Hidden in Plain Sight

       Boundaries and Bridges: Your Interactions with Others

As we move into this new subtopic in our search for "Audacious Self-Care" this year, I want to explore our interactions with a rather ethereal other...the creative Muse.

O.K., I think I know what you're saying....

"'Sounds like fun...you go first, Susan!"

Well, it is a little unusual, so I'll excuse your sarcasm. :-)

And I will go first.

  Hidden in Plain Sight

I was five years old when I got my first glimpse of her. She was walking past the classroom, just as I’d finished making my first collage. At that age, I didn’t even know what a Muse was. But the thrill of making a piece of art that I loved was unmistakable.

As an adult, I tried my hand at writing children’s fiction. At first, my Muse and I were bubbling over with enthusiasm.

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/kemie

When the reality of being a writer settled in, I tried to offset this by striving. That was the absolute worst thing to do! My Muse wanted nothing to do with that writing environment, so I began seeing her less and less.

One day, my Muse stopped by with wise advice. She said, “Let writing go. If it’s meant to be part of your life, it will return.” I knew she was right; I had nearly ruined my health from the stress.

Later, my Muse and I developed a class on journal writing. We had found journal writing to be our easiest way to communicate with each other and strengthen our friendship, so the class was a natural for us to design.

Not long after that, I took training to become a Life Coach. Growing my practice in partnership with my Muse has been a delightful creative challenge!

The four photos below are the facets and moods of my Muse. 

photo (c) iStock/Alina Solovyova-Vincent

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/ChristopherBernard

                                                 photo (c) iStockphoto.com/kate_sept2004    

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/THEPALMER

My Muse may seem like a silent, invisible partner to anyone else. But for me, she has been an inspiring friend…a true catalyst for my creativity.

Now it's your turn!  Please click the "Comments" button below
and let us know about your relationship with your Muse.
Thanks,
        Susan

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/CGinspiration

Attention Local Folks ~ I hope to see you at these events!

"You Can Heal Yourself from Cancer" 

Saturday Morning, October 8, 2011

Presented by McCormick Chiropractic, Pottstown, PA

Come and hear some very down-to-earth speakers talking about prevention and cures!

For details, please see www.mcccormickchiropractic.com

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Boyertown Area School District Continuing Education

Two Personal Enrichment Classes by Yours Truly

Starting on October 17 and 20

For details, please see www.boyertownasd.org

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"Inner Light Spiritual Holistic Expo"

Weekend of November 12 and 13 in Pottstown, PA

Presented by Inner Light Holistic Center, Gilbertsville, PA

For details, please see www.INNERLIGHTHC.com

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**All of Susan's creative4life posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.** 

**Active Member of the TriCounty Community Network at

www.tcnetwork.org **

Stewardship of Ideas in Your Environment

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Creativeye 99

"True wisdom is the integration of knowledge." ~Lise Janelle, Coach


I love this quote! I love to learn from big ideas and worthwhile knowledge, and then synthesize them into wisdom that I can share with others and use to improve my own life.

For my last post on environments, I'd like to talk about our environment of ideas. Ideas like to hitch-hike from one mind to the next, then the next...you get the drift.



While they're traveling, ideas usually change in some way, big or small, at each hop from mind to mind...and they leave their mark on each mind they hop from.

So, what kind of ideas are we allowing into our environment? Not only do they leave their mark, but ideas take up thinking space in our minds! Let's keep the space available for uplifting ideas; let's not waste the space on negative, destructive ideas that drag us down.

Remember, ideas wilt, grow, or mutate as they hop from mind to mind. When you encounter an idea that you see as positive and useful, give it a safe place to grow, and allow others that you trust to help you tend it. And don't forget to give the same care to your own ideas!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Andrei Nicholaevich Rybachuk

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Special Event Announcement for Local Women....

"Ladies' Night Out...A Time to Indulge"

Friday, August 19, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm

Created and Hosted by McCormick Chiropractic

92 Kemp Road, Pottstown, PA 19465

Wine Tasting ** Manicures ** Chocolate Fondue Fountain ** Hors d'oeuvres

Mini Tutorials on Make-Up, Image, Fashion, & Accessorizing!

:-) I'll be there to offer Reiki and Coaching :-)

$10 Registration Deadline is August 11! Call McCormick's at 610-705-0201 ASAP.

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**All of Susan's posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.**

**Active member of the TriCounty Community Network at http://www.tcnetwork.org/**
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Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Warchi
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Personal Leadership: Your Strongest Foundation

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Amanda Rohde

Starting in July, the Audacious Self-Care Community will be moving on to our next subtopic for the year, which will be "Boundaries and Bridges: Interacting with Others," and Leadership will be an important part of that segment.

So today, while we're still discussing our personal environments and how they affect us, I want to discuss Personal Leadership, which will be the foundation for leading others in the future.

Like the blue fish in the photo above, you may be starting to see untested leadership qualities in yourself. The fish is just at the point when he suspects that he is willing and able to be more than a couch potato (or "reef potato," in this case).

This is the humble beginning of "Blue's" future as a leader. He needs to have the courage to swim the other way for a long time before the other fish even think of following him. Some say it's lonely at the top. There's one thing for sure...it's lonely on the way to the top!

So, what is a fish (or a human) to do? Well, this is where Personal Leadership comes into the picture. Take a quick assessment of how well you lead yourself.

Do you have a role model, or even a mentor, who is not only a leader of others, but who has his or her own act together? Develop the characteristics in yourself that you'll be expecting in your followers.

A Few Examples...how are your:

~Communication Skills?

~Character Traits?

~Organizational Skills?

~Time Management Skills?

~Personal Finance Management Skills?

~...And of course your Audacious Self-Care Skills?

Just take it one block at a time, like the guy in the photo below. Over time, you'll be amazed at the changes you were able to make! And no matter how you end up using your leadership skills in the future, you'll always value the personal leadership skills you're building upon now.

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Henrik Jonsson

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's

plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." -Jim Rohn

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Silense

'Any comments, experiences, or questions?

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Please join us for these global, complimentary activities via telephone!

Are there any projects you've been putting off in your office, home, or studio?

Call into my teleconference line at 7:00 pm Eastern on Tuesday, June 21st, and we'll tackle our projects together (well, sort of...).

No registration is necessary. We all call in at the tops of the hours 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 pm

Eastern for brief check-in calls about what we we're each declaring as our project of the hour, and/or an update on the previous hour's success!

Between calls, when we're actually doing the projects, you'll feel more focused and accountable, knowing that you'll be reporting back to us!

Here's the number to call: 712-432-3973, PIN Code 7280202

I'm hosting at no charge, and there's no extra charge for using the teleconferencing service. Your only expense will be from your regular long-distance carrier. Questions? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

We'd love to have you on the calls!

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Do you have a burning question? Call my COACHING HOT LINE on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, between 7:00 and 9:00 pm Eastern for a complimentary 20-minute coaching session! Call: 610-385-3766.

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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***Active member of the TriCounty Community Network at www.tcnetwork.org. ***

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You and Your Environment as Partners

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Kemal Bas

Twenty years ago, clutter in my home and office was still a sizable impediment and irritation for me. Our son, Dave, stilled lived here with us at the time. Whenever Dave would see me trying to clean up, he would quip, "Who's coming to visit?" I'm sad to say that it was often a valid question! Ugh. It pulls my energy down just to think about it.

Fortunately, since then I've learned to work with my environment instead of against it. In this holistic world of ours, our personal environments have an inter-developmental relationship. The task of decluttering our home and office spaces feels very daunting at first. I like to begin with the exposed surfaces that I use the most. This gives me a lift both emotionally and practically.

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Luis Pedrosa

So, once you've established momentum with this cycle, you climb "mountains"! Be ruthless about things in your environment that you have psychologically outgrown. Donate, recycle, up-cycle, or otherwise dispose of the things in your environment that are not serving your current best interest!

If you have trouble parting with things that you know you need to get out of your environment, here's a tip to try. You'll need a friend or family member to help you, because the trick is to not to touch the items!

Ask the other person to hold up each item so you can decide, hands free, whether you really want to keep the item. Make sure they take all the "no" items with them for proper distribution when they leave. You don't want to take the chance of regressing, which can be very tempting, so ask someone to get it out of your sphere right away!

My Dream House

A mansion with six bedrooms and filled with antiques? No thanks. Actually, I don't have to find my dream house...I just need to finish uncovering it! Michelangelo said that, to make the statue "David," he chipped away all the stone that was not part of "David," and there he was inside! I don't think I could sculpt a statue that way, but I can find my Dream House that way! I'm steadily removing all that does not reflect my husband and I as we are now.

We both run home-based businesses, so right now it's still a bit crowded in our modest home. We also have a little dog, toys and books for our grandson, and several hobbies! All of these are important to us and will definitely stay. But when I finish chipping away everything that is out of place in my Dream House, we'll have plenty of space and great Feng Shui, right here where we've been living for over 30 years!

Best of luck with your masterpiece,

Susan

Click on the comment button below to let us know how it's going. Questions are also welcome!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

P. S. to those on my snail mail list: I'm discontinuing my paper newsletter, and I'll be communicating mainly on this blog from now on. Many thanks to those of you who, over the years, have told me that it has made a difference for you! May creative4life be useful and inspiring to you as we continue with 2011: The Year of Audacious Self-Care!

***Active Member of the TriCounty Community Network at http://www.tcnetwork.org/.***

And a P.S. for all readers: contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 if you'd like a tour guide for the adventure of Creative Living!

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Reminder! Global Teleconference Event Tomorrow, May 3, 2011!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Jeff Irving

Global Spring Cleaning Party via Teleconference Line!

Autumn Cleaning Party for Folks in the Southern Hemispere!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Eastern

Cleaning by yourself isn't much fun! Call in at the top of each hour (7, 8, and 9) to support others and be supported.

During our breif calls, we'll declare to each other what we'll be working on for the coming hour and what we accomplished in the previous hour.

I'm not charging to host this event and no RSVP is required. Your only expense is whatever your long-distance carrier normally charges you for calls to the 712 Area Code in the US. The teleconference service itself is complimnetary.

Here's the number to call:

712-432-3973, PIN Code 7280202

Questions? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com, 610-385-3766, or by using the comment button below.

We'd love to have you on the calls!

Thanks,

Susan

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Check These Out!

Hey Guys and Gals,

Please see the new comments from my hubby and me for the 3/29/11 post. It's a good example of how having people you resonate with in your immediate environment is beneficial!

Thanks,
Susan

Time Frustrations

Hi Everyone,

Please be sure to check out the comments on the 11/22/10 post about parameters and other time-planning issues! What are your issues and solutions around this topic? Curious minds would like to know! :-)

Thanks,
Susan