Wreck this Journal: Wreckage Week 1

Today is the first day of The Next Chapter: Wreck this Journal, and I already have memories I will treasure!

I decided to dive in with what I find hardest - food and the journal (ick!) Well, I started a bit gently with drink: coffee. I giggled as I stuck my finger in my coffee and flicked my fingers, spraying drops across the page. It was fun and felt totally transgressive.

So, I showed my husband. He looked at me and said, "Jamie, I don't think you're embracing the full spirit of the book. Let's go." And this is what we did next:


I love my husband. He inspired me to play a bigger game!

Reminders: The Next Chapter & Dreamboards

Just a couple of reminders of some wonderful things that are coming up. Friday, June 5 is the third session of The Next Chapter. We'll be adventuring through Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith. It's never too late to join us. You can find out more or sign up here.

And Sunday June 7 it's time once again for Full Moon Dreamboards - and for the first time ever I'm hosting them live in Toronto as well as online. It's going to be so much fun! (I feel like I'm saying that a lot lately, which is a great thing!) This month we will be experiencing a moon of many names but one delicious mood - the Full Strawberry Moon, the Full Honey Moon, the Full Rose Moon. Let that juicy, sensual energy inspire your June dreams.

If you want to know about participating on line, click here.
If you want to know more making dreamboards together in Toronto, click here.

1 Week Until We Wreck This Journal

The third session of The Next Chapter is almost here. Starting next Friday, our book blogging group will be adventuring through Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith.

Wondering whether you'd like to participate? Let's see if this little note from the book helps you make up your mind:

From the first page: "Warning: During the process of this book you will get dirty. You may find yourself covered in paint, or any other number of foreign substances. You will get wet. You may be asked to do things you question. You may grieve for the perfect state that you found the book in. You may begin to see creative destruction everywhere. You may begin to live more recklessly."

To join or to find out more, click here.

Secret #6: Conquering Saboteurs

When I was a little girl, I was very excited to learn how to skate. I had the most beautiful red skating dress with a skirt that would swirl when I turned. I imagined myself moving with speed and grace, dancing on the ice. Wonderful. I could hardly wait. I put my tender little skated feet onto the ice and promptly fell on my bum.

I never skated again.

Thinking back, I'm not sure whether it was the shock or the indignity that made me walk away. It was certainly a blow to my confidence to recognize the distance between what I dreamed of for myself and what was true in the moment.

I'm still a sensitive soul profoundly attached to my dignity. I can be shutdown by criticism. Fear of embarrassment or getting it wrong or not being good enough can hold me back. But my spirit is always aching to grow, to try new things, to go on the next adventure, to risk, to try, to believe something amazing is possible if only I show up. And so I do. And here are some of the things that I have learned and that help me. Maybe they'll help you too.

• Respect your creative cycles. There are times in your process when your precious idea or your creative self is simply too tender for criticism and judgment. And there are other times when feedback and sharing can help shape your creation and guide you in taking the next step.
  
• Create/find a safe rehearsal space. If you're going to grow, there will be times when you have to stretch and do things you have never done before. It may not be graceful. You may fall on your butt. Give yourself some time and space to do that - free of judgment, including your own.
  
• Have support. It helps to have some loving friends, a supportive accountability group, an encouraging coach, an empowering blogging community, a trusted journal.
• Be gentle with you. When I fall on my bum, it's time for a hot chocolate, a deep breath and a reminder that it's all okay.
• Celebrate your strengths. In fact, not only is it okay, but it's a time to remember that in a lot of things I rock. Maybe I couldn't skate back then but I could dance, ride a bike and find my way around the neighbourhood!
  
• Accept yourself and all of your sensitivities. This is not about changing who you are. It is about knowing how to best work with your own unique set of characteristics. One of my gifts is that I'm sensitive. It makes me good at what I do. But I need to know how it serves me and also how to be with it when it gets in my way.
  
• Choose your adventures. There are some things that may not be worth the discomfort and hassle. To be honest, I don't really care that I don't know how to skate. It's way too cold out there for me! But then there are things that I really want to do that involve risking and potentially failing - running my own business, launching a new idea, putting on a show - and for that, I'm willing to fall on my bum.
  
• The world won't end. As I've gone through life, sometimes I've fallen on my bum but sometimes I've shone. Often I've had fun and memorable experiences. Each time I've grown. Not one time has it been the end of the world. So, I'm going to keep showing up and seeing what happens. I'll just bring my sense of adventure with me.

How do you conquer your saboteurs?

Secret #5: Committing to Self-Focus

As I read this chapter of 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women for The Next Chapter, I found myself getting drawn into debates over everything from semantics to feminism. The more I thought about this secret, the more I wanted to tease apart its components. As I pulled on the threads, I discovered my beliefs.

Jamie's Thought Threads on Self-Focus

• The world needs your gifts. Be generous by developing and sharing them.
• What calls your spirit deserves your attention.
• You are here to be who you are.
  
• Love means supporting each other's dreams.
  
• Let people love you by supporting you in the pursuit of your dreams.
• It is a gift to model fulfillment and self-expression.
• In a family, everyone is equally important.
• You can't be in relationship if you leave yourself out.
• If you don't pay attention to your self, your wants and needs, you will get lost.
• Know yourself by spending time by yourself.
  
• Boundaries are healthy.
• Distractions can be fear talking.
• Discernment plays a role in the creative process. Judgment shuts it down.
• We each have our own way.
• There is a distinction to be made between focusing on your creative work and focusing on your self.
• Self-care is a part of the creative process.
• Focus is a way of expressing your respect and love.
• Respect for your work starts with you.
• Your development as an artist requires time and attention, as does your development as a person.
• Women create powerful, loving, supportive communities.
• We are tribal beings in pursuit of self-actualization. Shifting between intimacy and individuation is a part of the journey.

Secret #4: Surrendering to Creative Cycles

I call them the dark days.

I think of them as stormy weather systems rolling in. They build in the distance. I can feel the pressure change, sense that something's coming. Soon clouds descend and I'm full on in the midst of a mood. I've made a study of this particular weather phenomenon. Here is what I've learned.

Characteristics of "The Mood"

• appearance of soul-gripping doubt
• heart-stabbing, knife-turning jealousy
• tendency to anger combined with desire to be verbally venomous
  
• disinterest in anything remotely resembling productivity
• complete denial of all positive indicators in favour of any and every negative sign
• patience meter reads 'empty'
  
• hypersensitivity to criticism
• fear, fear, fear, fear

Mood Predictors

Over time, I've discovered that storm patterns do have some key indicators. These dark days often arrive:

• when I'm not expressing myself creatively
• when something finishes
• the Tuesday before my period
• when I haven't had enough "me" time
• when I haven't had enough time with my honey
• after a disappointment
• when I'm overtired, overextended, mired in detail
• when there's something I need to say
  
• when I'm stuck in unending, repetitive routine
• when I'm undecided
• on the bridge
  
• and most often - for no discernible reason at all
  

Mood Survival

I've learned that these storms are part of my own personal landscape, the natural weather patterns of Jamie.

To weather the storms I...

• Come back to routines that I know work: morning pages and journaling
• Move my body. Walks and Nia work really well for me.
• Eat vitamin-rich foods... and chocolate.
  
• Admit I'm in a mood.
• Talk it out.
• Indulge in a pyjama day.
  
• Watch a tear-inspiring movie.
  
• Change something.
• Let myself feel what I feel.

What's the weather system like in your personal landscape?

Secret #3: Following Your Fascinations

This week at The Next Chapter: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women we're talking about following our fascinations, an adventure that takes heart, courage and support.

Bolstering Your Staying Power

Here are some things that help bolster my courage and support me when I'm risking:

• being well-rested, well-prepared and well-dressed
• doing everything I can to make it easier, then diving in and getting it done
• having candid and vulnerable conversations with loved ones about my hopes and fears
• reminding myself of the things I've already done that were even scarier
• being reminded I am loved and that there are people who believe in me
• asking for help and/or support
  
• having a coach
  
• bringing a friend
• connecting to my body through touch, slowing down, breathing, moving
• my encouragement box
• Reiki
• trusting the Universe
• knowing it's my job to step up and let the Universe know this is what I really want
• being willing to pay the price (Have you seen The Miss Firecracker Contest?)
• believing in myself, trusting that I can bear the results either way
• getting some perspective on the risk I'm taking (e.g. No one's going to die, it won't be the end of the world...)
• appreciating all that I love in my life
  
• being clear on why I'm taking the risk
  
• having a cheering section
• knowing the kind of person I want to be in this world
• taking quiet time with the Universe
• taking the initiative (I strongly prefer taking a step to being pushed)
• giving myself time to recover afterwards
• thinking of it as an adventure, reminding myself I simply don't know what's going to happen next. Anything's possible.
• booking a celebration to mark having taken the risk, honouring my bravery, regardless of the results

What risk will I take this week?

I've been risking all over the map these past couple of weeks. This week, I will risk writing a press release about The Next Chapter and sending it to at least 3 media centres. (I'm hearing in my head all the reasons why I can't/shouldn't do it [I'm going to have to visit the Vault] so it's a definite go. Wish me luck!)

The Next Chapter: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women

It was such a joy to work through Soul Coaching by Denise Linn with an amazing group of inspiring, beautiful spirits. So much so, in fact, that it inspired me to start another group in January. Starting January 9, I'll be leading a group through The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women. We'll go through one chapter a week, sharing our responses and the journey.

• If you're interested in finding more, simply click here.
• If you know you want to dive right in and join the excitement, email me at jamie (at) openthedoor (dot) ca with your name and the address of the blog on which you'll be posting.

I'm already looking forward to 2009!

Introducing: The Next Chapter

The Next Chapter

An Adventure in Book Blogging

Some of you probably know all about book blogging. If you do, I hope you're already excited about the possibilities. And for those who don't, the concept is that a group of bloggers work their way through a book, sharing their experiences by posting on their own blog and by reading what other participants are sharing. You can choose to share as much or as little as you like.

The Book: Soul Coaching: 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self

Starting November 1, 2008, I will be hosting a blog book group to work through Denise Linn's powerful book, Soul Coaching. This book is about clearing the way to connecting to your true spirit. We're going to do it in tandem with NaBloPoMo, so if you were hoping to participate in that but unsure what you were going to write every day, you're in luck!

My hope is that we will such a magnificent time full of connection and growth that The Next Chapter will become a regular place to blog through books on various creative and self-development topics.

For more information and to participate in The Next Chapter: Soul Coaching, click here.