Reflections: Flow and Shine
Pre-orders open: the Dare
to Blossom Rediscovery Cards No 2
'Coaching for
Coaches' and 'Coaching for Creatives'
Dare to Blossom
Monthly Circles on Zoom
January
2022 - "Grace and Flow" three weeks to step gently into the New Year
Reflections: Flow
and Shine
Do you choose a word
of the year? Last year I decided on two - Vision and Sanctuary. For 2022, two
again - Flow and Shine. If you read this newsletter last month, you may
remember I wrote about 'Grace and Flow' there, and that is part of the title of
the first programme this year (see more below).
For me, as I reflect now on Flow, and Shine, each describe ways I would like to
be during 2022. Ways that may help me to face whatever is coming for me
in the year ahead. However much we human beings like to make plans and look
forward, I have had that experience of everything changing in an instant.
The change is usually something that is not under my control. It may be
something I may judge to be 'negative' - an illness, a death, an
accident. Or something I see as 'positive' - a chance meeting, an offer
of work. And yet the outcomes of those things, the gifts they bring, can often
be completely unexpected.
For example, my experience of cancer, which began 28 years ago in May, was a
huge shock at the time, and yet looking back, in many ways my life changed for
the better afterwards.
'Go with the flow' can seem an easy option, even like giving up, yet for me it
is often the hardest. Do I continue fighting against the current, the
flow of the river taking me downstream? How do I know that 'upstream' is where
I want to be, need to be? A coaching client once had an insight related
to this when she drew the 'Surrender' card. She chose to see that as
surrender to the flow, and she described how she was often so focused on her
plans for her business, that even as she was allowing the flow to take her, she
was paddling hard to go even faster, looking far ahead to the ultimate
destination. She saw how, if she surrendered to the flow, allowed the current
to carry her at the speed of the river, then she had time to look around her on
either side, and she could choose to pull into the bank, on the left or right,
for a while.
Allowing the Flow,
and then daring to Shine? Ah, I wonder why I wrote 'daring'? Well, I suppose I
know why, although I feel a little sad that after all this time I still feel
that way, react that way. Small children simply shine their light, show
their natural selves, without thinking, without feeling they need to 'dare'. As
we get older we are taught, either directly or indirectly, to hide parts of ourselves
away.
Parts we may feel
are 'unacceptable' to others; too much in some way. Have you been told any of
these things? Too much, too loud, too quiet, too sensitive, too clever, too
bossy, too slow, too young, too old, too fat, too thin, too pretty, too plain,
too short, too tall, too clever, too...... The list could probably go on and
on, but I will stop now. In fact, I am already rather shocked at just how
many 'toos' came so quickly to my mind, and that I have probably been called
most if not all of those at some time in my life..
No wonder I felt I needed to hide away, to keep quiet. Like so many people, my
journey home to myself (those words that made me cry when I first heard them)
has been all about rediscovering all those parts of me. For a long time I felt
I had to be everything to everybody, do everything to help everyone, at the
cost of my own time, and sometimes, of my own health. That this was my purpose
in life, to serve by doing, and by being busy, busy, busy.
I gradually began to learn about Being rather than Doing. I love the metaphor
of the lighthouse. The purpose of a lighthouse is to stand tall and shine a
light to warn seafarers of the dangers of rocks below, often hidden beneath the
waves. That is all, the lighthouse simply has to stand still, visible as a tall
pillar, usually white in the UK, and at night seen by the unique signature of
the flashes of the light. If the lighthouse were somehow to run around the
coast trying to warn every passing ship, everywhere, of every danger - it would
not then be fulfilling the unique purpose of being present on one specific
headland or island.
Hartland Point
Lighthouse, North Devon
The same applies for
human beings. My purpose, your purpose, is to discover, rediscover, our unique
talents and gifts, and simply be ourselves. To shine our one unique light out
into the world. To sing our song, write our words, create our art, raise our
children, tend our gardens - what ever is right for you. You have this life to
share those things that only you can bring to the world, if any of us die with
our song unsung, then that gift is lost forever.
Yes, in doing all that I 'do' many things, and yet I now know that if I relate
what I do to my true purpose, to simply be myself (and to care for myself as I
do for others) - then I can authentically shine my light.
As I write, I remember another aspect of Flow: being 'in the flow' is that
place when we are completely in the moment, totally absorbed in what we are
doing. I go into that place, that 'zone' as some call it, when I am painting,
writing, creating. And, when I am walking in nature and simply being in the
wonder of the world - the pounding ocean breakers; the song of a robin over my
head in my garden; bending to see the tiny violets blossoming by a footpath even
now, at the end of December. Flow and Shine come together at those times for
me.
All this has now come together in the theme for the first full six week
programme of 2022, the provisional title is "Step gently into your
personal power - and shine". (More details will be available soon, the
planned start date is 14th February.)
For you, for your
journal, meditations, doodles:
- What does 'flow' mean for you?
- When have you experienced flow in your life?
- How can you bring more of those experiences into your day to
day?
- What does 'shine' mean for you?
Pre-orders
open: the Dare to Blossom Rediscovery Cards No 2
For years, people
have been asking me to publish a second set of 50 cards. Those who are in the
'word of the day' Facebook group 'Dare to Blossom into Joy',
may have already heard about this, and some people have contributed suggestions
for the new words. Thank you if you were one of them, I ended up with well over
a hundred words and then had the enjoyable task of whittling them down to
fifty.
The process of getting them formatted to print is quite complicated so I have
been quite resistant. However, with help from the wonderful customer
service team at my printers (moo.com) who were working over Christmas, I have
now ordered two proof sets.
If you would like to pre-order a set now, there is a link here for you to do
that - if you would like to order more than one, or to add on the original set
too, contact me first as I will be able to reduce shipping costs by sending
them together.
'Coaching for Coaches'
and 'Coaching for Creatives'
If you are thinking about whether coaching may be the type of support you are
looking for, simply contact me to arrange an initial chat over a cuppa on Zoom.
This will help you decide if my approach might be helpful for you, and if you
feel comfortable talking to me. It is important to decide this for yourself in
advance of committing to a coaching programme. I also find it useful to be able
to assess whether it feels good for us to work together. If it didn't for any
reason I have a big network of coaching contacts I could suggest for you once I
know more about what you are looking for.
Often, once you take what can seem a large, and sometimes daunting, step of
contacting me to arrange to chat, you will find that what I offer is perfect
for you, at this time. There is no pressure to book, you can go away and
consider - and, if you have got this far, why miss the opportunity? Why not
book your coaching programme to begin whenever feels right in 2022? If
not now, then when?
I find that many of
those I speak with are creative people who coach (in the broadest sense of that
word), and/or coaches who are creative. In any case each of us creates our
world in the way we respond to the events that we are presented with, the choices
we make. If you would like to make an active decision to dare to blossom, I
have capacity in my diary for two or three more one to one clients, so please
do contact me to book that
initial chat if you are intrigued. Click on the flower image to go to the
webpage for more details.
PS despite the titles, you do not need to be a coach (although many service
businesses use coaching skills in their work with clients without seeing it as
such). You may not think you are creative - and yet, we all are creating our
lives, through our responses to the circumstances we are confronted with,
moment by moment.
Dare
to Blossom Monthly Circles on Zoom
The monthly circles
are currently scheduled for Saturdays at 10.00 am. The next is Saturday 8th
January. You can book on Facebook or LinkedIn, or simply
reply to this email and ask me for the Zoom link. Payment is by donation,
depending on your circumstances. People offer from zero to £30. I host the
circles with no expectation, simply deep gratitude for your presence.
In 2022, I will be trying out an evening event also, towards the end of each
month, starting on Monday 24th January at 7.30 pm UK time. This may suit people
in the Americas, Pacific regions, Australia or New Zealand, and those of you
not free on Saturday mornings. Again, simply contact me to reserve a place.
January 2022 - "Grace and
Flow" three weeks to step gently into the New Year
A gentle start to 2022, with an invitation to join me for
three weeks. We will have a weekly live Zoom gathering, a private Facebook
group (or you can receive the prompts by email if you prefer).
There are two taster sessions in January on Tuesday 4th at 10.00 am,
and Thursday 6th at 7.30 pm
(UK times) You are most welcome to join us simply to enjoy receiving some
cards drawn for you and to experience a Magic Carpet Ride guided
visualisation. Book to join on Facebook by clicking the links or simply reply
to this email to ask for the Zoom link.
The three week gentle flow begins on 10th January, with the first Zoom gathering
at 10.00 am on Tuesday 11th (possibly with a second call at 7.30 pm on the
Thursday depending on those who join us).
The fee to join us is £68. I am pleased to say this is definitely going ahead
as there are already enough people interested for me to host the Tuesday calls.
All the details are here, and simply reply to this email if you have any questions.
with love,
I send wishes for health and happiness for you and all you love.
Thank you for joining me here this month, any thoughts, feedback, or questions
are always welcome.
Mary
