I’m Back! The Creative Journey
August 26, 2010
enjoy the creative journey
Ah it’s been a great few weeks off from blogging. I love blogging don’t get me wrong, but I had the sense that I needed to take a rest from it all and allow myself to focus in new directions.
And I’ve been thoroughly enjoying myself!
Here’s what I’ve been up to:
- writing stories, almost every day in my groovy purple notebook – yay!
- working on my book which is finally coming together after many months, not ready to come out in public yet but the story idea is nearly clear – wonderful!
- I’ve been working with my business partner on my new website and brand. He is an expert in marketing and branding (thank God for that) and very soon the new, upscale me will be revealed - can’t wait!
I’ve learned a lot on my creative journey of these pasts few months. Here are some of the highlights:
- You can’t rush the journey – it takes it’s own time, it is a meandering path and it is subject to the whims of your muses. So just relax and enjoy the journey.
- It has a life of it’s own - you are not in charge, even though you think you are. The journey of life wants to take you somewhere and writing a book, or creating a project is just an excuse for the process of self-transformation.
- It’s meant to be enjoyable – ah yes that old stress demon takes over too much of the time. Life, creativity and creating things can be fun and enjoyable!
Well thanks for hanging in there with me during my hiatus. I have a lot of great new stories to share, a new blog coming and a whole new look.
Stay tuned and stay in touch!
Yours in story,
Annie
The Beauty of Creating Out of the Mess
July 22, 2010
If you can weather the feeling that you’re going to be a failure, then the journey of creating something new is totally worth it.
This year I’ve had two amazing opportunities thus far to reap the pearls out of seemingly hopeless mess!
The first was in creating Retreat 42, a retreat in daily life. When I set out on my own personal retreat I asked the question, “How can I get bigger projects off the ground?” I was really stuck and I wanted to find out how to break through that.
I didn’t set out to create a program, write or book or do any of the other amazing things that came out of it. I just set out to answer one HUGE question but much to my surprise, out of that mess came a whole host of beautiful creations.
Voila’ out of the mess comes amazing new life. That is if you can weather the discomfort of it all.
So what are the challenges and discomforts of creating out of the mess?
- we hate to feel like a failure and when you’re in a mess it feels like anything but success.
- you feel confused, so you might consider yourself off-track but you’re really not.
- messy times are so darned uncomfortable that we tend to avoid them, therefore very few people know how to support you through the messy times.
- it feels just awful sometimes, kind of like being covered in mud or sludge.
So think of it this way – mess is part of nature and the natural cycle of life. Your garden is a good example.
At the end of the season everything is dying and worn down. It all rots (smells awful) and goes back into the ground where it reemerges as fertile nutrients.
Think lotus rising out of the muddy pond and you will get the feeling of the potential of the messy bogs of your life.
Don’t be afraid of them, don’t back off, don’t believe what anyone 
else tells you.
The messy, boggy, sloggy and muddy side of life is fertile ground. Today enjoy the beauty of the mess. You just might be onto something.
So just remember:
P.S I’m not talking mess in the sense of leaving your dishes undone or your clothes all over the floor!
Video: Searching for More
July 6, 2010
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.
Be A Failure Outloud
June 13, 2010
facing failure
I wrote a blog post about why I’m afraid to tell my stories but why I am going to do it anyway. So I wanted to explain why I’m willing to be a failure out-loud.
It’s not for the self- aggrandizement, that’s for sure! But being a failure outloud is one of the best things we can do for our soul.
If you are going to change the world, you need to change yourself, then let others follow by example.
That’s why I always strive to do the harder things in life, because I want more, not just for myself but for you too. I want more for all of us and hiding behind our false failures is a reality that none of us need. We all feel like a failure in some way or another.
get to the gold
But the reality is that none of us are. We are all perfectly imperfect, trying to carry out our spiritual task of shedding the crap that we were born with and becoming the luminous souls that we are meant to be.
This is the journey for each of us. Each of us carries a story inside that is about getting beyond the gunk to get to the gold. We are all hero’s and heroines in our own story. It is a HUGE task to do this work.
And some people don’t do it.
Look around and you will see complacent people everywhere. They are hiding inside their tiny lives of ‘I have enough just like this, don’t bother me for more.’
The problem is that’s not really true. We all need more and believe it or not, shucking the shell of your shame, embarrassment, discomfort and fear is the best thing you can do to live a bigger life.
eeek!
Think of a hermit crab – if he stays in the shell that is too small he will be stuck and unable to grow. He has one moment when he sheds his too-small-shell and runs at full speed for his new one.
But this moment it is sheer terror!!
He is stark naked, unprotected and could be easily assailed by any of the malevolent forces of the Universe. But he won’t be. He’s protected but he doesn’t know it.
He’s protected by the act of courage itself. Courage gives you force and energy, one you didn’t even know you had until you make a run for it towards your larger shell.
So that’s why I’m willing to live my discomfort out-loud, because I’m hoping you will too. I’m hoping that together we’ll make a train of little hermit crabs scuttling across the beach shouting, “I want a bigger life and I’m willing to be uncomfortable.”
Are you willing? Are you willing to shuck your shell and join me on this scary, intimidating, life-enhancing journey???
If you are, I’d love to hear from you. All hermit crabs in search of new life, line up here. I’ll make a run for it first, then all you have to do is follow. It’s really that easy.
Eeeeeekk! Here I go! You coming?
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.
Why Collaboration is A #1 Skill For Our Future
June 6, 2010
wrong direction
Isn’t it obvious? That if we’ve been going in the wrong direction, that we need to go in the right one?
Our world has been too divided. It’s been power over, not between and we’ve been in a hierarchy for too long. It’s obvious that this has to change. But will it?
My belief is yes.
Not just because I have innate faith in human nature. I don’t really. We’ve sorely mucked things up. But more because I see the inevitable natural evolution of things and this one is on the horizon.
Collaboration is the single biggest key to our future for the simple reason that it’s the way that everything works.
If you think about it, the entire Universe was born as one big orchestrated event. It was a collaboration of multitudinous singular processes all happening at the same time.
Isn’t that amazing?
cosmic collaboration
cosmic collaboration
We were created out of dust and gas and cosmic particles all moving in one giant whole. We could never create an event like that with our own minds.
Our entire universe is a collaborative event.
So the point is – anything other than that is against human nature itself. It’s totally going against the grain.
But eventually the tides always turn. Whenever we’ve been going the wrong direction for too long, we always end up turning another way. It’s inherent in nature.
So I do believe our time has come.
The question is – how can we translate this organic movement of the cosmos and nature into something that is and useable in our own lives???
Big question! The answer is – we can begin to act like the universe itself and start now in becoming a collaborative force for change.
This is not as easy as it sounds because while collaboration is inherent in our nature, so is separation. It is installed in us as a decisive force. Just put yourself in a room with 10 opinionated people talking about something that truly matters to you and you’ll find the separatist part of yourself very quickly!
overcoming the divide
We don’t want to be join with others when things aren’t going our way. So true collaboration requires us to overcome this innate tendency to dominate and divide. And yes, we all have it. If you don’t know your own yet, start looking. It’s there.
This is an important key to collaboration, for once you harness the separatist inside, then you’ve got the reins to working together.
The trick is to become aware as soon as you feel that energy wanting to conquer or divide, you need to use your higher brain to override that. Keep in mind as you try to collaborate this force will come up. It’s the undertow to the rising of the wave.
So though these may be obvious, it doesn’t hurt to lay them out here. Some of the key skills to true collaboration:
- make it a point to really hear others point of view – this allows you to get beyond your own thinking
- make it a point to understand all sides and to see everything outside of your own opinion – this lets you join with others and work together for a common goal
- make your point less important than you feel it is – this tames that beast that always wants to make you right.
Not easy but doable.
True collaboration is a necessary way of living for our future. I want YOU to be the one to lead the way. Are you? Let me know what you’re doing about it.
I want you to be a force for our cosmic evolution. I know you are.
What Story Are You Living In?
June 4, 2010
oh jeez, not this again!
What are the things that keep happening in your life that you think, “Oh jeez why is this happening again?”
Think about it.
These are the story you are living in. This is a bit tricky though because the story we are living is feels just like life itself. But it’s not.
You have no idea you’re living inside of a movie that you can change. But you can.
Like a fish in a fishbowl, we don’t even recognize the story we are living in – a life story that is a paradigm composed of your beliefs, feelings and view of the world.
Whew, that’s big stuff!
Yep the life story is an important one to see but it can be very difficult to discern it. Imagine a fish looking out through the glass of the fishbowl. It doesn’t even see the glass right?
fishy story
No, it doesn’t. And thus it’s nearly impossible for us to see our own life story, even thought it’s wrapped all around us all the time. We just think that it’s the way things are.
But think about this – if that’s just the way things are, why don’t those same exact things keep happening to someone else? Hmm, that’s a good question.
Maybe it’s because those life stories are not part of that other person’s movie. They are just part of ours. Makes you think doesn’t it?
So how do you find out what fishbowl you’re living in? Well let’s take a look from the outside.
Ask yourself these three questions:
- what kinds of experiences do I keep repeating that I think that’s just the way life is?
- what theme do I complain about a lot?
- what area of my life do I consistently wish was different?
These questions can be clues into the fishbowl that you’re living in. Another experiment, a little more risky, is to actually ask the people in your life what they think your story line is.
peer into the fishbowl
I’m talking about the pitiful one though, not the storyline that makes you look amazing. I did this with my sister once and it was actually very life-changing but you’ve got to be ready to have others peering into your fishbowl.
You’re not looking for nice compliments, you’re looking for what can change how you live. You want to detect the story is that you’re living that you don’t even think is a story!
Get the idea? Try it out and see what can change.
Only fish need to live in fishbowls. And as far as I know, we’re not fish anymore. We’re the directors and creators of our own stories.
Be Creative in Your Communications, Or Else!
May 18, 2010
creativity counts
creativity counts
Or else what?
Or else be left behind in the dust. These days we can no longer afford to poo-poo creativity. Time is ticking and creativity is the wave of the present and the future.
Those who are still thinking in the past will be left behind in the un-creative dust.
So you do want to be on the wave of the future, don’t you? I’m sure you do.
Being creative in your communications requires thinking outside of the box. Communications is a wide field of expression – everything from print media to video, to public speaking, to billboards.
It is everywhere we go and in today’s fast paced world, we need to use our creative brains to keep up with the pace.
It can at first seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have, because using your creative brain is actually enjoyable and energy saving. It’s your old, stuck-in-the-rut left brain that’s getting in the way.
your lizard brain
So who is this old brain that keeps you doing the same old same old? I affectionately call him Mr. Lizard and he loves doing the same things over and over again.
Mr. Lizard is the master of repetition, but needs to learn some creativity.
Why? Because he HATES change. He hates being original and he does not want to stand out in the crowd. He enjoys being one of the boring pack.
But do you?
Do you really enjoy expressing yourself like everyone else? I doubt it. You might be used to doing that but it’s probably not what you really want.
Try this test – if you’re tired or bored with what you’re putting out in your communications, then it’s a likelihood that you’re relying to much on your old lizard brain (cousin to your left brain).
Mr. Lizard doesn’t mean to but he enjoys keeping you stuck. So you’ve got to override his ideas and try something different. That’s what creativity really is – it’s the art and science of doing things differently.
Originality is creativity’s middle name.
Thinking outside the box means trying things that you haven’t tried before. And often, those that are most successful, come up with something that at first seems totally ridiculous!
Think of Se
think outside the box
th Godin’s purple cow. Silly right?
Silly but effective. Imagine yourself putting a big purple cow on your website, business card or brochure. You’re probably cringing right?
Well I’m not suggesting that YOU put a purple cow on anything. That was Seth’s original idea. But I am suggesting that you take risks like he does and think outside of the routine.
Here are some ideas to get you started, but feel free to improvise:
- Think in color, that was part of the purple cow’s effectiveness, it catches our eye and is interesting and different.
- Think ‘difference’ – take a look at something that you’ve done and ask yourself, “What could be different about this?” One small change often makes a big difference.
- If you really want to go out on an edge, and I suggest you do, then ask yourself, “What is the last thing that I’d want to do?” You can decide whether you want to do that or not, to do that or not but at least you’ve gotten yourself to think way outside of your usual box.
That’s the idea. Stirring up your creativity is good for you and good for the world, because no one wants to read or engage in your boring, ordinary communications. They just don’t, so don’t kid yourself about it.
be creative
People today, especially the younger generation like things snappy, quick and interesting and so do you if you’re honest with yourself.
Sometimes we’re afraid to make change, try something different and live outside the box. But that is old Mr. Lizard again asserting himself when he should be off taking a nap.
Today wake up Mr. Lizard and try something new. You will be glad you did.
Creativity in communications is everything. It is the wave of the future and I know you want to be on that wave.
Don’t you?
Thanks to my friend Jeannette Paladino of Write, Speak, Sell for inspiring this post!
Why I AM Writing the Book That I Don’t Want to Write
May 16, 2010
Nope, it’s not what you think. It’s not for the usual reasons. I’m not trying to make more money, get more business or be on Oprah – although my blog fan Brian thinks I should!
I am writing the book that I don’t want to write because I must. Yep that’s right I have no choice. I have to do it.
What no choice you say?
Doesn’t that go against everything you believe about choice, free will and the use of language to create your reality Annie?
Not in this case.
The lack of choice is this – there are some things we want to do because they feel good to us, a natural step in our growth. But there are other things that we need to do but that are out of our comfort zone.
These things that don’t feel comfortable are often for a greater purpose than we know. We need to grow, not just for ourselves but for the evolution of humankind as well.
That’s why I’m writing this book.
When we do not grow according to this uncomfortable urging, we stay stuck and stuck is not what I want. I want to grow and I imagine you do too.
So why I am writing this book is because it’s a must-do urging of my soul, not a wanna-do urging from the easier side of life. I want to grow so I’m willing to leap through hurdles to do it.
And this has been a HU
GE hurdle! Like an elephant in my bedroom It’s been haunting at night. I have tried to ignore it but it won’t go away.
Imagine a tusk-bearing elephant trumpeting loudly in your ear while you try to sleep.
Not so easy right?
That’s how these stories have been speaking to me – LOUDLY. But loud is good. If it wasn’t loud I would keep trying to ignore it. You know those things that just won’t go away?
It’s an urging from the depths of the soul and I am heeding the call (hear bugle call here).
In June I’m going off to Arizona to write my book in only 8 days. Why waste time after something’s been haunting you for years right? Right.
Eight days and the baby will be birthed and I will be free of the torture. Just kidding, but it is torture in the sense that I have a muse who is haunting me. She has chosen me for this book and once they choose you, they won’t let you off the hook.
So who is this not-so-amusing muse that is haunting me? Well she’s a kind of Love Goddess. I know that sounds silly but I actually have a voice in my head who talks to me about the screwed up state of love on this planet and what she wants me to do about it.
Me who has considered myself a total failure in this regard! It’s kind of like flunking math – now you want me to teach it??
But according to her, that’s exactly why I have to write this book – because of my experiences that have seemed more like Chinese water torture than love, SHE feels that I have gained some wisdom.
Anyway, she feels that something is seriously screwed up down here on Planet Earth in the realm of love and relationships and she wants me to do something about it.
What an irony right?
Hardy, har, har. It’s a great cosmic joke (start laughing now).
Yes I am going o write a book about an area of life that I have totally failed in!
Or have I??
According to my Chief personal consultant who keeps me on track he says, “We all need experience to create wisdom. A great Captain learns on the seas of outrageous fortune – never from sitting all day in a small, safe harbor. You are meant to live large and prosper – to suck the marrow from your huge, wild experiences – then share the resulting wisdom.”
Beautiful!
And my niece Devon who was the catalyst for my getting started told me, “Annie you need to write these stories. We need them. We need your wisdom in this area so we know we’re not alone.”
So here I go folks, leaping off the edge of comfort and into the raw and real zone. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.
Your gifts don’t always come from what’s comfortable for you. Today, take a leap with me and find the zone that is beyond what feels easy, good or comfortable. Why? Because we want to change the world.
And if we get on Oprah then we’ll share together.
Connect With Annie Hart
.png)
.png)