“Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then go about making sure it doesn't happen.” - Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby
Underneath any unwanted self-sabotaging pattern of behavior is fear. These undesirable experiences can include career self-sabotage, any form of addiction, workaholic or shopaholic lifestyles, a series of bad relationships in your personal and professional life and constant financial struggles.
Repeating the past and making the same mistakes is repetition compulsion. You are repeating the past, making the same mistakes, and constantly complaining about the results – and yet we keep doing it! Why do people keep repeating bad experiences over and over again? Because, even though unwanted, this perpetual state of circumstance has become the comfort zone. People cling to comfort zones because they are known, familiar, and therefore 'safe'. Moving beyond comfort zones into new territory, even if desired, is a scary prospect.
Repeating past experiences involves recreating the same dynamics that you experienced as a child. If your childhood was filled with conditioning that invalidated your authenticity as a creative spirit, then you may be more comfortable living with people who invalidate you as an artist as an adult. You may have been told repeatedly that you could never earn a living as an actor, painter, drummer in a band or novelist. You pick a partner who tells you to put aside your passion and go get a 'real job'. This is repeating the past. If you spent your childhood as the good kid who didn't cause trouble and always minded her manner, you may be inclined to make people happy and have become the perpetual obsequious people pleaser. Again, you're repeating your past and making the same mistake.
Unwanted repeated patterns of behavior often involves getting into business relationships with people who take advantage of you, or accepting jobs that don't offer a chance of promotion or professional development. Repeating the past is pursuing the same dead ends over and over again, or engaging in the same self-destructive behavior. It's making the same mistakes. To stop repeating the past, you must first determine if you are repeating the past.
The place to begin is to discover what stops you from moving beyond a comfort zone that is clearly not working for you. What are you afraid of? What could happen if you change the way you show up in your world? What would it mean to live centered in the truth of who you are, authentically, and in integrity with your passions and dreams for your future?
"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." - Jim Morrison
Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them. Fear often shows up in the form of the woefully misguided Inner Critic. Your Inner Critic works hard to keep you safe, keep you in that comfort zone. If you try to move beyond the comfort zone the Inner Critic will serve up fear and drama to pull you back to where it believes you will be safe.
The goal isn't to get rid of this Inner Critic, this fear. The goal is to recognize it when it presents itself, examine it and master the fear so you can effectively transition into newer and better patterns of behavior. One way to tell that you are making choices and acting from a place of fear is when you are Finding Excuses And Reasons (F.E.A.R.) to do or not do something so that you can ultimately stay right where you are, hold yourself back.
Here are 4 steps to examine your self-sabotaging pattern of behavior.
1. State the pattern, the repeating unwanted experience.
Unwanted experiences can include unsupportive or even damaging personal and business relationships or performance anxiety of any kind including stage performances, auditions, interviews, networking, presenting your work to a person of authority and calling up your agent.
2. Examine the beliefs and thought processes that lead to the choices and actions that created the unwanted experience. Ask yourself, "What within me is creating this experience over and over again?"
Common fear based thoughts and beliefs include a fear of criticism or rejection that are stated in as an "I'm not ________ (talented, smart, young, pretty, experienced, etc.) enough".
2. Test the validity of the underlying fear.
Is the fear true? Is it absolutely true? Can you identify any experience where you were, indeed - enough? Can you identify other people or other events that fly in the face of this belief? For example, if you are over 40 and you believe there are no roles for actors over 40 can to find any examples of actors over 40 who are working steadily in their craft? What specific circumstances trigger your fear? Is there a pattern? Can you think of an early experience of this fear? What happened?
3. What would your life be like if you didn't cling onto your comfort zone? Who would you be, what would you have, what could you do if you didn't have this fear running you?
Imagine and visualize yourself showing up in your life every day as that person. Try it on even if only as a costume at first. What choice would a person living that life make as the events of your day unfolds?
4. Check how you feel.
Your emotions are indicators of whether you've moved into or out of fear. Simply stated, you don't feel good when you are functioning from a place of fear. You can experience that sick in the pit of your stomach feeling, physical symptoms such as sweaty palms or a desire to Fuggedabout Everything And Run (F.E.A.R.). From now on this feeling is a signal to you to stop and take a moment to deliberately and clearly make a newer and better choice; a choice that will result in a different action that will deliver a better outcome, a different experience that breaks the unwanted pattern of behavior from the past.
If you're feeling good about yourself, your potential and the opportunities available to you then you are mastering your fear. You are headed in the direction of your dreams. You have moved beyond the old unwanted comfort zone into a new zone that supports your desires. If at some point you notice that you slipped back into that not so good feeling of fear just know that you are reacting to the voice of that frightened little Inner Critic who is still scared of this new way of being. Calm it down as you would a 4 year old and show this Inner Critic that you are still very safe even if you venture into newer and bigger experiences.
"Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is freedom."- Marilyn Ferguson
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who helps creative people get out of their own way so that they can move beyond the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips"!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Discover Your Muse: Intuition
“The only real valuable thing is intuition.” - Albert Einstein
Everyone was born with the magical power of intuition. Intuition is a clear flow of information that is available to you that is aligned with you highest path and purpose. Intuition is one of the most amazing resources at your disposal. Heeding the wisdom of your intuition will help you avoid roadblocks and unwanted detours as you create your life experience. So why do so many people either ignore or throw their intuition, that gut instinct, down the proverbial garbage disposal? What makes a person go against intuition, their 'better instincts' in favor of another choice that never results in a good outcome?
“I feel there are two people inside me - me and my intuition. If I go against her, she'll screw me every time, and if I follow her, we get along quite nicely.” - Kim Basinger
What some people refer to as 'me' is not really who they are. The 'me' they refer to is that monkey mind of thoughts and beliefs that hold you back from expressing your highest potential. That monkey mind is your well-meaning yet woefully misguided Inner Critic.
Your intuition is a reflection of your higher self, your soul, or what I playfully call the Wizard Within.
Review the events of your life. Do you remember times when you had an intuitive insight that what you were about to do wasn't a good choice? Did you go ahead and act on that choice anyway? What was the result? Was there a time when you listened to and acted upon that calm gut instinct? What was the resulting experience?
It is important to note that there is a clear distinction between a calm, knowing intuitive thought and a thought based in fear and self-doubt. The latter will not feel good. Instead of a clear gut feeling your will feel a little sick to your stomach, frightened. Pay attention to how you feel to determine whether you are paying attention to the fearful Inner Critic or the intuitive Wizard Within.
“You must train your intuition - you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide” - Ingrid Bergman
Now that you are mindfully aware of the power of intuition that is your birthright you have a higher level of responsibility for the consequences of your choices. Your intuition will always tell you clearly that any given circumstance is not in alignment with your truth, your highest good. Sometimes what your intuition tells you to do is not the easiest choice. It is at that moment that some people chose to listen to the Inner Critic who offers a path of least resistance, a choice that is easier, less 'scary'.
Tapping into your intuition to weigh in on your choices and decisions takes guts. Perhaps that's why the voice of your intuition, your inspiration is called a gut instinct.
“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.” - Alan Alda
When you were born you tapped into your intuition effortlessly. Constantly paying attention to the inner wisdom of your higher self you playfully explored your new environment. You learned and grew at an amazing speed. However, as your world expanded you began to seek guidance from external resources rather than by tapping into your intuition. Most children are not taught to rely on the wisdom and knowledge of their higher self. Instead, they are taught that they don't know much of anything yet and must rely upon the wisdom of other people, other external resources. As these children grow up they forget that there is an infinite stream of knowledge and guidance already at their fingertips. Even children are aware of this intuitive resource they often ignore it in favor of the "should do and think" guidance of others.
"Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know." - Anthony J D'Angelo
The well-meaning wisdom of others often is the collective voice of the fears and self-doubts of the conditioned spirit. Often this advice is centered upon what cannot be done instead of what can be. This 'play it safe' mentality is the embodiment of the Inner Critic. The Inner Critic is very confused about your truth and the truth of what it fears. It is not in alignment with your purpose, your passion, and will drown out the voice of your intuition as a result of this fear.
The flow of information that is in alignment with your truth and your passions is available to you at all times. All you have to do to access this powerful asset is to ask what your higher being want in a particular situation. Center yourself, perhaps with a little deep and slow breathing, to quiet the chatterbox Inner Critic. Out of the stillness will come the voice of your intuition, your muse.
"Spend time every day listening to what your muse is trying to tell you." - Barb Miller, Author
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who helps creative people get out of their own way so that they can move overcome the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips"!
Everyone was born with the magical power of intuition. Intuition is a clear flow of information that is available to you that is aligned with you highest path and purpose. Intuition is one of the most amazing resources at your disposal. Heeding the wisdom of your intuition will help you avoid roadblocks and unwanted detours as you create your life experience. So why do so many people either ignore or throw their intuition, that gut instinct, down the proverbial garbage disposal? What makes a person go against intuition, their 'better instincts' in favor of another choice that never results in a good outcome?
“I feel there are two people inside me - me and my intuition. If I go against her, she'll screw me every time, and if I follow her, we get along quite nicely.” - Kim Basinger
What some people refer to as 'me' is not really who they are. The 'me' they refer to is that monkey mind of thoughts and beliefs that hold you back from expressing your highest potential. That monkey mind is your well-meaning yet woefully misguided Inner Critic.
Your intuition is a reflection of your higher self, your soul, or what I playfully call the Wizard Within.
Review the events of your life. Do you remember times when you had an intuitive insight that what you were about to do wasn't a good choice? Did you go ahead and act on that choice anyway? What was the result? Was there a time when you listened to and acted upon that calm gut instinct? What was the resulting experience?
It is important to note that there is a clear distinction between a calm, knowing intuitive thought and a thought based in fear and self-doubt. The latter will not feel good. Instead of a clear gut feeling your will feel a little sick to your stomach, frightened. Pay attention to how you feel to determine whether you are paying attention to the fearful Inner Critic or the intuitive Wizard Within.
“You must train your intuition - you must trust the small voice inside you which tells you exactly what to say, what to decide” - Ingrid Bergman
Now that you are mindfully aware of the power of intuition that is your birthright you have a higher level of responsibility for the consequences of your choices. Your intuition will always tell you clearly that any given circumstance is not in alignment with your truth, your highest good. Sometimes what your intuition tells you to do is not the easiest choice. It is at that moment that some people chose to listen to the Inner Critic who offers a path of least resistance, a choice that is easier, less 'scary'.
Tapping into your intuition to weigh in on your choices and decisions takes guts. Perhaps that's why the voice of your intuition, your inspiration is called a gut instinct.
“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.” - Alan Alda
When you were born you tapped into your intuition effortlessly. Constantly paying attention to the inner wisdom of your higher self you playfully explored your new environment. You learned and grew at an amazing speed. However, as your world expanded you began to seek guidance from external resources rather than by tapping into your intuition. Most children are not taught to rely on the wisdom and knowledge of their higher self. Instead, they are taught that they don't know much of anything yet and must rely upon the wisdom of other people, other external resources. As these children grow up they forget that there is an infinite stream of knowledge and guidance already at their fingertips. Even children are aware of this intuitive resource they often ignore it in favor of the "should do and think" guidance of others.
"Listen to your intuition. It will tell you everything you need to know." - Anthony J D'Angelo
The well-meaning wisdom of others often is the collective voice of the fears and self-doubts of the conditioned spirit. Often this advice is centered upon what cannot be done instead of what can be. This 'play it safe' mentality is the embodiment of the Inner Critic. The Inner Critic is very confused about your truth and the truth of what it fears. It is not in alignment with your purpose, your passion, and will drown out the voice of your intuition as a result of this fear.
The flow of information that is in alignment with your truth and your passions is available to you at all times. All you have to do to access this powerful asset is to ask what your higher being want in a particular situation. Center yourself, perhaps with a little deep and slow breathing, to quiet the chatterbox Inner Critic. Out of the stillness will come the voice of your intuition, your muse.
"Spend time every day listening to what your muse is trying to tell you." - Barb Miller, Author
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who helps creative people get out of their own way so that they can move overcome the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips"!
Monday, May 18, 2009
What it Takes to Actualize Your Creative Talents
“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?” - Benjamin Franklin
The most exciting place to discover and actualize your talent is in yourself. What does it mean to realize your talents, and how do you do it? When you actualize your talents you understand them clearly and bring them forth out into the world. Understanding and expressing your talent is an active, continuing process of knowing what you can do and who you are, at your deepest level.
People who actualize their talents actively participate in the ongoing process in which one's abilities are fully, creatively and enthusiastically expressed.
"Self actualization means working to do well the thing that one wants to do." - Abraham Maslow
The roots of developing your natural talents are in your learning and coping skills. Do you seek opportunities to learn and grow, stretch beyond your current abilities even if part of the process includes mistakes and criticism? Or do you keep safely within limitations that allow you to evade judgment and vulnerability? Authenticity, self-confidence and self-worth development is an important to the expansion of your talents as is the mastery of actual skills and knowledge.
Emotional intelligence, mental health challenges and other aspects of being human can impact how you relate to the world and other people, and express your talents. Living authentically with passion and purpose instead of though the well-meaning 'should-be and suppose to' directions of others is essential to your growth as a creative person in all areas of your life. How you react, and your awareness level of your reactions, to the events of your life shape your ability to express your potential.
As with suppressing emotions, suppressing your natural creative talents ultimately results in dissatisfaction and depression. Simply put, holding yourself back is bad for your health, emotionally and physically. Expressing your creative talent is not just about splashing paint on canvas or writing or performing in the latest Broadway hit. Full creative expression involves the application of certain attitudes, such as curiosity, metamorphosis, playfulness and
experimentation, to any aspect of life
“Authentic treachery is found when we abandon ourselves, becoming deaf to the whispers of our spirits and blind to the powerful potential therein" - Joaquin Mariel Espinosa
To live creatively, actualizing your talents, is to live your life in the moment and at full-blast. If your ego, that woefully misguided Inner Critic, has held you back from living out loud in your creative expression, disarm it; take away its power to direct your choices, actions and that which you experience. Tell it that it can come along for the ride but for the rest of your life journey, your Inner Critic will sit in the back seat, perhaps with a bankie and a sippy cup.
There's an easy way to determine whether or not you are expressing or suppressing your natural talents. Pay attention to how you feel. If you're tired, unmotivated, or unfulfilled you are holding yourself back. You have given your personal and creative powers over to your Inner Critic. If you feel good, productive and full of energy then you have tapped into the vast resource that is your birthright, your personal power, inborn talent and higher self - or what I playfully call the Wizard Within.
The Wizard Within knows you by heart. She knows your truth, purpose and passion in life. She is the voice of your intuition and inspiration. She is your Muse. Reclaim your personal power, acknowledge, honor and nurture your talents that are your birthright to mindfully and intentionally maximize your full potential.
"Speak, look and act in the direction of your dreams." - the Wizard Within
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who Help creative people get out of their own way so that they can move overcome the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips"!
The most exciting place to discover and actualize your talent is in yourself. What does it mean to realize your talents, and how do you do it? When you actualize your talents you understand them clearly and bring them forth out into the world. Understanding and expressing your talent is an active, continuing process of knowing what you can do and who you are, at your deepest level.
People who actualize their talents actively participate in the ongoing process in which one's abilities are fully, creatively and enthusiastically expressed.
"Self actualization means working to do well the thing that one wants to do." - Abraham Maslow
The roots of developing your natural talents are in your learning and coping skills. Do you seek opportunities to learn and grow, stretch beyond your current abilities even if part of the process includes mistakes and criticism? Or do you keep safely within limitations that allow you to evade judgment and vulnerability? Authenticity, self-confidence and self-worth development is an important to the expansion of your talents as is the mastery of actual skills and knowledge.
Emotional intelligence, mental health challenges and other aspects of being human can impact how you relate to the world and other people, and express your talents. Living authentically with passion and purpose instead of though the well-meaning 'should-be and suppose to' directions of others is essential to your growth as a creative person in all areas of your life. How you react, and your awareness level of your reactions, to the events of your life shape your ability to express your potential.
As with suppressing emotions, suppressing your natural creative talents ultimately results in dissatisfaction and depression. Simply put, holding yourself back is bad for your health, emotionally and physically. Expressing your creative talent is not just about splashing paint on canvas or writing or performing in the latest Broadway hit. Full creative expression involves the application of certain attitudes, such as curiosity, metamorphosis, playfulness and
experimentation, to any aspect of life
“Authentic treachery is found when we abandon ourselves, becoming deaf to the whispers of our spirits and blind to the powerful potential therein" - Joaquin Mariel Espinosa
To live creatively, actualizing your talents, is to live your life in the moment and at full-blast. If your ego, that woefully misguided Inner Critic, has held you back from living out loud in your creative expression, disarm it; take away its power to direct your choices, actions and that which you experience. Tell it that it can come along for the ride but for the rest of your life journey, your Inner Critic will sit in the back seat, perhaps with a bankie and a sippy cup.
There's an easy way to determine whether or not you are expressing or suppressing your natural talents. Pay attention to how you feel. If you're tired, unmotivated, or unfulfilled you are holding yourself back. You have given your personal and creative powers over to your Inner Critic. If you feel good, productive and full of energy then you have tapped into the vast resource that is your birthright, your personal power, inborn talent and higher self - or what I playfully call the Wizard Within.
The Wizard Within knows you by heart. She knows your truth, purpose and passion in life. She is the voice of your intuition and inspiration. She is your Muse. Reclaim your personal power, acknowledge, honor and nurture your talents that are your birthright to mindfully and intentionally maximize your full potential.
"Speak, look and act in the direction of your dreams." - the Wizard Within
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who Help creative people get out of their own way so that they can move overcome the struggles that often come packaged with the life of a visual & performing artist. Clients learn how to express their full potential deliberately & responsibly to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips"!
Friday, May 15, 2009
How to Discover True Nature vs. Conditioned Nurture
The most empowering question anyone can ask of a child, or even an adult, is "Who do you want to be when you grow up?" A child will respond with wide-eyed wonderment and enthusiasm while the adult will often respond with a woeful look of that was then, this is now retort.
"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." ~ Raymond Hull
Who did you want to be when you grew up? Superman? A Ninja-Turtle? Nancy Drew, Andy Warhol? Did you want to be a movie star, astronaut, teacher, or doctor? Who did you admire? Madonna? Albert Einstein? Mother Teresa? Lucille Ball? Who's life 'spoke' to you? What famous person, literary or movie character, or favorite relative did you want to be just like when you grew up?
Whoever you aspired to be reflects who you are, your true nature. It's not the person you adored, it's what they're attributes represented. It was their boldness, strength, creative spirit, can do attitude that inspired you. Perhaps it was how they served others that touched your heart. Whatever it was, the characteristics of the people who you aspired to be reflect your own. That's why you love the way these personalities make you feel when you think of who they are, what they have and what they do. You always love the reflection of you, your true self.
"No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one." - Hawthorne
What you don't love is an inauthentic reflection. Many adults look in the mirror and find a stranger looking back. Who is this person? What have I become? Where my early hopes and desires just frivolous childish musings or did I get on the wrong boat somewhere? If you've have such 'who am I?" thoughts then, yes, you did turn left when you really wanted to turn right somewhere along your life journey.
The good news is that it's never too late to turn around and get on the right, authentic, road. Authentic living is where the joy is found. Authentic living removes the shackles that hold you back and keep you from actualizing those childhood dreams. Turning from a conditioned nurtured life to an authentic natural way of life is as easy as getting on a bus. Simply show up as whom you aspire to be.
This doesn't mean that tomorrow you're going to run through the city in a red cape and tights jumping from one building to the next. Showing up authentically means showing up with confidence in your abilities, helping others, being strong in character with a solid sense of purpose and responsibility if Superman is who caught your attention as a child. It means showing up comfortable in your own skin, with conviction and without concern of judgment if Madonna was your idol. It means allowing yourself to stretch way beyond your comfort zone into unknown territories if you wanted to be the next John Glenn and walk on the moon.
As you look bleary-eyed into the bathroom mirror in the morning, great the day and claim your inner Steven Spielberg or Gloria Steinem. If you're facing a difficult decision ask what the person you admire would do, what would your inner being do or want? You will discover the your life opens up to new possibilities, renewed energy and purpose.
"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" - Gloria Steinem
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." ~ Raymond Hull
Who did you want to be when you grew up? Superman? A Ninja-Turtle? Nancy Drew, Andy Warhol? Did you want to be a movie star, astronaut, teacher, or doctor? Who did you admire? Madonna? Albert Einstein? Mother Teresa? Lucille Ball? Who's life 'spoke' to you? What famous person, literary or movie character, or favorite relative did you want to be just like when you grew up?
Whoever you aspired to be reflects who you are, your true nature. It's not the person you adored, it's what they're attributes represented. It was their boldness, strength, creative spirit, can do attitude that inspired you. Perhaps it was how they served others that touched your heart. Whatever it was, the characteristics of the people who you aspired to be reflect your own. That's why you love the way these personalities make you feel when you think of who they are, what they have and what they do. You always love the reflection of you, your true self.
"No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one." - Hawthorne
What you don't love is an inauthentic reflection. Many adults look in the mirror and find a stranger looking back. Who is this person? What have I become? Where my early hopes and desires just frivolous childish musings or did I get on the wrong boat somewhere? If you've have such 'who am I?" thoughts then, yes, you did turn left when you really wanted to turn right somewhere along your life journey.
The good news is that it's never too late to turn around and get on the right, authentic, road. Authentic living is where the joy is found. Authentic living removes the shackles that hold you back and keep you from actualizing those childhood dreams. Turning from a conditioned nurtured life to an authentic natural way of life is as easy as getting on a bus. Simply show up as whom you aspire to be.
This doesn't mean that tomorrow you're going to run through the city in a red cape and tights jumping from one building to the next. Showing up authentically means showing up with confidence in your abilities, helping others, being strong in character with a solid sense of purpose and responsibility if Superman is who caught your attention as a child. It means showing up comfortable in your own skin, with conviction and without concern of judgment if Madonna was your idol. It means allowing yourself to stretch way beyond your comfort zone into unknown territories if you wanted to be the next John Glenn and walk on the moon.
As you look bleary-eyed into the bathroom mirror in the morning, great the day and claim your inner Steven Spielberg or Gloria Steinem. If you're facing a difficult decision ask what the person you admire would do, what would your inner being do or want? You will discover the your life opens up to new possibilities, renewed energy and purpose.
"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" - Gloria Steinem
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Top 3 Creative Sinkholes
In my conversations with artists, actors, writers, singers and musicians I've noticed a pattern of three 'sinkholes' that suck the creative energy right out of a person. There are various nuances and sub-categories within the top three but for the sake of brevity I've sorted the big energy drainers into the following three funnels:
1. Living a Conditioned, Nurtured Life
"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is." - Albert Camus
Wherever you struggle in life; in your career, your finances, or in your personal and professional relationships is where you are living through your nurture instead of your true nature. Dr. Jekyll (of Jekyll and Hyde fame) said, "you drink a few glasses of whiskey, and see if your behavior doesn't change". While this is a slight hyperbole, I think it makes the point rather well. The whiskey you've been drinking, is the should-do, should-be and supposed to beliefs and choices you have consumed throughout your life.
Your nature is your natural traits, temperaments, preferences and talents that you were born with. Your nurture is based on what you've been exposed to and something that shapes who you choose to become, often unconsciously. You've shaped yourself so much to adapt to what you think you should be and how you are supposed to act that you've forgotten or push aside who you really are.
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet ... of quiet desperation, and go the grave with the song still in them." - Henry David Thoreau
Living through your Nurture is exhausting! Living inauthentically takes a lot of extra work. You can get really good at living your should-be/should-do life and become a great success. However, that life will leave you tired and unfulfilled. You will feel like something is missing or hold thoughts of still not knowing who you want to be when you 'grow up'.
Living through your Nature, living authentically, is exhilarating! Your work energizes you rather than depletes you. You are often 'in the zone' present, willing and available for whatever comes next. The day flies by as you have little sense of time.
While it's true that you will have to do things even in an authentic life that are not your nature. However your approach to do such 'unnatural' things will be from a position of authenticity.
2. Fear of Greatness
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson
Fear of greatness, fear of success is most often misnamed as a fear of failure. Your innermost self simply will not allow you to completely think that you are the mediocre or inept talent that your Inner Critic says you are. This higher self, soul or what I playfully call the Wizard Within knows you are born with the power and talent to achieve greatness. Greatness comes with vast responsibility. What if you couldn't handle all of that responsibility? Your life would completely change and some of that change is frightening. You may have to make public appearances, you may no longer have time to spend with your loved ones, or be pressured to stay upon the mantle of greatness by delivering even more greatness. For many, a position of greatness is akin to living a nightmare. It is impossible to generate energy to create what you believe to be a frightening existence.
3. Tolerations - avoidance
“Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery's shadow or reflection: the fact that you don't merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.” - C.S. Lewis
To tolerate is to put up with something or somebody unpleasant. Tolerations are events, people, situations you put up with that drain your energy, that keep you from living authentically and enjoying life to the fullest. Your tolerations distract you from engaging in what you love to do. Tolerations can be found in any area of life; your office or studio, relationships, the tools you use, your appearance, your finances or lack thereof and state of being. In a nutshell, tolerations are things or experiences that you have in your life that you do not want. Tolerations are life clutter. To diminish the tolerations that drain your creative energy flow you have to feng shui your life.
Clean up your clutter; literally and metaphorically. Construct free and easy energy flow passages. Begin by cleaning up the physical clutter in your life such as in your workspace and home. Then move on to cleaning up the clutter in your financial circumstances and then clean up the clutter in your professional and personal relationships. Get rid of what is no longer wanted or transform what you want to keep, say a relationship with a family member that is now 'messy'. Let go of whatever is messing up the relationship, perhaps an expectation of some sort, and find common ground to change the energy you have around your relationship with that family member.
As you go through your days pay attention to what drains your energy. Where you are inauthentic, express authentically. Where you hold yourself back, take one step forward. Where you tolerate, clean up the clutter by throwing out, completing or changing the energy around the relationship you have with the item or person.
"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death." - Anais Nin
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
1. Living a Conditioned, Nurtured Life
"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is." - Albert Camus
Wherever you struggle in life; in your career, your finances, or in your personal and professional relationships is where you are living through your nurture instead of your true nature. Dr. Jekyll (of Jekyll and Hyde fame) said, "you drink a few glasses of whiskey, and see if your behavior doesn't change". While this is a slight hyperbole, I think it makes the point rather well. The whiskey you've been drinking, is the should-do, should-be and supposed to beliefs and choices you have consumed throughout your life.
Your nature is your natural traits, temperaments, preferences and talents that you were born with. Your nurture is based on what you've been exposed to and something that shapes who you choose to become, often unconsciously. You've shaped yourself so much to adapt to what you think you should be and how you are supposed to act that you've forgotten or push aside who you really are.
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet ... of quiet desperation, and go the grave with the song still in them." - Henry David Thoreau
Living through your Nurture is exhausting! Living inauthentically takes a lot of extra work. You can get really good at living your should-be/should-do life and become a great success. However, that life will leave you tired and unfulfilled. You will feel like something is missing or hold thoughts of still not knowing who you want to be when you 'grow up'.
Living through your Nature, living authentically, is exhilarating! Your work energizes you rather than depletes you. You are often 'in the zone' present, willing and available for whatever comes next. The day flies by as you have little sense of time.
While it's true that you will have to do things even in an authentic life that are not your nature. However your approach to do such 'unnatural' things will be from a position of authenticity.
2. Fear of Greatness
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." - Marianne Williamson
Fear of greatness, fear of success is most often misnamed as a fear of failure. Your innermost self simply will not allow you to completely think that you are the mediocre or inept talent that your Inner Critic says you are. This higher self, soul or what I playfully call the Wizard Within knows you are born with the power and talent to achieve greatness. Greatness comes with vast responsibility. What if you couldn't handle all of that responsibility? Your life would completely change and some of that change is frightening. You may have to make public appearances, you may no longer have time to spend with your loved ones, or be pressured to stay upon the mantle of greatness by delivering even more greatness. For many, a position of greatness is akin to living a nightmare. It is impossible to generate energy to create what you believe to be a frightening existence.
3. Tolerations - avoidance
“Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery's shadow or reflection: the fact that you don't merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.” - C.S. Lewis
To tolerate is to put up with something or somebody unpleasant. Tolerations are events, people, situations you put up with that drain your energy, that keep you from living authentically and enjoying life to the fullest. Your tolerations distract you from engaging in what you love to do. Tolerations can be found in any area of life; your office or studio, relationships, the tools you use, your appearance, your finances or lack thereof and state of being. In a nutshell, tolerations are things or experiences that you have in your life that you do not want. Tolerations are life clutter. To diminish the tolerations that drain your creative energy flow you have to feng shui your life.
Clean up your clutter; literally and metaphorically. Construct free and easy energy flow passages. Begin by cleaning up the physical clutter in your life such as in your workspace and home. Then move on to cleaning up the clutter in your financial circumstances and then clean up the clutter in your professional and personal relationships. Get rid of what is no longer wanted or transform what you want to keep, say a relationship with a family member that is now 'messy'. Let go of whatever is messing up the relationship, perhaps an expectation of some sort, and find common ground to change the energy you have around your relationship with that family member.
As you go through your days pay attention to what drains your energy. Where you are inauthentic, express authentically. Where you hold yourself back, take one step forward. Where you tolerate, clean up the clutter by throwing out, completing or changing the energy around the relationship you have with the item or person.
"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death." - Anais Nin
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Are Power-sites Sucking Your Life Energy?
“The only way to predict the future is to have power to shape the future.” - Eric Hoffer
You have the power to shape your future the way you want it to unfold. You are a magnificent and magically powerful being. You are blessed with the gift to create all that you desire to experience in this life. You live in a world rich in abundance that is yours to enjoy and to contribute your unique expression. You were given this power to enable you to assert your full potential.
When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt. This doubt clings to you as a parasite sucking the life energy and creative force right out of you. The more doubts you have about your own ability and opportunity the more "power-sites" drain you of your power to magically create the experiences you want. You are left depleted, unable to create more than the mundane or unfulfilling experience over and over again. This pattern of creating more and more of what is not wanted only feeds the powersites. Powersites are insatiable and will consume all the power you allow them to have from the life force that is your gift and your birthright. When you give up this power to your Inner Critic, your self-doubt and fear, your Inner Critic will shape your future to mirror all that you doubt and fear.
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim
Peace Pilgrim was an elderly woman who walked more that 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace from 1953 to 1981. I cannot say whether this remarkable woman ever had a negative thought. What I can say is that every person I talk to about their life challenges has had their fair share of negative thoughts. The recent surge of self-help popularity has produced a sea of people who flog themselves if they notice a single negative thought running through their heads. "Uh-oh" they lament, "I'm having a negative thought so I must still be broken! I'm not fixed yet!"
First of all, no one is broken. No one needs to be fixed. Negative thoughts of self-doubt are natural and serve a purpose. They are indicators of whether you are moving toward or away from that which you desire. Negative thoughts are just your Inner Critic’s way of telling you that you're about to stretch and grow into a newer and bigger comfort zone and it is scared of new, unknown, places. Even if you don't particularly like the current comfort zone it's what you know and, therefore, safe.
The distinction is whether or not you give power to that negative thought by following its lead. If you do, that thought, that belief will cling onto until you consider it an integral part of your being. You will forget that this negative piece of you is a parasite rather than a birthright. With this power, the parasite will feast upon your bounty of magical gifts of inspiration, intuition, validation and self-esteem.
“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still” - Lao Tzu
The next time you bathe in a negative thought process just notice it as it washes over you. Recognize it for what it is, the voice of that scared little Inner Critic who means well but is woefully misguided. Instead of giving these negative thoughts power by acting upon its lead (even if that action is a decision not to act), choose to act from a deeper place of inner power and strength. This deeper place within is the home of your wisdom, inspiration, intuition, personal passion and truth. It is the home of the Wizard Within. It is where your magical power of positive manifestation comes from.
When you tap into your own power, the power that you were born with, the parasitical power-sites lose the strength to cling on and fall by the wayside. Your energy is restored. Your life flows effortlessly. Your experiences are rich and fulfilling.
It is not a matter of eliminating your negative beliefs; it is a matter of rendering them powerless over you. Your inner power can then act as a teflon shield where negative thoughts are unable to cling onto and feed off of your innate life force.
"May the force be with you." - Han Solo to Luke, right before the attack on the Death Star battle station in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
That’s a very fitting episode title, "A New Hope". Reclaiming your power restores your faith in your abilities and opportunities. Reclaiming your power provides an unlimited source of energy with which to create your dreams, your inspirations, your rich in experience and delicious life. This is what you are here to do.
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
You have the power to shape your future the way you want it to unfold. You are a magnificent and magically powerful being. You are blessed with the gift to create all that you desire to experience in this life. You live in a world rich in abundance that is yours to enjoy and to contribute your unique expression. You were given this power to enable you to assert your full potential.
When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt. This doubt clings to you as a parasite sucking the life energy and creative force right out of you. The more doubts you have about your own ability and opportunity the more "power-sites" drain you of your power to magically create the experiences you want. You are left depleted, unable to create more than the mundane or unfulfilling experience over and over again. This pattern of creating more and more of what is not wanted only feeds the powersites. Powersites are insatiable and will consume all the power you allow them to have from the life force that is your gift and your birthright. When you give up this power to your Inner Critic, your self-doubt and fear, your Inner Critic will shape your future to mirror all that you doubt and fear.
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim
Peace Pilgrim was an elderly woman who walked more that 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace from 1953 to 1981. I cannot say whether this remarkable woman ever had a negative thought. What I can say is that every person I talk to about their life challenges has had their fair share of negative thoughts. The recent surge of self-help popularity has produced a sea of people who flog themselves if they notice a single negative thought running through their heads. "Uh-oh" they lament, "I'm having a negative thought so I must still be broken! I'm not fixed yet!"
First of all, no one is broken. No one needs to be fixed. Negative thoughts of self-doubt are natural and serve a purpose. They are indicators of whether you are moving toward or away from that which you desire. Negative thoughts are just your Inner Critic’s way of telling you that you're about to stretch and grow into a newer and bigger comfort zone and it is scared of new, unknown, places. Even if you don't particularly like the current comfort zone it's what you know and, therefore, safe.
The distinction is whether or not you give power to that negative thought by following its lead. If you do, that thought, that belief will cling onto until you consider it an integral part of your being. You will forget that this negative piece of you is a parasite rather than a birthright. With this power, the parasite will feast upon your bounty of magical gifts of inspiration, intuition, validation and self-esteem.
“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still” - Lao Tzu
The next time you bathe in a negative thought process just notice it as it washes over you. Recognize it for what it is, the voice of that scared little Inner Critic who means well but is woefully misguided. Instead of giving these negative thoughts power by acting upon its lead (even if that action is a decision not to act), choose to act from a deeper place of inner power and strength. This deeper place within is the home of your wisdom, inspiration, intuition, personal passion and truth. It is the home of the Wizard Within. It is where your magical power of positive manifestation comes from.
When you tap into your own power, the power that you were born with, the parasitical power-sites lose the strength to cling on and fall by the wayside. Your energy is restored. Your life flows effortlessly. Your experiences are rich and fulfilling.
It is not a matter of eliminating your negative beliefs; it is a matter of rendering them powerless over you. Your inner power can then act as a teflon shield where negative thoughts are unable to cling onto and feed off of your innate life force.
"May the force be with you." - Han Solo to Luke, right before the attack on the Death Star battle station in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
That’s a very fitting episode title, "A New Hope". Reclaiming your power restores your faith in your abilities and opportunities. Reclaiming your power provides an unlimited source of energy with which to create your dreams, your inspirations, your rich in experience and delicious life. This is what you are here to do.
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Friday, May 8, 2009
You Are Enrolled in a Cosmic Grade School
Welcome to your life, the attendance in a universal elementary school of sorts, where you are here to learn, develop and enjoy your being. You are here to learn your ABC's of Abundance, Being-ness and Consciousness. In the rich generative soil of physical reality you are meant to grow and blossom.
How's it going for you?
If you are struggling with the pop quizzes, challenges, schoolyard bullies and teachers who just don't understand you, perhaps you were absent, unconscious, they day you were taught the lesson of Responsibility and how you are at cause for all of your experiences - good and bad. If you had been present, fully conscious, you would have learned one of the most important lessons in that you create our own reality, according to our thoughts, emotions and beliefs. You have access to the resources of unlimited energy and the inner knowledge of your “soul”, Higher Self, or what I playfully call your Inner Wizard. You are in school to learn how to use this awesome power that is your birthright with skill and wisdom.
If you had shown up alert, in the present moment, that day you would have learned that judgment has nothing to do with being responsible in this context. Judgment of any kind is detrimental to growth. For example, you did not deliberately miss school that day; miss the lesson on responsibility. You were doing the best you could given the energy and light you had at the time. You did not realize that instead of being present, centered in the truth of who you are, willing and available for whatever comes next you were lost somewhere in an effort to relive what you believe to be your past.
"Not only do you create the way you look at things, you create the things you look at!" - Lazaris
Many people spend so much time reliving their past beliefs of not being whatever enough (good, talented, rich, smart, confident, lucky, worthy, etc.) that they miss the moments of now where the learning takes place. It is in the present moments of now that you have an opportunity to deliberately and consciously plant the seeds for your joyful experiences going forward.
"Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid." -Albert Einstein
Thank you for showing up for class today fully present, awake, and ready to stretch and grow.
Unlike the brick and mortar schools of your physical experience, the cosmic grade school is without walls, limitations, restrictive rules or punishment. It is impossible to fail for each lesson, each experience, comes with gifts in the lessons that can be learned from them. Learn the lesson and you advance to the next class. Miss the lesson and you are given the same class over and over again until you finally acknowledge and embrace the gift. You may remember taking a class over and over again. You experienced it through the repeated patterns of events and behavior in your life, often delivered with a bit of drama to make its point.
If you've been showing up in your life present, centered in the truth of who you are, you are experiencing the life you've dreamed of. Without exception. If you are present and still struggling, perhaps you are not centered in the truth of who you are and leading a 'should be', 'supposed to be' conditioned life. You've been attending your universal school wearing a costume that doesn't fit, taking courses that you have no interest in. If you have no passion for the curriculum you've chosen it's no wonder you've been skipping school.
Instead of skipping school, I encourage you to rediscover your personal truth, your passions and your deepest desires. There are plenty of courses available to you here in this rich resource of cosmic learning that will effortlessly teach you how to express your authentic self. Expressing your full potential is what you are here to do.
And here's a little secret. When you were born you were given the best personal tutor in the world, the Wizard Within. You already have everything you need to be, do and have what you want in life. All you have to do is show up, be present, and tap into the tremendous source of power and wisdom that lies within you. The school, your physical life experience, is merely an inspirational playground for you to enjoy your innate wisdom, talents and desires.
"One must never let the fire go out in one's soul, but keep it burning."- Vincent Van Gogh
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
How's it going for you?
If you are struggling with the pop quizzes, challenges, schoolyard bullies and teachers who just don't understand you, perhaps you were absent, unconscious, they day you were taught the lesson of Responsibility and how you are at cause for all of your experiences - good and bad. If you had been present, fully conscious, you would have learned one of the most important lessons in that you create our own reality, according to our thoughts, emotions and beliefs. You have access to the resources of unlimited energy and the inner knowledge of your “soul”, Higher Self, or what I playfully call your Inner Wizard. You are in school to learn how to use this awesome power that is your birthright with skill and wisdom.
If you had shown up alert, in the present moment, that day you would have learned that judgment has nothing to do with being responsible in this context. Judgment of any kind is detrimental to growth. For example, you did not deliberately miss school that day; miss the lesson on responsibility. You were doing the best you could given the energy and light you had at the time. You did not realize that instead of being present, centered in the truth of who you are, willing and available for whatever comes next you were lost somewhere in an effort to relive what you believe to be your past.
"Not only do you create the way you look at things, you create the things you look at!" - Lazaris
Many people spend so much time reliving their past beliefs of not being whatever enough (good, talented, rich, smart, confident, lucky, worthy, etc.) that they miss the moments of now where the learning takes place. It is in the present moments of now that you have an opportunity to deliberately and consciously plant the seeds for your joyful experiences going forward.
"Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid." -Albert Einstein
Thank you for showing up for class today fully present, awake, and ready to stretch and grow.
Unlike the brick and mortar schools of your physical experience, the cosmic grade school is without walls, limitations, restrictive rules or punishment. It is impossible to fail for each lesson, each experience, comes with gifts in the lessons that can be learned from them. Learn the lesson and you advance to the next class. Miss the lesson and you are given the same class over and over again until you finally acknowledge and embrace the gift. You may remember taking a class over and over again. You experienced it through the repeated patterns of events and behavior in your life, often delivered with a bit of drama to make its point.
If you've been showing up in your life present, centered in the truth of who you are, you are experiencing the life you've dreamed of. Without exception. If you are present and still struggling, perhaps you are not centered in the truth of who you are and leading a 'should be', 'supposed to be' conditioned life. You've been attending your universal school wearing a costume that doesn't fit, taking courses that you have no interest in. If you have no passion for the curriculum you've chosen it's no wonder you've been skipping school.
Instead of skipping school, I encourage you to rediscover your personal truth, your passions and your deepest desires. There are plenty of courses available to you here in this rich resource of cosmic learning that will effortlessly teach you how to express your authentic self. Expressing your full potential is what you are here to do.
And here's a little secret. When you were born you were given the best personal tutor in the world, the Wizard Within. You already have everything you need to be, do and have what you want in life. All you have to do is show up, be present, and tap into the tremendous source of power and wisdom that lies within you. The school, your physical life experience, is merely an inspirational playground for you to enjoy your innate wisdom, talents and desires.
"One must never let the fire go out in one's soul, but keep it burning."- Vincent Van Gogh
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
How to Slay the Fear Monger Through Creativity
Fear cripples creativity. Nothing new there. We've all experienced fear as we reach for inspiration, motivation and satisfaction. Fear dwells at the bottom of the pit of desperation. Fear is the lowest of lows.
I have a client who came to me and said that she felt like she was stuck in a vat of peanut butter, unable to make any headway in her career as artist. She was frustrated, exhausted and, most of all, disappointed in herself. What little energy she had left was spent beating herself up emotionally about her failure to create, her inability to birth an inspired idea. She hadn't completed a painting in months.
Many people experience highs and lows, some more extreme than others. To sustain creativity during the ebb and flow of the emotional spectrum it is best to "Keep on keepin' on." Creative musicians such as Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, and John Lennon have written songs about the necessity of forward movement to keep from drowning in fear or desperation. If you don't swim you'll sink! Swimming in a forward direction is optimal. At the very least, go with the flow.
"Nothing happens until something moves." - Albert Einstein
If your work depends upon your ability to create and tap into inspiration and you find the creative process elusive you may be dragging the reluctant along in the form of fear. Fear has stopped many dead in their tracks. The frightened Inner Critic chatters endlessly demanding that you hold yourself back, limit yourself to stay safe.
This Inner Critic is woefully misguided. What will keep you safe is not following the direction of the part of you that says NO to what you wish to create. What will keep you safe is to remember who you are, an empowered human being with the gifts and talent to create whatever it is that you imagine that is your birthright.
My client's primary fear was that she didn't have another creative thought in her. And wouldn't have another inspired idea ever. And in this fear she brilliantly created no creativity, no inspiration. The more she tried to force a creative moment the more she came up empty. Creativity and inspiration is delivered through the flow of life. You cannot force flow. Force is swimming upstream. Going with the flow is nature's life-affirming power.
"Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive.. the risk to be alive and express what we really are." - Don Miguel Ruiz
What is creativity about, really? Creativity has a lot to do with the willingness to take risks, small baby step risks that help overcome procrastination, the fears of rejection, failure and change. People fear change so they stay safe in the current comfort zone not willing to take one step beyond it. Fear of failure or success is a desperate attempt to stay put. The creative flow returns when you let go of your grip on your current comfort zone. Let go of your blanket of false security, false fears and resistance to inevitable change.
The funny thing about fear is that most of what people fear never happens unless they create the fearful experience themselves. Many people avoid public speaking because they fear they will drop dead of embarrassment if they forget a line, trip over the podium or evoke some other horrible public humiliation. I have seen many a speaker, even on live television broadcasted internationally, say or do something that ended up as a laughable YouTube video and not one of them has ever died as a result. Oh, they may suffer a bit of unwanted attention for a day or two. What many who have suffered deep humiliation have learned from the experience is priceless.
In learning that they did not die, that the world did not come to an end, they realized how silly their fear really was. Many people have even benefited greatly from public humiliation or even simple private criticism. We all admire and applaud the people who fall down publicly, dusted themselves off, and kept on keepin' on.
It's not what happens to you that shapes your life. It's what you do with what happens to you that creates your future. Whether you are an artist, writer, actor, musician or creator of any kind the important thing is to continue create art, write, act, or make music. Let go of any thoughts that what you create has to be good. Creativity is a process. Sometimes creating a stink bomb births inspiration for the rose.
"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." - Jim Morrison
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
I have a client who came to me and said that she felt like she was stuck in a vat of peanut butter, unable to make any headway in her career as artist. She was frustrated, exhausted and, most of all, disappointed in herself. What little energy she had left was spent beating herself up emotionally about her failure to create, her inability to birth an inspired idea. She hadn't completed a painting in months.
Many people experience highs and lows, some more extreme than others. To sustain creativity during the ebb and flow of the emotional spectrum it is best to "Keep on keepin' on." Creative musicians such as Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, and John Lennon have written songs about the necessity of forward movement to keep from drowning in fear or desperation. If you don't swim you'll sink! Swimming in a forward direction is optimal. At the very least, go with the flow.
"Nothing happens until something moves." - Albert Einstein
If your work depends upon your ability to create and tap into inspiration and you find the creative process elusive you may be dragging the reluctant along in the form of fear. Fear has stopped many dead in their tracks. The frightened Inner Critic chatters endlessly demanding that you hold yourself back, limit yourself to stay safe.
This Inner Critic is woefully misguided. What will keep you safe is not following the direction of the part of you that says NO to what you wish to create. What will keep you safe is to remember who you are, an empowered human being with the gifts and talent to create whatever it is that you imagine that is your birthright.
My client's primary fear was that she didn't have another creative thought in her. And wouldn't have another inspired idea ever. And in this fear she brilliantly created no creativity, no inspiration. The more she tried to force a creative moment the more she came up empty. Creativity and inspiration is delivered through the flow of life. You cannot force flow. Force is swimming upstream. Going with the flow is nature's life-affirming power.
"Death is not the biggest fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive.. the risk to be alive and express what we really are." - Don Miguel Ruiz
What is creativity about, really? Creativity has a lot to do with the willingness to take risks, small baby step risks that help overcome procrastination, the fears of rejection, failure and change. People fear change so they stay safe in the current comfort zone not willing to take one step beyond it. Fear of failure or success is a desperate attempt to stay put. The creative flow returns when you let go of your grip on your current comfort zone. Let go of your blanket of false security, false fears and resistance to inevitable change.
The funny thing about fear is that most of what people fear never happens unless they create the fearful experience themselves. Many people avoid public speaking because they fear they will drop dead of embarrassment if they forget a line, trip over the podium or evoke some other horrible public humiliation. I have seen many a speaker, even on live television broadcasted internationally, say or do something that ended up as a laughable YouTube video and not one of them has ever died as a result. Oh, they may suffer a bit of unwanted attention for a day or two. What many who have suffered deep humiliation have learned from the experience is priceless.
In learning that they did not die, that the world did not come to an end, they realized how silly their fear really was. Many people have even benefited greatly from public humiliation or even simple private criticism. We all admire and applaud the people who fall down publicly, dusted themselves off, and kept on keepin' on.
It's not what happens to you that shapes your life. It's what you do with what happens to you that creates your future. Whether you are an artist, writer, actor, musician or creator of any kind the important thing is to continue create art, write, act, or make music. Let go of any thoughts that what you create has to be good. Creativity is a process. Sometimes creating a stink bomb births inspiration for the rose.
"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." - Jim Morrison
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Subscribe today at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Monday, May 4, 2009
How to Live Magically
People often ask me how I live such a magical life. It's easy. I believe in magic.
HA! The song "Do You Believe in Magic" by the The Lovin' Spoonful just ran through my head. But I digress - or do I? Actually that flash of music just proved my point. What you believe in is brought unto your experience, magically.
Your beliefs form reality. Therefore, it is essential to look and speak in the direction of your dreams. Pay attention to what you think and say in a given day. Do you spend your day envisioning the outcome, the life you long to experience or do you spend your day wrapped in a blanket of reasons and excuses why you can't or aren't being, doing or having what you want in life? How often do you complain?
If your vision, thoughts and conversations are grounded in the belief that you can absolutely create what you want to experience then it's only a matter of time before you actualize that desire. On the other hand, if you limit what you see as possible for yourself and the conversations you have with yourself and others supports that limitation then you will absolutely actualize that limited experience. Without exception.
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Now the intensity of a belief is extremely important. How strong, how much energy you give to your beliefs has a direct correlation to how quickly they manifest.
For example, if you believe that people mean you well, and will treat you kindly, they will. And, if you believe that the world is against you, then that will be in your experience. And, if you believe that you will get the swine flue or at least get sick, then so you shall.
The same is true about your beliefs and relationship around money. If you believe that you are a starving artist and always will be, then your experience will always be that of a starving artist. Your beliefs meet you in the face when you look in the mirror. Think of the many times your expectations have come to slap you in the face. Beliefs form your image. You cannot escape your beliefs. They are, however, the method by which you create magic, the experiences you desire.
It is important that you here realize that you are not at the mercy of what cannot be explained. You are not a victim of events over which you have no control whether those events are emotional or physical. Most importantly, there is little difference if you believe that your present life is caused by the events of your childhood which you feel you have no control. Your events, your lives, your experiences, are caused by your present beliefs. You cannot change the events of your childhood but you can change what you have those events mean about who you are and how you feel.
When you examine the events of your life now and in the past you have an opportunity to discover new perspectives that will allow you to change your beliefs about those very same experiences. Change the beliefs and you change your story, your vision of what's possible and the conversations you have with yourself and others. When you change the beliefs you have about you and your world your life magically changes.
“That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you.” - Charles de Lint
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
HA! The song "Do You Believe in Magic" by the The Lovin' Spoonful just ran through my head. But I digress - or do I? Actually that flash of music just proved my point. What you believe in is brought unto your experience, magically.
Your beliefs form reality. Therefore, it is essential to look and speak in the direction of your dreams. Pay attention to what you think and say in a given day. Do you spend your day envisioning the outcome, the life you long to experience or do you spend your day wrapped in a blanket of reasons and excuses why you can't or aren't being, doing or having what you want in life? How often do you complain?
If your vision, thoughts and conversations are grounded in the belief that you can absolutely create what you want to experience then it's only a matter of time before you actualize that desire. On the other hand, if you limit what you see as possible for yourself and the conversations you have with yourself and others supports that limitation then you will absolutely actualize that limited experience. Without exception.
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Now the intensity of a belief is extremely important. How strong, how much energy you give to your beliefs has a direct correlation to how quickly they manifest.
For example, if you believe that people mean you well, and will treat you kindly, they will. And, if you believe that the world is against you, then that will be in your experience. And, if you believe that you will get the swine flue or at least get sick, then so you shall.
The same is true about your beliefs and relationship around money. If you believe that you are a starving artist and always will be, then your experience will always be that of a starving artist. Your beliefs meet you in the face when you look in the mirror. Think of the many times your expectations have come to slap you in the face. Beliefs form your image. You cannot escape your beliefs. They are, however, the method by which you create magic, the experiences you desire.
It is important that you here realize that you are not at the mercy of what cannot be explained. You are not a victim of events over which you have no control whether those events are emotional or physical. Most importantly, there is little difference if you believe that your present life is caused by the events of your childhood which you feel you have no control. Your events, your lives, your experiences, are caused by your present beliefs. You cannot change the events of your childhood but you can change what you have those events mean about who you are and how you feel.
When you examine the events of your life now and in the past you have an opportunity to discover new perspectives that will allow you to change your beliefs about those very same experiences. Change the beliefs and you change your story, your vision of what's possible and the conversations you have with yourself and others. When you change the beliefs you have about you and your world your life magically changes.
“That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you.” - Charles de Lint
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Empower the Wizard Within tips" too!
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Power of Your Power Point Presence
It's funny when and where inspiration strikes. My latest epiphany came to me while soaking in a hot bubble bath. I had to run from the tub soaking wet to write it down. I've learned that inspiration can disappear as quickly as it comes if not acted upon. This nugget of an AHA moment made me giggle. It came to me that our first intention of the day, and general way of being, is our Power Point Presentation.
No! I'm not talking about those endlessly long and often boring corporate presentations that we've all suffered through. I'm referring to how you show up in life, show up in your work, your craft, your relationships, your attitudes, beliefs and innermost thoughts. Are you showing up and presenting yourself from a position of power or have you given up your power and approach life and your experiences as a victim?
Where you struggle in life is where you have given up your power. Where you struggle in life is where you say NO to you, your dreams, your truth, and your authenticity. Some give their power in a misguided effort to go along and please others. People give up their personal power when they consider themselves a victim to the economy, the government, the glass ceiling, the starving artist myth, gender, age and social status perceived limitations. You have literally given up your power when you feel powerless.
Many people give their power to their own Inner Critic when they Find Excuses And Reasons to justify limitations in opportunity, ability, and self-worth. The acronym for Finding Excuses And Reasons or False Evidence (or emotions) Appearing Real is F.E.A.R. - FEAR!
"Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true." - Honore de Balzac
There is an important distinction to make. The word Power is not synonymous with the word Force.
The dictionary defines Power as:
- possession of controlling influence; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed ...
- ability: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
- one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "may the force be with you";
- might: physical strength
Force is defined as:
- coerce: to cause to do through pressure
- physical energy or intensity;
- push: move with force
- impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably;
- wedge: squeeze like a wedge into a tight space
- violence: an act of aggression
"Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it." - Warren Bennis
Power provides energy. Force consumes energy. Power is a product of intention. Force is a product of oppression. Power is personal, within oneself as opposed to a power over others. Power over others is almost always a product of people exerting force, not harnessing power. Indeed, people's misconception of what power is often leads to the very opposite outcome of what people seek.
Using force to take action requires a justification (thought) for that action. Often, that justification is negative and not best for all people. A big problem with the use of force is that force must always justified. You must find excuses and reasons for the use of force.
Examine how you show up in life. Do you present yourself from the point of power, the cause of your experience or as a victim, the effect of your circumstance? What is your personal Power Point Presentation?
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Inner Wizard Empowerment tips" too!
No! I'm not talking about those endlessly long and often boring corporate presentations that we've all suffered through. I'm referring to how you show up in life, show up in your work, your craft, your relationships, your attitudes, beliefs and innermost thoughts. Are you showing up and presenting yourself from a position of power or have you given up your power and approach life and your experiences as a victim?
Where you struggle in life is where you have given up your power. Where you struggle in life is where you say NO to you, your dreams, your truth, and your authenticity. Some give their power in a misguided effort to go along and please others. People give up their personal power when they consider themselves a victim to the economy, the government, the glass ceiling, the starving artist myth, gender, age and social status perceived limitations. You have literally given up your power when you feel powerless.
Many people give their power to their own Inner Critic when they Find Excuses And Reasons to justify limitations in opportunity, ability, and self-worth. The acronym for Finding Excuses And Reasons or False Evidence (or emotions) Appearing Real is F.E.A.R. - FEAR!
"Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true." - Honore de Balzac
There is an important distinction to make. The word Power is not synonymous with the word Force.
The dictionary defines Power as:
- possession of controlling influence; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed ...
- ability: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done
- one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "may the force be with you";
- might: physical strength
Force is defined as:
- coerce: to cause to do through pressure
- physical energy or intensity;
- push: move with force
- impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably;
- wedge: squeeze like a wedge into a tight space
- violence: an act of aggression
"Power is the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it." - Warren Bennis
Power provides energy. Force consumes energy. Power is a product of intention. Force is a product of oppression. Power is personal, within oneself as opposed to a power over others. Power over others is almost always a product of people exerting force, not harnessing power. Indeed, people's misconception of what power is often leads to the very opposite outcome of what people seek.
Using force to take action requires a justification (thought) for that action. Often, that justification is negative and not best for all people. A big problem with the use of force is that force must always justified. You must find excuses and reasons for the use of force.
Examine how you show up in life. Do you present yourself from the point of power, the cause of your experience or as a victim, the effect of your circumstance? What is your personal Power Point Presentation?
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde
Valery Satterwhite is a Creative Mentor who specializes in empowering people to create more passionately, profoundly, productively and profitably. Learn how to trust your intuition, acknowledge your truth, and disarm your fear and self-doubt. Valery developed a proven unique "Inner Wizard" methodology to empower the Wizard Within to actualize and express your full creative potential. Join now at http://www.InnerWizard.com. Get Free "Inner Wizard Empowerment tips" too!
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