Fall is a beautiful reminder to turn inward and work on one of the most important relationships you will ever have: between you and your intuition.
Here are some things I am doing this month to focus on my goals and needs…
Simplify: each day, choose one project or goal to focus on – and do it first. this does not mean you only get one thing done a day! i’ve found it to be the opposite. when i choose one project per day that i focus my entire energy on (and get done first), i produce a better quality product. plus, the other things on my to-do list always seem to magically get done. for women, it is so important to be conscientious about how we spent our energy each day in order to accomplish those “big picture” personal and professional goals, one focused task at a time.
Spend time with my journal: your journal is a place where you can write anything you want and no one will judge you. it is truly “you time” – your emotions, thoughts, and feelings are invited to flow onto the page. your journal is also a place where clarity and breakthroughs can often occur. i am an evening journaler – i write to recap my day and quiet my thoughts before I fall asleep. everyone finds the time that works best for them – you may like the mornings or you may just want to fit in journaling wherever you can, such as during the commute, before yoga class, or before a meeting. the key is to carve out this time for yourself and think of it as a self-care ritual that can nourish you.
Seek solitude: sometimes the more my schedule fills up the more i crave solitude. only when we are alone can we hear our inner voice again (listen, she probably has something to say to us!). when we are alone, we tune into our own needs and wants. some surprising revelations may result from this, such as the need for a vacation or retreat, a change of heart about a relationship, or the yearning to pursue a new career. even one hour alone can bring us tremendous benefits, and give us more energy when we return to our friends and family.
Give one (or more) of these tips a try this week – and observe the results!
This post appeared in an earlier edition of my newsletter. If you’re interested in reading more juicy tips like the one in the post, sign up here! (You’ll also get a complimentary article on Re-Igniting Your Creativity.)
NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month. Which also happens to be this month, November. The project brings together professional and first-time writers with the goal to write a 175-page, 50,000 word novel by November 30. If this sounds impossible to you, it might be a sign that it’s time to prove yourself wrong.
If creating art or blogging is more your thing, you’re not off the hook either. November is also Art Every Day Month led by the talented artist Leah Piken Kolidas *AND* NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month).
All of these challenges are designed to create habits. Writing and blogging and creative habits. All good stuff. Why not join in?
Last weekend, I led a workshop on Visioning Your Ideal Life at the local Lululemon store.
{ the setting }
One by one, the women made their way to the back of the store, took off their shoes, turned off cell phones, and reconnected to themselves. I led everyone through a centering meditation, a dreamy visualization, and a Custom Order Form for Your Life worksheet.
The ladies split into pairs and shared discoveries with their partners. There were lots of insights about living environment and location, career, and health and wellness.
{ discussing their insights }
Here was what one participant had to share about the workshop:
I feel like I have gained a fresh perspective on my life, created an authentic career path, and now have goals that resonate more clearly with the woman I have become. Thank you!
To Kelly, Sandra, Joy, Marnie, Preetum, Dienna, Jen, Mary, Mara, and Kerrie – thank you for bringing your energy and willingness to *dream big* with me to the workshop.
Are you hosting a women’s group meeting, soiree, or professional development event? I love leading women through self-discovery exercises and discussions. I frequently work with groups of friends and professional groups to create a custom workshop. Learn more here.
I now live in a neighborhood where everyone says “Hello” to each other on the street. This may not shock those of you living in some parts of this country. I think it’s interesting how us city folk get used to not have that very basic human interaction with the people we live near.
The very act of looking into someone eyes and saying hello connects you with that other person. It humanizes the other person (and ourselves). It forces us to think of ourselves as part of a breathing, living city instead of a solitary unit.
I have this quote hanging in my office.
You can never tell what type of impact you may make on another’s life by your actions or lack of action. Sometimes just a smile on the street to a passing stranger can make a difference we could never imagine. –Ed Foreman
So tell me – What kind of impact do you want to make in your community?
Ok, so this one might not be for everyone. Although – if you have an instant reaction against doing something this daring, it might be your inner scaredy-cat that doesn’t like to be uncomfortable voicing her discomfort.
Doing something that scares us and takes us outside our comfort zone moves us forward in big leaps and bounds. If you can do [insert the most daring act you can think of here], you can do anything. Take a moment to think about the kind of confidence boost that could give you.
Just in case you’re going to use the excuse that you don’t know how to go about doing this, here are some resources (and a cool story).
Welcome to the 9th edition of the Creatuitive Living podcast: a guide for women on living an authentic and creative life.
direct download (mp3): Letting Things Go
You may subscribe to the podcast RSS feed via ITunes or another podcatcher - You’ll automatically get the latest podcast as soon as it becomes available. The Creatuitive Living podcast is published bi-weekly on Mondays.
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This podcast is a discussion about how to know when to let something go. I discuss my 5 tips for learning whether a commitment has run its course, and some examples of situations that you may be facing in your life.
Creatuitive Challenge: Let go of one thing a day for the next week. It can be an object in your home, a volunteer commitment, a toxic relationship, or an online newsletter. Let go, and breathe.
Why do many (American) adults love Halloween? Because it’s the chance to step into a different identity for a night.
I could write a post about the implications of waiting 364 days just to embrace a different side of yourself for a few hours. But I don’t really feel like writing that post right now. And since I’m the boss (on this blog, at least), instead I’m going to share some of my favorite creative ideas for Halloween happiness that I’ve come across.
{ photo credit: Mikkel Vang }
Creative Decor (via Country Living)
Awesome ideas from Feministing.
The Mothership: Martha Stewart on crafts, costumes, and more.
Ideas for group costumes (ok, these are cute Rachael Ray).
Pop star costume ideas via Stereo Gum
I would totally do these year-round.
Finally, a silly bonus: What Halloween Candy Are You? quiz
Ask yourself: “What is working in my life right now?” (Adjust “life” according to your needs – career, relationships, business could be used here as well.)
Write down at least 10 things.
Next…“What is not working in my life right now?” (Same drill.)
Write down at least 10 things.
Your answers may be surprising. They may be revealing in a way that makes you feel a little uncomfortable. That’s a good thing. Go with the fear.
Show gratitude for the parts that are working. Take immediate action towards the parts that are less than stellar.
Rinse and repeat as needed.
***Why Not Wednesdays is a new series I’ll be featuring (you guessed it) every Wednesday. I’ll be asking “Why not” do something that is scary, unconventional, creative, or a mix of all three. My hope is that you allow yourself to dream big, and routinely ask yourself, “Why not?”
Take a class that gets you moving – in a style that you’ve never tried before.
If you normally do yoga, try salsa. If you love your hip hop class, try belly dancing. Try something new.
It can be just one class. You can bring a friend. There are no rules – except to be open to what this new class will teach you.
Let go. Enjoy yourself. Don’t worry what you look like - everyone else is too busy figuring out the steps to pay attention to other people.
What new class will you try?
DC-area ladies, I would love to see you at Lululemon’s second Women in Wellness day next Saturday October 24th!
I’ll be leading a free coaching session from 12noon-1:00pm on goal visualization + execution. (RSVP info below.) They’ll be lots of other fun events going on that day as well, including a free yoga class, brunch, and more!
The event will be held at Lululemon’s Logan Circle store.
More details from Kelly with Lululemon below.
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On Saturday, October 24th, we will be hosting a Women’s Wellness Day in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The day is all about YOU, and will be centered around the theme of mind-body wellness. Please see below for the agenda!9AM-10AM: Sunrise Salutations: Morning Beginner’s Flow Yoga Session10AM-11AM: On-the-go Brunch: Sampling of pastries, bagels & fruit12PM: Creatuitive Coaching Workshop with Ana Ottman: Ana will lead a one-hour goal visualization & coaching session. (Please RSVP to kelly.ferraro@gmail.com if you plan to attend the coaching session,as space will be limited).2PM: Healthy Cooking Demo with Kerrie Martin: Kerrie will be teaching us about cooking for seasonal transitions!3PM: Afternoon Asanas: Sarah Chaplin Charlie, Certified Holistic Living Coach, will be leading us in asanasthat focus on breast cancer prevention.*We will also be fundraising for Passionately Pink, a breast cancer prevention organization… so look out for our “Squeeze My Lemons” lemonade stand with pamphlets on self exams!!!
We all need to find that mental distance from your work life where you can rejuvenate your body and spirit. But many of us are unconsciously never taking a break from work, because when we’re not at work we’re talking about it, worrying about it, and preparing for it. Not ideal.
It’s understandable. Especially if you love your job/career/boss/insert the thing you love most about your work here. But it’s not sustainable.
Here are some of my tips for keeping work at work (and having a rich personal life outside of work):
Complete the most important task of the day first thing in the morning. Everything you do after that is extra. If the most important task has been accomplished, you have no reason to bring home work. Simplify. (And if you need help doing this because your boss has not prioritized your tasks for you, read on.)
Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Each week sit down with your supervisor and go over the goals and tasks for the week. Develop a system that allows you to clearly work on the most important tasks first (and feel comfortable even if you don’t get to the less important ones). For example, you can mark each task with an A, B, or C (A for most important, C for least). Then, take it another step further by placing a number after each letter, Al, A2, A3 (A1 being most important in the A category, A3 being the least, and so on). This ensures that your time is spent productively at work (and doesn’t need to carry over into your off time).
Turn off the Blackberry. Did you know that you can set your Blackberry to turn on and off at specific times? Most people don’t know this because they like have it on all the time. Set your Blackberry to turn off and on at a time you’re comfortable with – say 8:00pm off, on again at 8:00am (+ off completely on weekends). This will do wonders for helping you to actually relax during your down time and be fully present with loved ones. (And unless you’re Obama’s Chief of Staff – really, the emails can wait.)
Set a time limit for talking about work with your partner and friends. We all have information to share about our day, and advice we like to get from the people in our lives about our jobs. You can still do this – just set a time limit. For example, you can talk about work with your partner for 10 minutes each after you get home from work. After that, you have to find another discussion topic. You’ll be surprised how this forces you to have a healthy personal life with different activities and interests to talk about. And how this keeps “work” from being the center of your life.
Pick one weeknight to do a typically “weekend” activity. Why is it that we are so relaxed and happy during the weekends? Besides the obvious (we’re not working), it’s also that we allow ourselves to indulge in hobbies, down time and special events with the people we love. How can you integrate some of that into your work week? (After all, why should work commandeer all 5 weekdays?) Suggestions: Seeing a movie, having friends over for dinner, going to yoga, cooking a special meal, taking a class or workshop, reading in bed, going for a run, and creating a special weekday ritual.
It’s like a light switch in your brain. Turn off the work light switch when you leave work for the day – and focus your attention on cultivating your personal life that’s waiting for you to pay attention to her.
What are some of the ways that you are able to keep work at work?
A few weeks ago I made a rather big announcement. This announcement fit in nicely with my goal this fall to think bigger in my business.
For those who took the time to fill out the coaching scholarship application – thank you. Thank you for sharing meaningful stories about your lives and opening up via the internet to share the parts of your life that you could use some help with right now. Be proud of yourself that you took this small step towards your personal development.
Soooo, I was inundated with applicants for the scholarship! Can I just tell you how much fun it was to go through all the applications and read all the juicy goals these women had for themselves? I found myself re-reading one particularly authentic and creative application, and intuitively knew she was the one this scholarship was meant for.
The winner is Tracy from Virginia! Congrats. I’ll be reaching out to you later today to get the party started. 
This was the first time I tried this scholarship contest, and I got fantastic feedback from so many women. If you’re interested in being the first to know about the spring scholarship (Yup, I’m doing it again!), be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed via your blog reader or receive blog posts by email.
***Why Not Wednesdays is a new series I’ll be featuring (you guessed it) every Wednesday. I’ll be asking “Why not” do something that is scary, unconventional, creative, or a mix of all three. My hope is that you allow yourself to dream big, and routinely ask yourself, “Why not?”
I know most of you out there have day jobs that pay the bills – and engage in activities you’re more passionate about on the side. Whether it’s knitting hats, making greeting cards, or creating jewelry, most of us have a creative activity that we love doing.
Ok, so how many of you are selling your amazing creations?
Yup, that’s what I thought. What are you waiting for?
Setting up an Etsy store is incredibly easy. Some guides can be found here and here.
Focus less on the money and the “why” – and instead focus on the value you’re placing on the things you’re creating. That’s right, they are important!
Start putting your creations out there. You never who they’re going to resonate with.
Welcome to the 8th edition of the Creatuitive Living podcast: a guide for women on living an authentic and creative life.
direct download (mp3): Integrating Massage Into Your Wellness Routine
You may subscribe to the podcast RSS feed via ITunes or another podcatcher - You’ll automatically get the latest podcast as soon as it becomes available. the creatuitive living podcast will be published bi-weekly on mondays.
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This week’s podcast is an interview with Joanna Robinson of Lunar Massage. Joanna started her first business in April 2009 when she opened Lunar Massage, an affordable clothed massage studio for busy professionals and area residents in the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center area of DC. She is now working on a second venture related to small business marketing. She switched to being an entrepreneur after four years of fundraising for various nonprofit causes. She currently serves on the board of the America’s Future Foundation. Prior to coming to Washington D.C., Joanna managed a congressional campaign in District 26 in Texas (Dallas), worked in the importing business for the craft industry, and then at a financial planning firm. She comes from an Army family, and her degree is in English Literature.
Creatuitive Resources: In the interview, Joanna references William Bridges book, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes as a great read for anyone making big changes in their life.
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Creatuitive Challenge: Take a hard look at your wellness routine. What could you improve? What needs to be let go?
***Creatuitive Living is a new series that will include tips on home decor and organization, and loads of creative inspiration. You may also send me your own decorating or organization question!
So, you’ve moved into this fabulous new apartment. You know the place needs a can of paint (or at least a decent color scheme), but you have no idea where to start. Or, you’ve lived in your home for longer than you can to admit without spending time thinking about the decorating scheme (we’ve all been there). Regardless, your color choices in your living space can have more impact on your energy than you think…
Start by choosing colors that invoke the feeling you are trying to create in that room. For example, you may want people to feel warm and comfortable in the living room, happy and excited in the kitchen, or peaceful in the bathroom. Make a list of the rooms you have to decorate, and next to each one write down 2-4 emotions that you see associated with that room.
Colors are often divided between warm and cool colors. Warm colors are red, orange, yellow – they advance towards us. They create a cozier space. Cool colors are blue, green, and violet – they recede away from us. They create more space.
What about the effect colors have on us? In general, the warm colors – red, orange, and yellow – tend to make you feel more energetic. The more colors you use, the more energy created in the room. The cool colors – blues and greens – tend to make you feel more relaxed and tranquil. They are great for places where you want solitude and peace.
If you live in a rented space where you can’t paint the walls, finding tapestries in the color scheme you’re using will do the trick. I’ve even framed large swaths of pretty fabric and hung them on the walls.
A note on complementary colors. Colors that are next to each other on a color wheel are related colors. If you use them in your decorating scheme, they give a monochromatic look (adds drama). The colors directly opposite each other are complementary colors, and create a harmonious look.
I use deep reds and blues in my living spaces and office, and pale blues and greens in my bedroom and bath.
What colors do you currently use in your home? How do they help to create the ambiance you’re aiming for?
{The scene}
A cozy living room with raspberry walls in the heart of Dupont Circle.
{The characters}
Led by Jennifer Lee. The cast included several creative ladies from DC and beyond.
{The props}
Our dreams. Plus Mod-Podge, magazines for collage, and our paper mache dream box.
{The result}
See below. This box holds my dream to lead retreats in beautiful locations.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the first Creativity in Business Conference presented by the Center for Creative Emergence. It was a rich day full of insights, new connections, and lots of laughter. There was so much juicy info that I can’t bear not to share it with you here
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Reclaiming Your Genius with Paul Scheele
In this session we gained a deeper understanding of how the brain works in order to release more of the true genius within us. Some insights…
- How do we stop ourselves from quitting too soon? (Pushing past that place where our left-brain jumps in to tell us we can’t do something.)
- The non-conscious mind outweighs the conscious by 10 billion to 1. (Whoa.)
- The non-conscious mind doesn’t speak in words – it speaks in feelings, images, and intuition. It’s voice is that “still, small voice within.”
- By writing with the non-dominant hand, we can access the non-conscious mind.
- The guardian of an open mind is judgment. The guardian of an open heart is cynicism.
- When you want to generate solutions to something, you must have an open heart, open mind, and let go of the fear.
Right-Brain Business Plan with Jennifer Lee
Jennifer started us off with an inspiring quote from Richard Branson:
A business has to exercise your creative instincts.
She chatted about the unique differences between the left and right brain, and how this impacts our businesses. (I highly recommend reading A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink if you’re interested in learning more about this topic.) Jennifer explained how our right brain is creative, visual, emotional, intuitive, imaginative, and big picture – all of which are amazing qualities to utilize for business planning. We went through a mini-Right-Brain Business Plan exercise, where we wrote out our vision, marketing plan, financial goals, and action plan.
We also did this amazing exercise where we received a random picture from a magazine, and had to write about what this picture was telling us about our business. Look at my beautiful picture!
Isn’t she sweet?! I wrote how this picture reminded me to be UNIQUE. PLAY-FULL. JOY-FULL. And just be a unique spirit in when I interact with clients, potential partners, and new contacts.
Brand Story Mojo with Michael Margolis
Michael taught us about the concept of brand storytelling. We did an exercise that had us respond to this powerful question: “What is the one thing about my work that I’m trying to bring into acceptance?” He explained that our brains are hardwired as natural storytelling machines. People need to identify with and see themselves in your business story – then it becomes their story. “The biggest the story, the more room under the tent for people to locate themselves inside,” shared Michael. I love this quote he shared with us as well:
If you’re going to have a story, have a BIG story – or none at all.
Joseph Campbell
Whole Brain Elevator Speech with Ira Koretsky
Ira educated us on just how important elevator speeches are. He shared that the elevator speech actually is more like 10-15 seconds of time in which you have to impact the person you’re speaking to. The most important part of a compelling elevator speech? – the headline. The headline is 3-7 words that exists primarily to grab the attention of the listen. Some good starting points are, “We help…” or “We make…” (p.s. Every professional should have a catchy elevator speech – this is not just for business owners.) The heart of the elevator speech is the problem or issue that you solve for your target market.
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Creativity is so vital for businesses, and this conference just reinforced that. The Center for Creative Emergence also runs the Capitol Creativity Network, for those of you in DC that are interested in attending creative events. They run once a month at the Cleveland Park Club House, and I’ll be speaking at their February meeting on visioning for your business.
How can you incorporate some of these tips into your own business or your professional identity? How can you shift your thinking to operate from a creative, open mindset?
{via flickr user cheriee}
Risks catapult you out of your comfort zone and jump start a bigger life for yourself.
What is one risk that you can take this weekend?
Join me with yours in the comments…
Fact: Sitting at a computer all day can wreak havoc on your body.
Fact Number Two: Most of us don’t have control over that.
What’s a girl to do?
Among other tricks (chair yoga, walking around the block), I like to do this every two hours…
{ Instructions }
Close your eyes
Mentally scan your body
Notice the areas of tension
Focus on those areas
Consciously release the muscles where you are feeling the most tension
Take a deep breath
Repeat every 2 hours
Welcome to the 7th edition of the Creatuitive Living podcast: a guide for women on living an authentic and creative life.
direct download (mp3):: Starting your own nonprofit
You may subscribe to the podcast RSS feed via ITunes or another podcatcher - You’ll automatically get the latest podcast as soon as it becomes available. The Creatuitive Living podcast will be published bi-weekly on Mondays.
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This week’s podcast is an interview with Rebecca Kousky of Nest. At the young age of 24, Rebecca gave herself a seemingly impossible task: she took on the issue of global poverty among women and created an international nonprofit from the ground up. Now, her organization Nest is providing microloans, mentoring, and a marketplace to over 200 women in eight countries. Nest funds the microfinance loans by partnering with artists and designers from around the world who create exclusive, one-of-a-kind merchandise available for sale on the Nest website (www.buildanest.com) and at selected boutiques across the country. These successful artists also act as mentors to loan recipients, thereby establishing a community of artists helping artists the world over.
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creatuitive events:
Tapping Into Your Inner Girl: A Women’s Creativity Retreat | Saturday November 7 | 10:00a-3:00p
As women, we all have a rich source of creativity inside of us, just waiting to be tapped. Many of us have lost touch with this part of ourselves. Do you remember your inner child? The spunky, fearless girl that danced, laughed, cried, or sang whenever she felt the urge? At this retreat, we will engage in creative activities, meditation, discussion with like-minded women, a yummy vegetarian lunch, and loads of playful time to re-ignite your creative spirit.
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creatuitive challenge: What action can you take today to give back to your community? It may be volunteering with a local nonprofit, organizing your friends to raise money for a good cause, running for local political office, or starting your own nonprofit.
