Catalytic Creativity

While recreating my life-physically, by loosing 158 lbs; emotionally, by leaving an unhealthy relationship; spiritually, by deciding to have a relationship with my God; and intellectually, by going back to school, shifting careers and starting my own business-I came to understand the deep connection between all the aspects of my life. I saw clearly the flow through of energy from one to the other.

I explored ways to tap into the energy to leverage it across all areas of my life. The connection to business, art, writing, relationships, and body became clear. As I gained awareness, the creativity began to flow incredibly. I got back into the studio and developed a new body of collage work. I began to write a book. The creative juices began to run prolifically. Sometimes there is so much juice, I do not know how to digest it all. What a wonderful problem to have! Thank God for my coach, who helps me stay on target and live a life that is focused on my talents, values and dreams.

People around me were witnessing the outpouring of work and they began to ask me what I was doing. I remember saying that I was tapping into all the energy that was swirling. “How?” they would ask. That gave me pause-how?

Remember, I changed my whole physical self, left a six-figure job to start a new business, got a divorce, moved to a new home in a new town, and started a new spiritual path-all within about three years. Now was the time to settle in and really create my life.

Talk about emotion. Talk about energy!

I learned that where there is energy, emotion, and action, there is creativity! And, boy, did I need creativity-right now!

Innately, I knew I needed to face and be with all my emotions, all that energy, if I were to heal and to create the life I wanted.

I jumped into all sorts of fun and nurturing practices. I wrote, I meditated, I drew, I prayed, I collaged, I danced, I cooked, I volunteered, I sewed, I painted, I sang, and did the not so fun. I cried, I lay, I drank, I slept, I pouted, I yelled. I found that being with all the emotions and allowing them to be present was a gift that I had never given myself.

I had eaten them away, busied them away, and flat out run from the full range of emotions. Hidden them away and cheated myself of the riches they had to offer.

I learned that being with the full range created a kind of energy unto itself that was powerful and rich, that actually experiencing them was the key to getting the wisdom from them.

I came to understand that bearing witness to my own life had value. I began to slow down so I could distill the learning and the energy from my experiences so I could use it to inspire new creations and new changes in others.

I decided I needed to stop doing and finally be quiet and appreciate all the work I had done.

So, I got quiet!

I made a larger commitment to myself and committed to one hour per day to meditate and to listen to myself. I wanted to see, feel and understand the richness of my life, so I could pour it into my art, writing and business.

I had been exploring meditation for several years and realized that there are many ways to do it. I had finally come to a place of acceptance that my version was mine. I listened to Depok, Wayne, and Julia, and what I realized was that I needed to listen to Florence.

I created a personal practice that is about listening to myself and listening to my own wisdom-again something that I had never done. Through my coaching work, I know most people do not listen to their own voice or their own wisdom.

I, like many others, believe that someone else has answers to my problems. What I have learned is that if I am willing to be with myself and with my emotions, I can find all sorts of wisdom, energy and courage to solve most of my problems.

Meditation is about awareness for me. It is about being able to experience myself and the world around me. Traditionally there is a view that meditation is about clearing the mind and becoming empty. Mine is very different from that.

I developed a meditation practice that is truly my own. It incorporates sitting, breathing, moving, and noticing. It is a mindfulness practice that has changed the way I walk through each day.

I know I am going to spend one hour with myself. Just being. I might read a passage from a book and sit and ponder it. I might lie down and listen to the sounds, be aware of my body, and enjoy the breeze. Other days I am walking on the beach being present to the water, the air, the sun. I might just sit and watch the people in the square. It is about being present. To beauty, to my heart, to the energy around me, and to the details. There are a few rules: no problem solving, no talking, no planning. It is about the present moment.

Creativity is energy.

Energy is generated from movement, from friction. Emotional, physical and spiritual energy is present in our lives. Whether quiet or loud, it is waiting to be leveraged, channeled, and respected.

Opening up yourself to the energy that is present in your life takes awareness. The ability to tap into this energy comes from dedicated time to experience the energy and the effect it has on your life and creativity.

Whether it is energy that is created intentionally or organically, it is energy that has information and inspiration. Our lives are full of energy, created from every experience we have.

So much of what I have experienced over the past several years is a testament to getting moving which makes things happen. Getting quiet makes things happen. It is the happy balance between them that has created the magic in my life. I am a national speaker. I am published, I have happy clients, my business and relationships are blooming, and I am happy.

Here are a few questions about your energy.

What do you do to slow down and listen to?

Where is your energy being used wisely?

Where is your energy being wasted?

What needs to get started?

What needs to be ended?