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A New Place to Share My Writing…

April 25, 2022 by 0 Comments

I’ve started a newsletter and podcast! Head over to subscribe, read, and listen!

Here is a sample of my latest newsletter…

Coping with Infertility

Kim Belverud Photography

It’s hard to know that your body doesn’t want to cooperate with your plans. As a meticulous planner, I felt like I had found the perfect time to work on planning for a family now that my business was more stable, I was married and we were ready to look for houses. Things felt like they were falling into place. 

To be honest, I thought that careful planning was all one needed to make things happen. I was ready for the work, the measuring and tracking. I spent the previous year learning how to mother myself and heal past childhood mother wounds because I was afraid to carry on generational trauma that my genes carried.

In the past I had a strained relationship with my mother who had a strained relationship with her mother who had a strained relationship with her mother. If I was old enough to ask before she passed away, I could find out if my great-grandmother had one as well with her mother or if the pattern started with her. Something told me it went on for generations.

Working on healing this truth took compassion and time. I had to reach back and see these women through the eyes of compassion and love. As I did this work, I felt more and more ready to become a mother, to give birth to a new generation, one rooted in love and compassion.

I received a call from an unknown number. I answered, it was my OB/GYN. I was surprised to hear her voice on the other line.

“This wasn’t the call I wanted to make or the news I wanted to give you.” she said with deep compassion in her voice, allowing pauses. Allowing me to process and the time to ask questions through my tears. I took notes because I knew I would have a hard time remembering the things she was saying. “Premature ovarian failure, early menopause, not a candidate for IVF, some women have success with donor eggs.” I could hear the disappointment in her voice 

All these words refused to settle in my heart… (to continue reading, click here)

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. If you or someone you know is suffering from the inability to conceive, my heart goes out to you. 

Please visit RESOLVE.org to learn more about resources and ways to help.

The Alchemy of 2021: Finding Hope

December 29, 2021 by 0 Comments

The past informs the future.

I chose HOPE as my word for 2021. After experiencing deep grief in 2020, I wanted to look for silver linings and meaning for the sorrow I was experiencing. I thought that HOPE would serve as a helpful guide after feeling hopeless and defeated.

So for this entire year, I have looked for hope, practiced hope and learned so much about cultivating hope. The thing with choosing a theme is that it shows up in unexpected ways.

Hope didn’t show up easily for me. It felt like I clawed my way out of hopelessness this year. Just when things felt like they were going to work out, a setback would occur. This year felt like a treadmill of 2 steps forward, 1 step back and it was exhausting.

However, HOPE did show up. It shined its way through the darkness and by the end of the year, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. This light showed up because of one emotion that permeated my being for most of the year; anger.

My anger was an alchemist this year.

To be honest, I can’t remember a time when I have felt so much rage in my life. It felt like a fire that burned deep within me. It was stoked by memories of past events, current issues and the grief that was left unresolved. This anger was like a wildfire, burning through everything in its path, including my marriage. I was mad and nothing was getting in the way of the burning.

Hopelessness and anger became the catalyst for change.

I vividly remember my breaking point when I dialed for help. The woman asked me several questions including the address of my location “I’m sitting in my car at the mall.” I said through tears as I continued to answer her questions. She told me about an app for depression and let me know a therapist would be in touch.

Through therapy, I worked through years of piled up grief. I thought I had already done the work, but grief doesn’t just go away. It can be rekindled with new grief. My infertility was the new grief which reminded my soul of all the other sorrows that were buried deep within.

Writing was an alchemist this year.

After saying “no” to a book contract in the beginning of the year, I started writing the book that has been on my heart for several years. Aside from therapy, I joined a grief writer’s group. There were three of us in the group and we held each other accountable in our goal of writing our next books. I finished writing my book in August and am in the process of finding an agent/publisher for it.

My writing changed through this process. With the keen eyes and encouragement of my fellow writers, I wrote out my truth and found meaning in the hard stuff, joy in the triumphs and recognized the bravery and resilience in my spirit. I also recovered the deep well of love within in me.

My marriage was an alchemist this year.

We walked through this wildfire together. At times, it was traumatic. My husband’s COVID, my anger and grief, business stress and the dreams we held on so dearly needed to be released: buying a home and giving birth. We let go again and again, surrendering to the unknown. In the end, we emerged closer with a deeper empathy and understanding of ourselves and each other.

Marriage is a container where the worst parts of you can emerge. It’s also a healing container, if both partners are willing, to allow painful transformations to take place with love. There isn’t a day that I’m not deeply grateful for this love.

Alchemy creates space.

Letting go has created space. I am excited to see what all this space will be filled with. I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty amazing since SO much space has been created.

Hope showed up through the fire, purifying and making elemental changes. This year was an alchemist and after everything, I feel hope-full.

Photo Credit: Kim Belverud Photography

How to Conquer Your Morning

March 23, 2020 by 0 Comments
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For most of us, the Corona Virus as put us on lock down for over a week. 

In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, many cities and states have places a “Shelter in Place” order. We were away when all this went down in California. When we returned home, our Lyft driver mentioned all the changes we would experience and urged us to go grocery shopping early the next morning. Although he found himself with 90% less rides, he was upbeat and hopeful.

This pandemic has been quite an opportunity in my eyes. Never before have I seen things so clean and felt the availability of time. Time is one of our most precious commodities and we are now finding ourselves looking for ways to fill our time at home. Every day, I see someone offering a free course, video series, workbook, workout, etc… to share with the millions of people who are now stuck at home.

As a solopreneuer, this has been my way of life since I quit my job in 2014. Many of my fellow entrepreneur friends are also finding themselves plugging along at business as usual. However, for many of you, you can’t go into work, your children are now at home and you may even have to figure out how to homeschool! All these changes can be discombobulating. However, it doesn’t have to feel frantic and scary. There is a time every day that you can choose to set yourself up for success and that is: MORNINGS!

Morning Routines are the perfect way to take some time to create a map of how you’d like your ideal day to be. Taking as little as 15 minutes each morning to ground and center yourself can create a dramatic shift in how you enter each day.

There are several opinion, books and ideas for how to create an effective morning routine. My top advice is to find the things that are non-negotiable to YOU because you are the one that has to commit to it. I’ve started so many routines/journals/practices in the past and in time, I have created one that works for me, one that I look forward to and feel off if I don’t complete. This is how I know I will do it.

When it comes to Morning Routines, find what works for you, let go of the rest!

The most successful people have routines, systems and processes they follow. Focused intention creates desired results. In a time of such uncertainty, you can create certainty in your daily life by creating a routine to set you up for personal success. Mornings are a time of grounding, renewal and solace. 

With so many options available for creating routines, I thought I’d share a few suggestions to help you create a routine that works well for you:

  1. Go to bed and wake up at the same time consistently: When we create a sleep and wake schedule, we are more apt to having time for our morning routine
  2. Keep your phone away: Don’t consume the thoughts of others before you give your brain a chance to center and calibrate for the day. Start your day with your soul, not the opinions of others.
  3. Mindfulness: Meditation and prayer are mindful ways to start your day. Take some time to center yourself through breath and offer prayers of gratitude for the day ahead.
  4. Intentional Goals: Create a list of 3 things you would like to accomplish each day. Make them  your top priorities. When we create a long list of “to-dos” we can get caught up deciding what to do. Highlight or write out the top 3 and start there. If you have more time to complete more, that’s a bonus!
  5. Create a Schedule: Schedule out your day, making sure there is time for your top 3 intentional goals. This way you can make sure they have a time slot to be completed. When we schedule things, they are more likely to get done.
  6. Oracle Cards: This is one of my favorite things to help me find inspiration in the morning. Pull one or a few. Ask a question. Place one in a place you can see to keep you inspired throughout the day.
  7. Journal: This is a wonderful way to get all the thoughts that are swirling about on paper. Its amazing how clarity can come from writing things out. If there is something you’re processing, it may take a few days or weeks to journal through, but there is a catharsis that comes from writing it out!

These are just a few things you can do to create an intentional morning. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, I suggest tying your morning routine to this habit to make it more successful. When we tie a new habit to an existing one it catches on quicker.

I’d love to hear how your mornings are going and if you need any further support during this time. please let me know. I understand the uncertainty can be unraveling, and yet it is creating the space we all need. Look forward with hopeful anticipation for what’s next.

Great things can be born out of chaos. Better things are born through intention.

How to Balance Movement and Rest

June 20, 2019 by 0 Comments
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We are currently doing our digital nomad experiment and for the past 5 weeks, we have traveled through Spain, visiting some amazing cities and doing as much as we could for the limited time we were in each location. It was exciting, fun, adventurous and exhausting.

Spain is vibrant; pulsating with life. It feels like everyone is awake until the wee hours of the morning. The zest for life was intoxicating and we found ourselves out and about much later than we would have been back home. I loved the schedule we kept in Spain. Every day we explored and if we had to work, we snuck in some exploration before and after our calls.

We soaked up every minute possible in Spain. And with so many different cities to see, we made sure we saw all that we could. But going at that pace for an extended period, living in and out of a suitcase and dealing with trains, cabs, planes and buses takes its toll. My adventurous side started to feel bruised and battered after so much movement and lack of sleep.

When we made this plan, we knew that we would need to choose a place to stay for an extended period of time after the whirlwind of Spain. We chose Florence, Italy and found a small cottage with a big garden as a place to rest, relax and restore our energy.

Florence is a beautiful city, rich in history and not that big. We are taking our time to see the sights, taste the flavors and experience the beauty of the Italian way of life. Our cottage is up a hill just outside the old city walls, so we are close enough to explore on foot, yet far enough for peace and quiet.

I love it here, especially our little home away from home. The garden is my favorite place. There are so many trees and aromatic plants. No matter where you are in our neighborhood, you can smell jasmine. In our garden, sage, rosemary and lavender grow abundantly. Just sitting out there is like having an aromatherapy session in a spa. All the green and scents have truly been healing.

I don’t think we could have chose a better place to restore our energy. Even the internet is spotty here which would usually be an issue, but causes us to slow down even more. I feel like I’m in my own version of Under the Tuscan Sun just ambling through my days, writing, loving and soaking up the abundant sunshine.

This adventure has opened my eyes to the meaning of feeling alive while active and at rest. When we were in Spain, everything felt alive. Even if I was asleep, I knew that life was being lived to its fullest. In Florence, I feel alive because I am taking the time to restore and for self care. Just being in the sun awakens my spirit.

Gratitude for this journey floods me.

I am grateful to have this experience and a partner who dreams big alongside me. I am grateful that the world is such a beautiful place with so many amazing places to see. I am grateful for all the sunshine, all the trees and all the people we’ve encountered. I am grateful that I have learned how to feel alive while moving and in stillness. I am grateful for my adventurous spirit and for my strong body that has sustained me through this journey. I am grateful for dreams come true…because they really do come true!

Bravery in the Arena

June 11, 2019 by 1 Comment
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“It’s hard to understand.” She said as she touched me arm. “He was a brave bull.” I had just witnessed the end of a bullfight. My eyes welled up with tears as I gasped and grabbed my husband’s knee. The woman beside me, Marcella, had been explaining the entire ritual to me, taking me deeper into understanding something that I was very scared to look at.

Bullfighting is a brutal sport and deeply tied to Spanish tradition. I was afraid to go, yet intrigued by something held so reverently by a culture I love. I didn’t want to judge something I didn’t understand nor had ever experienced.

I am re-reading The Sun Also Rises on this trip to try to get a better feel for the sport and Spain. Plus, Ernest Hemingway is one of my favorite authors. Hemingway was brought up in conversation with the couple we sat next to, the man was a writer, covering the experience of bullfights. We found our common ground, two writers who loved Hemingway, yet we wrote about very different topics.

As the procession began, all the key players of the fight: matadors, banderilleros and picadors, came out into the arena. They held their heads high with pride as they made their way to the President’s box to tip their hats before the fighting began. The matadors were dressed in beautiful suits, traje de luces, that sparkled in the arena lights. They were the most proud, for they were the true opponent of the bull.

A brass band, up in the stands, played as everyone took their places around the arena. Bright magenta and gold capotes were being flung about by the banderilleros, practicing before the bull came charging in. As the horses left the arena, everything became hushed as all eyes turned towards the open gate, waiting for the bull to enter.

Charging through the gate, a young bull appeared. He moved towards the the banderilleros and matador as they attempted to tire him out. It was a beautiful dance with the brightly colored capotes swishing back and forth next to the ornate costumes and the muscular body of the bull.

“They must keep their body straight so the bull only sees the capote.” Marcella explained as I watched the dance. She was sure to explain every element to me as I must have had a bewildered look on my face.

The trumpets sounded once more and the picadors entered the arena. “The horses are wrapped in padding so the bull does not hurt them and the man is wearing a metal boot.” She pointed out as I thought I was hearing a cowbell. They took their positions on opposite sides of the arena and the capotes were used to lure the bull closer to the picador. You could hear him calling out to the bull. “Toro! Toro!”

And then in a swift motion, the bull charged and a spear was placed deep into his shoulder. I shuddered. The bull was angry and charged the horse, causing it to fall over. I gasped and grabbed for Nate’s arm. He looked surprised and we just stared at each other. Marcella leaned in “The horse is alright, he is protected with two linings. “

Somehow, that made me feel better yet, I wondered if the horse really was alright. After they got the horse back up, the trumpet sounded again and the picadors left the arena.

The next act, act 2/3, was very dramatic. Each banderilleros have two darts in their hands and they taunt the bull towards them, standing on tip-toes, arms outstretched until the bull runs towards them as they jump up, placing the darts in the bulls back, then running for cover as the matador distracts with his capote. This happens three times for a total of six darts.

Marcella pointed out when the bull and matador were being brave. There were a few times she said “He is scared of the bull, you can see his bravery isn’t strong. He’s too far away from the bull and the bull will know he is in charge now.”

The entire ritual was a display of bravery and the arena was the stage.

Then, the final act happens where the bull and matador face off. “The bull is the most important part of the fight. This is a good bull. He is brave so the matador must also be brave. We are watching two warrior spirits. This is very special.” Marcella explained as I watched the matador move around with his red cape, muleta.

He got closer and closer to the bull until they were inches apart. It was beautiful. The graceful movement of the matador with his muleta and the powerful energy of the bull charging as close as possible, never missing the cape.

They were in sync and I couldn’t look away.

“This is the act of death. The matador must end the suffering of the bull to set his soul free.” Marcella leaned in once more touching my arm. I was afraid to see it, but I didn’t look away. The dance went on for about 10 minutes and it was beautiful. The bull charged, the matador moved only his muleta and spine, keeping his feet firmly planted. Every part was graceful and colorful.

I could see their warrior spirits facing off.

Then, the part I feared most happened and a sword was shoved in between the shoulder blades of the bull as he charged one last time. The bull dropped, my eyes filled with tears. “We must be silent to allow the bull’s spirit to pass” she whispered.

Then in a moment of silence, we all watched the bull take its last breath before a team came out to drag his body out of the arena.

This happened six times. Each time, I got upset when the death occurred, yet the entire show was intriguing and beautiful.

Marcella was right, it is hard to understand. I am not from Spain and this is not my tradition. I am grateful for her presence during this experience. I feel like she was a spirit guide, delivered to the seat next to me to guide me through this difficult experience.

Cultural differences can be a hot button issue, especially when they involve the rights of a living being. I learned that although, I feel bullfighting to be brutal, I can appreciate why many feel it to be an amazing sport. I can see why Hemingway was obsessed. It really does grab your attention and tug at your emotions. There are emotional highs and lows during the whole fight. Cortisol levels are heightened. I can see how it can be attractive and addicting to watch.

The part I can most appreciate is the reverence for the soul and naming the true spirit of a being. The bull’s spirit is brave. The matador’s spirit is also brave. They are the one’s in the arena, facing their fears. I may not agree with how it is displayed but, there is an important element to recognizing the spirit of all living things.

I am glad we went to the bullfight. I am not sure if I will ever go again and I am so grateful for Marcella’s presence, leading me through understanding a part of her culture in such a patient and kind way. Spain is intoxicating and I’ll never forget the night I watched bravery displayed in an arena.

Taking a Sabbatical

March 29, 2018 by 1 Comment
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Are you ready to take a break from work?

When you find yourself at the edge of quitting your job to take a sabbatical or at an unexpected career break, a spark forms inside. There is a mixture of anxiety and freedom marking the start of a very important transition; the birth of something new.

Sabbaticals range in time but they all have a common theme. It is a time to look inside yourself to figure out what you really want to do next. This pause in work creates the space to evaluate, plan and listen to intuitive cues. The time is finally available to sit and think about direction.

This time is a gift and although there is some anxiety because the next step is unknown, embrace the ambiguity. Sit with the question. Allow the silence to be a guide.

I have experienced two sabbaticals in my life. The first one was after my career as an investment banker where I watched the downfall of the market and was plagued with anxiety. I was too young to feel that upset all the time. So, I cashed out everything, including my retirement account and moved away to figure out my next step. The time was spent in a new city, exploring a part of the US I had never seen and taking one big trip with the last of my money to visit a friend in Australia. When I returned, I found a job in an industry I had grown quite passionate about–wine.

I worked in the wine industry for five years working my way from a courier to an account manager where I consulted wine makers on their wine making processes. The job gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world and learn so much about wine. After a few years on the road constantly, I began to feel burnt out. I was home a few days a month and exhausted. My passion had waned and I wanted stability and community more than anything.

I resigned after saving and planning my next steps. I was terrified when I handed in my resignation letter and letting go of the financial security that I had created and worked so hard for. But, my intuition told me this was a necessary move.

My plan was to travel the world and write a book. I had a one way plane ticket to Bali but something told me to keep my apartment. I would travel in spurts. While I was in Bali, all of my plans disintegrated and my true path revealed itself. I resisted and argued with the realization. Knowing that my wanderlust was being put on the back burner broke my heart. But it was clearly the right answer.

I returned home and settled in and signed up for a coaching certification. This transition has had its share of doubt, anxiety and ambiguity. However, the biggest difference was the way I approached it.

The key was to trust my intuition and know that the universe was going to provide the path as long as I stayed open and listened for guidance.

During this time, I received coaching from a colleague and truly believed in the importance of a coach during transition. Not only can coaching provide guidance and accountability, it can also open your mind to the universal clues we can’t see when we shut down out of frustration.

If you are going through or thinking about a career transition and would like to discuss coaching, please email me at emily@soulsadventures.com. I offer effective tools to tap into your intuition and find clarity on what it is your really want to do, provide planning tools and accountability.

With coaching, you can create a plan to take your next career step with confidence.

Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on Earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling. -Vincent Van Gogh

Pictures of Compassion

May 11, 2016 by 0 Comments
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I was sitting on a plane next to a mother and daughter. The mother’s hands flailed as the daughter kindly pats her arms to calm her. She adjusted the headrest with care. Then, she cut her mother’s food and fed her like a child. it was a striking and beautiful role reversal of a child parenting the parent. I wondered when or if this will happen for me and I was scared of the thought, as I admired the woman for her compassion and selfless love.

_________________________

A friend has lovingly looked over her mother who has been on life support for a decade. She bathes her, performs physical therapy, feeds her, speaks lovingly to her daily. I am amazed by her compassion. She holds out hope that one day her mother will speak again. Every day she looks for signs of renewed life. Her compassion and hope is beautiful to me.

_________________________

A man picks up an ant from the pool where it struggles to survive. He lets the ant crawl all over his hand, moving fluidly with the ant. After a few friendly moments, he lovingly places the ant on the grass nearby. His act of compassion towards such a small thing reminds me to be kind to every living creature.

   _________________________

There is a girl on the phone with her father. She is crying. “You’re the best dad ever. I love you. You’re the best dad.” She kept repeating in between sobs. She hangs up and sits there crying. The man who is with her hugs her. She sobs onto his shoulder. Her back rises and falls with her grief. He leaves to use the phone and she continues to cry. A woman walked up and placed the flower she had in her hair on the table as she walked by. A small act, but significant.

_________________________

Compassion takes courage. Dealing with someone else’s pain that is not necessarily our own is uncomfortable. We have to go outside our comfort zone in order to comfort another. Compassion is a practice of just being there, being understanding and giving love. Compassion is achieved with an open heart and loving intentions. If looked for it is everywhere and proves that deep down, humanity is good.

True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain but also being moved to help relieve it.  – Daniel Goleman

How to Create a Prioritized Plan

July 8, 2015 by 0 Comments
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One of the main issues I help people with is prioritizing in business and every day life. It is easy to get caught up in the to-do lists and thoughts swirling in our heads. Knowing how to prioritize can create a more effective approach to work and life. With a prioritized plan, time is used more effectively and frees up unnecessary time saps.

Organization is an art and can be learned by implementing a few steps. Look at your current process and implement things from the steps below if they will help you become more efficient.

Here are a few tips on getting things done:

  1. Write down everything that you have to do (or thinking of doing). Use a white board, paper or fill a notebook. Just get it out of your head and onto paper.
  2. Go down your list and prioritize using 1,2,3 or A,B,C or even colors if that is more useful. 1/A being the most important and time sensitive. Are there things that you can delegate or eliminate?
  3. Create a timeline (day, week, month, quarter, year) and list tasks accordingly.
  4. Enter the tasks in your calendar. Add alerts if needed. When its on the schedule, it becomes concrete and is more likely to be completed.
  5. Stop multi-tasking. This is not an effective or efficient way to get things done. Pay attention to the task at hand and then move down the list.

Creating a well prioritized plan will create more order. Revisit your plan at the beginning of the week/month/quarter and revise accordingly. Life is fluid and ever-changing and plans should evolve accordingly. When we stay on top of our tasks and prioritize, we can make sure that our tasks are completed in a timely and organized matter. A good plan will make sure everything gets done and can eliminate some of the unnecessary tasks.

“Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least”

-Goethe

If you would like help with prioritizing, organizing or creating a plan, I would love to help. Send me an email at emily@soulsadventures.com and let’s get the organization party started!

Running Past Self Doubt

April 15, 2015 by 0 Comments

race

“This is the last part, you can do. Give it all you’ve got!” My friend said as we ran towards the finish line. We were sprinting to the end; my heart racing, legs trembling, feet burning. “I can’t do this” I panted when I realized the final part of the race was on an incline. “Yes, you can! C’mon!” She encouraged once more. As I crossed the finish line I felt my body release the tension I had felt for the last few minutes of the race and then relax.

I had trained 12 weeks to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington DC. Signing up for the race was kind of a joke to me since I was informed it was based on a lottery and hard to get picked to participate. The joke turned into reality when 2 weeks later we were picked and I realized that I needed to learn how to run 10 miles. I had run previously but mainly short runs. The farthest I had gone was 5 miles on a treadmill with 3 walking breaks and that was a painful and sweaty ordeal. However, I was determined to run the full 10 and began training immediately.

During my training, I found myself with shin splints, foot pain and sore muscles. I rarely pushed myself that far physically and I could feel every milestone. I did not let the discomfort keep me from reaching my goal. I tracked my progress and could see results in speed and on my body. Running changed my body’s composition and I started to crave my runs. I felt myself becoming stronger physically and mentally.

One of the most important changes was I started to surround myself with other runners. My running friends were encouraging and helpful with advice and tips on training and gear. Mentally, I began seeing workouts, food and drink in a different light. I wanted to be successful in attaining my goal, but not obsessive. I worked on balance and meditated on the result.

The morning of the race, I woke up early and visualized myself crossing the finish line. As I walked to the race, I felt excited and happy that the day had finally arrived to prove to myself that I could run a race. The course was beautiful, the sun was shining and the air was crisp. We ran around the monuments, over the Potomac River with a cherry blossom canopy. At times, it felt like I was running through a story book.

I smiled and sang along to my playlist for most of the race. My friends who are faster runners sweetly ran along side me. It wasn’t until there was half a mile left when I felt my body and mind giving up. My friend’s encouragement and coaching really helped. I repeated the mantra “I am strong, I’ve got this” over and over in between her cheering. And shortly after the breakdown, I finished.

I think about muscles and how they have to tear and break down in order to grow. In the last few minutes of  the race, I broke down but that was because I was growing. Doing hard things helps us grow. I wanted to quit, but persisted. I felt ready to sign up for another race just minutes after thinking I couldn’t finish; that’s what pushing the limits can do.

This lesson is true in many areas of life. When faced with a hardship, whether physical, mental or spiritual, we are provided an opportunity to grow and overcome. Being surrounded by loving, encouraging people helps. What we think and how we talk to ourselves during the growth is the most important. Believing that you can achieve the goal is powerful, especially when giving up and doubt enters our minds.

What are you facing that seems impossible? How can you change the messages you are telling yourself about it? Transform your doubt into doing. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Overcome self doubt with accomplishment. You’d be surprised what can happen. Our minds and bodies are stronger than we think.

 

Intuitive Painting: Creativity from the Soul

January 31, 2015 by 0 Comments

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First there is trepidation. “I am not creative” the mind tells you as you prepare to step into an unknown realm. There is a blank page sitting in front of you. It is both exciting and terrifying. “What if I make a mistake” your mind once again speaking with doubt.

You are about to embark on an adventure that will take you inward and then into a creative, outer expression. You are about to paint intuitively.

My first experience with intuitive painting was a year ago in a small studio in Costa Rica. I saw a flier regarding intuitive painting in a coffee shop and decided to email the instructor. I didn’t know what to expect as I  walked into the studio. I sat down at a table smudged with paint and I could feel my nerves taking over and took a few calming deep breaths.

For the next hour or so, I painted following her prompts, surprised by what was transpiring on the paper. The most fascinating part was realizing that I was intuitively creative and the meaning behind my art. We sat there and discussed the different elements and the revelations came as I articulated my interpretation.

I realized that I had been trying so hard to reach a place of love and freedom. But I kept going back to the familiar and secure which actually left me feeling insecure, lonely and sad. I  knew I needed to be brave and take the leap I had been contemplating for a couple years. This scared me but also gave me a sense of calm and resolution.

After that experience, I wanted to share what I had learned with others. I started painting more and tapping into my intuition preparing to facilitate workshops and one-on-one sessions. The first workshop was lovely, consisting of 5 participants each with different and unique souls. I gave one set of instructions and what transpired were 5 very different and beautiful paintings, each with lovely revelations.

I am so happy and excited to share this type of creative soul adventure. If you would like to schedule a session or workshop in the San Diego area, please email emily@soulsadventures.com.

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” -Albert Einstein