The Foundation of Patience

Are you looking to develop more patience with yourself, others, and situations? Here are some qualities and skills to develop and a few tips that will help in creative endeavors and everyday living:


*Compassion When you must deal with someone who is trying your patience, remember that there is a good chance that they are acting out of fear and/or pain or even a temporarily muddled mind due to a chemical imbalance.

Here's what helps me remember to be compassionate: I remember that at the lowest point of my life, I would not have liked anyone to take a mental snapshot of me and then assume that that's how I am all the time! This is especially helpful when you're dealing with people you don't know.

*Flexibility A little forethought can prevent a lot of frustration. Leave extra time for possible delays such as slow lines, traffic, and puppies that piddle on the floor just as you thought you were ready to leave home.

And always have something with you to work on or to entertain yourself when you get detained. If you like to travel light, just a small tablet, a pen, and your cell phone can give you some options. Books on CD are great for in the car!

*Acceptance Cr%p happens! Puppies piddle. Traffic slows. Orders get held up. The person ahead of you in line pays with 98 pennies. Working on the other areas covered in this post will make this one come easier with time.

*Stress Management If you are committed to keeping your base-line stress level under control, the better you'll be at keeping your cool when the pressure is on. Take care of yourself and ASK for help when you need it.

Find ways to relax that work for you. It could be tai chi, Reiki, massage, meditation, or enjoying a hobby. During the "Do What You Love" evening that I mentioned near the end of my last post, I spent the whole three hours doing one 12"-by-12" collage! It was very soothing to me.

*Assertiveness You don't need to be or act angry in order to communicate what you need. It can be done calmly and politely before you lose your patience!

If you have trouble speaking up for yourself and/or saying "NO," there's lots of help out there. How deeply embedded is the problem? Would a book, CD, or coach help, or is it time to find a skilled therapist? Does seeking therapy sound extreme? Not if the problem is interfering with your life!

*Faith Try learning more about the Law of Attraction and the power of intentions, thoughts, words, and feelings. If you relax and believe that wonderful things are on their way to you, you're sending out positive energy that the Universe matches by the Law of Attraction.

*Self-Awareness When you lose patience with yourself, explore your limiting beliefs about yourself. They can lead to conflicting commitments within your own mind that make you feel stuck.

Fear of success is a great example. Maybe one facet of you wants to succeed, but another part of you is afraid you won't be able to handle the responsibilities involved. Both sides are tugging with equal strength while you're losing patience with yourself for "getting nowhere!"

Again, you need to figure out how deep-seated the problem is, and what level of assistance you'll need. If you're used to doing a lot of inner work, journaling about it may be very effective.

Feel free to offer your comments, questions, and experiences around the topic of patience!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. For details about the Fall Sweep Dig-In Tele-Party on Sept. 22, go to www.seminarannouncer.com and check the September listings for that date. A little accountability and support go a long way! I'm hosting the tele-party as a complimentary service. Questions? Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

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

.

My 100-Hour Clutter-Zapping Report, Month One

As I promised in my June 10 post, here's an update on my first month of my 100-hour clearing and organizing challenge! I've worked 14 hours on it so far...not too bad considering I was gone for a week, but I will need to pick up the pace for the next two months.

Shortly after I got into the project, I realized that I needed to tweak the details slightly. It still adds up to 100 hours of work in three months, but it's a simpler, clearer, more practical way to state the goal. It's more motivating and flexible to say, "I'll do 100 hours in 3 months," rather than "2 hours per day on 50 days out of the next three months."

You'll probably find this to be true when you set a challenge for yourself, too, if you haven't already. Plans are great; they get us moving and motivated and offer structure. As you get into action, though, you may need to make some modifications.

Also in setting up the details on July 10, I mentioned that I need to develop an easy way to maintain the systems and level of order I'm creating. I think the easiest way for me is to figure in 6 hours a week of the same thing I'm doing now as a maintenance schedule that I'll start as soon as I'm done this challenge on October 10.

As with dieting, this maintenance schedule will have to be a permanent lifestyle change for me. I believe it'll be worth it! And by then it'll be a habit, and it will seem easy compared to doing 100 hours in three months!

When I hosted my last Dig-In Tele-Party on June 28, I cleaned out my office, and I'm happy to say that this 100-hour challenge has helped me keep it neat for 1 and 1/2 months now while I'm also working on other areas of my home. (See the P.S. below for info on the next Dig-In Tele-Party.)

Generally I've been working on the challenge in 30-minute segments so I don't feel overwhelmed. This has helped me in other ways, too. It's easier to set aside time for a 30-minute sweep, so when I see a messy area, it doesn't drag me down so much. I know I'll probably have a chance to work on it soon, probably that same day, for at least a little while.

I set a timer for these 30-minute clutter-zapping sessions, and that helps me reframe the task. Instead of seeing clutter, turning my head, and saying "Ugh!", I'm actually looking for areas to tackle, and it becomes more like a game and provides focus!

What does all of this have to do with our creativity? More than you might think! We clean up for other visitors, so why not for our Muses...and ourselves?

If you like the idea of improving the Feng Shui in your home, office, and/or studio, clutter-zapping is a great place to start! Clutter causes stagnant energy that zaps your energy and tends to keep your Muse away.

What about you? Have you committed to a plan that will move you forward in some area of your life? Please leave a comment about your progress so we can cheer you on!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. I have two tele-parties slated! The first one is the "Do What You Love" Tele-Party on August 15. See my August 4 post for details or contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

The second tele-party is the "Fall Sweep Dig-In Tele-Party" for zapping clutter or other tasks that you want to get off your plate. It's on the first day of fall, September 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 Eastern. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com by September 19, and I'll make sure you get the phone number and the access code.

For both tele-parties, your only expense is your long-distances charges for the brief check-in calls. My hosting of the tele-parties is complimentary!

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

.

The Synergy of Your Personal Resources

Think about your personal resources in all areas. How do they work together to help you achieve your goals, creative or otherwise? For example, having lots of time is great, but you don't have the health and/or energy you need in order to use the time as you wish, you're losing out.


Apply this list of personal resources to your situation:


Structures (schedules, written goals, methods, support, accountability)

Time

Space (mental and physical)

Energy (mental and physical)

Community (connection to others, support, counsel, coaching, accountability, inter-developmental relationships)

Money

Earning Potential

Creativity

Intuition

Inspiration

Information

Education

Training

Talents

Strengths

Experience

Health

What area can you improve that will have the highest returns in other areas?

Are you willing to work on that area this week? Please give it a try! Leave a comment before you start if you'd like support and accountability. Also, let my readers and me know when you're finished so we can learn from you...and help you celebrate!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. What have you been putting off that you really love to do? Join us for the "Do What You Love" Tele-Party!

At my tele-party on August 15 (6:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern), we'll each come to the first call with the answer to this question, and the supplies we need to get started.

For me, it'll be collage. I love it, but it takes a lot of time and makes a big mess. But my soul thrives on it!

We'll be calling in at the top of each hour from our homes, offices, and studios to check in and cheer each other on.

Just contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com by Thursday, August 14 (Eastern), and I'll make sure you get the access number and code for the calls.

Your only expense is your carrier's long-distance charges for the brief calls into the teleconference line. My hosting of the tele-party is complimentary!

Your soul will thank you!

*************

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

.