Creative Genius Inside

I was just reading my new diary; "Mind, Body & Spirit Book Of Days" about some creative genius that we have inside.  It says that both the Japanese and the Chinese believe in a spot, located three finger-widths below and two finger-widths behind our navel as the seat of our inner power.  They recommend when embarking on a new project, make a conscious effort to breath into this spot  (the "fire in your belly") and experience the flow of energy breathing life into your project.

Escape!

Usually every few months I need to escape the family routine to reclaim my sanity.  Normally I enlist the help of a couple of girlfriends who also need to escape and we head to an idyllic spot that the budget can allow for and do whatever we want for the weekend.  Usually breaking routine is big for me.  You know, dinner at 9pm, late lunch (if at all), walk along the beach whenever I want instead of when it fits in with the family, that kind of thing.
A few weeks ago, something caught my eye. I found it here.
http://bit.ly/ArtCorp I already had taken some scrapbooking classes with Jilly http://bit.ly/JillGG at a retreat I frequent with Direct Scrapbooking Warehouse http://www.scrapbookingwarehouse.com.au/ which I loved.  The pages I completed were very different to my 'usual' style and were very creative.  So I took the plunge and attended the workshop for altered canvases (I guess that's what you would call them).  WOW!  What a fantastic day.  This is so totally not the type of creating I would normally do in regards to construction and results yet it was exactly what I needed.  In the morning I was certainly ready for a break from routine, leaving the house after having a rant about feeling like I was taken for granted and that I had just given up on the housework due to the fact that no-one picked up after themselves.  Once in the car, all was forgotten with some great music and enjoying the drive in my new car. 
Well, 7 odd hours later I had in my hot little hands a canvas that just needed a bit of tweeking.  I came home, put some finishing touches on it and now it is on display in my lounge room.    I learned some great techniques and how to prep a canvas from scratch.  Talk about motivation.  I have already prepped the three canvasses I had in the cupboard.  A couple of years ago, I was going to do a mixed media painting of the ocean and never had enough courage or knowledge on how to complete it.  Who needs courage?  And now I have the knowledge.  I have mapped out in my mind the process I will use to complete this new project and am already hunting around for other things I can use on my canvasses.  I feel renewed and refreshed and like I had a weekend away.  It helped that the cleaning fairy came whilst I was away and picked up and vacuumed and washed the floors.  Isn't he a wonderful cleaning fairy!  So if you have the chance, break routine as soon as you can, allow yourself to do something out of the box and enjoy the moment!

Boosting Creativity

On November 13, I will be in creative heaven.  I will be attending this art class.  It looks fantastic and I'm hoping to not only spend some time with like minded ladies, I'm also looking forward to learning some new techniques.  http://scrapblogmebaby.typepad.com/artcorps/2010/10/novem.html

Brainstorming

Many of us, I'm sure, have attended courses and training that required us to brainstorm a solution or exercise.  Brainstorming also plays a large part in achieving success in coaching as well.  If you are looking for a fresh idea or approach, grab a pen and paper and set a timer for 5 or 8 minutes. Write down every idea or thought that comes to your mind about that particular issue.  There is no dumb or silly idea, write them all down.
At the end of the time, you may find some of these ideas are impractical however you may find that perfect solution as well.  Whilst you are motivated and energised from your brainstorming session, write yourself a little action plan about how you will go about implementing that solution.

Some inspiration

I found this great inspiration on my Facebook page.  Have a read and let me know what you think http://bouncephotography.blogspot.com/

Photos of March

Well as things start to sort themselves out health wise with my family, I feel more motivated and inspired to create.  I have just this morning finished March's Lifescrap page.  Check out the slide show down the right hand side of the blog to see snippets of how I worked towards my goals last month.

Is this the new normal?

Ok so issues, I've had a few this year. The latest, a huge water leak under our beautiful stone path that has already netted us a $350 excess water bill plus a $100 leak detector bill. Also today they say they want to test my boy for Celiac's disease. Anyway, I was feeling a bit slack about not doing a newsletter for my e-newsletter clients (there goes the mind again) and I sat down and wrote my latest newsletter. This year, I have been putting things off until my boy is better and I keep saying to myself, "I'll do that when things get back to normal". Then today, in the thinking behind the writing, I thought to myself "What if this is the new normal?". Last year was pretty easy for me. Cruisey, some might say. What if this is going to be my normal for sometime, until I get a new normal, whatever THAT might be? I have to start to adapt to my new normal. Instead of putting things off, I need to work out how I'm going to do what I want and need to do with this new normal.  So over the Easter break, my aim is to make a list of the things I have been putting off and also make a list of action I can take to make sure those things are done.  And maybe I'll put a rough time limit around them to so that I have an aim as to when I would like to have completed them by.  Mmmm, I'm excited at the prospect now of this being my new normal.  It's always nice to have a change and a positive challenge!

February

I have just uploaded a photo on the Flickr photostream of my February page.  At last!  I had to add a photo of Mel's ear as it certainly got a work out over the month of Feb.

Life's Challenges

I thought I would take the opportunity to let you know, the next time I post to my blog will probably be in a week or so, depending on what happens over the next few days.  My boy is hopefully going into hospital on Tuesday for a procedure to help to heal him and get him back to school.  He has been away from school for this whole year, so far. 
I'm not sure if you have had to prepare for something like this as a parent or caregiver.  Today has been making sure the washing is up to date, ironing everyone's clothes, cleaning a few areas of the house to make sure things will be clean for those still here whilst you are away, writing a grocery list so tomorrow I can get the items on the list, making sure there are fresh fruit and vegies in the house etc.  Actually, it's a little like going on a holiday (which is the positive spin we are putting on it).
While I'm standing there doing the ironing, I got to thinking (clearly not living in the present at that moment in time) that yet again, I have been motivated to taking a step towards one of my goals without even realising it.  Motivated by some might say external pressures, if there is such a thing.  I guess I could have only ironed what I needed (the ironing would still be there for me when I get home) or I could have left the floors and bathrooms dirty (they would have also been there ready for me when I get home).  The fact of the matter is I took the opportunity and motivation to get those jobs done.  One of my friends always say "If you want something done, give it to a busy person".  And I find it's true.  If I'm busy, I can achieve far more than if I am idle and have plenty of time to kill.  While I was on the roll, I also took the opportunity to say hello to you and keep you in the loop so you're not wondering why I haven't posted in a while.
Are you like that?  Do you find you get more done when you are busy?  Does that work against you?(often people know you are busy and they also know this saying and they will give things to you because they know you won't say no).  How does it help you achieve your goals?
Well, have a great week.  I know I will definitely have to live in the moment this week to keep the anxiety low and to be strong and calm.  I'll keep you posted on how it went.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day.  International Women's Day celebrates the achievements of women in social, political and economic fields.  It began in 1909 in the United States however during the period from 1930's to 1960's due to the increased popularity of feminism, International Women's Day took a back seat.
This year the focus for International Women's Day is on women trying to escape armed conflict, facing intimidation and violence. (Taken from website; Only Kent).
Today is a perfect opportunity to think about all the amazing women who have been in your life and have made a positive impact in your life.  Who are they?  How have they made a positive impact on your life?  Would today be a perfect opportunity for you to say thank you to those amazing women?  Take a few moments today to say thanks for those amazing women.

Inspiration

I follow a blog called Zen Habits.  Yesterday they posted this interesting article on Inspiration:  It got me to thinking what is inspiration for me. 

Here is their definition of Inspiration:
Many people think of it as an elusive quality that can’t be forced, and yet it can be found if you look for it.
Others think it’s a way to find ideas, but it’s more than ideas … it’s being moved to put those ideas into action.
Inspiration is finding something else that is divinely inspired (people, nature, amazing ideas), having that inspiration breathed into you (“breath” is the root of “inspiration”), and then taking action on it. Creating, doing, inspiring others.

Inspiration for me does come in many forms.  As the article suggests, it comes all the time and sometimes never(depending if your mind is clear and if you are present or not).  It is often harder for me to find inspiration if I'm searching for it.  Needless to say, it comes most easily when I am living in the present.  I have especially noticed this over the past 4 weeks with having my son in less than perfect health, and the constant worry that comes from a situation that you know needs to be fixed however you are helpless to take action; in fact you have to leave it up to others to provide you the answers of what that action is and you must follow their directions. 
I had very little inspiration.  In fact I struggled to write articles for my blogs or write my usual newsletter and I couldn't work out why as these are things I really enjoy.  Then when I read this article from Zen Habits, I realised it may have been due to my almost constant worry.  So this morning when inspiration came at some extreme hour, I capitalised on it.  I got up and began to scrap.  I created so many pages that I had to actually force myself to stop.  It was like the flood gates of creating had opened.
My son had his first day of full health yesterday and obviously that went a long way to ending the worry.  Although it's unsure if he is fully recovered yet; we still have some work to do with him, at least I know he is on the road to recovery. 
My inspiration often comes in the middle of the night in my sleep like it did this morning.  I'm not sure why or how.  I like to have a book beside my bed to write down ideas as they come, otherwise I am so excited I can't ever go back to sleep.  I find if I write them down, then I sleep with ease, knowing the idea has been captured.
The other ways I can think of that I get inspiration are listed below:
*my friends and family
*watching dvd's (like 'how to' or training dvd's),
*the internet of course (things like blogs, Facebook posts, some quotes, Youtube, etc)
*magazines
*reading books
*catalogues and home shopping brochures

What is it that you receive inspiration from? 

You can read the complete Zen Habits article here: http://zenhabits.net/2010/03/little-inspiration-guide/#more-5761

More Action

On Saturday, I attended my very first Podcamp.  My accountant (Leiza Cole http://www.askleiza.com.au/ )sent me a copy of a brochure she had on Podcamp for new media enthusiasts.  I have only just taken my business to Leiza and she already understands more about me (knowing that I am interested in new media) than my previous accountant did over about 15 years.

So I enrolled in Podcampgc.  Initially, I guess I saw it as an opportunity to network.  Keeping in mind one of my goals this year is to network once a month, that was my primary goal to fulfill.  I was keen to learn new things also as I have a long term goal to build my own website and host it.  When I enrolled, I had no idea what a Podcamp was.  The spiel said it was an unconference for people who were interested in new media; bloggers, podcasters, people interested in social networking and sharing photos online.  I knew if I went I would be amongst like minded people.

You know sometimes when you attend "training" or seminars, you can get those little butterflies in your tummy?  Not me on Saturday morning.  I had no fears about the day, only excitement.  I love it when that happens.  To me it indicates I'm on the right path.

What I got from Podcamp was amazing.  I learned so much information about all things 'new media'.  When I got home I was keen to start putting all the things I had learned into practice right away.

I also met some fantastic people who I have connected with on Twitter and Facebook and I heard some amazing success stories using new media.

Thank you, Gold Coast City Council, as the Podcamp was FREE!  You can find out more about upcoming free seminars on a range of topics here: http://bit.ly/calendarofeventsgccc.  If you aren't on the Gold Coast, check out your local council or library to see what they offer.  If they don't offer anything, where else could you go in your community to learn and network on something you are passionate about?  Ask around.

Well I guess I can actually give a big tick for my networking goal this month!

A Wonderful Message

With the writer's permission, I wanted to share with you an email that arrived in my inbox a few days ago.  It is words like this that make my blog worthwhile and inspires me to keep writing.  Thank you so very much for your kind words and feedback.

Hi Jill,
I visited you blog and you have inspied me to take my goals to the next level.. In the past my vision boards have been highlighted with material posessions and I have come along way since then. Discovering the motive behind wanting these things and the happiness I thought they would bring was not the kind of happiness I was seeking. I have read some amazing books over the past 3 months and have been awakening in an amazing way. Before the new year I decided that my Goals for 2010 are focusing on my spiritual journey, financial stability, fun and loving relationships with my boys, family and friends, and finally building a successful coaching business. I love the idea of lifescrap 365 as I have begun writing a journal already this year, and the fun and recognition on a daily basis to stay focused and positive on goals. It has all inspired me and I will start today to create my vision board..

I am grateful for your inspiring blogs and emails, its fantastic and helpful reminder of the value and importance of moving forward and why we do what we do.