.

I am here to live MY truth.

Not to follow anyone else’s rules.? Not to walk along the beaten path.? Not to conform or fit in or play it safe or play it small.

Facing 40 is pushing me to dig DEEPER into my dreams.

I have this urgent feeling about how precious my time here actually is and how little of it I can afford to waste doing things that don’t light me up.

It’s a really strong feeling in my body – a huge energy shift.

I’m surprised because I am already doing my best to be true to myself!

But now I see there is a whole new level, which I couldn’t even see before.

Which makes me giggle because I know that there is ALWAYS another whole new level.? Growth is infinite.? And yet I’m always surprised to find new levels.

I’m so grateful we’re starting the Creative Dream Incubator e-Course this week.? As I said before, it’s less of a course and more of a dream-growing bubble of love and it’s exactly what I need right now to help me sort through this new commitment I want to make to living this new level of being TRUE to myself.

On turning 40 and being surprised. Read More »

Being Ridiculously Happy

By Andrea Schroeder / January 24, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream 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)

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.

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Today I am so grateful that I stayed with the discomfort of shifting my comfort zone these past few weeks.? It’s not that being uncomfortable is inherently valuable, it’s more like in order to hold a new intention you have to be willing to hold that new intention no matter how it feels or else you won’t be able to move into it.

And new usually does feel uncomfortable because it’s outside of our familiar zone.

The numbers I am working with, like having 800 members in the Creative Dream Circle, aren’t really about the numbers.? It’s more about the energy, feelings and qualities of it.

A business is a tangible thing and I wanted a tangible set of numbers to work with.? The number that best matched the energy, feelings and qualities is 800.

The other number I’ve been playing with is around 3,500 – 4,000.? This is the number of unique monthly visitors per month I have had for the last few years.?

For those who don’t speak analytics this means the number of different people who visit my site, this is not the total number of page hits.? Even if you visit once a week, you are only counted as one person – and everyone who gets my blog posts sent via email aren’t counted in this number at all.

Given how honest and vulnerable I am in what I share here – I was simply NOT comfortable with this number being any higher than 4,000.? Also – coaches don’t need huge audiences to have enough clients.

But my dream has been telling me that in order to grow the Circle I do need to grow my audience.

Substantially.? To about 20,000 unique monthly visitors.

Which terrified me!

I was barely comfortable with 4,000!

What has helped me the most is to keep remembering that it’s not about me.

I’ve studied how dreams grow WAY MORE than anyone I know.? I have so much passion and love for dreams.? I have created programs that literally GROW DREAMS.

I am not the point – DREAMS are the point!? I didn’t do this work to get attention for myself, I did this work because DREAMS MATTER TO ME.

I feel strongly that dreams are going to heal the world.? I am deeply committed to supporting this in happening.

When I sit with the desire to serve the whole world through serving more dreamers, I feel like I can do anything.? I feel like the whole universe (which loves dreams very much) is actively supporting me.

This feels amazing.

And I even feel safe bringing my work to a larger audience.

And it’s happening quickly!? Right now I’m now at just over 9,000 unique monthly visitors.?

My number more than doubled in a month.

And it’s happening in a sustainable way – at this point it would be hard for me to slow down that growth.? (For Circle members, I am sharing the details of what I’m doing to make this happen in the Creative Business Incubator)

Of course, traffic does not equal Circle members!? But having 800 members by the end of the year seems completely do-able with what the numbers are doing right now.

I feel like I was in a rut.? And I set my sights on going somewhere new.

And the process of getting out of that rut and creating a new path was awkward and uncomfortable and exhausting – but now I’m here.? Solid and steady on the new path.

I still have to walk the path – but actually getting on the path is harder than walking along it.? Such a satisfying feeling.

I am super in love with my dream, with the Circle, with the Circle members… all of it.

I know that love is a powerful magnet and light – helping draw more support and resources to me while lighting up my next steps on the path.

But that’s not what is making me happy.

What is making me happy is knowing that I am doing my best to make this work.

I’m not shying away from any of the things I usually shy away from.

I’m not avoiding looking at any parts of this.

I’m not wishing, hoping or praying things will change, I am being ACTIVE about CHANGING THEM.

I’m not letting my inner critics or limiting beliefs decide how things have to be.

Whatever the outcome ends up being – THIS feels amazing.

This is my favourite part of Creative Dreaming: getting into FLOW

Bringing a dream to life is about this inner work of connecting more deeply to the core of who you are.

Bringing more of your soul’s presence (and power and magic) into your everyday life.

There are bumps in the road because there are hard things to face in this process. (If it was easy- everyone would be living with their dreams)

There are also times when everything feels so amazingly right it’s hard to not burst into song about how gorgeous it all is.

PS: The Creative Dream Incubator e-Course is starting on TUESDAY!? You guys!? This class is amazing.? It’s not even a class as much as it’s a transformational dream-growing bubble of love.

You can read what Incubator Graduates have to say about it right here.

You can read all about the course right here.

You can join the Circle – to get this course plus every other course I do all year long – right here.

Being Ridiculously Happy Read More »

Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear

By Andrea Schroeder / January 23, 2014 / healing, Journal Prompts, journaling

Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear

Earlier this week I shared some Journal Prompts for Finding your Dream. As I talked about at the end of that post - being honest with yourself about your dreams can be TERRIFYING.

You may have a fear that if you find out what your dream is, everything will change and change is scary.

Or if you go after your dream and you fail - that will hurt too much.

Or that if you know what your dream is, you still won't know how to make it real, and that will be too frustrating.

Or if you knew what your dream is, you might go after it with everything you've got - and that would be too selfish.

Or deep down inside, you might already kind of know what your dream is, but you're sure you're not good enough to make it happen. It's easier to just not know what it is.

This is scary stuff! How you deal with that fear will determine whether or not your dream comes true.

That's why you need to journal about your fear.

It's NOT about how gifted you are or how much training you have or whether or not people like you and support your dreams.

It's ALL about how you handle the inner work.

So today I'm offering some Journal Prompts to help (gently! lovingly!) meet your fear.

The important thing to know about dealing with fear is this: the scared parts of you are scared.

Obviously! But you forget this all the time and respond to fear as though it was not afraid.

You respond to it like it was a monster. And you try to overcome it by streamrolling over it - because you're also afraid.

You're afraid of being afraid.

And steamrolling doesn't work! It just flattens the fear so that you can stuff it deep down inside and pretend it doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, that fear, stuffed deep down inside you, becomes a Creative Dream BLOCK.

The secret is to meet your fear.

With love and gentleness.

Think of it less as a monster and more as a frightened child.? Oh sweetie, you're scared - what can I do to help you feel better?

These prompts will help you do this - I also have a free 90 minute video class where I lead you through the process of doing this. It's free and available on demand, 24-7. Get it here.

These journal prompts for fear are for playing and creating with.

Use them as little diving boards to dive off into other things to explore - the most important part is to follow what comes up for you, not to answer every prompt perfectly.

Even when you're not sure about your answers stay in the process. If having pretend conversations with fear is new to you, it may take a little practice for this to make sense.

Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear:

Explore your fear. Where is it showing up in your body and what does it feel like?
Imagine that your fear is a frightened child. What does it look like? Note every detail.
Ask this frightened child what it needs. List every answer.
Go through the answers and for each one, explore if it would actually bring a sense of comfort and safety or does it just numb out the fear or is it really about trying to control the world around you so that you can feel safe?? (hint: that never works)

Take your time with this. Really explore each question and notice where your thoughts lead you to.

You want to try and find an idea for something that you can do right now that will actually bring you a sense of comfort and safety.

When you are able to sit with the fear and journal with it, with an open heart and a willingness to understand what this part of you needs - healing happens.

And when you make this a regular practice - miracles happen.

I'd love to SHOW YOU how this works.

I did a free healing circle and inner work workshop where I lead you through the process of working with your fear.

Try it today:

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Owning Your Emotional Reactions

By Andrea Schroeder / January 22, 2014 / healing

This is from the Creative Dream Circle Policies & Guidelines, but I thought it would be helpful to share it out here, too.

Sometimes in life things happen that we don’t like!? Sometimes these things make us mad and frustrated and sad and, worst of all, they make us feel powerless.

You’re not powerless, ever.? You’re a creative genius.

Understanding a few things about owning your emotional reactions can help keep you from feeling (and acting!) powerless.

There is no “one way” or “right way” to react to things.? A rogue volleyball may hit 2 different people in the face – one will laugh and walk away, the other will get angry and punch the thrower of the ball.? We’re all different.

How you react is not WRONG.? Ever.? Whatever you are feeling is legitimate.? How you react may be totally out of proportion to the thing that happened.? Still, you’re not wrong to feel how you feel.? The thing that happened triggered some other emotional reaction in you and small events can trigger BIG emotions.? Whatever you are feeling is legitimate.? Always.

But how you react is YOUR stuff.? It’s not about the person who did the thing that you are reacting to, it’s about what’s going on inside of you.

And what you do with your reaction is your responsibility.? Just because someone else did something that hurt you does not give you free reign to hurt others.? Being a jerk is being a jerk no matter how justified you feel in the moment.

Being a jerk about it is what happens when you are NOT owning your reaction.

If you’re reading this blog you are not likely the kind of person who enjoys hurting other people’s feelings.

While it may feel satisfying for just a split second to throw that barb at them, it’s not going to change how you feel PLUS you’re not going to feel great about how you handled it.

So now, on top of feeling the ick that you were feeling in the first place, you’re also feel shame about what you did.? And you can’t do anything to fix it because you’re not responsible – this jerk did this thing TO you.

Not a happy and empowered place to be.

When you own your reaction, you hold your power.

Usually, when we’re triggered by something and get upset, we just want the upset to GO AWAY, NOW and we try to get rid of it by blaming someone else for it.

Maybe that seems logical in some way.? But it doesn’t work.?

What works is to OWN your emotional reaction.

This doesn’t mean you are responsible for the event that happened.

This doesn’t mean that someone else didn’t make a mistake.

This doesn’t mean that you forgive them or agree with them or ever want to be in the same room as them again.

All it means is that you take responsibility for how you’re feeling right now.? And then you can take responsibility for changing how you’re feeling right now.

If you’re a member of the Creative Dream Circle – do this in the Un-Sticking Station.

You’ll be lovingly guided through a creative, soulful, empowered way to meet and transform uncomfortable feelings and get back into a happy and empowered state of being.

And do this as quickly as possible – the less time you spend stewing in the icks the better!

Other people can not and do not decide how you’re going to feel.

Only you can do that.? But only if you take responsibility for what’s going on inside you.

This goes for EVERY feeling you have.

The more sure and righteous you feel about how your feeling is someone else’s fault, the more urgent it is that you take responsibility for it.

There is good news here!

When you take responsibility for your reaction and do the healing work around whatever it is in you that got triggered – you’re not going to keep getting triggered!

When someone says “You’re a horrible person” the part of you that worries that this is true, or the part of you that neeeeeds external validation and approval will FREAK THE HECK OUT.

THAT is where your emotional reaction comes from – that stuff that is happening inside of you, not from the meanie who said the thing.

When you heal those frightened inner voices who worry about what others think then you stop caring what others think.

Then when someone says “You’re a horrible person” your reaction is “Hmmm, what a weird thing to say!” or “Gosh, this person must be in pain to be acting like such a jerk” or maybe you’ll laugh at the ridiculousness of that statement.

Getting triggered is a gift.

It shows you where you are carrying stories that are in need of healing.

Doing the inner work of dealing with the trigger steer you back into the center of your creative power.

I know the thought of sitting with that feeling is terrifying.

But the art of owning & transforming it is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

You don’t need to do it alone.

If you join the Creative Dream Circle you’ll get so many tools that help you transform your inner world – with creativity and heart and soul.? You can PLAY your way into healing.

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Journal Prompts for Finding your Dream

By Andrea Schroeder / January 21, 2014 / intention, Journal Prompts, journaling

Journal Prompts for Finding your Dream

You'd love to go after your dreams... if only you knew what they were.

Your journal can totally help with this!

By spending some time exploring what your dreams might be, while engaging the amazing superpowers of your creativity and imagination, you open up the doors between you and your dream.

These journal prompts for finding your dream are for playing and creating with.

Use them as little diving boards to dive off into other things to explore - the most important part is following your creative impulse - going down all the rabbit holes - that's where the magic is. You don't have to answer each prompt exactly.

Even when you're not sure about your answers - stay in the process! The more time you spend with a journal prompt, the better the answer is going to get.

If you've been ignoring your dreams for a long time, they made need some time before they're ready to come out and play with you.

Journal Prompts for Figuring out what your dream is:

I feel happiest when:
I wish I could (list at least 50 things - keep coming back to this over the next few weeks to add things and MAKE SURE to add things that seem too stupid or impractical to both with):
The qualities/values that matter most to me are:
If I could live my life exactly how I wanted to, I would:
The things I like best about my life are:
The things I like least about my life are:
I think am being really true to myself when I:
If I was living more in tune with my own heart and soul, it would feel like:
If I knew what my dream was I would feel:

Take your time with this. Really explore each question and notice where your thoughts lead you to.

Then explore your answers to see what they are telling you about what your dream is.

This is brave work.

Being honest with yourself about your dreams can be TERRIFYING.

You may have a fear that if you find out what your dream is - everything will change and change is scary.

Or if you go after your dream and you fail - that will hurt too much.

Or that if you know what your dream is, you still won't know how to make it real, and that will be too frustrating.

Or if you knew what your dream is, you might go after it with everything you've got - and that would be too selfish.

Or deep down inside, you might already kind of know what your dream is, but you're sure you're not good enough to make it happen.? It's easier to just not know what it is.

This is hard stuff!

Navigating the path to making a dream real is all about navigating these feelings.

Courage is the primary tool of the Creative Dreamer.

If you're feeling apprehensive about exploring your dreams - you're not alone.? We're all scared sometimes.

Fears don't bother coming up unless you're onto something, so if you're feeling afraid of exploring this, that is a good sign.

If some fears do come up for you - check out my Creative Journaling Prompts for Overcoming Fear.

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At their core, all dreams are the same: to live a life that is in alignment with who you really are.

By Andrea Schroeder / January 20, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

To do the things that light you up.

To fully inhabit your SELF and your life.

To live in tune with your own soul.

Every dream leads you deeper into this place.

Big dreams, small dreams, silly dreams, serious dreams – it doesn’t matter what the (external) dream is – there is so much magic in the process of Creative Dream Incubation, because it’s about digging into the magic within.

Transforming blocks.? Liberating genius.? And activating the power within – the power to bring any dream to life.

This inner process is so healing and magical – the outer process of getting your dream is really only the icing on the cake.

Still, if there is something you want to create in your world, the Creative Dream Incubator can help you create it.

You can use it to:

figure out what your dream is
bring a new creative venture to life
feel at home in your own skin
have more fun
make it easier to stay on track with your goals
make more money
play a trip around the world
write a book
develop a unique daily creativespiritual practice that truly sustains you
be more connected to your inner self
sleep better

Anything.

The Creative Dream Incubator e-Course is happening inside the Creative Dream Circle, starting on January 28.

It’s creative and soulful and fun and magical and I hope you’ll join us!

At their core, all dreams are the same: to live a life that is in alignment with who you really are. Read More »

Keeping the Pedal to the Metal

By Andrea Schroeder / January 17, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

(you can read my original post about this here)

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.

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I am familiar with PUTTING the pedal to the metal.

I’ve had to do that repeatedly to get to where I am.? And I like that feeling that I am DRIVING myself somewhere in my life, that I am in the driver’s seat, pointed in the right direction, and GOING.

What I am NOT familiar with is KEEPING the pedal to the metal.

I like to go somewhere, then get out of the car.? Have a picnic, maybe a nap.? Appreciate where I am.? Acclimate to where I am.? Then choose a new destination, draw a new map, get back in the car.

What I like are day trips.? Put the pedal to the metal, get to where I want to be, then stop.

What my dreams are calling me into now is a long distance road trip.

My challenge to myself is to KEEP the pedal to the metal for all of January.

Kind of funny that this is coming to me in a driving analogy since I sold my car this fall and have been REVELING in my new car-free lifestyle.? But this is how it feels.

I can feel my right foot pushing down on the gas and I notice how I want to slam on the brakes and just stop until I feel acclimated where I am.

But my intuition is clear.? Pedal to the metal, sweetie.? You’ll LOVE where we get to once we get there.? But we’re not there yet so don’t stop.

So that’s where I’m at this week.

Pedal firmly to the metal.

Being consistent about all the things I need to be consistent about to spread the word about the upcoming Creative Dream Incubator e-Course happening inside the Creative Dream Circle.

A few months ago I wrote in the Circle about a pattern I’d spotted while journaling, about how I don’t stay consistent with my marketing.

This is that not-keeping-the-pedal-to-the-metal-thing.

So I started using the tools in the Circle to work on it, to get to know it more, find out what it has to teach me, learn more about my own resistance and – finally – create a new possibility for what I’d like to do instead.

And here I am.? Now it’s like I am cruising down the highway, singing, enjoying that beautiful sparkling spacious feeling of being out on the open road. Marketing-wise I am doing EVERYTHING I feel inspired to do.

I’ve never done this before.? I’ve always spent more time working on my actual programs or working with clients, and less time marketing.

It feels good to work so hard in service to inviting more dreamers into my world.

It’s not ALL good though.

Things are going good, but this is also exhausting.

I do want to keep this up until the end of the month as I really want as many participants as possible to join this round of the Creative Dream Incubator happening inside the Creative Dream Circle.

Of course I’m exhausted, this is taking a LOT of bandwidth.

It’s not that it’s a ton of work, it’s just the energy expenditure of staying out of my comfort zone is exhausting. I’m meditating on this every day and getting wise advice from my inner council. But if shifting your comfort zone around to include sparkling new things inside it was easy – everyone would be doing it.

Plus I got my period which is making me more tired, and for some reason I decided that this is not a good reason to slow down.? So I’m in loving (but difficult!) negotiations with the part of me that is afraid that if I do slow down and take care of myself, I will just stop.

This is kind of weird because normally I excel at self-care!? But this KEEPING the pedal to the medal thing feels so new I worry that it is too delicate.

And I have increased my self-care practices, but it’s not enough.? This weekend I’ll be exploring what I am going to do about this – how to fuel myself for the final leg of this month-long trip.

Keeping the Pedal to the Metal Read More »

Dreaming SMALLER, Simpler and more Happily. It’s not about having MORE.

By Andrea Schroeder / January 16, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

The path to bringing a dream to life is less about the dream and more about the inner healing and transformation that happens when you step up to claim your right to create the life you really want to be living.

This means the Creative Dream Path can take you to some unexpected places.

Last winter my car had a lot of problems.

As much as I have loved my red Beetle, this car has always been very expensive to maintain.? It’s a diesel, which was, at the time when I bought it, the most fuel-efficient way to go in this climate, as far as I could tell.? So I chose to have a car that cost me more money, because it would cost the planet less.

But we got to the point where keeping her running just didn’t make sense anymore, and it looked like I would need a new car for this winter.

So I started looking at what car to get next. I was happy that there are more fuel-efficient options now.? I was looking for something simpler, something less expensive and time consuming to maintain.

But you know what?? No other car felt right.? So I stopped looking.

Instead I asked myself: what do you REALLY want here?

And underneath all the layers of stories about how grown-ups are supposed to live was my simple truth: I don’t want a car.

You know what makes me happy? WALKING.

You know what I hardly ever seem to find time to do? WALK.

Suddenly not having a car felt like an adventure.

I sold my car last fall, bought a fantastic parka and winter boots and have not looked back.

At first it just seemed like maybe having a car doesn’t make sense for me right now.? I work from home.? I don’t have children.? I was only using my car for shopping and adventuring, so maybe it’s just not smart for me to have my own car?

I can rent a car when I want/need one.? I can join the car co-op.? Maybe this is just the more practical choice.

But the biggest thing I’ve noticed is not about practicality at all.

It’s this: I have not ONCE driven somewhere and arrived feeling amazing because driving is just so awesome.

But more times than not, when I walk somewhere I arrive feeling amazing because walking is just so awesome.

This morning I walked through a blizzard to get to a coffee shop to do some writing.? Between my parka and boots I am covered, from head-to-toe, in soft warmth.? I giggled as the wind whirled around me, like it was trying to give me a hug.? I looked at the cars driving past me and did not wish I was in one.

I love how walking has slowed down the pace of my life.

The act of walking instead of driving adds this kind of magical element to my days.

And I’m more present with my own needs because I can’t always just zip off and get something if I run out.? I think more carefully about how plan my days.? I cook more.

I feel freer somehow.

And yet, if you’d told me six months ago that I was going to be happily car-free this winter I would have thought you were crazy.

That one little question leads to amazing things.

What do I really want?

That is the heart of Creative Dreaming.? Being brave enough to not just listen to your heart, but act on it.

Dreaming SMALLER, Simpler and more Happily. It’s not about having MORE. Read More »

Creative Business Incubator: Turn Your Dream Into Your Job

By Andrea Schroeder / January 15, 2014 / creative entrepreneur

The Creative Business Incubator is one of the courses you get in the Creative Dream Circle.

This is NOT one of those sleazy Make a Gazillion Dollars Online In Three Easy Steps things.

This IS an honest and vulnerable sharing of what I have learned along the way of starting and growing my business – with creativity, soul and authenticity.

Inside The Creative Business Incubator You Get:

Module 1: Setting the Stage for Success.? Most creatives have horribly limiting beliefs about business.? Ditto for spiritual people.? Holding unconscious or conscious beliefs about how business is bad or about how you’re not good at it will eat away at your dream. In this module we’ll start to clear these out to create your firm foundation for success.
Module 2: The Heart & Soul of your Business.? This is the spiritual power source of your business.? When you work from this place, everything you do in your business in imbued with power and magnetism.
Module 3: Marketing from the Heart.? Marketing is how you shine your light out into the world, it’s what you do so that your right people will recognize you and feel safe working with you.? The way you market your business can be a source of light, healing + inspiration for others.? 100% sleaze-free.
Module 4: Fear & Success.? Deep down inside, most of us are afraid of success.? And for good reason!? Putting yourself out there in this way is terrifyingly vulnerable.? Until you heal this, you’ll always have parts of you fighting against your success and you’ll keep spinning your wheels.
Module 5: Self-Care as Business Fuel. Success does not come from working your ass off!? Success comes from being deeply connected to your inner superpowers.? Extreme self-care is an absolute requirement to keep your dream business running smoothly.
Module 6: Creating the Story of your Business.? We bring it all together into a metaphor for your business that you can work with that holds all of the qualities of the unfolding story of your success.
Plus sections on: Cash-Flow, Sales, Abundance and Inspiring Creative Business Resources.

For each module of the Creative Business Incubator you get my thoughts & ideas, journaling prompts plus LONG, IN-DEPTH videos.

It’s an EPIC hero’s journey.

If you’re curious about this click here to listen to the audio introduction to the course where I talk more about the EPIC hero’s journey of bringing YOUR soulful creative business to life (it’s just over 8 minutes long).

The Creative Business Incubator has its own classroom inside the Creative Dream Circle, where business owners and would-be business owners can gather and explore.

Business is NOT the focus of the Creative Dream Circle, but a lot of dreamers find that as they start to grow their Creative Dreaming Muscles and get better at making their dreams real – they want to explore how to create a life for themselves that does NOT include giving their time + energy to a day job.? So the Creative Business Incubator is there to help with that.

Click here to join us today.

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Creative Dream Journal Playdate #2: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World)

By Andrea Schroeder / January 14, 2014 / healing, journaling

Today! Tuesday, Jan 14 at 2PM (Central, North America).

The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World) is something that I have a LOT to say about.? And it came up during our first playdate so I wanted to dive into it a little deeper with you guys.

If you reading this in your email or on the front page of my blog click here so you can see the video below.

…

Creative Dream Journal Playdate #2: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World)Read More »

Creative Dream Journal Playdate #2: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World) Read More »

Are YOU A Creative Dreamer? This Is What You Need To Know:

By Andrea Schroeder / January 13, 2014 / Manifest Your Dream Life

A Creative Dreamer is NOT satisfied following the rules, doing what is expected or living a dull, ordinary life.

Creative Dreamers believe that they are here on this planet to share their creative gifts or have a GRAND adventure (or both).

Creative Dreamers believe they are NOT here to do shit they don’t want to do.

Somewhere inside them, they KNOW that they’re not here to maintain the status quo and find doing so to be deeply unsatisfying.

But our society kind of runs on conformity.? This makes things very difficult for Creative Dreamers.

A lot of Creative Dreamers are sensitive souls and most Creative Dreamers struggle with developing the unique skills needed to bring a Creative Dream to life.

Not because they are not capable, but because there is a distinct lack of the right kind of support and education available to them.

As a result, most Creative Dreamers don’t EVER activate their full creative potential.

This is a problem.? Not just for us, but for the whole world.

Creative Dreams are gifts of spirit, woven out of healing, love, creativity and purpose.? Dreams Come True hold the possibility to heal and transform our world.

The world needs YOUR (yes, YOU reading this) dream made REAL.

Too many Creative Dreamers believe that:

Pursuing their dreams is SELFISH.
They would need more time and money to “make it work”.
NOW is not the right time.
Something has to change before they can start bringing their dreams to life.

None of this is true.

The only thing you have to do is DECIDE to start NOW. Everything else you need to learn about how to really make this happen – you can learn along the way.

We’re starting the next session of the Creative Dream Incubator e-Course on January 28.? It’s happening inside the Creative Dream Circle and I hope to see YOU there!

You’ll learn how your dream is NOT impossible, and how to start moving towards it, step by step, starting NOW – no matter WHAT is in the way.

Click here to join the Circle today.? Let’s make MAGIC together.

Are YOU A Creative Dreamer? This Is What You Need To Know: Read More »

On wanting to hide, being FAR out of my comfort zone & what to do about it.

By Andrea Schroeder / January 11, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

I’m out of my comfort zone.

I’m feeling extra-sensitive and resistant today.? Like I’d like to just hide under the covers.

And hiding under the covers is OK, but indulging in decadent self-care is much better.? So yesterday I took a hot aromatherapy bath followed by a nap – in the middle of the day.

Taking a nap in a sunny sunny space feels so decadent to me – another reason why I love the floor to ceiling south windows upstairs in my sleep loft.? (And see those crystals hanging in the corner of the window?? They shoot rainbows downstairs into my studio.)

Indulgent self-care is different from hiding under the covers.

Self-care re-fuels.? Hiding avoids.? Self-care maintains connection to your inner power.? Hiding disconnects.

Today I’d like to just hide.

Because I’m feeling so far out of my comfort zone.

But then I wondered… what if being so far outside of my comfort zone was good?? I mean, haven’t I been working so hard on making the big changes that have put me here?

I do this (awesome!) thing in the Creative Dream Incubator e-course (starting January 28!) about transforming your comfort zone – because when you really look at it, a lot of things in there are NOT so comfortable, they’re just familiar.

The comfort zone is really more of a familiar zone.

Feeling more comfortable with familiar than you feel with what-you-actually-want is an energy pattern you can work on.

But insisting that this is the only place where you can be comfortable shuts down the process of being able to do that.? MASSIVELY dis-empowering.

Hmmm.? So I sat down here feeling out of my comfort zone and wondering how I could be OK with this.

Remembering that I put myself here helps.

Remembering that I am a powerful creator helps.

Remembering that I know how to take care of myself helps.

But I still feel uncomfortable…

So I’m diving into my feeling.? What is it?? Where is it?

Mostly in my chest, but it kind of radiates out.? I want to crawl into my skin, or out of my skin, maybe.? Yes – I want to crawl OUT of my skin because I feel TOO VULNERABLE.

Ah.? So I have a vulnerability hangover.

Makes sense, given what I have been working on.

And because vulnerability is a key part of how I teach, this is a good thing.

So.? I am outside of my comfort zone & this is a good thing.

How do I bring comfort to myself right here?

Well, I did start already.? I’m in a cozy seat in a cozy coffee shop.? I’ve got a warm, fresh coffee and all of my journaling tools.

I can talk to the part of me that feels freaked out and find out what she needs.

I can make a list of the most deeply nourishing self-care practices… what comes to mind off the bat is to work this weekend, and take a spa day on Monday (spas are too busy for me on weekends).

I can breathe a little deeper and a little slower.

I can remember about how excited I am about the dreams I am moving towards AKA the reason why I am out of my comfort zone.

I can imagine my comfort zone stretching to include these things that I really do want (with a tiny escape hatch so uncomfortable things can just slip out).

I feel a gazillion times better now.

I can even giggle about the irony of posting this on my blog – this is the exact thing I feel uncomfortable about.? Being vulnerable.? Sharing my actual as-it-happens truth.? To a rapidly growing audience.

The part of me that is terrified about being this vulnerable is calmed by the part of me who sees how much this honest sharing-of-the-process really helps other people feel less alone in their struggles along the path to creating their authentic lives.

AND it helps to counteract all that bullshit about how it should all be glitter and rainbows all the time.? And the ideas that if things aren’t easy you are doing something wrong.

What I am doing here is important.

On wanting to hide, being FAR out of my comfort zone & what to do about it. Read More »

I’m terrified of failing

By Andrea Schroeder / January 10, 2014 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

(you can read my original post about this here)

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.

***************************************************
I spent some(?) time last weekend hanging out with fear.

I’m terrified of failing.? We are all.

And these fears are all stirred up because I’m doing something different.

I’ve never set this kind of goal in my business before.? I’ve been super grateful that I’ve learned how to put things out there in such a way that enough people respond that my needs are met.? That’s nothing to sneeze at!

I am well aware that I am in the minority on this.? I am very grateful for what I have.

And until now my business planning has stemmed from that gratitude -? I’m so happy I have students and clients and potential new clients, now what do I want to offer them next?

But now I want to do it differently.

And setting out to do something differently stirs up fear, stirs up inner critics, stirs up uncertainties.

I had a really beautiful chat with my friend Chris Zydel (the one I went to visit in California a few months back).? Chris reminded me that it doesn’t matter how I think it will be – it won’t be how I think it will be.

I’m feeling a desire to reach out in this way – this is my heart and soul calling me onto the next steps on my path… but this is the energy that is getting me moving, this is not necessarily what I am headed to.

The creative dream path is a mystery.? All we can ever do is step into what our hearts are calling us into.

Some dreams are easy.? Back in the olden days when I first started working with the tools I teach in the Creative Dream Incubator I wanted more money.? And I got more money – lots of it.

But a more meaningful life?? To share your gifts more widely with the world?? To step deeper into your purpose?? Not so cut and dry.

Being in this process is growing my soul in the ways that my soul needs to be grown at this time.

THAT is the gift, not whether or not I reach my goal.

Which, some days, drives me nuts.

Some days it makes me giggle.? I mentioned in the last update that I’d been working on my Strategic Action Plan.? This weekend I also made a brand new spreadsheet, to track the few things that I want to track from that plan.

I had to learn how to do spreadsheets on my iPad because I really wanted to do this in my iPad and not on my laptop.? This was kind of frustrating at first (WHY is Numbers for iPad so different to use than Numbers for MacBook? Geez!) …. I finally got the spreadsheet set up and put numbers in from the first week of January and then had to laugh – all that frustration and time and energy and I know that the numbers are not the point.

But the numbers are a part of the journey and I want to give love, respect and attention to every part of the journey.

And then facing the numbers activated how terrified I am of failing…. which brought me to some much needed inner work.

My fear of failing, like most of our deepest fears, remains deep beneath the surface most days – you wouldn’t even know it’s there.

These fears lurk deep down where we forget about them, and fuel inner critics and unconscious self-sabotaging mechanisms and hold us back without us even being aware that we are being held back.

I am reminded this week of how very important it is to develop the skill of being able to face and transform your feelings.

When fears come up to the surface that’s a good thing!? It means you get to work with them and, over time, transform them.

Fear means your path to liberation is opening up right in front of you.

But too often dreams DIE because people don’t want to face their feelings.

So I spent a lot of time in the Un-Sticking Station in the Circle which is literally an un-sticking station that un-sticks stucks like being terrified of failing.? (The Un-Sticking Station alone is worth the cost of the whole Creative Dream Circle – imagine having access to a QUICK process that actually transforms fears!)

Related: I did my first live streaming video!

It was all about how to approach journaling so that your journal becomes a tool for growing your dreams.

We talked A LOT about facing fears and how that all works so if you are feeling some fear or other discomforts when you think about your dream, or if you don’t believe you can have your dream – watch the replay.

Also: Holy CRAP!? I did LIVE STREAMING VIDEO ON THE INTERNET WHERE ANYONE COULD SEE!

My intuition, and many of my collages, have been nudging me towards this for a long time.

I do tons of live tele-classes.? And tons of recorded video.? But putting them together into one live video?? While that is the next logical step, it felt daunting, to say the least.

But, thanks to my willingness to step it up to meet my new goal, I listened to the nudges and did the live video.

And the live Creative Dream Journal Playdate was pretty awesome!? (The recording is still there so you can play along)

It’s really different being live on video.? Live on the phone means people have to be committed enough to actually call and they are generally really present.? Live online can mean you were committed enough to show up fully or it can mean you’ve for 16 windows open and are just cruising around, really just trying to distract yourself from whatever is happening inside you.

So I couldn’t really approach it the way I approach my calls.? Which is good!? Trying new things is good!

And it will take me a few times (at least?) to be truly comfortable with this.? Also good.? Stretching yourself when you feel inspiring to stretch yourself is good.

It’s got over 1,600 views already.? So this can really get my ideas out there in ways that tele-classes can’t.

On the other hand, 7,000 different people have visited my website in the last month.? I’d sure love for more of them to get more engaged with the process of growing their dreams!

I’ve put the Playdate on the Fabulous Free Stuff page so people can continue to find it.

And I’ve already scheduled more for next week and the week after.

So I started this week feeling terrified of failing.

I am ending this week feeling on top of the world.

I always love how I feel after I have done the work of facing/healing/transforming the icks that come up on the path.? I want to broadcast to the whole world that FEELING STUCK IS GOOD.? Facing the stuck is the path.? You’re SO READY to make your dream REAL.

The Circle feels like a MAGNET OF LOVE.

I love the Circle!? I love the members!? I love their dreams!

I am so excited about the new people joining.? I’m feeling really good about my goal for this year for the Circle and inspired about the other things I want to create in my business.

I am more connected than ever to heart and soul of this dream.

This is something I teach in depth in the Creative Dream Incubator e-course, how focusing on connecting with the heart and soul of your dream, rather than focusing on the externals of it – makes the external path easier.

It creates a beautiful energy that draws to your dream whatever it needs to thrive.

I’ve been focusing on this for about a month now and am really feeling it now.

It’s an amazing energy and it feels like it is really nurturing ME because I am working MUCH harder than I normally do, but feeling super happy, energized, inspired and not cranky/tired/other icky things I associate with working “hard”.

And this week I announced the next session of the Creative Dream Incubator e-course, happening inside the Circle, starting Jan 28.? I want to invite you to think about joining us.? This is my fourth year of running this course and I know it’s going to be our best session yet.

It includes the Creative Business Incubator plug-in, I’ll be super active in the forum answering your questions and cheering you on and at the end of the 6 weeks we’ll close off with a live coaching call (if you can’t attend live you can email me your questions and so you can hear the answers in the recording).

The Incubator is magic.? You will ADORE it.

PLUS you’ll also get whole year of creative dream support.? For just $100!

I’m terrified of failing Read More »

Playdate #2: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World)

By Andrea Schroeder / January 9, 2014 / healing, Manifest Your Dream Life

I totally stretched my comfort zone this week with my first ever live streaming video.

And I loved it so much I want to do it again!? (And this morning it’s closing in on 1,600 views so it seems like you guys love it too!)

In fact, I want to do a WEEKLY Playdate, until the next session of the Creative Dream Incubator e-Course starts inside the Creative Dream Circle (on January 28).? So here they are:

Creative Dream Journal Playdate #2: Tuesday, Jan 14 at 2PM (Central, North America).

Topic: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World)

If you’re on Spreecast, click here to RSVP. ?If you’re not on Spreecast, it will show up on my blog on Tuesday morning – with a handy dandy countdown timer so you can see what time it’s starting in YOUR time zone.

Creative Dream Journal Playdate #3: Tuesday, Jan 21 at 2PM (Central, North America).

Topic: TBA

Bring your journal and your dream – art supplies optional.

Hope to see YOU there!? If you missed Playdate #1 catch the replay here.

Playdate #2: The Center of Your Creative Power (Boundaries, Sovereignty & Harnessing the Power to Create Your World) Read More »