Today is the start ...

Today is the start of anything and everything.  I set my alarm clock for half hour earlier this morning and awoke feeling refreshed and ready for the day.  I used to wake early every morning, but since I had flu before Christmas I have been sleeping in for some reason.  I still only lie in until about 8am at weekends, which I suppose to some isn't really a lie in at all.

I am an early morning person so I love creating from 5 - 7am.  Most of the thought processes that were instrumental in starting and growing Identities were done before 7am.

This morning I started doing my morning pages again.  Morning pages are 3 pages of 'stream of consciousness' writing that you should do before you start your day.  Morning pages remove all the rubbish out of your head so that you are clear and free to be creative for the rest of the day.  Try it, you will be surprised how much lighter your mind feels and how many ideas you come up with.

Being creative fills you up. It will top you up to fully filled, if your life isn't giving you everything you need.

I love to paint with oils, and write with a passion as ferrocious as fire, but sometimes I forget to put them at the top of my 'things to do' list. 

Today is the start though ...

Creative acts that sing to your soul are as important to your mental wellbeing as vitamins are to your body.

Read 'Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron - you don't have to be an artist to benefit from the book, just someone who wants to pursue their own unique creativity

Michelle  x :)

What Inspires You?

I am inspired by the very thought of being creative; of dreaming up ideas and executing plans that bring peace, love and joy.

I am inspired by books that take me on a journey of knowledge and blasts me through new and exciting horizons.

I am inspired by people who succeed, when it would be so acceptable for them not to.

I am inspired by words that create poetry that caresses every emotion and makes my skin tingle.

I am inspired by the birds that fly outside my window, their colours, their songs, their freedom.

I am inspired by every crystal that was formed in the earth, their properties, their natural beauty, their touch.

And I am inspired by life, its changes, its seasons, the challenges that make me stronger and give me purpose and the happiness I receive as a result of my choices.

Shining Buttercups

When it started, it was as natural to me as buttoning my shirt from right to left.

I had waited so long for this thing I had been searching for; searching high, low and in between, a kind of not knowing what it was, but a knowing that it stood for success and completeness.

Shining buttercups fills me up like nothing I have ever done before.  It radiates my life with flowers and dreams and allows me to see creativity in the rawest of forms.

When it cries at my apron strings it seduces my energy and all I can do is mother it well and try and protect what resistance I have left.

It needs protection and nurturing and like my child, it needs supporting even when it has started to grow and become more independent.  It can never fully stand on its own two feet.

Shining buttercups has given me the wings I needed to fly into my own awareness.

Shining buttercups has allowed me to make connections with people and help others like I always knew I would. 

Shining buttercups makes me see, feel and experience balance like I never have before. 

Shining buttercups is my business and the role I do now in Identities, helping women to find themselves and shine - the most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

How do I know that things are as they should be ...

Because my stomach tells me so.  The feeling I get is like a perfect fitting shoe; a warm summer's day; a perfect dream that you don't want to wake from; a dress that looks just you; a meandering stream trickling down the mountainside and that warm, tasty feeling you get when you just know that all is well.

How do I know that things are not as they should be ...

You don't experience any of the above, but instead feel a hint of panic, a numb emotion in the pit of the stomach and a little voice saying all is not well.

What next then after either feeling strikes? Action with conviction is now required on your part.

If you feel uneasy, trust your inner knowing and halt whatever process is going on, change direction if necessary until you get the positive buzzy feeling inside.

If you feel that things are as they should be; be confident in the knowledge that your inner knowing is and always will be right. 

Health and Wellbeing at Northern College

Yesterday I found myself at Northern College giving Indian Massage therapies to stressed out staff.  An health and wellbeing day shows staff that they are important and there seemed to be a buzz about the place, as staff were treated to sessions of relaxation, de-stressing, Reiki and Laughter workshops.

For me it was a wonderful day of seeing old, current and new friends.  Hugs and beaming smiles told me that I had done a good job.  And I do love the job of relaxing people, shining their sparkle back at them and lighting their pathways forward.

The grounds at Northern College are lush, green and powerful in their nature scents. The therapy room was turned from a from a play area into a relaxing, lavander filled suite, where the outside world ceased to exist on entrance. Just peace, relaxation, you and your connection with your therapist.

In an effort to recharge myself I started to think about my holiday and the sunshine on my skin, the waves gently crashing on a fine grained beach and feeling the relaxation of being on holiday and away from day to day worries.

Trickling sounds interupted my thoughts, a new client entered the room and my therapy began again.    

Friends are like ...

Mothers, angels and flowers

Protecting, watching and bringing colour and a smile to life's wild meadow

Lighting a candle on the greyest of days

Bringing sunshine when the world is throwing shadow

And singing life notes; teaching life lessons and listening to life rants

Hugging painful sobs, until they become mellow in their hurting

Mothers, angels, flowers and friends



  

Tips for Cleansing Mind Body and Spirit

As we go about our daily lives we pick up negative energies, sometimes knowingly and other times unknowingly, that cling to our being. We tend to drag these energies around with us like we would old hand bags, hoisting them onto the arm or shoulder, always intending to empty them, but never getting round to it.

I didn't realise until about 2 years ago, how important it was to remove these energies and regularly cleanse the mind, body and spirit, to prevent consequences to health.

These are some of the things I use and practice:

1.       A Salt Lamp in your living area will: counter electro-magnetic pollution effects from electric equipment; create a natural ionizer; neutralise the effect of stress (and this really does work); improve concentration and keep the air fresh.

2.      A sea salt and lavender bath will cleanse your aura.  Use 2 handfuls of sea salt and 8 drops of lavender.

3.      A Clear Quartz crystal will neutralise all negative energies and radiation. It cleanses and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind.

4.      Reiki is a non-invasive form of healing that increases energy, reduces pain, and produces deep relaxation and a general feeling of well-being.  It is a specific energy that helps our own healing systems to work to their full potential and brings balance to the chakras.  It aids in restoring the natural balance in the body by balancing our energy systems.

5.      Simple meditations cleanse the mind and spirit.

6.      Creative visualisations cleanse your imagination and creative energy and give them room to grow and develop.

7.       Colon cleanse liquid cleanses the colon and makes you feel more energised.

8.       And last but not least, pure water every day will cleanse the body, mind and spirit.

Flower Healing

Understanding and practicing flower healing is proving to be a wonderful journey of discovery for me.  I have always loved flowers, particularly bluebells and roses, but learning about their energies and meanings gives them a new sense of beauty. 

All flowers have healing vibrations and like all herbs and plants they have been used as remedies since the early ages. Each flower has its own unique signature based on a number of factors, the flower family it is part of, its habitat, colour, the number of petals it has, the shape of the flower head and so on. 

We are pulled to particular flowers because they mirror and identify aspects of our being that are out of balance.  Equally we can be drawn to flowers because of the healing vibrations they possess, which we need. If you have had a favourite flower throughout your life, this usually depicts a life theme that you need to overcome or work through. 

Healing yourself with flowers is a safe, natural and liberating process.  It gives you a greater awareness and understanding of our natural world and is a natural way in which you can heal your mind, body and spirit.

Bluebells share happily with others, their cleansing vibrations increase self-confidence and security

The daisy is a symbol of innocence and can give energy and patience to help with survival in adverse conditions

The Language of Beauty

"Beauty begins in the depth of the soul and emanates outward like rays of a golden sun"

"Beauty is compassion, warming emotions and cuddling fears"

"Beauty is every wish and every dream that is born, whether they are realised or not"

"Beauty is every creative act that triggers every kind of emotion in the farthest reaches of the heart"

Beauty lies deep in everyone, with life dictating how and when it should show itself

Don't deny your beauty the chance to shine. 

Let it run free, let it be ...

Beauty is ... you

And beauty is... me 

 

 

 

Clearing my Clutter

I have started clearing all the clutter that has been building over the last year.  The last time I cleared it, I vowed that I would never let it build up again.  But here I am, having a good old clear out in the hope that it is going to 'freshen' up all aspects of my life.  I say freshen up because life is pretty OK at the moment.  I could do with a few tweaks here and there but then again who couldn't?  And if life was perfect all of the time, wouldn't it be monotonous?  And if we had no challenges to overcome, would we ever learn and grow?

The boot of my car has been filled with office stuff for over 12 months and after clearing it today, I have learned that my fuel will now last longer.  I wish I'd have known this earlier, I would have set about it months ago.  It's anyone's guess how much I have spent on extra fuel carrying that lot around.  The boot of your car is not something you tend to think about when you decide to clutter clear.

Another thing you least think about when clearing your space is the mental clutter we carry around - all the unfinished jobs, unfinished business, unspoken words.  Clearing mental clutter is just as important as moving the physical.  And doing both in parellel opens up a host of opportunities and makes you feel lighter and well equipped to cope with anything.

Productive Days

What a difference a busy day can make to your mood, thoughts and emotions.
 

I've had a tiring yet productive day today and even though I could drop into bed this minute, I feel exhilarated.  I feel a sense of achievement at having completed the things I didn’t want to do – the nasty progressive things that don’t fall into the category of every day minutia that are easy, relaxed and comfortable.

With this sense of achievement comes a wave of optimism and positive thinking about the future and what it might bring.  I have no time for pessimism in any shape or form, because my mind is active, progressive and forward thinking.

I was once told that to get something out, you first have to put something in! This applies to almost everything you do and especially to how you feel.  Knuckling down to the day ahead and completing all my work today (putting something in) has given me a new sense of optimism and positivity about the future - a future that for a while has seemed uncertain in the changing times that we are all experiencing.

Your future is in your hands.  It’s easy to slip into a routine that isn’t productive, inspiring or elevating.  It’s easy to let positive thoughts be overtaken by negative debilitating ones.

 ‘Doing’ will always kick start you back on track.

 ‘Doing’ will always fill you with strength and motivation mentally, even if it does tire you out physically.

Doing is 'putting in' so that you can take out your advancing rewards.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”

           Eleanor Roosevelt

Life and Progression

"Every day is a new beginning"

1. Keeping positive breeds more of the same - however it decides to show itself
2. Create a vision board on A2 card - look at it every day and add to it every month
3. Water clears the mind, flushes the body and cleanses the emotions
4. Connections are great in business, movement is fabulous too, but don't lose sight of your overarching focus
5. Don't hire anyone who you don't have a gut wrenching connection with
6. Play often
7. Plant a flower seed at the start of a project and nurture it to life
8. Work at 4am if that's what you want to do - work through the night if that's how you feel, but make sure your reserves are topped up regularly
9. Meditate sometimes - you will be surprised what enters a quiet mind.
10. Roll a dice and take a chance
11. Push yourself onto the next rung of your comfort ladder
12. Hug someone who needs it and really mean it
13. Light a candle and cleanse your space
14. Show your warmth to someone
15. Show compassion
16. Experience Reiki
17. Put a Citrine crystal in the top left corner of your home for prosperity
18. Imagine yourself in a world of no material possessions - what's left?
19. Be creative in whatever way sets your passion alight.
20. Dance all night
21. Put all your favourite music on a CD and play it often.
22. Arrange meetings for work or with friends in bustling coffee shops
23. Use intuitive writing to help with challenges or issues
24. Read varied and read wide
25. Keep a journal of emotions, ideas, or anything
26. Take care of your heart - don't cross boundaries you shouldn't cross
27. Confide your ideas to people who are positive and constructive, not people who are negative and destructive
28. Create a haven in your home, garden or both and use it
29. Work on key priorities that will move you forward most of the time and minutia least of the time
30. Surround yourself with good people

Writing to Save Your Life - Honouring your story through journaling

Having read the book by Michele Weldon, 'Writing to Save Your Life', I was overwhelmed by the force with which it moved me. Her writing is like a melody sliding across each page, innocently drawing you into each word. Each challenge and issue you face is overpowered by a tender confidence.

If you're at a place in your life where change is inevitable, the book will dare you to step over the line - from the ordinary to to the exciting and scary.  The exercises will make the transition through your comfort zone, swift and beautiful. I felt like I had stepped over the line into a world that was carefree, creative and bright.

What is the alternative to writing to save your life and honouring yourself and your story? Do you find other creative outlets?  Do you use friends and family as therapists and counsellors? Do you suffer in silence?

Writing to unburden your soul is the most self aware, rewarding and enlightening thing you can do.

What am I good at?

What am I actually good at?  What is my profession?  The answer is easy if you have been trained as a doctor, baker, nurse, footballer or accountant etc.  But what if you have done a diverse amount of jobs in your life (or no job at all) and don't consider yourself master of anything. Questions like these arise at certain times in our lives that are a fundamental pillar to progression.

Many of my interests are also part of my work and I often feel like I am skimming the surface of so many different, yet wonderful things. But not having time to delve too deeply into any of them, I can no way become an expert in them.  What works for me is to engage people who provide the expertise I need, whilst I go on to develop knowledge in my subject area.

Does it matter that we are not experts in one thing?  Is it better and more exciting to be flexible, diverse and creative with the knowledge, skills and abilities we have and build on these?  For me, that's were reading and practical application comes in.  Training and education is important when the time is right, but gaining a valuable underpinning knowledge from books and experience is inspirational and progressive.

I often feel like a product of my creativity and not the other way around.  My head is so full of creative ideas every single day; ideas that I really want to pursue and take forward.  Perhaps when I get to the lucky postision of having a team in place to help move projects on, I can fully realise my true creative potential.

What is my purpose in life?  What really lights me up and sets my passion on fire?  Other fundamental questions that when married and answered with the first two will create an inspirational life worth living.

When these or any other questions arise that I need answers to, I find intuitive writing an excellent tool to help me. We have the innate ability to coach ourselves, to move ourselves forward and to answer the questions that we often want answered by outside influences.

Creative Journalling

Intuitive Writing Exercise

1. Open your journal to a clean page and date the top.  If you have a specific question you want answered then write the question at the top of the page now.   

2. Sit comfortably and relax your body into the chair.  Empty your mind of all the chatter that clutters your mind for a moment and try not to think about anything but being relaxed. Spend 5 minutes relaxing your body and mind.  Imagine yourself silencing your mind by creating a studio.  You are sat in the centre of the studio holding your journal and pen and you are mentally turning down the knob that removes all sounds from the room.

If you want a question answered move to number 3

If you want to access your subconscious move to number 4

3. Concentrate on the words you have written down, nothing else, just the words.  Let them enter your mind and move around without letting the chatter start again.  Just the words moving in and around your mind as you move the pen onto the page and write down the very first thought that comes to you and continue writing whilst the words are flowing.  Do not think about the words you are writing, just write whatever comes as fast as you can but not too fast that you miss anything.

4 . Just concentrate fully on emptying your mind and relaxing your body.  When you have stopped the chatter in your mind completely immediately write down whatever comes next and carry on writing whilst the words are flowing.  Do not think about the words you are writing, just write whatever comes as fast as you can but not too fast that you miss anything.

5. As soon as the words stop the exercise is over.  As soon as you feel like reading what you have wrote the exercise is over.

6. Look at what you have written.  Has your question been answered?  What has your subconscious been keeping logged that needs to be released?

 

© Creative Journalling Workshop.