What It’s Like To Do the Impossible
June 22, 2010
do the impossible
Recently I went on a 5 day book writing retreat and I finished my book in only 2 1/2 days. I had been working on this book for over a year so it was a great and enormous accomplishment to get it out and done.
In the process I got to experience again what it’s like to accomplish the impossible, and it’s an amazing experience.
I’ve done this a few times in my life – learning Italian, living in Italy, NLP Trainer’s training and the flying trapeze. These were all things that I never thought I could do, but I did.
overcoming
It is a wonderful and life-changing experience to do those things that you don’t believe you can do. It alters your view of reality and something opens up for you – like a whole new world of possibility.
I had been very stuck about writing this book because it’s very raw and real and personal to me. It’s a kind of humorous, touching and intimate “Eat, Pray, Love” story, written from my heart.
These are my very own stories told for the first time.
The method we used for writing was phenomenal. We were to write at a speed so fast, that you literally have no time to think about what you’re writing. I was so super-charged that I wrote at the rate of 4,000 words an hour.
How did I do that??
I wrote 54,000 words in 2 1/2 days – amazing. And to boot I was suffering from a massive allergy attack the entire time. I was sneezing and coughing so badly that I thought I wasn’t going to make it through. Ironically I’ve never had allergies before.
But I was not going to let this or anything else stop me. At one point, I was coughing so hard I could not stop but I just willed myself to overcome and kept writing. Cough or no cough, I was going to finish my book. And I did.
it's possible
After I was done, I laid my head down on the desk and just lay there for quite a few minutes until the retreat leader came over and claimed my book officially done.
Whew!
Now there’s some rewriting to do, then editing and into publishing. I’m going to have this done in a few short months.
It’s a wonderful feeling to have done the impossible. I plan to help everyone else do the impossible too. It can be done.
Think about what leap you want to make today. Which chasm in your life do you want to cross? What is waiting for you on the other side? Something good for sure.
Video: I Wrote My Book in 2 1/2 Days!
June 18, 2010
Here I am live in Sedona, Arizona after writing my book. I had been working on it for a year but finished it here in only 2 1/2 days – something that I never thought I could do!
The Deep Structure of Stories
June 15, 2010
stories hiding
They don’t mean to, but stories often hide in the deep structure of our nervous system. Let me give you an example.
A client of mine had an inkling that he had something to say but he wasn’t exactly sure what.
When he met me something clicked. The click was that he knew there was something inside that wanted to come out and he thought I might be able to help him.
Good thinking!
Stories can hide deep down in the recesses of the inner world and it takes a kind of deep sea diver to bring them out. They aren’t going to come out on their own. They are like little water nymphs that prefer living in the darkness.
Why?
Different reasons. Some stories are difficult ones to tell – they have old emotions or memories storied in them, so they prefer to stay unseen, trying to protect us from harm.
Other stories are difficult to articulate because they are stored in what I call the deep structure of the nervous system, a place beyond words.
baby language
Think of a baby. They don’t necessarily speak in language but it doesn’t mean that they don’t articulate. They do – they do it in grunts, gestures, sounds and movements. This is a story, just not a verbal one.
It’s the same way in our own nervous system. There are levels of expression beyond the words and some of our bigger, deeper stories are at such a level of complexity that we can’t seem to articulate them.
But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. Nor does it mean that they can’t come out. They can. They just need the right environment and a good listener.
When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me into the woods, prop me up on a log and get me to tell her my stories. Funny thing was that I didn’t even think that I had stories to tell her, but as soon as I would get in the woods and up on my log, the stories would come pouring out.
I don’t know how my mother knew that this was exactly what I needed to get to the stories inside, but it was. When she didn’t do this, I was reticent, without anything to say.
What was it about that environment that made the stories come out so easily?
Two things – one is that the environment itself can be highly conducive to story listening, especially when you’re listening for the deep structure and not just everyday content.
And two because my mother listened and listened. I don’t remember her even saying a word while I told my stories from the log, and my mother was a talker! But once we were in the woods, a totally different environment would create the magic that was needed for my stories to pour out.
Cool huh?
listen for stories
So if you feel stuck around telling or writing your stories, find a story guide or someone to listen to you. Remember that some stories live in the deep structure and may be difficult to articulate or beyond words, at least at first.
If you need a good story listener, my mother would probably offer. She’s 90 years old now and lives in Oklahoma, but she’s still a good story listener and would be happy to hear from you!
Tell your stories. They are important to the world and we need to hear them.
And don’t worry just because they seem to hide like little water nymphs deep down in the depths of the story world. They can be coaxed out. Just make sure someone is listening, even if it’s just yourself.
I did it – I finished my book in only 2 1/2 days!!
June 14, 2010
success is possible
I did it. I finished my book in only two and a half days! Believe it or not, I wrote 54,156 words.
Sounds impossible doesn’t it? But it’s not because I have living proof right here in front of me – a document that bears my name and a working title to my book.
That’s all I can say for now. Just wanted to update all of you and thank you so much for all the good wishes.
Cheers to you all! I’ll be back next week and let you know all about it. But my message to you today is to believe in the impossible because it’s completely and totally possible!
Yours in story and a brand new book,
Annie
Into the Real Desert
June 11, 2010
Sedona
Well I’m off to write my book.
I’m going to Sedona, Arizona for an eight day writing retreat and my book will be out of my system by the time I’m back!
Don’t worry, I’ll still be sending out wonderful stories that I’ve scheduled while I’m away. It will almost seem as if I’m still here!
Writing this book is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
But challenging ourselves is good for our growth!
So here’s to climbing the Sedona red rocks and returning with book in hand.
Something is Seriously Screwed Up in Love, Help is on the Way!
June 10, 2010
A New Paradigm for Writing
May 27, 2010
change the world
If I could change the world, I would. I mean change everything. It’s really screwed up from the top to the bottom.
But I can’t overhaul the world overnight. It wouldn’t be fair. We must be patient and let it evolve slowly.
But still I’m working as hard as I can to change everything I can and this is definitely something that’s gotta change – we need a new paradigm for writers.
The way that it has been up until now has been an unworkable mess. In the past you would spend a year or two (or more) writing a book and then you would spend many desperate attempts trying to get published.
Those lucky few that would get published would then consider themselves in the elite category and anyone who was unpublished or self-published was down in the dregs.
NOT a workable paradigm for our future.
Writers, authors, artists, storytellers and those who express themselves through the written or spoken word, are the prophets of our future. Writers tell the tales, share the stories, point out societies ills and provide new solutions.
We need that.
speak up
In a right world they would be revered, not because they had successfully published something, but simply and strongly because they dared to speak up. Authors tell the truth and point out what we don’t want to hear and we need that to keep our world in balance.
So as I’m going off to write my own book, I’m working to create the proper mindset from which to be an author.
Here’s what I don’t want:
- for it to be all about me (a big fat ego trip)
- my own fame and fortune – i.e I’m striving to be noticed, be on Oprah, get famous
- for it to be about whether I ‘get published’ or not. That’s not the deal breaker
Here’s what I do want:
- a sense of collaboration even though I’m writing it myself
- that the words I write be less important than the thought, care and energy behind it
- to change the paradigm for writing
- to get that success is in the in the doing, the rest is icing in the cake
Is that easy? Heck no! Societies pressure is all against my new paradigm. Society says that it means nothing if you just write a book – you have to be a published best-selling author in order to succeed.
I don’t agree.
sharing
I am reversing that. My whole point of writing this book is to share my wisdom, knowledge and love. If it benefits anyone that will be a secondary gift to me. But if I die with all of that still left inside of me, I have not really lived my purpose.
I’m pushing myself to do the hardest thing ever, because I want to change this world.
I want a world in which it is enough just go out of your comfort zone, think of others and be brave. This is the world I want to leave behind.
What about you? Is there something you’re longing to share, express, write or otherwise articulate? Then you must. Don’t wait for the right moment, don’t believe what people tell you – it’s not impossible.
Today whatever it is that you long to do, start doing it now. Don’t wait. The world is waiting for your expression.
If we want to change the world and create a better way for all we need to break the barriers and step out beyond the comfort zone.
GO FOR IT!
Each step that we take, makes it easier for the next person to follow. This is the new world we’ve been waiting for.
Retreat 42 – We’ve Launched the Ship!!
April 11, 2010
Wow, who knew that out of the confusion of my life, I would create something as amazing as Retreat 42, my brand new program for retreat in daily life.
Back in December, I was feeling stuck about getting bigger projects off the ground. I had several bodies of work that I never finished and it was really bugging me.
This coincided with meeting my now business partner, the fabulous Ian Waddelow who lives in France, although he’s a Brit by birth. Ian contacted me last fall and we hit it off immediately and began to collaborate.
Ian has amazing creative energy and wisdom in spades. He is a senior consultant to CEO’s and boards dealing with strategy and brand marketing. He’s also an educator at several major business schools in England and a well-known speaker at conferences and events.
Let me tell you, Ian is a wizard at what he does. He transforms businesses in a way that I’m pretty sure, they don’t even know what hit them!
After meeting Ian I was asking myself - What does it take to get bigger projects off the ground?? And I decided to put myself on a retreat in daily life to figure this out.
My premise was this – every great idea came from somewhere. We have this idea that when we need inspiration, that we need to ‘wait on the muses’, but I decided that waiting on the muses wasn’t good enough. Mine are too fickle, they’re always off shopping in Paris!
Waiting on the muses is a phrase we use to infer that inspiration is fickle or out of our control. But is it? If inspiration comes from somewhere else, where is that somewhere else and how can we tap it whenever and wherever we need it?
If you think about it, every great idea, every artistic masterpiece, Eureka moment, life changing work or project comes from a realm that the mystics call the 99%. This is the place of ‘divine inspiration.’ All creative ideas come from a place beyond the ordinary five senses.
That’s why it feels like we can’t tap inspiration when we need to. But I decided that there must be some way to tap it reliably and regularly. This was my quest to find out exactly how.
I took time every day to listen to music that would take my brain to another state. No, not New Jersey, but another brain state that’s called the theta wave. I tried not to work or think too hard, but just let ideas and inspiration come easily.
Each day when I woke up, I spent time writing, journalling and jotting. During the day, I would just allow inspiration to come and I would jot that down as well.
At first I didn’t even know exactly what I was going or how I was going to figure any of this out and it was pretty scary to commit to something that you don’t know exactly what it is! I decided that it needed to be 42 days.
Why 42?
- the mystics went into the desert for 40 days. I figured in our modern life, we need a day to get in and a day to get out = 42!
- it takes ’6 weeks to get a change into the bones’ – 6 weeks equals 42 days.
- the first lines of creation in the ancient Aramaic equal exactly 42 letters.
This all seemed to line up perfectly and so 42 days was set in my mind. I gave myself a few guidelines upfront. I agreed that I had to finish the retreat no matter what. I told myself that even if up with absolutely nothing, it would be ok and I committed to giving it my all and trusting the power of inspiration to guide me.
I did the same thing for 42 days and by the end of it, believe it or not, I had created an entire body of work – I had written a whole book and created an entire process that I didn’t even know I was creating.
How’s that for pure magic!
Once I was finished, I decided to take a risk and invite my new partner Ian onboard as a collaborator.
I’m sure Ian won’t mind me saying that he was pretty skeptical at first. I’m sure he thought my idea was pretty wacky, but he trusts me so he agreed to go on the Retreat 42 himself.
At first I was a little worried. Ian’s results seemed mixed. I wasn’t sure it was working and being British, he didn’t tell me much :>)
But then somewhere near the middle of the retreat, things started to happen – the ground started to quake and something new started pouring forth. After he finished, he suggested we try it out with a group and so we launched a Pilot program of 24 brave adventurer’s who agreed to try out our program for free.
I’m happy and proud to say that they did it! Their last day is today and they made it through the desert and have come out with gifts. I’ll let some of them share their stories in upcoming blog posts.
It was amazing to watch an entire group go through this process. They are extraordinary people from all over the world – England, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the US. They helped us to see that Retreat 42 really works, anytime, anywhere. 
Thanks to them, Ian and I are proud and delighted to announce:
Retreat 42 is officially launched!
We will be starting our first programs in the Fall, with an amazing line-up of goodies – from self-guided retreats, to themed programs and even (get this) wonderful in-person retreats in amazing locations around the world.
We have made the package and the pricing incredibly attractive. You just won’t be able to resist trying this out for yourself!
And I guarantee 100% that it is the most life changing thing you can do.
It was for me. I wrote a whole book and created an entire body of work in only 42 days – something that I never thought possible. If you’d like to know more about Retreat 42 or join one of our upcoming programs, please email me or Ian. We’d be happy to chat to you.
You can connect with us at annie@anniehart.com and ian@ianwaddelow.com. I encourage you to get to know Ian. He’s someone really worth knowing.
POP! Here comes the champagne – Retreat 42 is officially launched.
There’s No Such Thing As Writer’s Block!
April 5, 2010
I know, I know. Before I even get this story out you’re gonna tell me – What do you mean there’s no such thing as writer’s block? And then you’re gonna spill out all of your stories about all the ways and times that you’ve been blocked from writing something, right?
Yes I agree that we all believe that there’s such a thing as writer’s block, but I’m here to tell you that it really doesn’t exist.
Think about it this way – when you were 4 or 5 years old and someone threw some Playdough down in front of you, did you ever say -’ Oh I can’t play with that. I just don’t know what to make?’
The answer is no you didn’t. You never said that as a kid, you just dove in and began molding the Playdough. That’s just what your hands wanted to do. Many times you didn’t even know what you were going to make right? Something just emerged.
Well it’s exactly the same way with writing. At it’s best we write they way we used to play as kids – freely and fully. Sounds easy but it’s not. It’s tremendously difficult. Not the writing itself, but undoing what’s in the way of letting it flow.
So if there is no such thing as writer’s block, then why can’t we write easily and freely like children playing? Because though there is no writer’s block, there is what I call the Critic’s Seige. 
It’s not really that you’re blocked. Remember that when you didn’t know what you were going to make with Playdough, you played freely and rolickingly. But when you sit down to write, paint or create, then your good old inner critic sneaks up behind you and while you’re trying to write or create, he or she is whispering menacingly in your ear.
You know those dog whistles that dogs can hear but you can’t? That’s how your inner critic works. It’s a silent but potent voice that stops you in your tracks.
It’s not that you’re blocked. It’s just that you’re listening to the wrong voice. You’re listening the one that says things like:
- who do you think you are?
- no one wants to hear what you have to say
- you have nothing of value to offer
- even your mother doesn’t love you (I just threw this one in for fun)
The critic is telling you all of the things that you secretly believe about yourself. You just never knew you did, because these awful lies lay hidden inside of you like tiny fungi waiting to sprout in the spring rain.
Your desire to write, paint, sing, dance and create actually sprouts these little monsters quicker than anything. So beware.
Beware and be aware that when you move into your creative energy, these little beasts will do anything and everything to stop you from sharing the beauty of life inside of you.
Why? Because these little beasts prefer darkness. They are like fungi and prefer the cold, dark, dampness, not sunshine and the flowers. They hate when you have a streak of inspiration or get past their roadblocks they have set up to stop you.
That’s why THEY created the term ‘Writer’s Block.” Ha! Yes, they figured if they could confuse you and make you believe that you were stopped, then you would be.
But you’re not blocked and you’re not stuck. You were just temporarily in a bad trance that was induced by these little inner critics, gnomes, trolls and other such creatures whose sole intent is to stop your creative energy.
It was a temporary trance unless you believe it of course.
So obviously do not believe it. Go back to playing like a child. Write, dance, sing and create as if you had not a care in the world. Remember that feeling? It’s glorious.
You will be surprised at what comes out. Even if you don’t ‘like’ it, you will feel it’s life energy. And that’s the whole idea. You just need to create.
Creative energy was meant to be expressed in as many forms as possible.
Today, stay unconfused about your creative energy. Let it come up, out and move into the world. Do not worry about where it goes or how it expresses itself. Just open the gate and let the horses run free.
Creative Energy Is Nourishing Good Food
January 21, 2010
Creative energy is nourishing good food.
It is the vital rich substance of life not the icing on the cake. It’s not something that we should only have if we have time left over.
How awful is that! That we only consider creative energy useful and important if it makes us money, meets a goal or does something else tangible in our material world.
Now I understand that we need a strong sense of mission and purpose in the world, I’m not talking about losing that for sure.
But what I am saying is that creative inspirational energy is vital substance. We can’t and shouldn’t live without it and yet we pretend that it’s childs play or something that we do only when we have extra time.
It is not.
Creative energy helps our brain feel good, it keeps our minds stay at their sharpest and it enhances anything else that we do in life. How great is that! 
On this retreat I have been restored. I have purposefully accessed my creative, inspirational energy every day, day in and day out, even when I didn’t feel like it. You know how that goes?
Usually you have to be in the mood. Eek, if you waited for that to happen, given this modern busy world, you would almost never experience it.
Not good enough.
Part of the experiment of the retreat was for me to learn how to access this inspirational energy every day no matter what. It didn’t matter if I was foggy, sleepy or out of ideas. I showed up every day and did the same set of process that I had invented for the retreat and when I showed up, inspiration showed up with me, even if it was in tiny droplets at times.
That was my experiment. Can I get it to show up when and where I want to and not on it’s own whim?
No more waiting on the muses folks! They are too fickle for my tastes. I love the muses don’t get me wrong, but I also like to get things done!
I have ‘accomplished’ more on this retreat than in the past few years. And I did it with an effortless ease that made it enjoyable. That’s the trick – it’s like an invisible tightrope – when you access pure inspiration, there is almost no effort.
I have done more good writing, had more fun, more rest, more renewal and peace of mind and on top of all that, the icing on the cake is that I enjoyed the whole darned process.
Now how is that for the proof of the vital substance that creative energy is!
Only 8 days left on my Creative Retreat. I’ve already decided to do a second one to write a whole other book. Yay, yay, yay!
Today go for the gold – that vital vein of inspirational energy that lives right beneath the surface. You won’t be sorry.
Yours in the creative vital substance that makes life worth living,
Annie
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